Kenny Johnson

William Kenneth "Kenny" Johnson
Son - Brother - Husband - Father - Uncle - Friend
1981 - 2009

This is sad news. My 28 year old son-in-law Kenny Johnson tragically passed away on October 13, 2009 at his home in Waldorf, Maryland. I wanted to share this with all of you to ask for your prayers for his soul and for his family and all those who love him, especially my daughter and young granddaughters. I wanted to create this page as a place where family and friends and all those who love Kenny can leave their thoughts, prayers and memories of him.


Kenny was born May 30, 1981 in Clinton, MD, the son of William F. Johnson, Jr. and Rhonda Marie Simard. He loved everything about cars and racing and was always working on one thing or another. He was an auto mechanic his whole life, working many years at Sears Automotive and he loved racing at Maryland International Raceway (MIR), Budd’s Creek, MD where he won a class trophy.


He loved his two baby girls so very much and they love their daddy still. I remember telling him when Kaylie was born that his whole world was about to change and that he would understand what that meant the moment he looked into those those big beautiful blue eyes under that mop of red hair. And that he did.


I'm old fashioned and was raised that it's disrespectful to wear a hat in someone's house. I remember when Kenny began dating Jean he would always walk in the house wearing his hat and I'd remind him and he would always take it off with a "oops" sort of grin. He meant no disrespect, he just always wore hats everywhere, even inside and it got to be a running joke with him. I would always remind him and once or twice even removing it from his head myself..lol.


Then there was the time he was at the house for dinner. Jean got up from the table and was getting a drink from the fridge and I asked her to grab me a beer. Kenny jokingly said "Get me one too" in a "get me my beer, woman" kind of tone and no sooner than he said that than the chair he was sitting in gave out. Sitting directly across from him, I'll never forget the look on his face for that fraction of a second before it sunk below the level of the table and all we saw was chair parts flying and arms and legs flailing. We laughed so hard we had tears in our eyes and we were just joking about it the last time I saw him for my birthday in August.


Another fond memory is from Christmas day 2001 when Kenny had planned on asking Jean to marry him. We all pretty much knew they were going to be engaged and were sitting in the living room and he was getting ready to ask when Stephanie jumped up and shouted, oh no you don't! She grabbed him, pulled him aside and told him that he better ask me for my permission and blessing FIRST! Kenny asked me if he could talk to me in the kitchen so in we went and he asked me for Jean's hand. I told him that as long as he loves her and promises to take care of her, he of course, would have my blessing.


Kenny is survived by his parents William F. Johnson, Jr. and Rhonda Marie Simard; his wife, Jean A. Johnson; daughters, Kaylie Grace and Jaydin Elyane Johnson; maternal grandmother, Geneva Jaeger; brother, Robert J. Simard, II of Waldorf, MD; sisters, Millisa Ann Blake of Nanjemoy, MD; Crystal M. and her husband Brian Hektoen of Mechanicsville, MD; step-mother, Cecelia Ann Johnson; Godchildren, Joseph and Olivia Scheungrab; nieces, Breanna Blake and Jenna Hektoen; nephews, Frankie and Devin Hardesty and James Doering and his best friends who were more like brothers, John and his wife Stephanie Scheungrab of Waldorf, MD and Michael Hamilton of FL.

Visitation will be Sunday, October 18, 2009, 2-4 and 6-8PM at Raymond Funeral Chapel, 5635 Washington Avenue, La Plata, MD.

The funeral Service will be Monday, October 19, 2009, 11AM at Raymond Funeral Chapel and he will be laid to rest on Monday, October 19, 2009 in the Trinity Memorial Gardens, Waldorf, Maryland.

Kenny was a good man, a good father and a good friend. He will be missed as a part of our family and will always remain in our hearts. May eternal light shine upon him and may he rest in peace.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kaylie and Jaydin Johnson Education Fund via PayPal at KayJayFund@yahoo.com or by clicking the button below.

William Kenneth "Kenny" Johnson
Son - Brother - Husband - Father - Uncle - Friend
1981 - 2009

On School Prayer

Recently a friend on Facebook sent me a message asking me to pray to have the Lord's Prayer allowed back in school again and it made me think about that very issue and I wanted to share my thoughts on the subject.

This is certainly a tough topic because it involves the much misunderstood and abused topic of "Separation of Church and State".

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..."

There are obviously two parts. The first part prevents Congress (or the incorporated states) from establishing a "state" religion; the second part (largely forgotten about and wrongly superseded by misinterpretation of the first part these days), states that they cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion. Your religion, no matter what that may be. Public ridicule of other religions or complete rejection of all religion is NOT free exercise of religion, but it may be general freedom of speech if done properly and not in a belittling or provoking manner. People also do have the right to be wrong.

Though some would have you believe otherwise, the free exercise of YOUR religion on public property is not state sponsored establishment or endorsement of religion in any form and neither is a public display such as a nativity, a menorah, public prayer or any other such thing. In fact, the second part (no law...prohibiting the free exercise thereof) guarantees that RIGHT.

What it does do however, and is seemingly lost to us, is teach us two things. First to be tolerant of other people's faiths and second is to be strongly grounded in our own, whatever it may be. If a preacher or an atheist on every corner is such a threat to you as to cause you to question your own faith from block to block, then perhaps the problem isn't with them, but with yourself. If you're firmly grounded in your faith no amount of public preaching or displays will sway you from what you know in your heart to be true so all the public prayer and all the public displays of faith won't change what's in your heart. And so it should be. Isn't that one of the founding principles of Christianity?

Since the First Amendment prevents state endorsement of any one religion or force anyone into or out of any religion, it cannot force school children to pray. But more importantly it cannot restrain the free exercise of religion, even and ESPECIALLY on public property and that means they cannot stop a child from praying if they so choose!

While I do believe that the lack of religion and spirituality in our lives has caused immense moral decay in America, the lack of prayers in school wasn't the cause. The lack of prayer in school is merely a symptom of the lack of prayer in our lives, most importantly in our families.

I believe nobody should ever be forced to pray as prayer must come from the heart and a sincere desire to communicate in our relationship with God through prayer. You can't have a functional relationship with dysfunctional communication. I do agree that children should be taught to pray properly, but it should be by their parents who have a responsibility to train their children well the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Turning the tide of morality in America must begin at home and there will be no immediate results. You must have faith that by planting that seed now and teaching your children well and be being good examples of faith and morality, you are indeed supplying the future America with what is perhaps her most abundant resource; the faith in the American heart.

God's Blessings,
Bob

American Charity

I recently engaged in a discussion on Facebook over a post called the Conservative or American Divorce Agreement. This link is the same article, obviously not on Facebook, but the text is identical and there are a few versions on the net.

One commenter on the Facebook post is a liberal and the discussion became one based on opinion and emotion rather than fact. Then with a feeble attempt to deflect the argument into "health care" (as they've been told to do), she asked how willing I would be to take in my parents to care for them in their old age. I explained that I would and have already agreed to and that it's only in America that we cast our elderly aside because they become a lifestyle inconvenience. In most European countries and my wife's native Brasil the very thought is repulsive. I made a few other good points and as I was making my last reply I had the following thoughts and thought I should share them with you all.

My reply is as follows:

I'm disgusted at how our nation has been flipped upside down in nearly every way, morally, politically, spiritually, ethically, etc. and how so many have been brainwashed and deceived to "know" that down is up. I don't fault them for trying to believe in helping others, that's a noble and admirable thing to do and something we all should strive to do. But with rights comes responsibilities and their responsibility doesn't end with throwing money at the state to dole out in their name as they see fit.

Meeting our maker when it's our time, I imagine the conversation might go something like this:

Jesus: How many of the least of my brethren did you help in my name?
Liberal: I gave millions in state aid to help those in need and paid my taxes on time!
Jesus: I never saw you.
Liberal: But what about all those that I helped through the state and my charitable contributions?
Jesus: I waited for you to come, but I never saw you. I don't know you. Step to the left.

Nowhere in Matthew 25:31-46 does Jesus say "I was in need of taxes and you filed before April 15th". But He does say "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and that which is God's unto God." (Matt 22:21)

Give money to the state by all means, all of it if you want! But don't think for a moment it is charity for it is not. Since Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), all Love belongs to God and is God's and He so badly wants us to be reconciled to Him. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

God gives us access to Himself and His unlimited Love through Christ Jesus and as conduits of His Love we are called to return it to Him through the very least of our brethren, keeping none of it for ourselves, and in doing so we truly store treasure in heaven! THAT my friends is the test!

Think of God's currency as Love for indeed it is our eternal reward and our treasure in Heaven! He gives us His unlimited Love to "put to work" as did the king in Luke 19:11-26. Did we multiply it through others or did we hide it in fear? Or worse did give it to another to throw before swine as is done with our taxes.

Here's a little flowchart for the visual learners:

God's Unlimited Love--->Jesus--->Us--->Least of our brethren (Jesus)--->God--->Treasure In Heaven!

If we keep any of it for ourselves, we fail and will be set to the left with the goats to our eternal punishment. It is only when you recognize with your own eyes the face of Christ in the least of our brethren that they can then see the face of Christ in you.

As in faith we have an obligation to evangelize to others about the Truth, but once they have the chance to know the Truth and then reject it, well then it's time to shake the dust off our feet as a testament against them. That same principle applies for the truth about America, why we were created and what this nation truly stands for.

The "American Divorce Agreement" while meant in a humorous light is nothing more than shaking the dust off our feet and divorcing ourselves from the evil ways that our nation has embraced to its core. Paraphrasing Matthew 18:9 - If thine nation offends thee, leave it. It is better to enter into life with no nationality, than to have embraced an evil nation and be cast into hell.

In closing I'll leave you with a link to Paul's most beautiful First Epistle to John, chapter 4:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John+4&version=NIV

May you find the face of Christ in another and may they then see the face of Christ in you.

God's Blessings,
Bob

Third Edition Roman Missal

After six long years, it looks like the Third Edition of the Roman Missal is almost here!

Pope John Paul II issued the long awaited revision to the Order of the Mass (Missale Romanum) in the 2000 Jubilee year and the English translation that began in 2003 is nearly complete. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops have created a new website to introduce you to the new translation including an introductory video by Bishop Arthur J. Seratelli:

http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/

Here's an example of the changes to the Confiteor:

PRESENT:
I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned
through my own fault,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord, our God.

NEW:
I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done
and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

You will recognize the part where you strike your breast "through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;" as being accurately translated from the original Latin mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa as used in the Tridentine or Latin Mass.

Here you can read examples of some of the changes:

http://www.usccb.org/romanmissal/examples.shtml

This promises to be a more accurate and authentic translation from the Latin text and will provide a much deeper meaning to the whole Mass. Check out the new website, the new examples and translations and let me know what you think!

(Personally, I think we should revive the Latin mass worldwide and communion should be taken on the knee, but that's just me!)

CNA article here: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=16905

God's Blessings,
Bob

Obama Montana

Sometimes when a cancer is so advanced medicine is ineffective and the only remaining option is a surgical one. I fear we are rapidly approaching the day when the only way save America will be to surgically remove the malignant and parasitic socialist/progressive/liberal cancer that has invaded our nation. The socialist/progressive/liberal eye most assuredly offends America and must be plucked out.

I still hope and pray for a miracle or a non-invasive cure but I'm also realistically preparing to assist should a surgical option be the only option remaining. Be sure you have instruments and keep them sharp.

This is a letter that was passed to me by a friend and I thought it was worth sharing with you all. It will give you an inside look at the workings and machinations of deception and fabricated lies, the very things they are accusing us of doing. That only makes sense because it's the only thing they know.

God's Blessings,
Bob

Hello All,

By now you have probably heard that President Obama came to Montana last Friday. However, there are many things that the major news has not covered. I feel that since Bill and I live here and we were at the airport on Friday I should share some facts with you. Whatever you decide to do with the information is up to you. If you chose to share this email with others I do ask that you DELETE my email address before you forward this on.

On Wednesday, August 5th it was announced locally that the President would be coming here. There are many groups here that are against his healthcare and huge spending so those groups began talking and deciding on what they were going to do. The White House would not release ANY details other than the date.

On about Tuesday Bill found out that they would be holding the "Town Hall" at the airport. (This is only because Bill knows EVERYONE at the airport) Our airport is actually located outside of Belgrade (tiny town) in a very remote location. Nothing is around there. They chose to use a hangar that is the most remotely located hangar. You could not pick a more remote location, and you can not get to it easily. It is totally secluded from the public.

FYI: We have many areas in Belgrade and Bozeman which could have held a large amount of folks with sufficient parking. (gymnasiums/auditoriums). All of which have chairs and tables, and would not have to be SHIPPED IN!! $$$$$
During the week, cargo by the TONS was being shipped in constantly. Airport employees could not believe how it just kept coming. Though it was our President coming several expressed how excessive it was, especially during a recession. $$$$$

Late Tuesday/early Wednesday the 12th, they said that tickets would be handed out on Thursday 9am at two locations and the president would be arriving around 12:30 Friday.

Thursday morning about 600 tickets were passed out. However, 1500 were printed at a Local printing shop per White House request. Hmmmm......900 tickets just DISAPPEARED.
This same morning someone called into the radio from the local UPS branch and said that THOUSANDS of Dollars of Lobster were shipped in for Obama. Montana has some of the best beef in the nation!!! And it would have been really wonderful to help out the local economy. Anyone heard of the Recession?? Just think...with all of the traveling the White House is doing. $$$$$ One can only imagine what else we are paying for.

On Friday Bill and I got out to the airport about 10:45am. The groups that wanted to protest Obama's spending and healthcare had gotten a permit to protest and that area was roped off. But that was not to be. A large bus carrying SEIU (Service Employees International Union) members drove up onto the area (illegal)and unloaded right there. It was quite a commotion and there were specifically 2 SEIU men trying to make trouble and start a fight. Police did get involved and arrested the one man but they said they did not have the manpower to remove the SEIU crowd.
The SEIU crowd was very organized and young. About 99% were under the age of 30 and they were not locals! They had bullhorns and PROFESSIONALLY made signs. Some even wore preprinted T-shirts. Oh, and Planned Parenthood folks were with them.....professing abortion rights with their T-shirts and preprinted signs. (BTW, all these folks did have a permit to protest in ANOTHER area)

Those against healthcare/spending moved away from the SEIU crowd to avoid confrontation. They were orderly and respectful. Even though SEIU kept coming over and walking through, continuing to be very intimidating and aggressive at the direction of the one SEIU man.

So we had Montana folks from ALL OVER the state with their homemade signs and their DOGS with homemade signs. We had cowboys, nurses, doctors you name it. There was even a guy from Texas who had been driving through. He found out about the occasion, went to the store, made a sign, and came to protest.

If you are wondering about the press.....Well, all of the major networks were over by that remote hangar I mentioned. They were conveniently parked on the other side of the buildings FAR away. None of these crowds were even visible to them. I have my doubts that they knew anything about the crowds.
We did have some local news media around us from this state and Idaho. Speaking of the local media...they were invited. However, all questions were to be turned into the White House in advance of the event. Wouldn't want anyone to have to think off the top of their head.

It was very obvious that it was meant to be totally controlled by the White House. Everything was orchestrated down to the last detail to make it appear that Montana is just crazy for Obama and government healthcare. Even those people that talked about their insurance woes........the White House called our local HRDC (Human Resource and Development Committee) and asked for names. Then the White House asked those folks to come. Smoke and mirrors...EVERYTHING was staged!!!!!!!!!!!

I am very dismayed about what I learned about our current White House. The amount of control and manipulation was unbelievable. I felt I was not living in the United States of America, more like the USSR!! I was physically nauseous. Bill and I have been around when Presidents or Heads of State visit. It has NEVER been like this. I am truly very frightened for our country. America needs your prayers and your voices. If you care about our country please get involved. Know the issues. And let Congress hear your voices again and again!! If they are willing to put forth so much effort to BULLY a small town one can only imagine what is going on in Washington DC. Scary!!


Name Withheld

Bozeman, Montana

Our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church

Have you ever wondered why churches are physically designed the way they are? Why are modern churches so different than the churches of old? If you look at many older "ad orientam" (eastern facing) cruciform (cross shaped) churches you'll notice the baptismal font was traditionally placed near the western entrance and the crucifix is always on the eastern wall behind the altar.

Though I have no empirical evidence on hand, I believe it is a very intentional design to remind us of our life with Christ. God provides us with such rich graces throughout our lives but we often forget the meanings and subtle reminders that we have given ourselves. In our own baptism we become Christians and enter into the Body of Jesus Christ. We are called to walk with him all our days and in our baptism we are born into and share in His life, death and Resurrection.

Walking into an ad-orientam cruciform church of old from the west and blessing ourselves with the sacramental of Holy Water at the door reminds us of our own baptism and our first steps into the Body of Christ (the Church) where we share in His life through His words (the liturgy), share in His death and sacrifice of the Mass through the Most Holy Eucharist, and share in His Resurrection as we take what God has given us and go forth into the world to Love and serve God and one another.

The physical church is a real and visible reminder of God's graces and eternal Love for us and she is the embodiment of our salvation history itself!

Our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is at once, many things;

She is the Ark of Noah by which the righteous were saved;
She is the Ark of the Covenant carrying God's law throughout the land;
She is the New Ark and perfect unstained womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary from which was born our Salvation;
She is Christ's Baptism and salvation for all who are entered into it with Him;
She is the Barque of St. Peter outside of which there is no salvation;
She is the voice of the Blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ from which spring forth God's commands of Love and Mercy;
She is the irrefutable witness to Jesus Christ, who Himself came to bear witness to the truth;
She is the Dispenser of the Sacraments, visible signs of God's merciful and loving graces and no less miracles than those shown to us by Christ Himself;
She is the Way of the Cross, bearing the humiliation, scorn and sufferings as Christ was hated;
She is Calvary and the Cross, the altar upon which the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ the Lamb of God was crucified and died so our sins may be forgiven;
She is the tomb where HE was resurrected and where we are all resurrected with Him and from which we go forth to make disciples of all the nations, to Love and serve the Lord through one another.
She is the living Bride of Christ for which HE will return.

The Catholic Church my friends is herself continuing proof of God's Love for each and every one of us and she is as eternal as is God's Love for us, his children.

God's Blessings,
Bob

Bring Your Gun to Church Day

While it's a nice sentiment, as an Open Carrier and staunch supporter of the 2A, I know with what this pastor is trying to do and to be honest it's both foolish and dangerous. The only times a gun should be unloaded is while in storage, for training and demonstration purposes, for cleaning and servicing or the moment before you reload. If God given innocent life is sacred at all times, shouldn't the tools to defend against evil that would take that life also be ready for use at all times? (See CCC 2263-65)

Pastor Welcomes Gun Owners to Bring Their Handguns to Church
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529276,00.html

Saturday, June 27, 2009
Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A gun-toting Kentucky pastor says it's OK to bring weapons to church — at least for one day.

Ken Pagano asked his flock to bring their unloaded handguns — in holsters — to New Bethel Church in Louisville for a celebration of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Consitution [SIC] that guarantees the right to bear arms...

I'll probably get a lot of "emotional" comments for this and I truly welcome the persecution, but the analogy is actually quite accurate: It's an interesting parallel that a church that uses a vandalized and scandalized Holy Bible with books removed, a cross with Christ removed, leadership with the authority removed and an incomplete "Christian" Church with the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ removed, somehow thinks that a gun with ammunition removed is normal.

That is to say that an empty gun cannot defend your physical life anymore than an empty or incomplete Christianity can defend your eternal life.

God's Blessings,
Bob

Obama, the African Colonial

This is an incredible article I just read over on American Thinker that really lends insight into what is happening to America at the hands of Obama and why.

Obama, the African Colonial
By L.E. Ikenga

"Like imperialists of Old World Europe, the ACP sees their constituents not as free thinking individuals who best know how to go about achieving and creating their own means for success. Instead, the ACP sees his constituents as a flock of ignorant sheep that need to be led -- oftentimes to their own slaughter..."

We're not sheep. We have liberty teeth and a tree that desperately needs watering.

God's Blessings,
Bob

The Delphi Technique - Controlled Deception

Have you ever heard of the Delphi Technique? I hadn't and came across an article and was intrigued so I began doing a little light research and found some interesting facts and opinions.

This old technique was developed in the 1950's and was sincerely intended as a tool to be used at gaining a consensus from large groups but was rapidly morphed into something quite different. Today it's being used today in both the original and modified forms to provide an illusion of participation and a false sense of enfranchisement. These immoral and highly unethical tactics are employed by people who have predetermined the outcome of those meetings and are merely "steering" you like mindless cattle into what you think is a consensus agreement, providing them with this alleged mandate to do as they will and all the while you think you've done your duty as a good little citizen. It outwardly seems like a democratic process and gives the appearance of participation in democracy, but that is only the mask it wears. It's a public opinion manipulator pure and simple and those doing the manipulating are not interested in your voice unless it suits their ends. Sounds a bit like modern American politics.

I recommend everyone that has ever or plans to attend any form of public meeting, whether school, PTA, HOA, school, community, focus groups, associations, leagues, corporate, anything and everything, to get intimately familiar with these unethical tactics that ARE being used.

Folks, this is not how our Republic works and it's nothing that common sense, passion and strength of purpose can't defeat. Please read these articles and draw your own conclusions. I already have.

If you've ever participated in a meeting that used the Delphi Technicques described in the articles below, I'd be interested to hear from you.

God's Blessings,
Bob

http://www.learn-usa.com/transformation_process/acf001.htm

http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/1998/nov98/focus.html

http://www.vlrc.org/articles/110.html

http://www.iror.org/delphied.asp

http://www.iror.org/delphi.asp

http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/wrep0131/wrep0131.html

http://www.carolla.com/wp-delph.htm

God Bless America or America Bless God?

"God Bless America" - A beautiful sentiment that we Americans commonly say and hear each Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Veteran's Day and in numerous patriotic speeches or articles. And so completely backwards and wrong.

This past week while visiting a local country style furnishings store with my daughter I saw a sign that read "America Bless God" and I was instantly taken aback at the simple truth and humility revealed by switching two words. It not only rearranges the sentence but reveals the truth of our place in the "big picture" and puts us squarely where we rightfully belong.

While God's blessings are a wonderful thing to strive for as a nation, just how do we go about receiving God's blessings? Do we just ask and receive as Jesus told us in Matthew 7:7? Is it that simple? Well, yes and no. Remember, the Bible is a whole, not a collection of one-liners to be thrown like daggers in an argument.

If just asking and receiving were all that's necessary, why don't we already have all that we've ever asked for in prayer? Jobs, cars, homes, health, Love, etc? Simple, we're doing it wrong. In our quest to not complicate things, we've oversimplified our faith and apparently lost so much in the translation and perhaps even our way. The way we are to go about receiving God's blessings and what we ask for in prayer IS remarkably simple, but it's not the way we've been told to go by far too many false prophets.

Let's get back to the basics in Sacred Scripture;

In Matthew 18:19 Jesus tells us that two of us should agree on what is asked for, "touching" it. and this can't possibly mean that all we need to do is physically "touch" those things we desire while praying. If that were true all me and my wife would have to do is go to a Ferrari dealer, both of us lay hands on a nice new Ferrari F430 and pray and it will be ours! We should be able to find a nice new home and new furniture and everything we desire in the same way, right? Not quite. If you get the urge, feel free to try it and please let me know how that works out for you.

How then do we "touch" God's blessings in order to receive them? We cannot "touch" a blessing that we have not already received. "Touching it" in this case most certainly does not refer to physical touch but to the whole of our actions that we must do in order to realize that in which we seek, according to God's will, not ours.

Luke 11:9 tells us to seek and we shall find. But what is in the seeking? Seeking is not just asking but it a conscious pursuit, an act of will to find that which is hidden. In John 14:13 Jesus further explains and tells us that we should ask it in His name so the Father might be glorified in the Son.

But again, is it that simple? Can anyone just ask for anything in Jesus name and receive it? Again, obviously not. In John 15:7 Jesus clearly further explains that we can ask and it shall be done only if we abide in Him and His words in us. The picture is coming clearer now.

John 15:16 clarifies that what God gives us is so we may continue to bear fruit but not the fruits of human toils and our earthly passions that we narrowly see and seek, but the fruit of our lives which truly comes from the vine; our labors such as wisdom, charity and Love. God provides us that which we need here on earth but His fruits are those things that we can clearly take with us and are not bound by earthly existence and transcend the human experience such as wisdom, charity, faith, hope and Love.

James 4:1-10 tells us:

"Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Adulterers! Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose that the scripture speaks without meaning when it says, "The spirit that he has made to dwell in us tends toward jealousy"? But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds. Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you."

Another answer is right there in Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

If we want it and are anxious for it, even in prayer, we shall not receive it.

Now God's revelation of His truth and His Will regarding prayer becomes clearer in 1 John 3:21-22 "Beloved, if (our) hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him." Purity of heart, confidence in God and obedience to Him.

And further along in 1 John 5:14-15 "And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours."

For us to receive anything from God, most especially His blessings whether as a nation or as an individual, we must first keep ALL His commandments (not just the convenient ones, but ALL of them), doing all those things that are pleasing in His sight and according to HIS WILL and then asking through Christ Jesus in prayer and supplication, only THEN shall we receive.

In Matthew 7:6 Jesus tells us "Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces." Why then would God cast his holy blessings before us when today we as a nation trample underfoot His commandments and all those beautiful things He has given us? I would bet my life that God has no cares whatsoever for our pathetic little "Separation of Church and State" especially in light of what it has become. It went from being a wonderful concept by Thomas Jefferson to prevent religious persecution of all of God's people into a device FOR religious persecution against those that do believe in God and the means for removal of God from our society. That surely isn't God's will, but of an evil design whereby we choose the laws of man over the laws of God and even deny Him in the process. Remember, denying God's existence doesn't mean He doesn't exist. It means you are in denial.

One look at today's political scene, the news and especially the current administration's efforts to completely secularize our society by not only removing God from our government, our schools and our lives, and going to the other extreme to support those things that are certainly against God's commandments and His Will such as abortion, embryonic stem-cell research and homosexual marriage, and this alleged separation of church and state and it's clear that we HAVE trampled underfoot all of God's commandments and do not keep them. The church is indeed the body of Christ so what then is the real goal of separating church and state?

To receive anything from God, especially His blessings, we must first be worthy of it. As James 5:16 reminds us, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" and that means we must first be righteous in God's eyes, not our own and then may receive.

"God Bless America" is arrogant and proud. "America Bless God" is humble and righteous.
God cannot bless America until America Blesses God.

May each of us find ourselves worthy of God's blessings.

America Bless God,
Bob

Obama Firing Dissenting IG's

From an article by Byron York at the Washington Examiner:

What's behind Obama's sudden attempt to fire the AmeriCorps inspector General?
By: Byron York

"Grassley's version of events suggests that the White House first tried to muscle Walpin out of his job without having to go through the 30-day process. It was only when Walpin refused to resign that the White House then notified Congress of the president's intention to fire Walpin.

The bigger question is why the president is doing this and why he is attempting to do it so quickly. Senate sources now believe Obama is firing Walpin over Walpin's investigation of Kevin Johnson, a former NBA star and a prominent supporter of the president...." (Read the complete article and comments on the Washington Examiner)

Is this either legal or morally correct? It is neither and I don't need to be a lawyer to know right from wrong. (What is this country's fascination with lawyers anyway? Can't anyone ever get elected to office without a law degree? "Of the People" or "Of the Lawyers"? Think about it). Is this what we've allowed the Office of President of the United States to become? Merely a platform for a socialist tyrant whereby he can launch personal vendetta campaigns against anyone who opposes him or catches his illegal activities?

You do realize that the very law created to protect against such tyranny was co-sponsored by Barry, do you not? I'm sure this will be spun by his pet main-stream-media (MSM) to appear to be something it isn't; just like Obama himself appears to be something he isn't - American. Obama is recognized by most of the world as a petty tyrant pushing his personal agenda onto an unwilling nation. Are we so close that we can't see it? Have we lost the ability for critical thinking and discernment? Come on, people, we are citizens and NOT subjects and will not tolerate tyrannical abuses and disregard of OUR laws and of plain old right and wrong.

Are we not better than a third-world banana republic? If you don't think so, how is this any different just because it happens here in America? America is not defined by her Name, not by her borders, not by her military power, not by her credit rating, not by Congress and especially not by the President of the United States. She is defined by the genius design of our Founding Fathers as set forth in the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. She receives her power from the just actions and nobility not of kingly rulers nor from Presidents or Congress, but from the just consent of the governed - We The People. PERIOD.

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA IS NOT AMERICA.

This man spits in the face of OUR Constitution, our tradition, our Judeo-Christian heritage, our Industries, our Liberties and our Freedoms as Americans. Obama WILL be the end of America if people don't WAKE UP NOW! There is nothing that can't be fixed in America by either pen or by sword and that folks is what our Constitution guarantees. Petition government and speak out freely and publicly against tyranny free from fear of oppression using the First Amendment or the whole mess can and will be fixed with the Second Amendment. Anyone that has bothered to read our own American history knows the bottom line about the 2A is about protection against a tyrannical government. By pen or by sword, it will be fixed.

Can you see the problems inherent with a dual party system? When the division and differences between those two parties inevitably become so great that they are truly irreconcilable (sound familiar?) words become ineffective. Just like light and dark cannot exist in the same space at the same time, nor truth and lies or good and evil, two opposing America's cannot exist in the same space at the same time and so we find ourselves once again in mankind's oldest struggle, people fighting against the oppression of tyrants; absolute power corrupting absolutely.

WAKE UP or America will get exactly what's coming - National Socialism. Even if and when it comes, it won't be too late to fix, just not with words. Don't believe me? Ask Germany.

God's Blessings and Wrath on those who deserve either. His call, not mine.
Bob


LINKS:

CNSOIG: http://www.cncsig.gov/index.html
CNSOIG Acting IG Kenneth Bach: http://www.cncsig.gov/meetig.html

What's Worse Than Abortion for Profit?

Black abortion for profit.

As we've known for some time now, PP's abortion agenda is racist in origin (eugenics) and continues to be to this day as shown by Lila Rose over at www.LiveMedia.com. It's supported by the current administration and immorally funded by taxpayer dollars.

It's amazing how many people that would profit from this either financially or politically are willing to just turn their heads and look the other way when it benefits them.

Would someone please tell me again just how allowing the murder of innocent unborn infants merely because they're a lifestyle inconvenience, and through an organization that is intent on racial infanticide, makes us a great nation? I seemed to have missed that point.

Please read this article over at HenryMakow.com

Obama's Elite Agenda: Black Abortion for Profit by Richard Evans

"We should hire three or four colored ministers, preferably with social-service backgrounds, and with engaging personalities. The most successful educational approach to the Negro is through a religious appeal. We don't want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members." - Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood

You become what you allow . If America allows this, then America becomes this.

As God has told us, He will be as merciful with us as we are with the least of our brethren. Are there any lesser than these voiceless unborn infants?

God's Blessings,
Bob

Happy Memorial Day

As we gather with our loved ones today let's not forget those with whom we owe a debt of gratitude, those whom we shall not embrace until we are with them in the presence of the Lord.

"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." Jesus Christ (John 15:13)

May God bless all those whom we remember today that gave that last full measure of devotion and may He continue to bless all those who have served and are serving today so that we might remain free.

May we always remember who died so that we may be eternally free - our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ!



God Bless America and all who serve!
Bob

"What Is It You Seek?" - Answering the Irish Scandal

What Is It You Seek?

Over on Facebook, there's one fellow whom I added as a friend to play a game who completely disagrees with both my Catholic faith and my conservative values and has taken to making that point quite clear to me. Respectful disagreement or intelligent discourse among adults is absolutely fine and always welcome, but this is neither. What it is however, is numerous condescending and snide little remarks criticizing my conservative and Catholic posts and aimed at my morals, values and faith.

I've never insulted him, never posted a single thing to his page or made a single comment that wasn't in reply to his initial remarks to me nor have I engaged in reciprocity. I'm not certain why he feels threatened by me and I could easily delete him from my friends list but I actually enjoy the fact that he is intent on challenging me, my faith and my values. I'd like to think that perhaps it's his way of reaching out, of seeking to understand the truth (John 1:37-39) because each and every time, he seeks me out and engages me first.


Ignorance or Incredulity?

Fact is that he comes to my page to read what I've posted and then comment on it. But then why come to my page at all if we're so different and why doesn't he just delete me? My faith and morals aren't so weak as to be threatened by one person or even a whole world of people.

Does he wish to convert me? Not likely, as he's made no intelligent or logical attempt at a theological or moral argument. Does he hate me for my beliefs? Perhaps, since he's a declared social liberal and likely a progressive. Based on quite a lot of bashing on his page of the Catholic Church, he definitely seems to hate the Catholic Church not for what it truly is, but for the lies that he is believing about it. (Fundamentalist or Evangelical perhaps?) For whatever reason, I've been flagged by him either as a mortal or moral enemy or both.

That said, this morning he came to my profile page and posted on my wall a link to a Yahoo news article reporting on the recent horrible Irish abuse scandal with the following remarks:

"Catholic Church Shamed by Irish Abuse Report"

"Mighty quite [sic] on this one - Here is your chance to weigh in on a real - ongoing issue. How do you justify this?"

First, I don't rely on him for a chance at anything. Next, his opinion that this is a "real - ongoing issue" does not make it so. It certainly is news, and bad news at that, but this is merely a bash-du-jour to provoke a response. Issues such as this require much prayer and reflection to ensure we just don't open our mouths and say the wrong thing at the wrong time. I only wish others could do the same thing.


A Church of Sinners

I cannot and will not even attempt to justify the sins of another and to do so would be to condone intrinsic evil and is a sin itself. Nor will I speak to the details of this or of any other scandal as I do not know all the facts, only what is reported.

Even praying intently upon it to God His Father, Jesus still chose from among thousands of followers, a traitor to be one of his apostles. Even one who witnessed His miracles, performed miracles in His name and had his feet washed by Jesus Christ, betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. Why? Because he chose to let Satan enter into him as have these perpetrators and as do each of us every single day in some way. It is the "Price of Weak Faith".

The closer we get to God, the stronger the pull of sin by Satan. Everyone whom has ever chosen to walk the narrow path of faith has felt that pull. It is very real and it is very tempting. Knowing this, we understand that the devil tempts each of us and we arm ourselves with a deepening faith and a stronger Love of God and of one another.


A Church of Saints

We are indeed a church of saints and sinners. We can produce pope's like John Paul II and pope's like Alexander VI. People like Blessed Mother Teresa and Mother Angelica and people like Nancy Pelosi and Kathleen Sebelius.

The fact of the matter is that while the church herself is divine, the people within it are still sinners and all fall short of the glory of God. When things such as this happen it's compounded because they are in a unique position of trust. The sin is the same as if a lay person committed it, but the effects of the sin are obviously greater because of the betrayed trust. St Frances de Sales said "While those who give scandal are guilty of the spiritual equivalent of murder, those who take scandal — who allow scandals to destroy their faith — are guilty of spiritual suicide."

I cannot say it any more eloquently than Father Roger J. Landry did in this homily he wrote to his congregation in 2002 after the scandals in Boston that really puts it into perspective and I've already touched on a couple of the same points. Please read the whole article

"Answering Scandal with Personal Holiness"

What I will say is this;

This is a very horrible thing. My sympathies and prayers go out for all those involved, those that were abused, the abusers and even for people such as this guy, who are using other people's pain as weapons against the Church. May God bless and protect all those involved. May He comfort all those who seek to be comforted and may He forgive those who are truly repentant.

God's Blessings,
Bob

Links to Catholic Conservative American

Here's some convenient widgets that show the latest postings and link to Catholic Conservative American news feeds on your website or social network page. Just click on the "Grab this Headline Animator" link below the banners you wish to install. Thanks!

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God's Blessings!
Bob

"If I Were Not a Catholic"

I thought it would be very fitting to restate this article by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, especially in these times.


"If I Were Not a Catholic"
by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

"There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church—which is, of course, quite a different thing.

These millions can hardly be blamed for hating Catholics because Catholics “adore statues;” because they “put the Blessed Mother on the same level with God;” because they “say indulgence is a permission to commit sin;” because the Pope “is a Fascist;” because the Church “is the defender of Capitalism.” If the Church taught or believed any one of these things, it should be hated, but the fact is that the Church does not believe nor teach any one of them. It follows then that the hatred of the millions is directed against error and not against truth. As a matter of fact, if we Catholics believed all of the untruths and lies which were said against the Church, we probably would hate the Church a thousand times more than they do.

If I were not a Catholic, and were looking for the true Church in the world today, I would look for the one Church which did not get along well with the world; in other words, I would look for the Church which the world hates.

My reason for doing this would be, that if Christ is in any one of the churches of the world today, He must still be hated as He was when He was on earth in the flesh. If you would find Christ today, then find the Church that does not get along with the world.

Look for the Church that is hated by the world, as Christ was hated by the world.

Look for the Church which is accused of being behind the times, as Our Lord was accused of being ignorant and never having learned.

Look for the Church which men sneer at as socially inferior, as they sneered at Our Lord because He came from Nazareth.

Look for the Church which is accused of having a devil, as Our Lord was accused of being possessed by Beelzebub, the Prince of Devils.

Look for the Church which the world rejects because it claims it is infallible, as Pilate rejected Christ because he called Himself the Truth.

Look for the Church which amid the confusion of conflicting opinions, its members love as they love Christ, and respect its voice as the very voice of its Founder, and the suspicion will grow, that if the Church is unpopular with the spirit of the world, then it is unworldly, and if it is unworldly, it is other-worldly. Since it is other-worldly, it is infinitely loved and infinitely hated as was Christ Himself. ... the Catholic Church is the only Church existing today which goes back to the time of Christ. History is so very clear on this point, it is curious how many miss its obviousness..."

God's Blessings,
Bob

Pro-Life and Pro-Gun Christian

You know, mom always said I never did as I was told and was over opinionated and argumentative. She had no idea what she was saying at the time, but it was indeed a "mom-fulfilling prophesy".

I was told we shouldn't talk about money at the table and never talk about politics or religion. Well, the simple fact is that rich people DO talk about money at the table, politicians DO talk about politics and the faithful DO talk about religion all the time. So we didn't talk about money and we had none. We didn't talk about politics and we had none. We didn't talk about religion and except for Easter, Christmas, funerals and our Communion and Confirmation preps, we had none. Noticing a pattern?

I have got to be out of my mind crazy to have a blog that talks about religion, politics, abortion and guns! Or so sane it's scary. Well, let's give all those topics a try in one article, shall we?

In a recently released report by the Pew Research center, the tide of public opinion regarding two hot topics of gun control and abortion are taking a more conservative turn toward individual responsibility and morality based on FACT not government/media controlled hype.

Law abiding citizens don't just throw a gun in their pants without thinking long and hard about the possible consequences of carrying a gun and what it might mean both good and bad. It might prevent crime, might save a life, might take a life. It's a huge responsibility and one we don't take lightly. Most, if not all, should have studied and read on the subject, trained on their weapon, applied for and received the proper permits when required and have weighed the moral questions in their own minds long before publicly carrying for self-defense.

In weighing those questions, we come to understand what religious and pro-life people have been saying for years; the protection of all innocent life is sacred. Pro-gun, pro-Constitution and pro-self-defense people all understand that since life itself comes from God, so does the right to defend that life against any evil that would take it. Make sense? Our founding fathers thought so and recognized that right and merely guaranteed that our government, through the Constitution, would guarantee that which already is ours from God.

You cannot argue that since one person or even a million people might not believe in God that it in any way negates the common sense application of these basic moral principles or the principles themselves. Case in point; I have friends that are atheist and agnostic, democrat voting, pro-life gun carriers so it is possible through the simple use of reason. Here's a great article that speaks to that: "Why the Gun IS Civilization"

We Catholics understand our responsibilities regarding the respect for human life through the church's teachings in our catechism canons 2263-65 and regarding abortion through canons 2270-75. Sometimes that means even respecting your own God given life over the evil that would attempt to take that life from you, perhaps enough to deal a lethal blow only if and when absolutely necessary.

Here we have the dilemma. How can the protection of your own innocent life be so valued from a religious, moral, ethical and legal standpoint that you would be willing to carry a gun for your own self defense, and yet an even more innocent and helpless unborn baby is not protected or defended and laws even allow for it's killing?

Simple. There's no money in it!

There's no money in self-defense, but there is a huge industry in providing you protection using your own tax dollars. There is no money in allowing women to have babies at will, but there is a huge industry in birth control and abortion. Where the money is, there will be the law (and politicians with their hands out).

Personally, I'd be very interested to see the numbers of how many gun owners are pro-life vs how many gun owners are pro-abortion/choice/infanticide. I'd bet there's a huge correlation between the data sets.

We have made into a diabolical art this incessant monetizing of everything around us. We tend to look at things only with a cash value rather than the inherent value given by God, including one another. We idolize things more than people. We would rather watch TV and be entertained than help one another. We've become so hypnotized by the programming that we've failed to see the beauty in our world and in one another and that's exactly how "they" want it.

Fear is big business, perhaps the biggest business of all. Many people today have fear of crime, fear of global warming, fear of guns, fear of having a baby, fear of disease, fear of commitment, fear of AIDS, fear of conflict, fear of responsibility, fear of death. And yet interestingly enough there seems to be little to no fear of God, or no belief in Him at all.

Now I don't carry a gun because I'm afraid; in fact, it's quite the opposite. Those of us who carry guns for self-defense know it's so we can walk without fear. When I carry a gun, you cannot force me under threat of life to do anything illegal or against my will and cannot threaten me with harm. If you want something from me, fear will not work; you must use reason.

We also understand this is a very serious responsibility and as such, law abiding gun carriers are responsible for an estimated 2.5 million legitimate and legal uses of guns for self defense each year in the U.S. That means about 2.5 million thefts, brutal beatings, hate crimes, rapes, murders, etc. avoided or prevented

We know that knowledge conquers fear, but so does faith. As a Christian I don't fear death and really don't fear anything that man can do to me but it does pain me to see us heading down a path of unnecessary suffering as a people, a nation and a world so I do what I can to help push, pull, lead or whatever to those that will listen. What I do fear is God and the eternal fires of hell. I would rather live a life in respect and fear of a God that can condemn me to the eternal fires of hell than in a life with no God at all.

Since we know that fear is profitable, which do you think is easier to profit from? A world full of people that fear only God and nothing else? Or a world that doesn't believe in God and fears everything else? Are you seeing the picture yet? Do you see why it's in "their" best interest that you not believe in God and in your best interest to believe in God?

Where there is no faith, let knowledge first conquer fear. So what can we do to turn things around? How can we get more people to believe that the protection of ALL innocent life is sacred? Simple. Start with their own life. Appeal to that common self-preservation instinct in each of us. According to the report, we need to work harder on getting more women to understand the facts about guns and self defense and rightly so since they're the targets of most violent crimes. Nothing puts a 100 lb woman on equal footing with a 300 lb rapist like a trained woman with a handgun.

I challenge everyone reading this who owns a gun to take a woman or an anti-gun friend to a shooting class or to a range. Safety is paramount of course. There is nothing like seeing the face of an anti-gun person shooting for the first time and watching all that fear and doubt just melt away.

Once they learn the simplest use of the tool, then then can begin to understand the moral responsibility that goes along with gun ownership and perhaps they might even begin to understand the need for self defense of their own innocent life. From there it's only a small step to understanding that ALL innocent life is worth defending. Nothing changes people's minds like the truth whether it's about guns, self-defense, fear, politics, abortion or God.

In the approximate 8 minutes it took you to read this article, there have been:

.24 Murders
1.3 Rapes
8 Robberies
14 Auto Thefts
14 Aggravated Assaults
21.8 Violent Crimes
96 Larcenies
160 Property Crimes
480 Innocent Unborn Babies Aborted

Me? I'll be clinging to my guns and my bible. Please pray for all victims of crime, especially for those 480 that can't pray for themselves

God's Blessings,
Bob

Some excellent web resources:

http://corneredcat.com/Ethics/mrsdutoit.aspx
and
http://corneredcat.com/TOC.aspx

http://www.womensdefensecenter.com/crime.htm

http://www.2asisters.org

http://gunowners.org/sk0802.htm

FREE ONE YEAR NRA MEMBERSHIP!

On Angels and Demons

There has been a lot of talk recently on the upcoming movie "Angels and Demons", especially in Catholic circles and I wanted to share my thoughts. I believe it is absolutely wrong for a Christian, especially a Catholic, to read or watch Angels and Demons for many reasons and I'll try to explain them here.

The author Dan Brown is intent on writing sensationalist blasphemy that lines his pockets and there is just no need to provide financial support to someone such as him, especially in these hard times. There are much more constructive things to do with your $10.

In this and his earlier controversial book/movie "The DaVinci Code" he stirs up anti-Catholic sentiment bases on his false interpretation of the scriptures and of church history, again, in the name of making a name for himself and making money. He mixes fact with fiction and blasphemy and I wonder just how many people watching or reading those works truly have enough scriptural, theological and historical education and knowledge to discern the difference? Not hardly enough as witnessed by those "Christians" that support him.

He claims to be a Christian and yet his writings and beliefs wreak of progressive "new age" feel-good thinking. He seems to have no grasp of how absolute Christianity is and that as a Christian he doesn't know that there is only one truth. Faith is not an "ethereal concept" at all for us Christians. Sadly by his own words he has shown that he has no idea what Christianity is and by his works he shows that he does not know who Jesus Christ is at all. From his website FAQ;

"ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? Yes. Interestingly, if you ask three people what it means to be Christian, you will get three different answers. Some feel being baptized is sufficient. Others feel you must accept the Bible as immutable historical fact. Still others require a belief that all those who do not accept Christ as their personal savior are doomed to hell. Faith is a continuum, and we each fall on that line where we may. By attempting to rigidly classify ethereal concepts like faith, we end up debating semantics to the point where we entirely miss the obvious–that is, that we are all trying to decipher life's big mysteries, and we're each following our own paths of enlightenment. I consider myself a student of many religions. The more I learn, the more questions I have. For me, the spiritual quest will be a life-long work in progress."
- Source: The Da Vinci Code - FAQs Official Website of Dan Brown

He was asked a direct question and instead of talking about what he believes, he talks about what others believe; "three people", "some", "others". His "yes" should have been enough but then he goes on to say he's a student of many religions. Interesting, no? If he believes in Judaism or Islam then he does not believe that Jesus Christ is the messiah, the son of the living God, but rather merely a prophet. Which is it? He either is a Christian or he is not. Based on his reply I would have to say he doesn't know what to believe even when all the facts are staring him in the face.

Faith is a continuum? Not even close. Using words that the average person likely doesn't truly understand without looking them up does not make one seem more intelligent, especially when they're improperly used. I would expect better from an author. A continuum is anything that goes through a gradual transition from one condition to a different condition without any abrupt changes or "discontinuities". Faith is not a continuum, knowledge,(perception and understanding is and here's why.

Christ is fixed, immutable and eternal. He is the only Truth and there is no "different truth" to change to. Faith is belief without knowledge. Our human perception of truth changes as knowledge of truth increases or decreases, therefore it is human understanding that is the continuum, not faith. One's faith can increase (or decrease) in intensity but the condition of our faith that is Jesus Christ, does not change. Besides, do we really need to have all that knowledge? Absolutely not! We need faith and not even that much of it. The size of a mustard seed should suffice.

To be honest, Dan shows his ignorance of Christianity in that while faith is important, of the three; faith, hope and Love, Love is the greatest. You can have all the knowledge AND faith in the world but if you have not Love, you have nothing!

"And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing." -1 Cor 13:2

Had he even a little faith but great Love of Christ he couldn't have possibly written these works. Christ is not about mere human faith. He is about unconditional and eternal Love. He is Love.


Angels and Demons is Poison

Would it be ok for a Christian even with a properly formed conscience and a strong marriage to watch pornography? Of course not! Pornography is the nearness of sin that defiles the act of Love between a husband and wife as created by God, twisting it into a selfish lie with all the consequences that go with it.

Movies such as Angels and Demons defile the morals and truth of Christianity and of the Catholic Church as created by God, also twisting it also into selfish profit driven lie. How then is it any different from pornography? At the very core, it isn't.

Now of course not everyone buys into the lie of pornography and not everyone will buy into the lie of Angels and Demons or anything else of Dan Brown's, but how many is too many? I believe even one lost sheep is too many. Is not one lost sheep cause for the shepherd to leave the flock to search?

Though many are crying "it's just a work of fiction", far too many people have been led astray by mere "works of fiction". The cult-like media followings of the "Harry Potter" series and "Twilight" should speak well enough of that fact. Romanticizing or adventurizing blasphemy is still blasphemy.

Then how much blasphemy is "enough"? Even if the movie was 90% fiction, 5% fact and just 5% blasphemy, is that good enough for you to watch it? Or bad enough for you to not? Would you drink from a glass that contained only 10% poison? How about 5%? Perhaps just 1%? No, of course not! Only a fool would do such a thing and yet how many times each and every day do we drink from that same cup. Who is it that plants these seeds of doubt in our minds? Ask yourself this. Would you let Satan in your home and your life for just 10 minutes out of your whole life? How about just 5 minutes? Perhaps just 1 single minute?

Even having what I hope is a well formed conscience, I choose not to watch it. It's moral poison. "Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest ye be consumed." (Sirach 8:10)

Let's not make matters worse. Our tickets or book purchases would be a vote for more blasphemous works like this. BE a Christian and don't watch the movie or read the book. You will gain nothing from it and it in fact may hurt you. Instead spend that two hours feeding the hungry at a shelter, visiting a prison or a nursing home or even that relative that you haven't bothered to visit in a long time. Take that $10 you would have spent on the ticket or book and next time you pass a homeless beggar on the street - give it to Christ through them or drop it in the poor box at Church.

May God bless and forgive Dan Brown, Ron Howard and all those that may be led astray by this movie.

God's Blessings!
Bob