Acts 3:6-7
But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
A wise man once said, “You can never get enough of what you don’t really want.” The lame man to whom Peter spoke in today’s passage thought he wanted silver and gold. But he discovered that he really wanted healing. When the healing came, silver and gold were forgotten as he went “walking and leaping and praising God.” Many people today need healing but think they need silver and gold. So they pile up what does not heal and grow bored and frustrated when they have accumulated vast amounts of what they don’t really want. Jesus Christ is what we all, at bottom, need and want. But very often we are blinded from knowing what we really want by the cares of this life. Let this day be a day where all your desires—-for love, for healing, for earthly provision, for joy, for hope—-are given over to God our Father in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He knows what you really need.
August 30th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Recently, I have spoke of these up coming elections McCain vs Obama & Democrat vs Republican with my neighbor. As I said to my neighbor I also want to share with you friend. My vote is not so much in favor of John McCain as it is against Hussein Obama. My vote is based upon morality rather than money, economics or politics. Thus, I would encourage everyone to consider this, just as I shared with neighbor. Lets say you worked for a known mobster who made his living stealing, robbing, and murdering the innocent with complete abandonment and zeal and completely immune from all forms of legal punishment. Now each week you take your check to the bank and cash it in for money to pay your bills and clothe and feed your family as well as for entertainment purposes. Would you feel any guilt knowing that your paycheck and the things it purchases is entirely made possible by the death and destruction of millions of innocent lives every year? Would you feel guilty that you in truth are a participant in this murder of the innocent, this because you freely and willingly hired yourself out to this person in order to have this job and paycheck? It is for these reasons that I will vote this election, and I will vote not for McCain but against Obama.
There will be many people who declare themselves Christians and even Catholic Christians that will vote for Obama and many who will not do anything to prevent Obama from this wanton destruction of the innocent. Every person will have to answer to God when they stand before Him, and when they are asked, “when you saw me in the womb of my mother, did you protect me? or when I drew my first breathe did you protect me from the destroyer? when I was deformed or handicapped at birth did you love me enough to defend me? when I became mentally ill, sick and or elderly did you stand up for me and honor me? etc..
So again, I will not be voting for McCain as much as I will be voting against this Antichrist called Obama.
I know that my every moment is observed by God and that I will be held accountable for everything I have said or done, and for everything that I have not said or done. If my contempt for the current political circumstance is so great and thus has clouded my spiritual vision so much that I neglect living my basic faith based beliefs and moralities in any aspect of my life including my right to vote, then I will certainly not enjoy God’s mercy but fall under His judgment. Thus, I strive to live for God even in the voting polls and election booths.
Sincerely in Christ, with Joseph & Mary;
Ken
August 31st, 2008 at 9:02 pm
I wholeheartedly agree with you Ken, as a Catholic, we cannot vote for a candidate that goes against the Church’s non-negotiable issues, as the Kansas Bishops said. Where we split is when it comes to the positive action of voting. Just because one major candidate is less evil than the other major candidate does not justify the means of voting for the less than best candidate. It seems that we ought to consider looking for a third party candidate who is through and through pro-life. If you have read some of my other comments, I have mentioned a certain Alan Keyes. His stance is completely pro-life, as is his running mate. Finally, we all need to pray for better candidates in future elections and that a serious conversion will overcome all politicians and candidates who go against Church teachings.
Pax