tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15253086724767846192023-11-15T12:30:50.223-06:00Ideas of a Wandering MindThis is where I keep my musings, ideas, and rants. In this blog one will find reflections on ideas pertaining to philosophy, politics, theology, and whatever else my mind happens to be thinking about. One will also find book, song, and movie ideas. Finally, one may find the occasional rant. No promises any of it is good.R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-27300685447297497532013-06-05T11:46:00.003-05:002013-06-05T11:50:12.505-05:00On Nostalgia, Faith, and Worship<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As part of my job in childcare this summer, I've spent the last few days furnishing a classroom in an old abandoned private middle school, getting it ready for 5th and 6th graders to learn and have fun.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I noticed that last month many of the old students (from as far back as 1990 even) had visited the old school and its classrooms and left messages on the chalkboards. Now... I may be a bit cynical, but I honestly don't know of anyone (especially in their 20's and 30's) who would characterize middle school as "the best time of my life". And yet there was not a negative message on the board, and most of them read things like "this was and always will be my home", and "all my best memories are here". Now...maybe I'm wrong and there's actually an entire generation of people who enjoyed middle school (and of course I know that anyone who hated the school wouldn't have showed up to commemorate it), but this sounds like "nostalgia":</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"A sentimental longing for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.[and/or] The evocation of these feelings or tendencies, esp. in commercialized form."</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So nostalgia is an emotion that colors our perception of something... It gives us a longing for something past that we've perceived to be good in contrast to a current state that we perceive to be not as good. This may be contrary to the actual case, and often times it keeps us from remembering the not-so-good that may have formed our character. In other words, the grass is always greener in the past when we wear nostalgia glasses.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-31e28808-14c0-76fc-e3cc-95ae9de25120"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There's definitely a detriment that can come with this-- primarily it distracts us from being grateful for our current blessings and state of life in preference for something that we really can't get back. Secondly, in nostalgia we feel to acknowledge (or even move on from) sufferings and inconveniences that have formed our character and given us virtue. If we ignore these events in our lives we are not usin</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">g them for our benefit and they, in a sense, beat us and trap is in the past.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is Nostalgia good for our faith? Does is serve a purpose in worship or drawing us closer to God?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Hebrews were nostalgic for the kingdom days while they were exiled in Babylon. Psalm 137 shows how the Israelites would not sing or celebrate the old days in gratitude but rather looked on them with longing. They forgot that the reason they were exiled was because of their own disobedience. Instead of learning from the exile, reflecting on how to become more righteous because of it, they only sat and wept. Furthermore, they hung up their harps and refused to sing and worship the LORD. They were trapped in the past, rather than using the current situation to move forward.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where I most often see nostalgia present in my faith is through Worship music. When I hear certain songs (most often cheesy P&W songs that were written when I was in High School), I think back to the "good old days" when I was first really passionate about my faith, I had a very strong community that I saw many times a week, and when I was really enjoying ministry and learned what it meant to be a leader. Sometimes... I long to go back to those days, to have that type of faith.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">But then I realize--God has brought me to where I am in my faith for a reason. I know what my vocation, and probably my occupation, are supposed to be. I'm more educated and able to defend and express my faith. I am ready to raise children in the faith. And I have a deeper understanding of how God works in my life through providence and grace. Those days of past faith were essential in bringing me to where I am now, but they're not where I'm meant to stay, and I should seek to grow and move forward in my faith, even if that means changing how that faith is manifest and expressed, and even if it means embracing suffering.</span></span></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think that nostalgia CAN be acceptable if one does not get trapped by it, if it doesn't preoccupy one from one's current situation, and if it motivates one to pursue correct happiness. However, it is a hard thing to do, so perhaps outside of the occasional and brief relapse, nostalgia is best avoided.</span></span></span></div>
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R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-3222953389077958182012-10-23T11:08:00.000-05:002012-10-23T11:11:14.969-05:00You're Still Beautiful America: Towards a Renewed "Nationology"I've become a big fan of Matt Maher's new song "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMyh55IKPYM">Woke up in America</a>" but its gotten me thinking not only about what he's trying to say about our wonderful country, but also about my own feelings about our "national identity".<br />
<br />
Currently I'm in an <a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/article-1G2-3407703523/ecclesiology.html">ecclessiology </a>class for my graduate program. I would like to propose here that, just as many our problems in the Church arises from how we perceive the Church to be (our ecclessiological identity), so do most of the problems of our nation arise from our "nationology".<br />
<br />
While I often amn discouraged by the sate of our nation, Matt Maher's song reminds me of a couple points. First, <a href="http://evangelicalcatholicism.wordpress.com/2009/07/04/patriotism-as-a-virtue/">patriotism</a> is a virtue, one that falls under that of Justice. Not only is it good to support our country, but it is <i>proper</i> and right ordered to do so--to some extent. Therefore, <b>to what extent should have "patriotism" for a country that is in error concerning many of its values and workings? </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Patriotism is basically having love for your country--especially in history, culture, physical beauty, etc. America has much to offer from most of these--we have beautiful landscapes of every variety, we are a "melting pot" nation where people of every culture is welcome (which helps us form our own unique culture), and we are a champion of freedom, democracy, hardwork, and social mobility. All of these things it is proper to love.<br />
<br />
However, there is much about the country we cannot love. While we both democracy and capitalism are inherently good structures, both in our country are inherently broken. As a country we are individualistic, God-less, against life, materialistic, and petty.<br />
<br />
<b>What causes this</b>? Our idea of what america is, about what constitutes a nation...our "nationology". I believe that in general, we view our nation as merely a group of individuals, under the charge of a group of individuals, with a purpose of promoting the good of each and every individual person. Each of these views is not, in and of itself, <i>wrong</i>, but they are all incomplete and when held without balance lead to an inadequate view of what our country is and thus how we live as a country.<br />
<br />
--Yes, our nation is a group of individuals.. but as the virtue as patriotism shows us (and as most american's would admit, though they live contrary), America is so much more than that. It is about the beauty of the land, the freedom, the men and women who have given their lives, and that it is a <b>GOD GIVEN GIFT</b> that we are able to live with all of these blessings. The problem is that most people live their day to day lives without remembering this fact.<br />
<br />
--Yes, our nation is run by a group of individuals... and when we focus on that is when we realize the inherent problem with that fact. Human's are flawed, therefore a country that is run merely on human values, according to human ideals, and only concerning the will of human's, will always be gravely flawed. The fact that we must daily try to remember, the two phrases that will save us, are currently frequently being petitioned for removal--1) One Nation Under God, and 2) In God We Trust. This reminds us that, though separation of Church and State is inherently good, they cannot be completely separate. We must not live to merely human values, standards, and desires, but must always be careful not to cultivate a country, culture, and worldview that forsakes God's will.<br />
<br />
--Finally, while each individual person has a right to be happy, and the country and government has a responsibility to do everything possible to ensure that each person flourishes, a focus on individual good leads to a country that is broken and fractured. We must instead be focused on the "common good", an idea that isn't necessarily foreign to America, but which seems to get pushed aside for the individual good.<br />
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I believe that if we do all these things--move towards a more collective worldview, remember that God is a necessary aspect of our country, and love America for the appropriate reasons--we will be a happier and more prosperous country, and other countries will have more respect for us.<br />
<br />
Our "Nationology" must be more than an individual survival of the fittest. We must remember why America is beautiful, and continue to work to make it even more so.R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-49565356822890609062012-08-06T14:07:00.000-05:002012-08-06T14:07:31.184-05:00On Happiness<br />
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At some point in our lives we all have to ask ourselves a couple
questions. The first among them is,
“what kind of person do I want to be?”
Some of us want to be like our parents… some don’t. Some of us want to live a life of optimism
and love, while some people have resigned themselves to living a life of
cynicism and apathy. Some want to do great things and change the world, whereas others desire only to serve people in small ways and stay in the background.<o:p></o:p></div>
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After this, the next question we must ask is, “what kind of person am I
now”? The disparity between these two
can be either discouraging or depressing.
Some people, despising how their parents raised them or the type of
people their parents were, spend their whole lives trying to become the
opposite, only to realize eventually that, at some level, we all must become
like our parents. Some people can’t even
ask this question… rather than working at trying to be happy and fear not being
so, they instead resign themselves to depressing lives of cynicism and
sadness. Do some of us even know the
type of people we want to be? Or are we too scared to ask for fear of realizing
how far we’ve strayed from our ideals?<o:p></o:p></div>
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I want to live a holy, Christian, masculine life. I want to serve God in everything I do. I want to be a good father and a good
husband, and I want to be able to lay down my life for my family if ever I need
to do so. I want to be courageous, and
be able to go off to war if that is what my country needs. I want to have a fierce heart. But most of all… I want to be happy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Happiness seems a sort of paradox.
It’s something that every single human person wants (on some level), but
very few of us have. Here’s the funny
part… everything that a human person would naturally think brings them true
happiness never really does. It’s
definitely not money, most rich people actually aren’t happy just because
they’re rich. Many of them actually find
out money has taken from them everything that otherwise would have been
important to them (a marriage, a sense of purpose). It’s not even family or “making a
difference”. Many people are happy
without a family, and many people who make a difference in the world feel empty
after their great accomplishment. Where
then do they turn when they feel they’ve fulfilled the purpose of their life
and still live twenty or thirty years?<o:p></o:p></div>
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What it all comes down to is that happiness is not attainable without God
in your life. Atheists might claim they
are happy. But it’s a superficial,
bodily type of happiness. At some point
in their life they will realize that reason alone, that sex, that money, that
even a happy marriage, at some level have left them feeling empty. As C.S. Lewis states (roughly), “If I find
myself with a desire that nothing in the world can satisfy, the most likely
explanation is that I was made for a different world”. Without God, you will always feel empty.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That’s not to say Christian’s don’t feel moments of emptiness… of
desolation, of abandonment, of fear, of uncertainty. It does mean, however, that they have a
consistent foundation on which they can stand, to which they can look, when
their world starts to shake and crumble around them. Christianity and God allows a person to know
where they need to go, and provides them tools to get there. It is easy to see why people without such a
worldview so often become cynical of the world around them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Who are you, and where do you
want to be? Are you happy? If not, how are you going to get there?<o:p></o:p></div>R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-68139938115643529372012-07-20T10:18:00.001-05:002012-07-20T11:09:58.536-05:00Comments on the Aurora ShootingViolence saddens me... especially senseless violence like the shooting and killing of some 12 innocent people in a movie theater in Colorado... and the injuring of dozens more. Why would it even cross someone's mind to ever do something such as this?<br />
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Human beings... in our free-will, our gifts of intellect, and the gift of our passions, are capable of great sacrifices of Love and virtue. It is apparent, however, that we are also capable of grotesque and abhorrent acts such as the one in Colorado this morning.<br />
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The motive of this "alleged" shooter, a 24 year old man, is unknown. New information says he also planted bombs in the apartment which he lived, and that he just waited there for Police to come and arrest him. He did not take his own life, which so many of the shooters like him tend to do. It seems he was not afraid of what would happen to him. This makes me believe that this was well planned on his part, not an act of passion, and that through it, he wishes to make some statement. He will surely get enough stage time to say what he wants.<br />
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But really... why does anyone do something like this? While this action can never be excused, and we can never initially know the fullness of motives for why violence happens, especially in this case, there is a history of shootings among those who are bullied. We live in a SINFUL world, my friends, and we MUST, we are OBLIGATED, do to everything we can individually and as a community to make sure things like these never happen. At the end of time, when we stand before God and he shows us the effects of our actions throughout our whole lives... how many of us will be happy with what they see? I urge you, do not let this act, or Columbine, or Cold Springs, or Virginia Tech, go in vain! Keep them in your mind, pray about them, and let them motivate you to live every moment of every day in love for your neighbor... especially those who feel as though no one loves them. Love can change hearts. Love can convert sinners. Love can prevent acts such as this shooting.<br />
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Finally, brothers and sisters, I wish to impress on you the importance this shows us of being ready for our death! Those people in the movie theater, I say with confident certainty that none of them went to the movie expecting to be killed. How many of them now, wish that they had lived lives closer to God, that they had gone to Church or confession just one more time, or that they had made amends with broken relationships they just never got around to? Life is precious! But even more important is what happens to us after life... let's not take either for granted--let's live life to the fullest, loving, maintaining healthy relationships, and doing what God wants us to do, and lets do it with our eyes set to heaven, taking care to avoid any sin, and asking for forgiveness as soon as we can for those sins we do commit.<br />
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We pray, O Lord, for all those affected by the shooting in Aurora, CO this morning. For those who were taken, eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine on them. For those who loved them, or who will be forever changed by the experience, we ask you to send down your Holy Spirit to console them. We pray that, in the devastation and suffering that they are feeling, they cling closer to you and that they're hearts not be hardened or despair. Finally, we pray for the man who committed this atrocity, may he feel true sorrow and repent of his sin, and may everyone who hates him, who wishes damnation on him, experience a softening of heart and pray for his conversion. Amen.R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-3471253035884586192012-07-18T14:22:00.002-05:002012-07-18T14:26:51.737-05:00Reflections on the Purpose and Size of the UniverseOne of the things I've been meditating on lately is the universe, particularly: Is there other life out there, and if not, then what is the purpose of the universe being incomprehensibly "big".<br />
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First of all, let me just give a little background for those of you who have never studied how big the universe is... Our Galaxy, the milky way, is one of millions in the universe. Even if we could channel the science of Star Trek and travel at "above light speeds" (in a sense), we could never hope to physically explore more than a fraction of the universe. Furthermore, the universe is bigger than we can even observe, and its constantly expanding. To use theological terms, the universe is somewhat like a mystery... we can begin to comprehend its vastness, but there's things we just don't even know we don't know about it.<br />
<br />
So why did God make a universe that is so big? I have a few theories, and if you as a ready have others, or agree with one or more of these, please feel free to let me know.<br />
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1) <b>Mystery</b>: The reason God made the universe a mystery is exactly that--to give us something that will always be a mystery, even to the realm of science. In some sense, it puts humans in their place, reminding us of how small, finite, and powerless we are compared to the rest of creation. It helps us to be OK with mystery... we can keep trying to understand it, but ultimately, much like some of revelation, we must be OK with not understanding it completely. It enables us to continually be amazed at the beauty of creation--it's nearly impossible to meditate on the universe and feel awe at its beauty and complexity. Finally, this also helps us be a bit more humble.<br />
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2) <b>A Purpose Unknown</b>: It's possible that the universe is so big because God has it purpose for it that we just don't even begin to realize. While this is much like the first reason, this theory postulates that there is a reason beyond just being a means of exploration and beauty for the universe.<br />
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3) <b>Other Life: </b>This is the most commonly believed theory as to the universe, and it's the one that I personally struggle with the most. As far as I know, the Church holds no definitive teaching about whether alien life exists, or even if believers shouldn't believe in it. I remember reading something about JPII saying it was up to the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/8009299/Pope-Benedict-XVIs-astronomer-the-Catholic-Church-welcomes-aliens.html">choice of the believer</a>, but don't quote me on that. Anyway, I'm not sure where I stand on the issue. I know <a href="http://walkwithlewis.blogspot.com/">C.S. Lewis</a>, in his sci-fi space series, posits a very believable scenario in which alien life could exist on other planets. Furthermore, from a statistical standpoint, it's very hard not think that intelligent life <i>could</i> exist on at least one other of the millions of planets in the universe.<br />
<span style="background-color: #cc0000;"> However...from a theological standpoint, it would <i>seem</i> that believing in other beings would compromise the state of human persons as the crown and center of creation, Christ's sacrifice for human's of all time, and our unique relationship with God.</span><br />
<br />
I haven't made my mind up about reason #3, but the first two seem completely reasonable. Am I missing anything? No matter what the reason why the universe is so dang huge, it's still one of the most fascinating things in existence, and I will probably never grow tired of thinking about it.<br />
<br />R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-36327713099942803112012-06-16T13:16:00.003-05:002012-07-08T13:47:45.593-05:00Comments on the Regnerus StudyThere is a new <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0049089X12000610">study </a>out being touted by Catholic and <a href="http://www.catholicvote.org/discuss/index.php?p=31248">Anti-Gay Marriage</a> believers as proving that same-sex parent (SSP) families are uniquely detrimental to children. To them, this is another reason that Same Sex Marriage should not be supported.<br />
<br />
As Catholics, American's, and human being's endowed with intellect and rational function, we have a responsibility not only to seek the fullness of Truth according to reality, but to uphold, support, and defend the Truth through realistic, prudent, and valid means. Therefore, I would like to examine this study to see what actual conclusions can be drawn from it concerning the same-sex marriage issue.<br />
<br />
First however, to remove any doubt of my bias, let me share my views concerning SSM. I believe marriage is a <a href="http://rdlang05.hubpages.com/hub/What-is-a-Sacrament">Sacrament </a>between a man and a woman, a reflection of the Trinitarian nature of God, for the purpose of begetting and raising children in a God centered environment. Therefore, I believe that any form of legislation endorsing same sex union is contrary to the will of God. For various theological, philosophical, psychological, legal and social reasons, same-sex couples should not be allowed to marry nor adopt or birth children. Furthermore, the raising of a child by a same sex couple after a heterosexual divorce provides complicated legal issues that could also be avoided by a marriage amendment.<br />
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That being said, the idea presented in this study that SSP is significantly and uniquely detrimental to the child being raised is, from a scientific paradigm, contrary to prior studies I have read, specifically one by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association*, but also numerous other <a href="http://www.apa.org/about/policy/parenting.aspx">studies </a>(some of which even suggest children of SSP are actually <i>better </i>adjusted than even IBF's**). However, Mr. Regnerus addresses the reliability of these studies in his article and thus appropriate doubt could be shed on their findings concerning their contrary views.<br />
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Futhermore, there are <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/study-gay-parenting-draws-criticism/story?id=16528374#.T9zKFbVfHSz">sources </a> pointing out the flaws of the study (anything from sample-size, its specific cohort as being unrepresentative, to unreliable measures) and while some of these arguments are more valid than others, they seriously handicap the ability of this study to be used in public discourse. Of course, any secular instituion, most of which are in favor of SSM, will find a way to attack this study. However, Mark Regnerus himself says that the study has some weaknesses, does not say anything specifically about the morality of SSP, and should not be used to defend any political position. I mostly agree with these criticisms--the study, in what and how it measures, is extremely limited in its findings, though there is some valuable information to be gleaned.<br />
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What can we take away from this study? First, it must be noted that in nearly any scientific study dealing with this subject, the spiritual aspect of the child is ignored, and in that concern I believe that no SSP can ever be spiritually healthy for the child involved, as it presents an intrinsically disordered representation of love, sex, marriage, and natural law. In general however, this study supports the opinion that, while SSP is no worse than divorce, step parentage, and single parent families, the benefits that proceed from an intact biological family cannot be ignored. Traditional marriage is the best chance a child has at a healthy, spiritually fulfilling life and a realistic portrayal of love and sex.<br />
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What does all this mean for Catholics and Marriage Amendment supporters? This study is not the savior of the Marriage Amendment cause, so please do not treat it as such. The very sketchy and limited nature of the study, and the fact that most people are skeptical of it, means that it is very unlikely to help you win any arguments, or convince people to even more closely examine their views. It is important as Catholics that we use all the tools (science, philosophy, revelation, etc.) to adequately support our point, and that we don't use an illogical, purely passionate, or invalid argument just because it supports our view. This does not win us any respect. Mark Regnerus' study has some points with which we can use as a piece of the scaffold in our argument, but it is in no way sound enough to stand on its own, nor does it disable the opponents argument concerning SSP and child well-being. We must continue this fight in prayer, peaceful and respectful discourse, and with a firm handle on Truth and reality.<br />
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*cf. <span class="author" style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;">Carole E. Allen, James E. Crawford, Mark Del Monte, Jane M. Foy,
Miriam Kaufman, Jonathan D. Klein, et al.</span></span><span class="title" style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"> “The Effects of Marriage,
Civil Union, and Domestic Partnership Laws on the Health and Well-Being of
Children” </span></span><a href="http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy.stthomas.edu/ps/aboutJournal.do?pubDate=120060701&actionString=DO_DISPLAY_ABOUT_PAGE&inPS=true&prodId=EAIM&userGroupName=clic_stthomas&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&docId=GALE%7C0950" style="text-indent: -0.5in;" title="Pediatrics"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;">Pediatrics</span></i></a><span class="citation-publication" style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;">.</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"> </span></i></span><span class="citation-volnumber" style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;">118.1 </span></span><span class="citation-pubdate" style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;">(July 2006)</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"> </span></span><span class="citation-page" style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;">p349)</span></span><br />
<span class="citation-page" style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="citation-page" style="text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; padding: 0in;">** "Intact Biological Families"--I disagree with this conclusion based on merely spiritual grounds, but the point is that there are varying degrees of sound science which finds different views on the matter.</span></span><br />
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<span class="citation-page"><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></span></div>R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-13576278967446345592012-06-14T11:46:00.002-05:002012-06-14T16:00:36.059-05:00Adoration Meditation: Loving Your Enemy<b><u>The Background</u></b><br />
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Yesterday the <a href="http://rdlang05.hubpages.com/hub/God-and-the-LDR">fiance</a> and I went to Adoration for some much needed prayer time. On the way there we had a discussion which left me with a topic to pray about (even though I didn't necessarily want to).<br />
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I'm working in a <a href="http://rdlang05.hubpages.com/hub/My-Search-for-Ninevah">parish again</a>, and it has its stressful moments. The actions and words of various people, inside the parish and out (abortion and HHS debates, rude drivers, control freaks, and just generally uncharitable people), have made me question why some people can even call themselves Catholics (for they in no way act like it), and unfortunately I have started to lose faith in humanity, the Church, and its people.<br />
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Worst of all, I have found a growth of hate in my heart, and it was this very thing I wanted to take to prayer before the Blessed Eucharist. It's hard to feel hate in front of the embodiment of love.<br />
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On our way there we were nearly hit (and likely seriously injured) by a driver who was at the very least distracted, but most likely made a stupid or selfish decision to turn left (I realized later that I really should give him the benefit of the doubt). I made a comment that I should have hit him as a matter of <a href="http://rdlang05.hubpages.com/hub/Justice-and-Apocalypse-Part-I-of-II">justice</a>, to which my fiance began to lecture me about God's mercy. So, considering I have, as of late, lost sight of God's mercy, that is how I decided to approach the topic in prayer.<br />
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<b><u>The Meditation</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><br />
I opened the book of Psalms (one of my favorite books, especially in times of trouble) and started reading from the beginning. After about 7 of them, I realized something--the Old Testament is filled with examples of people calling to God for Justice. In the Old Testament, this was natural and perfectly acceptable, as God was the deliverer of his people, and Israel trusted him to judge their oppressors. Furthermore, it was this belief in justice after life, that the wicked would parish and the good would be united with him, that gives Christians the consolation they need to not kill or seriously maim those incredibly stupid people (I exaggerate...but only a bit).<br />
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I realized however, that Jesus calls to more than that--though asking God to rain down judgement on those who have hurt us (my fiance' pointed out the story of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9%3A53-55&version=NIV">James and John</a>) may be acceptable and sometimes just, it not what the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross calls us to. We are called, in fact, to wish that that person is actually received into heaven. <br />
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This is hard, because in doing that, we are left with no consolation of Justice, except for our own reception and union with him. I relate it to the <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+20%3A1-16&version=NIV">Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard</a> in which everyone, even those who worked less, gets paid the same amount. This parable, and this act of giving up our own consolation of judgment is SO hard for humans because it is contrary to our nature as human beings. Mercy is divine, and thus it can only be given through the help of Christ. <br />
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We should all only be concerned with how WE will be judged, and furthermore, be seeking to help others "get paid" by receiving the beatific vision. This is impossible to do ourselves, and thus the only way to truly love, is to let Christ love through you.R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-7532633879993672172012-03-19T12:38:00.000-05:002012-03-19T12:38:55.187-05:00Further Reflections on Political Parties and the Religious MiddleI was thinking about things on my way to work today, and one of the things that crossed my mind is the fallacies that occur in the philosophies of our political parties, particularly in concern to social and moral issues.<br />
<br />
I'm not a political genius, but here's how I see it breaking down. The primary mistake Democrats as a whole make in their social-moral philosophy is thinking that social issues are actually individual issues, whereas Republicans, as a whole, overlook the value of free-will and personal choice.<br />
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Democrats believe that what happens in the bedroom or in the womb is an individual choice which doesn't affect the population as a whole. Ironically, this is despite what the individual might think concerning the "moral rightness" of an act. They say, "I believe abortion/Birth Control/Homosexual Marriage is wrong, but I have no right to impose that view on others, especially when it doesn't affect me". Granted, some Democrats think abortion is a moral good, but that's not the point here. What I'm trying to say is, we ARE our brother's (and sister's) keeper. This is actually an act of love, despite what much of the modern secular world might think. Individual acts do affect the greater population both immediately and indirectly. Abortion has negative effects on women, birth control in one woman can affect various sexual partners, the psychological ramifications of damaging acts affect how the individual relates with others, it leads others to do those immoral acts (through scandal), and from a theological standpoint it further corrupts the state of the world, increasing the presence of social sin. All those baptized are part of the Body of Christ. Sinful acts damage the world as a whole, not just the person(s) committing them.<br />
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However, some of these acts in and of themselves, should not be so far as outright banned on a federal level. This is where, I think, Conservatives sometimes overlook the value of personal choice and free-will. It's the same reason why the Church doesn't hold socialism as legitimate economic system. Just as you can't FORCE people to give up their hard-earned money, you cannot FORCE people to uphold the positive norms in every and all instances. While I agree that negative norms should be prohibited, we must still find a way to assure that people are able to live lives focused on a freedom to choose love rather than obey the religious law. <br />
<br />
Its a hard balance to tread. I'm sure there are gaping holes in my argument. I also realize that I'm arguing a primarily religious position. Indeed, this is written mostly to my Christian brothers and sisters, those of whom think we should not hold each other accountable, those who think we need to control every action, and those of us who are stuck in the middle not knowing which side to take.<br />
<br />
Being a Christian is hard work, often there is no <i>apparent </i>right answer. However, I believe there is a middle way somewhere in this mess; a balance of Christian morality and civil law that helps people avoid moral evil and yet challenges them (without forcing) them to live out the fullness of the positive norm Christian Charity. I have no answers, just observations about some of our problems. I realize this was kind of a rambling post, but hopefully you found a nugget or two of Truth within it.<br />
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Peace.R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-30191640755352075872012-02-23T16:23:00.000-06:002012-02-23T16:23:55.023-06:00Lenten Reflection—“Choose Life (again)”<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022312.cfm">Thursday After Ash Wednesday</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: #882222; color: seashell; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Readings:</span></b><span style="color: seashell; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/deuteronomy/deuteronomy30.htm"><span style="background: #882222; color: #ddbb99; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dt 30:15-20</span></a><span style="color: seashell; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><a href="" name="psalm"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1525308672476784619&postID=5941077591874181621"><strong><span style="background: #882222; color: #ddbb99; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ps</span></strong></a><a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/psalms/psalm1.htm"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: #882222; color: #ddbb99; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></span><span style="background: #882222; color: #ddbb99; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: #882222; color: #ddbb99; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></span></a><span style="color: seashell; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span><a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke9.htm"><span style="background: #882222; color: #ddbb99; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lk 9:22-25</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">One of my Lenten devotions this year is to reflect on the daily readings. While I won’t always have the time or motivation to post my reflections every day, I will try to post some of the ones that I find more edifying or relevant.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I reflected on these same readings <a href="http://rdlang.blogspot.com/2010/02/lenten-reflection-choosing-life.html">two years ago</a> as well, but I wanted to come at it from a slightly different angle this time around.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">The “sound-bite” that we can take from the 1<sup>st</sup> reading, and which will serve as our theme for reflection is “Choose life… that your descendants might live”. This begs the questions—how do we choose life, and what does it mean to do so?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>In the Readings:<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">In today’s first reading we see that we have two choices: Life or Death. From the Old Testament perspective choosing life, or rather, choosing God, means keeping the commandments as well as “loving him and walking in his ways”. It is these last two that I think are especially important, and we will flush out their meaning next.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">We find a completely different story in the Gospel reading. Though we should still keep the moral law (commandments) of the Old Testament, we find, through the fulfillment of Jesus and thus the law, that we are charged with a responsibility that is both harder than merely keeping commandments but also easier, as it speaks to our deepest human nature. Basically, we are called to love. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Loving in Lent:<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I’ve posted a lot about love in the past, both in my <a href="http://walkwithlewis.blogspot.com/search/label/Love">Lewis Blog</a> and <a href="http://rdlang.blogspot.com/search/label/Love">this one</a>. However today I want to focus on a particular aspect of it as it pertains to the readings and to Lent, and which may be especially relevant over the last couple months.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well I think it can be more than just flattery, it can also be a sincere form of love. In fact, as an act of love, we are called to imitate Christ and do the will of God. Today’s readings outline the best (though hardest) way to imitate Christ—dying and Sacrifice.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">A good parallel is <a href="http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/john12.htm">John 12:24-25</a>, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>but if it dies, it produces much fruit.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="" name="51012025">Whoever loves his life<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></a>loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">The Gospel for today is much the same, and in fact it’s likely that John used the words of Luke for his passage. The point is, if we truly want to love God, if we want to be with him in eternity (choosing life), there is better way (and in fact really no OTHER way) than to sacrifice everything for him, even if that be our lives. This is what the focus of lent should be… teaching ourselves to sacrifice so that we may love Christ and love like Christ.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>How do we Sacrifice?<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Now let me concede a point—very few of us, especially those of us with the means to be reading this blog right now, will be called to literally sacrifice our lives for Christ. Martyrdom is still a very real and <i>beautiful</i> reality within the Church (and we should all, with God’s grace, pray that we be willing to accept it if it comes), but it most likely won’t happen while residing in a first world country (despite the path that certain first world countries seem to be taking concerning religion). However, there are other ways to sacrifice or give up our lives for Christ, as well as opportunities, every day in fact, to sacrifice smaller things. We call this “dying to ourselves”.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">The major way in which we give our lives to Christ is through vocation—offering ourselves, our gifts, our work, to do what God is calling us to do. Whether it’s being a priest, religious, raising a large family, doing missionary work, serving the poor, etc. following God’s will despite how scary it can be is a form of giving up our lives.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">There are other, smaller ways, however, and this is where Lent comes in. Dying to ourselves, to our desires and passions, is a way to grow in virtue (particular those of temperance and fortitude), and this is why we fast. By fasting and giving up things that are important for us, and which are <i>hard</i> to give up, we slowly come to form the <i>habit</i> of giving things up. Not only that, but it also drives us to prayer and contemplation on Christ’s suffering, and further cultivates in us a desire to imitate him. See how this is cyclical? See why it’s important to give things up, even if it’s little, as long as it’s important to us? By practicing the small things, we can begin to find the larger sacrifices a little easier.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I was going to take this and apply it to why some people choose to have abortions or use birth control… but perhaps this isn’t right place or time, and I think you can make that connection by yourself (plus that’s why there’s a comments section ;-) ).<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Choose life…<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">With all this said and done, let us try to choose life this lent by sacrificing those little things, and if need be anything big. Let us pray as well that we may be willing to imitate Christ in love for him. When it all comes down to it, loving like Christ is what we should all be focused on, whether it’s Lent or not.</div>R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-52481389926623518612012-01-15T19:19:00.002-06:002012-01-15T19:23:20.373-06:00One Year After MarshallToday (Jan 15, 2012) marks the one year anniversary of me <a href="http://rdlang05.hubpages.com/hub/My-Search-for-Ninevah">quitting</a> my Youth Ministry job in Marshall, MN. I've thought a lot about what happened over the last year, why it happened, who its changed me, and where I am in life now because of it. This post is, for the most part, a reflection and attempt at healing, it is also in part, an apology.<br />
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As much as I would like to blame my departure from Marshall mostly on other people, the truth is it had as much to do with me as anyone else. Yes, I was working long hours with what seemed to be very little support from parents. Yes, there were people I didn't get along with. But more than that, I had no friends and I was homesick--four hours away from my now fiance, and 3 from my family. I was spiritually dead--I didn't feel a part of the parish or able to upkeep my spirituality. I missed grad school and the challenge of learning. I was inconfident in my ability as a youth minister and got very little affirmation I was doing a good job. All these combined lead me to be depressed, which lead me to be apathetic about how I was doing. Let's get one thing straight though--I did not leave because of the youth. They were great, and the reason why I stayed as long as I did. The reasons I left were because of the parents, the job itself, and even more so because of my personal inadequacies.<br />
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My program started to slip, parents began to meet and decide whether I should stay or go. I think secretly I was looking for a way out, so when the priest came and offered a chance to peacefully resign, I jumped at it, and I was gone two days later. Without saying goodbye to anyone.<br />
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This last part is what I regret the most. It's not that I was a crappy youth minister, that I didn't do everything I could have done in the program, or even that I realized that's not what I'm called to do as a job--but what I regret the most is that I feel I both ran away and abandoned the youth.<br />
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And it is this regret that I am still trying to get over--did I do the right thing, or was leaving in the manner I did cowardly? I don't really know yet, but i'm working through the answers to some of my questions. Was going to Marshall in the first place the right decision? I'm pretty sure it was. Was leaving Marshall the right decision? I think it probably was. What I do know however, is that no matter how much I regret the manner in which I left, if I'm to evaluate the decision based off of the current status of my life, leaving Marhsall is quite possibly the best decision of my life.<br />
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In just a year I've gotten engaged to (I can honestly say) the most beautiful woman in the world (an event that probably would not have happened if I had stayed in Marshall), I've completed a semester of my Masters of Arts in Theology program at Saint Paul Seminary, and I'm two weeks into a job that I absolutely love. I must say, while in Marshall I was nearly miserable, lately I am the happiest that I have ever been.<br />
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I still have some healing to do, still have some things to work out in my mind and heart... but now that I'm happy, I can do that.R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-33884425141289861682012-01-13T11:06:00.000-06:002012-01-13T11:06:41.393-06:00No Place to Call Home: The State of Catholic Young Adults in American PoliticsThis is one of the few political posts you will ever see me write, mostly because, as I will discuss later, I <b>hate </b>politics. <i>Why </i>do I hate politics?<br />
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There is a movement among my generation of devoted Catholics to move towards the conservative and traditional aspects of the faith, perhaps in response to the (some would say) abusive implementations of Vatican II. However, that's not the point of this post. Rather, it is a platform for me to stage the conundrum my generation faces against the rising liberalism of the western world.<br />
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First, let me say this: I am not educated in politics, I understand very little of it, and for the most part I'm relatively apathetic about it. So if I say anything that objectively untrue, please feel free to logically and reasonably correct me with evidence. However, if you care to spout partisan bias based off of something you hear from one of your catered news shows, please don't bother.<br />
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OK. So why do I hate politics? Quite simply, I view politics as a lose-lose situation. The only reason I even vote is because its my obligation to do so as a responsible citizen and Catholic. I hate doing it because there is NO mainstream political party or movement that correctly lines up with traditional Catholic views. No matter who you vote for, the person you vote for will be against something in the Church.<br />
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I firmly believe that, from a Catholic (and hopefully mainstream Christian) perspective, we should be voting for "socially conservative--financially liberal" candidates. This ensures that our culture is held accountable to live moral lives while providing for the poor and vulnerable. It is the best balance between Social Justice and virtuous internal and family lives. Now, "liberals", which fall mostly under the term "democrats" are obviously liberal on both axes, while "conservative" "republicans" are conservative (again obviously). So the problem, in theory, is that we can either vote on fiscal matters and go democrat, or vote on social matters and go republican. Still there are problems with this... many young Catholics have been brought up to think that voting democrat is near evil, and that democratic fiscal views are socialist, communist (yes there IS a difference), or at the very least want to take away what people earn. Additionally, we've basically been told to "pro-life" (another term I loathe), and thus "socially" is the only way to vote. The problem is, and let me try to be succinct in this, Republicans don't have a consistent pro-life platform either, and economic and educational status has at least a correlation with the likely-hood of getting an abortion. Could the economy be at least a partial solution to reducing abortions?<br />
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This is the problem I, and I think a decent portion of my rational, un-brainwashed, catholic peers feel. We have no political home. And so, as a defense mechanism we either just don't care, or we try to rationalize why one party is better than the other. Let me say this though: if there is ever a "pro-life" democrat (and mind you this includes: war, abortion, marriage, death penalty, euthanasia, etc.), they would most likely have my vote.<br />
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Let me just give a couple more reasons about why I hate politics (and excuse me for my rant). I have seldom had a good discussion or experience with politics. In fact, I find it to be one of the most <i>irrational,</i> stubborn, biased, and divisive topics I know. Most people who claim to be from one party or another do it for one or two issues and don't actually know what they're party fully believes. Political parties become more like a label and status symbol then they do for any platform for discussion about a better country. If you can rationally think about what you believe, what you, the country, and the poor and vulnerable truly NEED, can get your head out of your butt, and take everything you hear from news channels with a grain of salt, and still say you're from one party or another, then more power to you. However, if you think that being either republican or democrat makes you more or less American, please don't even bother discussing politics with me.R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-182656162739129652012-01-09T15:03:00.001-06:002012-01-09T22:56:08.773-06:00What Makes Love Work?I've been thinking quite a bit lately about what makes Emily (<a href="http://rdlang05.hubpages.com/hub/God-and-the-LDR">my fiance</a>') and mine's relationship so good. Don't get me wrong, we definitely have our problems in our relationship, but there is a solidness and security there that I don't seem to see in many relationships, even some marriages. Over the 15+ month's we've been dating we've seen good (and bad) relationships crumble or go through some serious tribulation. We've had our problems too, the first 6 months was a constant struggle and there were times when we both thought about calling it off (her more often then me though ;-)). Still, we're now at the point of planning the wedding, so we must be doing something right. Now, I will be the first to admit that the primary reason we are together is through the <a href="http://rdlang05.hubpages.com/hub/What-is-Grace">grace </a>of God. It if wasn't for Him helping us through some difficult situations, and Him wanting us to be together, we would have broken up a while ago. However, after thinking about it for a while I've come up with the 3 basic elements that makes our relationship one of the most solid I know. I think any relationship that has these three, as well as God's help (which is the most essential), can be a good and secure relationship.<br />
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<b>1) Commitment</b>: If you think love and relationships are supposed to be easy, I suggest you re-examine the state of marriage in this country. Love, marriage, and relationships of all kinds will be the hardest things you do in your entire life. This is why <a href="http://walkwithlewis.blogspot.com/2011/03/mere-christianity-book-3-chapter-8_29.html">love </a>is not about feeling, but about commitment. Emily and I CHOOSE to be with each other no matter what. Our confidence in this decision is held strong by our prayers and the numerous signs that God has given us to be together. I'll admit, there are times when I just need my space from her, when we fight and get angry, or when our "feelings of closeness" aren't so present. That doesn't matter, because we know we will whether any storm because we are each others' vocation. Commitment must be the building block of any relationship, otherwise it will crumble.<br />
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<b>2) <a href="http://rdlang05.hubpages.com/hub/Spaghetti-vs-Waffles-Gender-Differences-in-Cognitive-Problem-Solving">Communication</a>: </b>This is another obvious relational pillar that people, quite frankly, tend to suck at. Communication must be open, honest, <a href="http://rdlang05.hubpages.com/hub/Why-Mercy-Affirmation-and-Humility-are-Important">respectful</a>, and consistent. I worry when some couples tell me that they never fight... fighting is what healthy couples do! IF they do it in the right way. When you have a problem it is important to tell your partner about it so that both your needs can be met. However, do it at an appropriate time. When discussing or arguing, don't use negative tactics such as name calling, score keeping, or generalizing. You can find tips on these all over the net, so if you have problems with healthy arguing, I suggest you look up some advice, or get a hold of me and I'll help you. Some couples are afraid to talk about problems because they are afraid that a fight could get ugly and end the relationship, or they just don't like confrontation. Well, this is where the commitment comes in--if you know a fight won't break you up, then you can have it and still feel secure. I could go on and on with this paragraph, but because you can find this info everywhere, I'll cut it off here.<br />
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<b>3) Intimacy: </b>This is the element that everyone thinks they do great at but know one really knows how and thus people end up in unloving marriages. Put simply, intimacy is a mutual feeling of love between two partners. Yes, this is the FEELING part. However, its not just about sex! Sex can be without intimacy if you are using the other person, and a lack of at least occasional intimacy can break any committed bond. You must <b>show and communicate</b> your feelings of love for each other. This is tricky, since each person speaks a different love language. In other words, each person expresses and receives love in a different way. If you feel you are not receiving love you cannot give love. It's a very delicate circle, but someone has to start it. Gary Chapman writes a great book on this called <i>The 5 Love Languages</i>--check it out if you or your partner are feeling unloved, or if you just want to learn how to love better. The movie "Fireproof" also has some very good examples of this principle.<br />
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Every relationship has it's weaknesses, struggles, and strengths. It's primarily through the Grace of God that relationships work out, and some, quite frankly shouldn't last. I don't have all the answers, but for some reason my relationship has lasted, and will continue to last, and I believe it is for these three reasons. Please, if you are in a relationship that is struggling, examine which area(s) need work and talk about it as a couple. If you have good friends or parents who have beautiful relationships, ask them for advice and help as well. Good relationships don't flower in a dark closet, they are meant to be shared and thrive in a Garden of Relationships. Cheesy I know, but its true. A private relationship is a dead one.<br />
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Happy LovingR.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-53389135336899787892011-09-27T22:27:00.000-05:002011-09-27T22:27:45.592-05:00Whether "Cliques" are Opposed to Christian CharityI think this is an especially relative question... should devout Christians belong to a group, in an exclusive nature, and decline interaction with "lesser" or non-believers? This question is raised constantly in Christian circles, especially among teens and young adults, and on college campuses. Should we ignore those who could lead us to sin or who aren't as holy as we... or should we invite all manner of sinners into our midst in an attempt for conversion? What's more Charitable? Most would say that exclusiveness is not loving, and that would should welcome every type of person into our groups to best love them. Let's examine the question further.<div><br />
</div><div>For the purpose of this post, the definition of clique will be, <b>an exclusive group of people with shared interests who spend time together.</b></div><div><b><br />
</b></div><div>Now let me say this first, group-forming and cliques are part of the psyche from the human condition. Because we have an <a href="http://rdlang05.hubpages.com/hub/What-Maslows-Hierarchy-of-Needs-Tells-us-about-the-Nature-of-the-Human-Person">innate need to belong,</a> we naturally form groups to fulfill that need, and thus we form "out-groups" to distinguish what we "are not". However, just because we have a disposition to something does not mean its automatically alright.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Now for the issue at hand--as Christians, can we form exclusive groups and still be charitable? Well first, lets look at what Charity is. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Another word for Charity is love, we know that God is love, and that Jesus told us to not only love God with all our being, but also to love our neighbors as ourselves. Aquinas states that love is "<a href="http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3023.htm#article1">benevolence</a>", or willing the good of the other person. Basically this means that to love another person we must want them to be with God, to love ourselves we must wish to get to heaven, and to love God we must want to do his will.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Now we know we must love God with all our being, so it is him that we should love first and foremost. We then must love ourselves, and then others, for we cannot give what we do not have, and so to be charitable to others we must abide in charity to ourselves. This, above all, means avoiding sin, for it is in sin that we are <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3024.htm#article12">separated </a>from God and reject His Charity. In avoiding sin, we must also be careful not to allow others to lead us to sin, but also must not condone or support the sinful lives of others. If we are to love our <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3025.htm#article6">neighbor</a>, we must be his keeper.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Further, each person as a varying degree of strength in God, some are strong and others are week, and each person has particular areas of sin that we fall into habitually. If we are expected to help others we must be strong and not fall into sin ourselves, and thus if a person is going to lead you to sin, how can you help them? Yes, Jesus ate with sinners, but in his perfection he need not worry about falling into the sinful acts of those he fell around, nor did he partake in sinful acts as a means for their conversion.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So here it is... it is from this knowledge that I conclude that certain Christian Cliques are not actually (inherently) contrary to Christian Charity, but rather may help to guard it. Sadly there are some people who, for our own well being, we just shouldn't associate with. If someone will lead you to sin, away from God and His charity, you will no be able love them fully while living in that sin, and so to preserve the love for yourself and the love of God, you can "love them from a distance" ie, pray for their conversion and happiness. But the will of God and your purity must come first.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Now, some people are strong in faith or have a particular resistance to certain vices. If this is the case than you should prudently discern if you are called to evangelize to a group or person in that they may be converted. You should only do this if you are strong enough to resist this sin.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Finally, Cliques can be misused. When used as a means of judgment or self-edification they not only hinder charity on all three accounts, but damage the charity of others as they grow contempt for the Church. If an individual is in need of guidance and fellowship, and your "clique" is solid enough to encourage them in that way without falling itself, the charitable thing to do is to invite them into your group.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Consider the groups you are part of, why you are part of them, and if they are exclusive to the detriment or support of Christian Charity.</div>R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-65732769625956787382011-09-23T15:42:00.003-05:002011-09-23T15:45:46.466-05:00Reflections on the Historical JesusRecently, I was asked a question about my thoughts on the "Historical Jesus"... ie searching for those words and acts that Christ ACTUALLY said and did. I'll admit that, at the time the question was asked, I had had very little exposure to what the Historical Jesus actually was. Basically, I lumped every analysis of the "Real Christ" as falling under <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dominic_Crossan">John Dominic Crossan</a>'s "Quest for the Historical Jesus" and the subsequent "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Seminar">Jesus Seminar</a>". For the record, even after brief subsequent study on the historical Jesus, I still think the work of Crossan and the Jesus seminar is inspired by Satan... but more on that later.<br />
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For my Eucharist class I was required to read an article (<i>The Eucharist at the Last Supper: Did it really happen? </i>Theology Digest 42:4, Winter 1995) by Roman Catholic Historical Jesus scholar John Meier. I'll admit, Meier has begun to change my view on Historical Jesus, and has shown me the value the paradigm has in answering certain theological questions and gaining a deeper understanding and love for the person of Christ and Sacred Scripture.<br />
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Meier starts off by saying that, while his book <i>A Marginal Jew </i>is often "yoked" with the Jesus seminar, he nevertheless disagrees with Crossan on key issues of Catholicism, for instance... whether or not the Last Supper actually happened. Meier also points out the value of knowing the historical Jesus in reaction to fundamentalist's literal readings. <br />
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Without giving away the whole article, or just quoting applicable one-liners from Meier, I'll just give you my general assessment:<br />
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Theology is <a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/anselm/">faith seeking understanding</a>, and faith is also rooted in the <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3004.htm#article2">intellect</a>, which requires some element of reason to truly <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3002.htm#article1">assent </a>to God. It is for this reason that the Church has always upheld faith AND reason as essential to true belief in God. While different believers are responsible for various levels of understanding concerning faith, it is important for theologians, teachers, and priests to have a deep wisdom and understanding of theological knowledge in order to defend the Truth and help uphold the faith of others.<br />
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The Historical Jesus, and historical criticism in general, when applied correctly, in respect to tradition, right reason and intent, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, can be a wonderful tool and paradigm in gaining a deeper understanding of the Gospel and the doctrines of our faith. It is for example, in learning the formula that Christ used during the last supper we can begin to see, as Meier says that,<br />
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"...what the hallowed bread and wine first of all mediate or communicate is not a static thing but a dynamic reality, the whole saving event of Jesus' death and ultimate vindication" (350).<br />
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It is through such study that we begin to see our doctrines in new and beautiful ways, as they were handed to us by Christ himself.<br />
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However, this paradigm is not for everyone, for those who are not firm in their faith, sound of reason, or guided by the Holy Spirit, may fall into serious and grave error such as that of the Jesus Seminar who has concluded that,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Jesus was a mortal man born of two human parents, who did not perform nature miracles nor die as a substitute for sinners nor rise bodily from the dead.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Words_2-3" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Seminar#cite_note-Words-2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[3]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Acts_3-3" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Seminar#cite_note-Acts-3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[4]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gospel_4-3" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Seminar#cite_note-Gospel-4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[5]</a></sup> Sightings of a risen Jesus were nothing more than the visionary experiences of some of his disciples rather than physical encounters.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Words_2-4" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Seminar#cite_note-Words-2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[3]</a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Acts_3-4" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Seminar#cite_note-Acts-3" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[4]</a></sup></span></span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Gospel_4-4" style="font-style: normal; line-height: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Seminar#cite_note-Gospel-4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial; white-space: nowrap;">5</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">]</span></a>" </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></sup></span> I'll let you figure out exactly that is not in accord with the core of Christian belief. <br />
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So, when we aim to de-mythologize and legalize the words of Christ, we can fall into serious error. But for those of us who approach this aspect of historical criticism with the intent of greater understanding and in respect to already established doctrines of the Church, we can come to a deeper faith.<br />
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So my brethren, happy (and appropriate) "Questing".R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-63139129796167564682011-09-11T12:41:00.000-05:002011-09-11T12:41:47.876-05:00Divine Mercy, Divine JusticeI want to reflect briefly on the Gospel reading for today. You can read it <a href="http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091111.cfm">here</a>, or just open your Bible to Mathew 18:21-35.<br />
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First, I want to look at the exchange between Jesus and the <a href="http://rdlang05.hubpages.com/hub/What-is-an-Apostle">Apostle </a>Peter. Peter, asking the Lord how many times he should forgive his neighbor, suggests an answer to his own question--7 times. Now, Peter thought he was pretty hot stuff here, because according to Jewish law you only had to forgive your neighbor 3 times before seeking justice. Not only did Peter double that number, but he added one--clearly he went above and beyond the requirements of the Law. However, Jesus responds that he must forgive his neighbor 77 times. In Bible-speak that basically translates to an "inconceivable amount". No Jew of their time would ever have fathomed forgiving a neighbor that many times. This is the incredible challenge that Christ gives us, to forgive unceasingly. God does this as well, although he also deal out Divine Justice as well... but only per our choice.<br />
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The second half of the Gospel is the parable Christ tells to illustrate the need for human forgiveness, the gift of Divine <a href="http://rdlang05.hubpages.com/hub/Why-Mercy-Affirmation-and-Humility-are-Important">mercy</a>, and manifestation of Divine Justice. Interpreting from the allegorical sense, the Master in the parable is God, who despite us being unworthy and completely unable to pay our debt to him, forgave us our debts and allows us to live with him. Because God has forgiven us, we must also forgive our brethren. When we are "trespassed against", we must show mercy and forgive those have hurt us. Why? Because when we fail to live in the light and example of God's mercy, we are choosing rather to live in His justice--and what is the justice of non-forgiving? Being unforgiven. This is what results in Hell (or in the case of the parable, torture).<br />
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I think it especially providential that these readings occurred on the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say--God wants us to forgive the men who did this and who continue to do such things. Should we wish Hell on these men, and on Osama Bin Laden? No, for that is not love. Instead we should forgive them, choose to move on and not let it control our lives, and even radically pray for their conversion and entrance into heaven. It's a hard message to hear, many wounds are still open or never actually healed properly, but I urge you, if you want to receive God's mercy you must give mercy yourself... and if you can do it with Sept 11, you can pretty much do it with anything.<br />
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May you find love and mercy in your heart.R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-81028116929863304772011-09-10T12:09:00.002-05:002011-09-10T12:11:54.769-05:00On "Heaven is for Real"<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">When I was working Totus Tuus this summer, teaching Catechism and immersed in Catholic culture, I heard about a fad that was sweeping through the faithful. The book<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Heaven is for Real<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>is a "true" story about a 4 year old boy who, while undergoing emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix, visited heaven. The book was written a number of years later by his father, a Wesleyan Pastor at a relatively small rural Nevada church. Throughout the second half of the book, Pastor Todd, through humorous and inspiring anecdotes, explains some of the things his son saw in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Here's the thing--this book IS spiritually inspiring, above all its a testimony of strength, perseverance, and hope through suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">The book would also qualify as personal revelation which has not been approved and even if it has been we can choose not believe:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">“Throughout the ages, there have been so-called ‘private’ revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ's definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church. Christian faith cannot accept ‘revelations’ that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of which Christ is the fulfillment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such ‘revelations’” (CCC # 67).</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">However, I don't believe that this simple little book will ever be approved by Church. Why? Because 1) the source is not credible... the visions were by a young boy who hardly even knows how to communicate what he saw, and then were written down, many years later, by his Protestant father who could have interpreted his son's words in ways that fit his belief.</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">Secondly, some things are directly against Catholic doctrine or dogma, specifically that the young boy says that Jesus told him those in Hell will not have resurrected bodies--a notion which contradicts centuries of Catholic doctrine (</span><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;">"For an hour is coming in which all those in their tombs shall hear His voice and come forth. Those who have done right shall rise to live; the evildoers shall rise to be damned" (Jn 5:28-29)).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">To my Catholic brethren--it is OK to read this book, it has some emotionally and spiritually moving sections that, for the right person, could enrich their spiritual life. However, to all who read this I must urge prudence and deliberation in choosing which elements of the revelation to believe. Educate yourself before reading this, disregard the parts that are contrary to established Catholic teaching, and, if by chance you are prone to being led astray, just stay away from the book. There are other books you can read for the same effect that are more solid.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-91637213452749850422011-08-28T12:16:00.000-05:002011-08-28T12:16:26.241-05:00If You're Happy and Don't Know Why?I'm (slowly) reading a book right now called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Social-Intelligence-Science-Human-Relationships/dp/055338449X?ie=UTF8&tag=hubpages0192&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=hubpages0192&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=055338449X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. It's really excellent and basically details how our emotions and relationships effect us physically and vice versa. <br />
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Did you know that by smiling you can actually make yourself happy, and not only that, but when other people see you smile, they are more primed to smile themselves. It's the same with being crabby, sad, or angry. Our emotions REALLY are contagious. It's something called mirror neurons. We're made to imitate one another to build report and intimacy.<br />
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This book is somewhat dense, but still easy to read, and I would suggest it for anyone who is interested in such things.<br />
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So my challenge to all of you is to think about how your emotions are effecting other people, and try to smile as often as possible. And this is coming from a crabby guy ;-) R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-208378685396563652011-08-09T15:30:00.000-05:002011-08-09T15:30:55.132-05:00Faith Vs. Reason<a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Defining-Faith">Faith </a>and Reason go hand in hand--as responsible Christians, and especially Catholics, we've been told that since Thomas Aquinas, and have recently affirmed it through the Encyclical <i><a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_15101998_fides-et-ratio_en.html">Fides et Ratio</a></i>. However, there comes a point in time when, one side becoming unbalanced or unduly focused upon, Faith and Reason can battle each other for domination and actually <b>HINDER </b>the growth of the Christian.<br />
<br />
Pope John Paul II states "<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Faith asks that its object be understood with the help of reason; and at the summit of its searching reason acknowledges that it cannot do without what faith presents" (Fides et Ratio, 42). Therefore, Faith without reason is "superstition", whereas Reason without faith is nihilistic and relativism (seems to be the backbone of today's society, huh?).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So which is more important, faith or reason? As a responsible Catholic, I must say that they are both equally important--just as Scripture and Tradition are equal. We all have a duty to be able to "<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+3%3A15&version=NIV">give reason</a>" as to the hope in our hearts and why we believe what we do. Likewise, there are mysteries of the Faith that reason cannot supply an answer to, and in those we are called to have faith.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, in this <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Post-Modernism">modern day society</a>, considering the way most Americans think, Faith is the harder virtue. And, while I won't say its "more important", I will say that its the "safeguard" or reason, and in a sense "higher" in that it is a Theological Virtue endowed by God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There must be an academic element to all faith, and it is good to study theology, and at the very least the basic doctrines of the faith. We must <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Understanding-the-Core-Why-Knowing-about-Personality-Types-can-Help-in-Everyday-Relationships"><b>UNDERSTAND </b></a>God to <b>KNOW </b>and <b>LOVE </b>God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HOWEVER, reason, study, and academia cannot and must not be our primary source of identification with God. We <b>MUST </b>have a relationship with him, and can do that only through a faith-filled <b>WILLING </b>of love through him. We must pray about what we learn and ask God to speak to us himself, not only through books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Please, brothers and sisters. Have faith, pray, and discern what God wants for you. We are made to know, love, and serve God, and so let us try to do all those three equally. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, serif;"><i>Ratio <b>ET </b>Fides</i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="" name="top"><span style="font-family: "Times","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></a></div>R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-62817620000143172782011-08-08T15:39:00.000-05:002011-08-08T15:39:02.157-05:00Why I'm CatholicI Believe in God<br />
I Believe God wants to be known<br />
I Believe God wants a mutual loving relationship<br />
Therefore God must reveal himself through covenants<br />
I Believe that God made Covenants with the Hebrews<br />
I Believe that Jesus Christ fulfills all the Covenants and Prophecies of the Old Testament<br />
I Believe Jesus Christ established His Church on the foundation of Peter<br />
I Believe that Peter handed down his Authority through history to the current Pope and Bishops<br />
I Believe that this power is to "Bind and Loose" on Earth AND Heaven<br />
I Believe that the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit<br />
Therefore, I Believe, in good faith, that ALL the doctrines, dogmas, and teachings of the Holy Catholic Church are inspired by God and thus true.<br />
<br />
I am Catholic because it was the Church established by Christ.R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-37721733336475216352011-08-05T08:44:00.000-05:002011-08-05T08:44:13.077-05:00There is Hope in God's Purpose!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">Today I finish my last day of Totus Tuus, in what will in all probability be my last year with this wonderful organization.<span> </span>It has been a long, exhausting, and often trying summer.<span> </span>It has challenged my faith in myself and in God, and has been a test of my humility and patience daily.<span> </span>It is sometimes hard even to live with people you love. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">All of this has led me to ask myself, “what was the point of me doing Totus Tuus this summer”?<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Through this experience I have come to reaffirm—THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.<span> </span>God has a plan for you, a plan he has had before you were conceived from the beginning of time.<span> </span>Because of this, even when we suffer, ALL THINGS WORK FOR GOOD.<span> </span>It may not seem like it at the time, but it is true.<span> </span>We may not know the way to go, or what God has in store, but we should always trust God.<span> </span>He never fails us and when we suffer it to make us stronger.<span> </span>Please brothers and sisters, never give up hope, always be assured that God will come through for you.<span> </span>We have nothing to fear except our own lack of faith.</div>R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-81004490214869374682011-08-04T08:32:00.000-05:002011-08-04T08:32:25.312-05:00It's OK to Talk about You<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">People are wounded; it’s a fact of our fallen lives.<span> </span>These wounds affect most everything in our lives—from our choice of work to how we communicate, much of it involves either healing or avoiding what hurts us.<span> </span>One of things that it most affects is our relationships, especially how vulnerable we feel we can be.<span> </span>Most of us, after being hurt by someone we love, grow up guarded and thinking we cannot trust certain groups of people.<span> </span>Sometimes we feel as though we cannot trust anyone.<span> </span>We feel we are all alone.<span> </span>Other times we grow up believing that no one wants to hear what we think, or that to express our feelings is week, arrogant, or inconveniencing to others.<span> </span>Often we just think that Jesus is the only one who we should ever take our wounds to.<span> </span>Indeed, he is the Divine healer.<span> </span>He alone will understand fully.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">However…</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">I want every person reading this to hear me and understand—<b>it is OK</b> (in fact many times it is NECESSARY) <b>to go other people</b> (human people who have the capability of hurting you further) <b>with your problems.</b> <span> </span>It is not burdensome, it is not arrogant, and it does not diminish the merit or penance of your suffering.<span> </span>It does, in fact, allow the other person to exercise love, empathy, compassion, and service.<span> </span>Your suffering, if you allow it, can help make others holy as well.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Humans are relational creatures, we exemplify the Trinity in that we are made to give AND receive love.<span> </span>How can you expect others to love you if you don’t 1) love them and 2) ALLOW them to love you?<span> </span>Some people feel loved when you trust them with your problems.<span> </span>Some people ASK you if they can help you, making it clear that it would be no burden, but an exercise of love, to just listen to your hardships.<span> </span>And yet, you deny them the chance to love you.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Yes, we all need to guard our hearts in the appropriate manner, but we also must dare to be vulnerable in the appropriate manner as well.<span> </span>I challenge you all, as well as myself, to not be afraid to accept love.<span> </span>Yes, you will probably be hurt again; unfortunately, humans do that to each other.<span> </span>But you will also likely find a love that will transform your life.<span> </span>I dare you to love.</div>R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-19405717994775182852011-08-03T09:04:00.000-05:002011-08-03T09:04:05.780-05:00The Divine Blueprint<div class="MsoNormal">Your life is like a building, and God’s plan for you its blueprint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Early in life God lays the foundation through your experiences, personality, and all of life’s little formations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each and every day is a brick added.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">What will you be: A cottage? A mansion?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Palace?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each has their dignity and purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will you be a refuge for many?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An emblem of Beauty?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe a house of work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each house has its style, is built in its own unique way, and yet there are patterns common among types of houses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you a priestly house, built to love the world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or rather are you a marriage house, built to completely love your spouse and children?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you a house meant to bless the world with humble, manual labor, doing the work that no one wants to do, but everyone needs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or are you a house that is meant to preach, to teach, to write, or heal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of these houses have their own ways of being built, their own foundation, and yet, despite all the similarities in these vocations, each is still very much unique.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I suppose what this really all comes down to is discernment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are some things you look for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Above you listen for the voice of God whispering in your ear and in your heart what he wants you to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But also we must look at our life experiences and within us to who we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What foundation has God laid for us, what patterns of love, prayer, etc. do we have in our lives that might point us towards a specific vocation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many times God does not reveal things to us until we are ready to handle them, so the pattern isn’t always clear, or the goal of the pattern, but if we think and pray about who we are and what God has revealed to us thus far, I believe that we can catch a glimpse of our future and the amazingness God has in store for us.</div><div class="MsoNormal">There’s my 2-cent analogy for the day <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-44949005129391684182011-08-02T11:12:00.002-05:002011-08-02T11:12:51.134-05:00"I Praise You"<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Verse 1) Why do I run so far away</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">When al I want is you</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">With open arms you wait for me</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">To run right back to you</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">2) Only you can fill my emptiness</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Nothing else could e’er suffice</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">You gave the wholeness of yourself</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">With one great sacrifice</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">C) I give my being all to you</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Heart, Body, Mind and Soul</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">To live and breathe that all shall see</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Your glory shining through</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">PC) I praise you, I praise you, I praise you</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">3) Though darkness comes and seas shall rise</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Though my body aches and pines</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Though in sin I live my life</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">For you my heart still sighs</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">B) Lord what wonders you have wrought</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">By what mercies you have saved</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">And in your covenential bond</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Your love I will proclaim</div>R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-85008103130659874512011-08-01T18:41:00.001-05:002011-08-01T18:41:48.498-05:00Reflections on Charitability<div class="MsoNormal">I was thinking and praying today during mass about what to do concerning a specific situation. I thought it very important to discern correctly what to do as it concerned the well-being of another person. I began to feel overwhelmed because how can I, as a human being with limited intelligence and obscured by sin, be sure that I am right, especially when the other person is sure that the opposite is right?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s part of the problem—in today’s world, everyone thinks they’re right, but there are some situations where only one person can be in accord with reality. I see this especially in the Catholic world in the liberal vs. conservative debate. Conservatives think liberals are heretics, removed from the essence of the Church, and just weird. Liberals think the conservatives are uncharitable, lacking the spirit, and close-minded. Both are wrong. Is there only one right answer in liturgy? Of course not, liturgy is the praise of the people, and praise takes different forms. I agree, there is a definite area in which the liturgy must occur to be appropriate, but because something varies from the “norm” does not mean it is illicit, invalid, or heresy. If everything were in the norm then there would be no variety. It is the openness to variety while remaining true to the spirit of Christ and the Church that makes the Catholic Church a universal and global church. I’ll admit, it’s a hard line to walk but it’s possible.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The human condition makes us judge and think we’re right without really first considering the alternative. We want to feel “in” and seek the approval of our peers, so we naturally point out the flaws of the “other” instead of inherently seeing the holy, the Christ, in all things. No matter how far a Church or a Christian is from God, there is still goodness, there is still dignity, and there is still some form of divine work there. This is especially so with parishes and people who are seeking to do God’s will. Sure they may err, we all do, but doesn’t the very desire to seek holiness make you, in some sense, holy? We are too obsessed with condemning and judging the other that we fail to see the good in things that we don’t already agree with.</div><div class="MsoNormal">All this has led me to question whether or not I can ever really know if I’m right. I know that I can, God speaks to me, reveals things to me, and I do possess natural reason that seeks Truth in accordance with the natural order of things. There are times I am right in my actions and my beliefs. Of course, there are many, many, times in which I discern, act, reason, or believe incorrectly. This is what causes the doubt. How can I be sure that what I pray and decide is actually according to the Will and revelation of God. I guess what I end up falling back on is 1) God’s ability to correct me and show me I’m on the wrong path, 2) God’s mercy, and 3) the Sacrament of Reconciliation.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All this pondering and prayer led me to think about the gifts that God has given me. What are they? I’m not an incredibly good-looking person. I’m not strong, or exceptionally eloquent. I’m intelligent but not exceptionally or in a way that other people can’t fulfill that need. I’m musical, but not prodigious. So what has God given me? Basically, He has given me, as he has every human person, a unique capacity to love in a specific way and Charism.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Knowing this, it is now my job to discern HOW best to love. In a general way, I must obviously love as God does. How is this? 1) Meeting people where they are at: God will never turn his back on us because we do not do what he says. His love is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">unconditional</b>, human love should strive to be that as well. 2) True love must respect free will: I must point out errors, pray, and continue love, but I must never condemn or withdraw my love because someone fails to align their will with the truth. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s really all I’ve come up with—in reality I haven’t answered any questions about liturgy or what is right and wrong. The only conclusion that I have come to is that I must be charitable in all things, for that will win more hearts for the Lord than legalistic rules. It’s a fine line to tread, and I will often err on both sides. Pray for me Brethren, and I shall pray for you.</div>R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1525308672476784619.post-36675653255486202952011-02-18T10:10:00.000-06:002011-02-18T10:10:56.573-06:00Life GoalsHere are some of my life goals. I'm always adding to them, but as of now, this is what I want to do with my life!<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Life Goals:</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>1)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Get a Masters</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>2)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Get a Doctorate</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>3)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Get Married</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>4)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Have Children</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>5)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Get Realtor’s license</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>6)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Flip a House</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>7)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Open a Retreat Center</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>8)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Write and Publish a Book</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>9)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Record a CD</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>10)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Invest in a business endeavor</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>11)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Become Fluent in Spanish</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>12)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Become Fluent in French</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>13)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Become Fluent in Italian</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>14)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Become Fluent in German</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>15)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Become Fluent in Mandarin</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>16)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Earn $100 from Adsense in one month</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>17)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Earn $250 from Adsense in one month</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>18)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Earn $500 from Adsense in one month</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span><span>19)<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Earn $1000 from Adsense in one month</div>R.D.Langrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713448753416673739noreply@blogger.com0