I is for I

At church we do a confession before we study our Bible.  It goes like this:

This is my Bible

I am who it says I am

I have what it says I have

I can do what it says I can do

Today I'll be taught the Word of God
I open my eyes and my heart

To receive divine instruction

From this day forward

I will never be the same

Never, never, never

Because the entrance of God's Word

Brings

Understanding

It has six I's in it.

Faith explosion

Due to things happening in my life and the recent responses to my last post, I'm having a faith explosion.

I can't stop reading scripture. I can hardly put my Bible away. I'm learning it remarkably efficiently and am finding verses I need to support my witness. One scripture leads to another and supports the one before and after.

I have five volunteers from the teen group to help me launch my upcoming Zumbatomic classes in July for ages 4-12, plus Mayela who blesses me with encouragement. The reaction from the teen group to my short demo was exhilarating. They clapped and smiled and had fun. This means I've picked good songs and choreography so far.

My uncle has blessed us with a large monetary inheritance.

I did wake up with the baby song "Chi Chi Ua" ringing in my head which could send me over the edge. I'm using it in my Zumbatomic class. It's terribly cute. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S03RFm1xKY&feature=related

It's been on my mind. Keeps popping in.

At the Renaissance Fair last month an old woman (I say old but she couldn't have been more than 10 or 15 years older than I) asked me for money to buy a drink. She was thirsty and she had no money. It was a hot day. I had purchased a lemonade for myself and a friend an hour before. It lacked ice and good flavor and the price was ridiculously high for what we got, but we were thirsty and we drank them all up. The lady asking me for money was thirsty.

I told her no. I told her, sorry, but I have no money. A lie. I had about $20 in my renaissance purse. I feel bad about it. I've felt bad about it since the moment it came out of my mouth. My heart had no compassion. Do I have nothing to give? I did have something to give, but I would not give it. I kept it for myself. I regret it. I thought to myself, why doesn't she get a job?

I had no compassion. Would it have killed me to walk with her to the lemonade stand and buy her a drink? I think not. Have I not been blessed enough to part with three bucks out of my wallet that day?

One day about three years ago I was in Albuquerque at a Jewish convention event. It was the end of the night and about ten of us were piling into the van to go home. A homeless man approached us with purpose and we rushed to get in the van all the faster. After all, what if he had a weapon with which to kill us? Our pastor stood outside though and gave the man some money. I still remember that. I suppose there was no need for us to be afraid. It was only a man begging. I had no compassion then either. But I remember what the pastor did. Does Pastor not pass judgement? Do I need to do the same. I think so. Otherwise the Holy Spirit would not be clunking me on the head about it.

When I get the chance I'm going to fix this. I will correct it. I will repent. A lot of people think repent means to feel sorry or admit an error, but its literal translation from the Hebrew is to turn away from. That is, in other words, to stop what you're doing and turn away from it. I can do that.

Next time someone asks me, I will find in my heart some compassion.

Wrrds to remember

Words I'm saving.

We never like to let go of those we love, and it's hard to see them suffer. I am praying the Lord's will. He knows what is best. He may yet heal him and make him stronger than before! But if He calls Him home, then he will certainly have that ultimate healing and never suffer again. Praying that God will be close to all the family through this difficult time of waiting. We know the plans God has for us are good plans... and while it's hard to wait, we know He is doing what is best.

An epitaph

"Are the things you're living for worth Christ dying for?"
Epitaph of Leonard Ravenhill

I want to remember this one.

Tonight, finally, I have "Sabor A Melao" memorized.  Aaaaah.  Yes.  I do it over and over.  I wonder when will I ever get this down.  Then suddenly it all clicks.  It's not a fast dance.  Looks cute, but is actually quite slow.  Barely warms me up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW0GrugEoyk&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

In-between chapters

I am not really liking this chapter. It's not even an actual chapter. I don't know what it is. Perhaps it's a chapter I'll tear out and forget. I love living in a trailer and traveling. I do not love living in a trailer and staying in one place. But life is what you make it. We'll see what I can do about it.

There is a thing that occurred that lifted me up mightily. I so wanted a drink last week. Ahhh yesss. Just a bit of wine with my steak or a shot of Crown Royale (that be a fine whiskey). Such a craving it was. I gave up drinking last year, not that drinking was ever a thing of great appeal to me, but I indulged regularly thinking it helped me sleep.  I admit I do like the benefit that abstinence affords - that of being above reproach.

I deflected the desire to have a drink.  Sunday came.  I enjoyed the feeling of overcoming fleshly desire for a bit of booze, the hair of the dog as they say.  I raised my hands in praise to the God I love and sang with the congregation about how this is my offering, me, since it's all I really have to give back to the Lord. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpRAOS_rv7w

It gets better too.  Monday was the board meeting on which I am a new member.  It's a faith based organization that provides funds to the needy.  We have to vote on who does and doesn't receive funding.  Do I like it?  I do not like it.  I am not made, not built, for decision-making.  I'm just not.  I had to give my vote on two cases over the phone.  I voted opposite to Helen on one of them.  Helen, who has a soft and big heart.  I hesitated to give my vote at first.  I asked her if can I call her back about it.  Truth is, I was gonna ask my husband what I should do.  Helen, she cracked me up.  She knew what I was thinking.  She said, "I'll put you down for a 'no.'" Haha!  Indeed.  It was what my heart was saying but I never know when to listen to my own heart.

Which is precisely why I need to do this job with the heart of God.  I cannot do it myself.  I am not made for it.   My heart is not a big as Helen's.  She drops at the sight of a 19 year old pregnant unmarried girl asking for help.  It's not that I don't feel pity for the girl.  I feel it for the unborn child much more.  But as I see it, it's my responsibility to follow the rules without error.  Guidelines are great, but what are the rules for dispensing with the government funding.  Do I say gut feeling guided me?  I don't think I can do that with a clear conscience.  My gut feeling.  It's ain't worth much.

So as I voted over the phone, I had other compartments of my brain working simultaneously. I remembered the newest definition I have for "disciple."  I used to define it as "a learner."  Now I define it as a "disciplined follower."  Do I wanna be Christian or do I wanna be just Christianish?  I thought of my walk with Christ and my choice last week not to tip the glass (it would have only bit one second of my time to take a quick drink), and wow, it's like an outside expression of my inside self, of the Christ within me.  This decision and my future decisions, which now potentially touches the lives of others, will be of God, not only of me.

My outside self and my inside self are in sync.  It's good.

Husband just got home!  He brought good news.  We're moving animals today.  We have to eat and go right away!

Today is beginning of Lent

I have to decide what to give up. Son is giving up bacon and pork chops and that's gonna hurt. He has bacon in his egg sandwich every morning. He says he likes the piggies so much and feels bad for them.

Me. Maybe chocolate. I will help save the poor cocoa bean. Or maybe I will purpose myself to do one good, nice thing each day.

That's it. Every day I will do a good deed of some sort. It's non-traditional as a choice because it's not fasting or alms giving, but it is a sacrifice. I'll be giving up some selfishness to be more Christ-like. I think this would be pleasing to the Lord.

"So let it be written. So let it be done."

Too bad it's Pharaoh Ramses the II who said that! Well, actually it was Yul Brynner in the Cecil B. DeMille's epic film from 1956 called The Ten Commandments.

My child

I suggested he get a notebook and take notes during church. At first I suggested he write three brief sentences. I didn't think it would be too painful. I hoped it would relieve me of having to hear a single dollar bill get crunched around a hundred times, folded and refolded so tight you could smoke it, or watching him out of the corner of my eye scribbling on the bottom of his shoe for half an hour. Sitting beside him, even with an empty seat between us, when he does that it makes me wanna jump clear outta my skin. I bought him a little red spiral notebook. Talked it up. But he didn't want to take notes, and in time the little red notebook got beat up and ripped from bein' pushed around on the bookshelf. It got no love.

A month or so later I was talking about how I had to buy a second notebook because I filled my first one and oh how nice it was to have all my notes from the previous year to look back on when I needed them.

Then he said he wanted to buy his own notebook. I shrugged, well, go ahead, get one. He bought one. He picked a black one from Wal-Mart, small, with an elastic on it and a ribbon place marker in it. He used his own money even though I said I'd buy it for him. And he began to take notes - not three sentence notes. Tonight he invited me to look at his notes and they were nearly as thorough as mine. What changed him? I admit, I saw him peeking at my notes but I pretended not to notice.

And last night I offered to read the Bible before we went to bed and he was practically jubilant about the idea. I declare. What's got into our boy. I don't know, but I'm not complaining.

I'm teaching my husband about Gideon tonight and tomorrow night. He's my student guinea pig. I pretend to expect the best out of him and often I do get the best out of him! Aw, he could tell me to stop but he's good, he's been kind, about listening. Gideon is in the book of Judges in chapter six and seven. I read chapter six tonight and all the good parts are in chapter seven which I'll read tomorrow night. I cannot do two chapters in one night because my husband can't sit still that long. My son and I good naturedly josh him for not being able to focus too long on devotionals. It's okay. I am not discouraged. I'm a homeschool mom and anyone who's homeschooled a boy for kindergarten and first grade can teach a gruffily old husband too. Faith comes by hearing and I have to see to it he hears a little bit every day. You can't take anything to heaven except the souls you help save. It's a thing I'm working on little by little.

Saturday set aside

Saturday I will fast and pray. Together at the same time. It will be from noon Saturday to noon Sunday. Wait? Maybe not.

Delete that. If I fast Saturday then I can't eat till noon Sunday and that means . . . aaaaauuugh! I'll be very hungry at church and my stomach would be growling all Sunday morning. Oh I hate that. I get so embarrassed when my stomach growls. It can be quite vociferous at times.

I will fast and pray Friday noon to Saturday noon instead. Twenty-four hours, liquids only. Yes. That will be the day.

People who fasted in the Bible:

Spiritual warfare - Jesus
Deliverance - Esther
Salvation - Ninevah

Those are the ones I've read about but there are a lot more than that. I'm all the way up to 1Samuel (took me but a year to get this far!) and Hannah was barren and prayed and fasted and wept, and she got baby Samuel.

A prayer

This came in my email today.

Gracious and loving God, we come to you in humble prayer for the United States of America. Bless our President. Give him wisdom and strength to serve the American people and lead our country in ways that are pleasing to you. Bless our Congress. Instill in them knowledge and understanding to enact laws that protect the sanctity of life -- from the unborn to the elderly; and promote the good of all people. Bless our troops. Watch over them as they continue to serve our great nation and preserve our freedom. Bless the people of the United States. Make us aware of our responsibility as citizens to uphold the principles of life, liberty, justice and equality. Send your Holy Spirit upon our beloved country. Make us people of faith in times of uncertainty. Make us people of hope in times of trouble. Make us people of compassion with those who are less fortunate. Make us people of peace in our homes, our communities, our country, and our world. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

....................................................................................

Remember Ninevah in the book of Jonah? We're studying it at home currently. All of Ninevah repented. It's possible then, right? Because I find myself always thinking the U.S. has aligned itself for judgment, not blessing. I need to pray this prayer. And no one wants to be a Jonah like he ends up at the end of the story!

Running today

I did my 1.5 mile walk/jog. Today it was actually a jog/jog though. I didn't walk at all. Woohoo! I'm no gazelle. I'm slow as molasses, but hey I'm out there doin' it. As I was jogging along I saw a bluebird. He flew to a different tree ahead of me so he could watch me.

As I ran I was thinking about how far I've come in one month. I could barely jog, what?, 100 feet at first. Quite sad. I'd be huffing and puffing like no tomorrow and then it took me ten minutes to catch my breath and my lungs hurt too. Today it popped into my mind, "I am wonderfully made." The human body is amazing how it responds to care and exercise. I thought the verse had more to it, but I could not remember what. The actual words are in Psalm 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Getting into shape = Psalm 139:14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

I might need a note card system.

2009 Spiritual Tour

I created this category so that at the end of 2009 I can look back and review all my posts on this topic and see how I've grown. I did grow last year, a lot, but I can't read it through to myself and that's too bad. I'm not good at sticking to categories. I mix everything up together.

In short, I'm still a no-cusser, and even better than that, by example and unexpectedly, I am influencing others. How cool is that. Second, the Holy Spirit convicted my heart in 2008 regarding lyrics in the music I listen to. Now I research the words to any music I download. I've gravitated to Christian hard rock for the guitar riffs and the headbanging I think I cannot live without. I do accept select secular music such as Pink Floyd's "Learning to Fly" which contain no ungodly language or theme. We war not against flesh and blood, but principalities. Satan uses music, he'll use anything he can to influence people, and even subconscious messages (you know, for the people who say they don't know what the words are so it's okay) have been proven to have an impact on the human mind. Third, in November I was baptized in the Holy Spirit while doing dishes in the kitchen and I can speak in tongues. Truly, I'm currently working much harder on expressing The Gospel in plain English, but speaking in tongues is edifying. Edifying. I thought edification was self-serving and selfish in an id kind of way, but it means lifting up. Good thing Merriam-Webster is on my personal toolbar. Fourth, I've undertaken reading the entire Bible. I just finished Judges this week. Fifth, in 2008 I began leading nightly after dinner devotionals for my family, my heathen husband included. I say that with great love! He rails against religion - don't get him started! And he believes in God, yes, but he's not sure about the Jesus part. He's come to enjoy the devotionals and I see him smile with his eyes at me sometimes. When I didn't believe, he always did, but somehow, some way, I caught up with him with a vengeance! I passed him right up on the roadway of righteousness, on the highway to holiness! Beep, beep! I'm in a heavenly motorcycle and he's in my sidecar. I'm taking him with me where ever I go. This sums up 2008.

Now! I've been thinking and praying about a challenge for myself for 2009. I found it.

I admire Tevye, the father, in the movie Fiddler on the Roof. I know it's a fictional movie, but I can be inspired in real life by fiction. I admire how his faith blends seamlessly with his daily life. His everyday routine is peppered with references to the Bible and conversations with God. He has an authentic relationship with God. But! It's not based on pie-in-the-sky, feel-good, touchy- feeley, la la land, taking a single verse out of context, sort of thing. No, he knows his Bible very well. Tevye knows scripture. Yeah, he misquotes once in awhile, but he still always retains the spirit of The Word. What's it got to do with me? My challenge this year is to develop the ability to apply scripture to everyday life. That's my goal of the year. I will begin in my next post after this one.
I already had to return to this post because I forgot to label it in its category.

Short recitation

This I memorized. Only took me three days. I saw it on the wall by the church secretary's desk. I put in a kick and a jump and everyone likes it. It even makes my husband laugh and he's one tough nut.

I'm a blood bought, Word taught, devil thumpin', pew jumpin', Bible totin', Scripture quotin', sin hatin', heaven waitin', tongue talkin', holy walkin', overcoming child of God.

Say it like you mean it. Rawr!

And Jules just found out today that she's gonna be published. It makes me smile big and wide when I picture her in my mind getting and opening that envelope!

Church was great!

This morning I saw a lady I've never seen before. I got caught up in a conversation and did not get a chance to pursue her and talk this morning. She had brown hair past her knees near her ankles! As of now, I no longer have the longest hair in my church. In fact, I've become a baby long hair compared to her! I am fully inspired. Not only that, I have a new follower and she's a homeschooler and has looong hair to her knees. I am so fully letting my hair grow now. I am excited! (Let me catch my breath!)

Oh yeah, and the sermon was stellar too. Hehe!

All God's promises are mine in 2009. That's our church motto for the year.

Day 1 of 2009 done

Check!

Tonight I'm thinking of the core tenets of Christianity; the cardinal necessity of spiritual religion; the fundamental doctrine of true theology. Only the first part of that sentence is mine. The other two parts are from S.M. Lockridge. But I digress.

Jesus is the Son of God.
He came down in the flesh and lived with us.
He performed miracles while he was here.
He was born to a virgin.
He lived a perfect life.
He died for our sins. On that cross hangs not his sin, but mine and yours.
He arose after three days.
Only through his death are we redeemed.

The Bible is the inerrant, infallible, 100% reliable, Word of God.
I'm a trinitarian.
I believe the Godhead is three parts: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

Grace is ours for free, not through works and not by making a deal with God.

Did I cover everything? Oops. Forgot an important one. Jesus is coming back for his people one day. Live a live of faith everyday to the best of your ability or your mansion in the sky might turn out to be a double seater outhouse with a cutout of the moon on the door and Sears catalog for toilet paper.

There are things that can be a little different between believers, but you have to be real certain you don't veer off from the core tenets, principles, to live life as a follower of Christ or then you're really in trouble. "Is it vital to salvation?" This you must ask yourself.

I am rejigorated, as my son would say. I had a blah sort of day, but I'm rejigorated tonight.

I'm in Judges reading about Samson now. He's was really not that great of a person ya know. He had some major problems, that guy. In the end he came around and that's good.

Tomorrow our son sees a pediatric allergist at 10:00am in the city. I pray it will go well and we will get good help for him so he can breathe like a normal, healthy, person. Ideally, we would like him to be able to be around animals. He loves dogs and horses so much, but they clog his breathing and give him a rash on his hands. It's really sad to see. It makes him cry and he says, "Why me, Mamma?"

Windy, windy

Today you have the choice of reading or listening. I give you fair warning. You can read it in 60 seconds, but I yammered on for seven minutes - don't know how that happened. Haha! I said 'um' too much and I enthusiastically banged on my table a couple times, didn't even realize it, so I apologize that one of them is too loud (you hear it at 22 seconds). Onwards and upwards.

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It's duperly windy today! The men have gone to do laundry and go to Wal-mart. Hey, I've noticed on Wal-Mart's site they spell their name on the home page both with and without a hyphen. So what's up with that? Are they schizoid? Do they want a hyphen in there or not? It's easier to type without a hyphen, yet I notice the AP spells it with the hyphen.

I have the trailie alllll to myself. Ooooh. I'm home alone! I haven't been exercising for a week so that's a must. Must exercise after I write this. I'd rather do a couple hours of exercise per day than have take an Ibuprofen in the evening because I'm all achy-breaky.

At the Christmas dinner I spoke at length with a fella who has long grey hair that he wears in a pony tail. It looks really good. I've seen him before. I've noticed him on account of the hair, but have never spoken to him. I'm glad I stayed. I wanted to go home because I was so uncomfortable, but if I wait long enough usually the uncomfortableness will go away or at least lessen and it did. Besides, to grow spiritually a lot of times you have to go outside of your comfort zone. He's married like 35 years. He's 55 and got married when he was only 17 and wife, 15. I didn't ask any whys and wherefores about that! He likes photography like I do. He has three kids and three grandkids and I met one of the grands. He was a nice little boy. The wife was home preparing an extensive Christmas meal for 18 guests that included prime rib. I haven't met her. He said he really wants to go on his bike, he's a Harley man, and travel far and wide, but his wife doesn't. He asked me about Alaska and our travels and I sputtered a bit about our travels, but I am rarely wanting to talk about our travels because, well, isn't it quite dull listening to other people talk about where they've been and what they've done? Sometimes I think so. He didn't leave though, so I guess I wasn't boring enough to kill him. We got up sometimes to serve in the food line. Sadly, I have to report, the turnout for the free Christmas meal was dismal.

Our son and his friend were victims of random Christmas kindness this year. As they held the sign out front to entice people to come in and eat, a couple in a pick-up truck stopped and gave them a Christmas card. They opened it and found twenty dollars inside! They were so happy and excited and they split it 50/50. My son thought it belonged to the church and he was going to give it, but the other mom told the kids to keep it. I thought that was awful nice. I'll encourage him to tithe it, but I know he'll do it even without me telling him. Did you know, the Bible talks more on the topic of giving than about heaven and hell. I've haven't double checked it out, but that is what my pastor says. Money is important to people and you really tell a lot about someone depending on how they feel about and how they manage their money. And. You know the tithe is ten percent. Ifns you should tithe ten dollars, but you only tithe one you might want to say, "Well, I gave my one dollar and that's something." However, truth be told, yeah, you gave $1.00, but, now you've stolen $9.00 from God. Now that's something to think about.

The Stephen test

I finished a study of Stephen with my family. Sometimes it's like pulling a camel through the eye of a needle, but I did it! Read about Stephen in the New Testament in the Book of Acts also known as the Acts of the Apostles. If you want to take the test too, read Acts chapter 6,7,8 about the death of Stephen, and Acts 11 and 22 about the martyrdom and persecution of Stephen. You might have to do a little research on your own such as looking up how many members the Sanhedrin had. A good single page about Stephen is here. It's an open book test. If you want the answer key email me. It's in my head. :) (See profile page for email addy.)

The Death of Stephen

1. For numeral one, circle all that are correct. Stephen was a(n)

a. disciple
b. apostle
c. Pharisee
d. Egyptian

2. He was the first ever Christian _________ to die for defending the Truth of Christ.

a. apostle
b. martyr
c. fisherman
d. deacon

3. Stephen believed that Jesus of Nazareth was The Christ, Son of God

a. True
b. False
c. He wondered about it

In a brief sentence, state how Stephen died.

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4. The story of Stephen is found in the Book of

a. Moses 17, 22, 41
b. Genesis 1
c. Acts 6, 7, 8
d. Matthew 101 and 142

5. His martyrdom and persecution are recorded in

a. Acts 1 and 2
b. Genesis 7
c. Acts 11 and 22
d. Revelation

6. What gave believers the ability to boldly preach about Jesus?

a. Some real good wine at the wedding in Cana
b. The Holy Spirit at Pentecost
c. The Sermon on the Mount
d. Mary, Jesus’ mother

7. The Jewish Sanhedrin was

a. The Supreme Court of ancient Israel
b. An excellent musical group
c. A man in robes
d. The main political party at the time

8. How many men made up the Sanhedrin?

a. 5
b. 7
c. 71
d. 77

9. One school of thought or sect or group within the Jewish religion in the first century were the

a. Greeble de grubs
b. Pharisees
c. Sanhedrin
d. Josephus

10. Where was the first large Jewish and non-Jewish church where believers were first called Christians located?

a. Canaan
b. Los Angeles
c. Mesopotamia
d. Antioch

11. What man’s writings in the New Testament are the major source of Christian doctrine because he wrote so prolifically?

a. Peter
b. Jesus
c. Paul
d. Adam

Briefly, how can you apply the story of Stephen to your own life. There is no wrong answer to this question.

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The Law vs. Grace

"Run, John, run. The law commands

But gives neither feet nor hands.

Better news the gospel brings;

It bids us fly and gives us wings."

- John Bunyan

Tonight

I wanted to finish my thoughts about Mary but my thoughts are moving already. Yet I want to write about the Great Schism and I don't want to write about it before I finish up on Mary to my satisfaction.

Tonight we watched a Rita Rudner comedy DVD. I like her very much. She's as funny as she used to be. I love that she wears an evening gown for her comedy show. And I say, she must work out daily. She had great arms and a flat tummy. I want her arms.

This is the statue at the ranch that got me to thinking about Mary. This statue is called Immaculate Conception or Blessed Virgin Mary statue and it's one of the most popular according to the Catholic online store I looked at. Note if you can, she's standing on something. See her right foot? She's standing on a serpent. And she's standing on a globe. The reason why she's standing over the serpent is because the serpent represents Satan and she, Mary, is victorious over the devil. Mary, unlike Eve, is obedient to the Lord. She agrees to have this baby as the angel Gabriel has instructed her whereas Eve was convinced to eat of the forbidden fruit in the garden. I am not positive but I think the globe she's standing on is in reference to her appearance to a young nun in France in 1830 who saw a vision of Mary on a globe - the globe was referring to France or the world. http://www.amm.org/medal.asp

Catholics refer to two verses especially in reference to the Immaculate Conception.

Genesis 3:15 - I will put enmity between you [the serpent] and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

and

Revelation. 12: 1-5, 17 - And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars...And another portent appeared in heaven; behold, a great red dragon... And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, that he might devour her child when she brought it forth; she brought forth a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron... And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan...Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. Verses copied from http://www.padrimariani.org/en/laity/conf_terror.html

And a Pope made it all official dogma, meaning they agreed to agree that it's official Catholic belief. Actually, even among Catholic scholars there has be debate for centuries over Mary being sinless.

From a Catholic guy's page I finally found some reasons why the Catholics infer so much more from Scripture than I do. He said:

Many believers in the doctrine of sola scriptura seem to hold this opinion, but this is not the Catholic position.

We Catholics believe that Scripture is inspired by an infinite God, and therefore it could have infinite layers of meaning in each and every verse.

We Catholics do believe that the human authors employed their own human agency while writing, and the intended meaning of the human author is the primary meaning, and no interpretation is considered correct that directly contradicts this primary meaning. We call this the "literal sense" of Scripture.

The literal sense does not necessarily mean "literal" the way some who define themselves as fundamentalist might say. Rather, if the human author was writing poetry, it needs to be read as poetry. If he intended history, it needs to be read as history, and so forth.

However, in addition to the literal sense, there is the allegorical sense, the moral sense, and the anagogical [Per Lil, note that anagogical is not a typo at Merriam-Webster] sense of Scripture, and all of these senses are developed with an eye to fitting everything into a coherent whole (for God is ultimately the author of all Scripture), and reading the text in continuity with the tradition of the Church.

Here is how the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes each sense of Scripture:

116 The literal sense is the meaning conveyed by the words of Scripture and discovered by exegesis, following the rules of sound interpretation: "All other senses of Sacred Scripture are based on the literal."

117 The spiritual sense. Thanks to the unity of God's plan, not only the text of Scripture but also the realities and events about which it speaks can be signs.

1. The allegorical sense. We can acquire a more profound understanding of events by recognizing their significance in Christ; thus the crossing of the Red Sea is a sign or type of Christ's victory and also of Christian Baptism.

2. The moral sense. The events reported in Scripture ought to lead us to act justly. As St. Paul says, they were written "for our instruction".

3. The anagogical sense (Greek: anagoge, "leading" ). We can view realities and events in terms of their eternal significance, leading us toward our true homeland: thus the Church on earth is a sign of the heavenly Jerusalem. http://evervirgin.blogspot.com/

I like to know this so that I can explain to my Catholic friends, and to myself, why I think as I do. Generally, I think that Catholics tend to be people who prefer a more paternalistic church. Generally, I think that Protestants tend to be people who are individualists. Generally.

As Martin Luther, the leader of the Reformation believed, I too believe in sola scriptura.

Incidentally, the Great Schism is the forerunner of the Reformation. I might buy myself a tee shirt that says 1517 on it! That is the year that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenburg, Germany, and unintentionally set off a firestorm across Europe! The invention of John Gutenberg's printing press in 1440 didn't hurt either.

Eight steps

God's Process for Blessing

Life is a process. There are eight steps in the process of coming to Christ.

1. Desperation produces exploration. Most of us are content until we become desperate.

2. Exploration produces revelation. The light comes on. You start doing some things differently.

3. Revelation produces expectation. The curtains are pulled back.

4. Expectation produces preparation. What do I need from God and begin making preparations.

5. Preparation produces visitation.

6. Visitation produces manifestation. Mary said, "Be it unto me according to the Lord."

7. Manifestation produces transformation. Faith is evidence of things unseen.

8. Transformation produces continuation. Now that you know you know, you continue.

Once you see the light, you gotta walk in the light.

These are my notes from December 16, 2007. I keep referring to them so now they are here for me for always.