Email me for FREE spiritual or nutritional advice at: LoraJET@rocketmail.com
Are you a voracious reader?
Well, I have the perfect two book clubs for you!
Both are online, and it doesn't require meeting up with others; you just get a book mailed to you every month. I suspect they are not very well-known book clubs, and especially in this day and age, book clubs aren't as popular, but these two are serious and very rewarding clubs in becoming more knowledgeable about God, saints, the Christian life, etc. So, here they are:
Both are Christian "Catholic" book clubs, but really, anyone can benefit from them, as many of the books are not directly related to Catholicism only.
Enjoy!
Email me for FREE spiritual or nutritional advice at: LoraJET@rocketmail.com
I want to mention a very common excuse Christians use in order to not be a true disciple and spread the Word.
Christians tend to do two extremes:
1. We don't mention God at all, and no one (or very few), outside of fellow Christians, don't know we are Christian.
2. We are overbearing, shoving Jesus down people's throats.
I think most Christians fear doing #2 so much, they cower under #1, as an excuse not to talk about faith at all.
But there should be no excuses. Actually, talking about your faith life should be no different than when people talk about their life interests, and passions.
For instance, at work it's quite common for co-workers or bosses to ask you after the weekend, or a vacation, "How was it?" "What did you do?" Instead of saying something that doesn't really have to do with faith, tell them what you did that is faith-based that you did, like for example, "I started a Bible study." Or, "I discovered a great way to pray throughout the day". Or "I started going to a new church." Say it with enthusiasm! It's perfectly OK to say that. You are not "preaching" to them, but simply answering their question (if they don't like the answer, they won't ask you again).
This way, you are not being silent about God, and you are not being pushy about God. You are just giving witness in how you live your life.
Everyone in your life--work, social activities, etc.--should know you are a Christian. That alone is witness, but don't be scared in going beyond that by taking the next step:
If someone asks what you did, or what you are going to do, mention your faith life.
Here are some additional things about discipleship:
4 Things We Get Wrong About Discipleship
Email me for FREE spiritual or nutritional advice at: LoraJET@rocketmail.com
I'm thinking, as I read the title of the link below: 'Ya' think?'
A New Study Finds God-Centered Relationships Are Stronger and Last Longer
Many Bible-believing people of faith love reading the entire Bible, and we tend to have favorite quotes, favorite stories, favorite books and favorite times of the Bible.
My favorite times have been from the New Testament, specifically, from the time of Pentecost, to the Revelation. I have been studying quite a bit lately on the Churches during those times. While doing my research, I found these two incredible documentaries above of the 7 Churches, written about the Apostle John in the book of Revelation.
These documentaries are well-done! It's very much worth the watch!
And as you watch these documentaries of the 7 Churches, think about the church parish/congregation that you are a member, and really ponder which of the 7 Churches are like the one you attend....
Is that church really the right one for you?
Do you walk out of your church being really inspired and so excited about serving God even more?
Would your church be a victorious church, that would be praised by God for it's faithfulness and endurance that is spoken about in Revelation?
Food for thought.
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I seem to be the only one that talks about my faith at work.
I have no problem talking about being Catholic; it just comes naturally, in the way secular people talk about who they are, or what they love in life. So anyone who has spent even a short time around me at work know that I'm Catholic, including my boss and his assistants.
This article talks more on the subject:
What To Do When You Are the Only Christian at Your Job
Email me for FREE spiritual or nutritional advice at: LoraJET@rocketmail.com
My Answers to Most Googled Faith Questions
Which I answer here:
1. Is there a God?
Yes. There has to be something that has always existed, and that is God, who then created everything else. For example, try to eliminate everything that exists. It's impossible. There will always be SOME THING. Take away everything, there is, what? Darkness? Or just whiteness? Those are some thing. There's even some thing that occupies "emptiness". Things scientifically that can't be seen. There is no such thing as "nothing". So it's not difficult to imagine there has always been a being here, that never had a beginning...the Creator, who gave everything else a beginning.
2. Why does God allow suffering?
There are many reasons. One is free will for all, so people have the free will to be cruel to others, but in the end, justice always prevails, in this life or on Judgement Day. Also, God sometimes allows us to suffer to teach us lessons in life, or to make us stronger in faith, or to make us rely on Him when we get too proud and believe we don't need God.
For other examples, read the story of Job in the Bible, also remember the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:6-10, when he mentioned an affliction in his body, and he asked God 3 times to heal him, but God never did. Here are the verses:
"6 For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me. 7 And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. 8 For which thing thrice I besought the Lord, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful." ~ Douay Rheims Bible
Now, why do innocent babies suffer is a tough one, and I don't really know the answer. But I must say, this would be a strong case for reincarnation, as the answer would be the baby's past life was someone who rejected God and was cruel to others...so after they died, they came back having to suffer, sometimes very, very early in their life. But who knows? I have read theories from Catholic greats, but I have never been satisfied with the answers.
3. Is the Bible reliable?
Yes, and so are other sacred writings. If you notice, in the major religions, there are many common themes, similar to each one, life instructions which validates reliability in these writings, which includes the Bible. Although, in Revelation, Apostle John DID warn those who may add or subtract from the Bible, the consequences that would come if one did that, so alluding to the possibility of errors in the Bible. It's in John 22;18-19, and it says:
"18 For I testify to every one that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book: If any man shall add to these things, God shall add unto him the plagues written in this book. 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from these things that are written in this book." ~ Douay Rheims bible
However, there needs to be some kind of instruction for us to live. I seriously doubt if the Creator simply plopped us on this planet to figure out how to be good, kind, civil to each other all on our own. Why isn't there helter-skelter everywhere, where you can't go to sleep because people are breaking into homes everywhere stealing, killing, etc. others? We have free will, so why not everyone just take from others. Why be good? It's the sacred writings, like the Bible, that is instilled in us as well as showing good morals, ethics...a conscience...to do good.
4. Is Jesus really God?
Yes. First, there are a lot of science backing up that there was a man named Jesus on earth. And we have the sacred writings of the Bible backing up who this man named Jesus was, and how the story of Jesus parallels with ancient to modern history to current events. Mind you, God can come to this earth in many forms, and possibly not only Jesus. God can do ANYTHING. There have been many who have witnessed seeing mysterious persons throughout history, and even to the present, persons who have helped them, then disappear. Yes, they could be angels, but maybe God too, as flesh in different forms. I believe God goes beyond the Bible, and can enter out lives in the flesh at all sorts of times to help us to believe in Him and keep the faith, but mainly, normally as the Holy Spirit that dwells in us.
5. Can I know God personally?
Yes. And that comes by way of reading sacred writings, like the Bible, prayer, simply being open to believing in a Supreme Being, God, and talking to Him. God normally doesn't audibly talk back to us, but responds via the impressions we get inside us, signs in the world, experiences that happens to us. The more you get to know God, the more you change to becoming a better, more productive person in life, and wanting to give God all the glory and praise for your good works in actions.
6. Is Christianity too narrow?
Absolutely not. If anything, Christians have the most freedom, because we are not in the slave bandage of sin....And as far as other devoutly religious faiths go, I personally don't believe there is "only one way", in the sense of worshipping different gods, because there is only one God, regardless of what one wants to call Him.
7. What does the Bible say about homosexuality?
This is what most Christians don't understand. Of course, the Bible talks against homosexuality, but for the SAME REASON heterosexual couples should not be engaging in recreational sex. It's wrong! Sex is for procreation ONLY. It's not for playing around, fun and games, recreation.
The reason why sex feels good is because that way, people would be more likely to reproduce to populate the world, as God said to do in the Bible.
Some people say having sex is to show love for your spouse.
Sex is not love.
It's simply an action to procreate to populate the earth.
If everyone adhered to this, contraceptives would not exist, because the birth control would be abstinence, so there would be far less unwanted children--including with married couples.
There are SO MANY activities one can enjoy doing without sex being involved. It's the secular world that keeps making sex into something to be obsessed over. When people, gays or straight, indulge in recreational sex, it makes people want to have more of it, to addiction. Also, it can make people curious about what it would be like to have sex with someone else, perhaps to compare, or for variety.
If a couple, man and woman, just have sex to have children, the odds are they will not become obsessed with sex, and having problems like one wanting sex more than the other.
Actually, thinking of sex a lot is a form of idolatry...Yes, you can idolize sex!
Also, science prove this is right! There is a reason why after childbirth age, a woman's body changes to where sex becomes painful....Men and women buying all these sex performance products when they get older...The reason you would "need" those things is because your body isn't supposed to be engaging in sex beyond having the ability to have children! It's your body telling you NO.
So, the issue goes beyond homosexuals having sex. Yes, the Bible says it's an abomination, but so is recreational sex for heterosexuals as well.
The Bible in 1 Corinthians 10:31 says:
"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever else you do, do all to the glory of God."Having sex to procreate is not only giving glory to God, but also obeying God's instruction to multiply and populate the world. But recreational sex without wanting to have children is just hedonistic, selfishness without giving any glory to God.
Also, I want to add, for Catholics, there is this frustration where although having recreational sex within the marriage is OK, the couple may get to the point where they don't want any more children, but according to the Catholic tenets, we are not to use contraceptives, so the only thing to do is the rhythm method, and we all know how statistical reliable that is! Hahaha! So there is this problem. However, if the couple only have sex for pro-creation, there is no problem! Because there would be no recreational sex, therefore no issue with the possibility of having children because the couple would be now living a celibate life.
8. Does life have purpose?
Life certainly does! We all have a purpose.
What's the meaning of life?
It's simple: to get as close of a relationship to God as you can, which in one main way is fulfilling one's purpose. Because our purpose isn't just about us. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says in everything give glory to God, so everyone's purpose must be used to give glory to our Creator, God.
One possible way to know one's purpose is something that you have been interested in, or good at since you were a child. Or maybe a pattern of common experiences God has led you to, could be a hint to your purpose in life. A "calling"--a strong urge to want to do something really positive.
Whatever it is, if it's not obvious, like to enter the religious life, look at how to give glory to God as you do your purpose, because that's who it's for...It's ALWAYS all about God.
Email me for FREE spiritual or nutritional advice at: LoraJET@rocketmail.com
*Email me for FREE spiritual or nutritional advice at: LoraJET@rocketmail.com
