The Catholic Church Has High Moral Expectations For Both Homosexual and Heterosexual Behavior

       The Catholic Church is not bigoted toward homosexuals but has high expectations of chastity for homosexuals AND non married heterosexuals. Both groups are suppose to live chaste.

  

     I have a big problem with Protestant churches that rail against homosexual individuals but turn a blind eye to pre-marital and extramarital sex along with other sins of greed, pride, avarice and gluttony . That is bigoted. I also have a problem with churches that ignore all sexual sin and condone everything.

   Heterosexual love is the way the human race propagates itself. God demands that we regulate our sexual activity so that we will lead happier lives and fulfill our commitments to our communities. 

       The Bible is against homosexual acts, not homosexual people. The Bible did not know about or address sexual orientation as we know it today. It only addresses same sex sexual activity. God loves all people. The Bible condemns the homosexual act, not homosexual love or the homosexual urge. Catholicism does not prohibit or in any way look down upon homosexual love. In the eyes the Church the love between two men or two women can be as natural as the love between a man and a woman (For example in the Bible:  1Samuel 20:17) The love spoken about between David and John is not eros but platonic.  What the Scriptures do prohibit is homosexual intercourse.

  The following link leads to an article that has been written by Steve Gershom. Steve is a pro-Catholic, pro-chastity man with same-sex attraction. Regardless of your personal views on the subject I think we can all admire his courage and honesty.

Catholic, Gay and Feeling Fine 

 The Churches approach to homosexuality focuses on the benefits of heterosexuality, rather than on  homosexuality. 

   Now for some of my own opinions on the issue of Gay Marriage:

    From a Civil point of view a marriage also protects the family unit. It gives inheritance rights and child custody rights along with several other issues. The fact is that homosexuals have brought children into the mix and created families. These families deserve the same protections. If one partner dies the other should still be provider and maintain guardianship of the children. Yes provisions and wills and the like can be made that don't necessitate a marriage but there should be something in the civil courts to make these issues clearer and more straight forward. I have no problem with the idea of civil unions or gay couples and families having the same rights as married couples to protect their partners and the children etc. And frankly I don't have a real problem if they want to call it marriage instead of a civil union because just like many other types of marriage it will never be considered a sacramental marriage in the Church. That is not bigoted either because many marriages, although valid, are not considered sacramental in the Church. My own daughter's marriage is valid but not considered sacramental. Civil marriage will always be separate from a sacramental marriage.

    However, that is where it needs to stop. If you don't agree with the Catholic church on these things, that is fine, there are many other churches that will accommodate your beliefs. Don't however expect to change the Church or force the church into going against its beliefs and conscience. I can fully accept and love you but disagree with you and some of your choices. I have friends and family  who are cohabiting and although they know my opinion on the issue none would feel hated or unloved. They may in turn feel I am wrong about cohabititaion, and that is fine also. My opinions would never cause me knowingly to be hateful or unkind to anyone. 

     "There is no other subject on which the average mind is so much confused as the subject 

       of tolerance    and intolerance… Tolerance applies only to persons, but never to principles.

      Intolerance applies only to principles, but never to persons."

        Archbishop Fulton Sheen 1931 'The Curse of Broadmindedness'

     "Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is
       wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right." -- Archbishop Fulton Sheen 1953

Another Great Conversion Story: Pentecostal to Catholic

Brent Stubbs Blog: Former Pentecostal

Also this is his appearance and story from the program : The Journey Home

Do people really spend this much at the Grocery Store?

Somebody needs to teach the government how to shop. This is what the government thinks people need to spend on groceries per week, Anyone else think this is way out of wack and very high. I calculated the weekly cost for groceries for our family of 4 according to this-- the Liberal plan came to $312 per week, Thrifty plan $159 per week. Even before my adventure in couponing which I started this week I could do better than this and we eat very well lots of fresh produce and lean meat. Granted I cook a lot from scratch but even so. Sheesh

My Menu Plan for Dinners this Week

Ground Beef Stroganoff & Egg Noodles Peas

Lime Sauced Chicken & Caesar Salad Ranch Potatoes

Chiles Rellenos Quiche Cantaloupe

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Black Beans Yellow Rice

Ravioli Florentine Garlic Toast

Chicken Cobbler Pear Gorgonzola Salad

Mexican Roll-ups Strawberries Chips & Salsa

I Spent $87 at the Grocery store and saved $43 with sales and coupons this week. Without the sales and coupons my bill would have been $130. This was a full weeks worth of groceries for a family of 4 (15yrs and up). It included staples that were not on sale. There were only 2 non grocery items and they were dental floss and listerine. This did not include any paper products,cleaning products or personal products other than the listerine and dental floss. I bought one item off the list cause the meat guy showed me that corned beef was on sale for $1.99 a pound and that was an awesome price and my Husband loves corned beef and I usually only fix it in March - go figure. I will have to figure a corn beef dinner in next weeks meal plan.

Anyway it is hard to do a complete comparison as i had meat in my freezer from previous sales and I have most staples on hand. I have been spending around $150 for just groceries per week but that is what the Thrifty Gov't plan is suppose to be. I know people that feed their families very healthfully for much less. My personal goal is going to be to stay under $100 per week for our family of four which includes a twenty something and a teenage boy. However I know other families that do way better than this. Just a challenge to me and I love to cook.
How is your grocery budget? What do you spend?Here is another interesting link It is the Government Thrift Menu Plans along with recipesIt is interesting

     This is a very good article by Jimmy Akin. A very good rebuttal to the argument some make that the Crucifixion happened on Wednesday and Not as Traditionally believed by many Churches  that it occurred on Friday.

The Crucifixion: Wednesday or Friday?

"The time of Christ’s death is indeed Good Friday, not a hypothetical Crucifixion Wednesday."

Is Easter Pagan?

Sometimes people claim that Easter is a pagan holiday rather than a Christian one. But is it really? In this video, best-selling author Jimmy Akin discusses the arguments, and--drawing on the best scholarly information regarding language, history, and religion--he uncovers the *true* origin of Easter. This must-see video will prove eye-opening for both Christians and pagans as it uncovers the true origin of the most important Christian holiday of all!

My Revamped Easter Dinner Menu With Weight Watcher Points Plus.

My Easter Dinner Menu (Click on Recipe link for Recipes)

(PP = Weight Watchers' Points Plus calculated for each recipe)

Appetizer: Favorite Topped Deviled Eggs 3 PP

Easter Salad 2PP

Fresh Baked Asparagus 1 PP

Peppery Popovers 2 PP

Sweet Peas With Mint 1 PP

Easter Pork Tenderloin 4 PP

Strawberry Yogurt Pie 5 PP

OR

Key Lime Pie 5 PP (A Florida Specialty)

Click here for More of My Easter Recipes with Weight Watchers' Point Plus

Weight Watchers Easter Menu With Points Plus

Quick Explanation of Holy Week, in Two Minutes

Miracle Baby Samuel Born With Thanatophoric Dysplasia, Turns 6 years old

Samuel is my nephew his mom is my sister-in-law Evelyn. Our husbands are brothers.

Samuel's Mom now has her own blog at:

  http://hopeseed.wordpress.com/

Update: On Miracle Baby Samuel Born With Thanatophoric Dysplasia, Turns 6 years old!

This is Samuel and one of his teachers.

Update Samuel Turned 6 on Aug 2, 2011 and is still doing awesome things. He now is in school, well the teacher comes to him, but still really cool. He uses switches to operate his computer and toys.

Other More Recent Pictures from about 2009 to present (11/2010) not in any order.

This is Samuel and his mom Evelyn (Evelyn is my sister-in-law and Samuel is my nephew)

Isn't he Darling!!

_______________________________________________________________________

(new update: of 11/10/2009 A few weeks ago Spirit FM 90.5 aired their story. Here is the audio Story/ Interview that aired)

8/2/2009 Hey it has been a year now since I wrote this. Samuel turns 4 tomorrow Click here to see my new post and new pictures

Click Here to Read A News Article on Samuel and Watch A video done by Catholic News Agency

Checkout Samuel's Newest Update 1/16/09 His Trip to Disney & Sea World

8/1/2008 Update on Baby Samuel

He was born a Thanatophoric Dwarf. It is Also called Thanatophoric Dysplasia. It is a condition considered incompatible with life. Only 3 have ever been known to survive into early childhood. Well Samuel is going to make number 4. Samuel Turns 3 years old on Saturday and miracle of miracles he is breathing on his own off the vetillator for short periods of time. Another thing, according to doctors he was never suppose to be able to do. Check out his website where his mom keeps a journal. Feel Free to Sign his guest book and wish him a very happy 3rd Birthday. I know he and his family will appreciate it greatly and please keep them in your prayers.

Yeah to Samuel and his Family.

This is Samuel.

Samuel's Website

Welcome to Samuel's WORLD PREMIER YOUTUBE Video!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_Q92MC8plU

Hope you enjoy it and laugh along!!

Surviving Well on a ventilator, Surviving Thanatophoric Dysplasia, Surviving with Ventilator not painful, Thanatophoric Dwarf, Living With Thanatophic Dysplasia

Thanatophoric images, Thanatophoric pictures, Children living with Thanatophoric Dysplasia, thanatophoric dysplasia type 1 survivors

What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Are many Ministries preaching a truncated gospel?

To many Fundamentalist Churches, Evangelical Churches and many Campus Ministries, this is how they lay out the Gospel.

1) acknowledge that we are all sinners in need of God’s forgiveness.

2.)recognize that only God can save us.

3.) acknowledge Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins and to bring us to God.

4.) the final step is that each individual accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior to be saved.”

But is this the entire Gospel or is there a little more to it?

Saint Mark begins his account of our Lord's life: "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ". (Mk 1:1). "Gospel" means literally "good news." The first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark , Luke, and John) are called gospels because they announce the "good news of great joy" (Lk 2:10)- the coming of a Savior. God himself in the flesh.

   

But what exactly is the substance of this "good news" that must be preached?

St. Peter's first sermon, which is preached on the day of Pentecost (see Acts 2:22-40), summarizes Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. Then he instructs his hearers: Repent, and be baptized… for the forgiveness of your sins" (2:38).

In this address the notion of "faith alone" does not appear at all.  Instead the gospel preached is the proclamation of who Jesus is and what he has done. Salvation (including God's forgiveness of sins) comes to  hearers through their response of repentance, baptism, and a subsequent life of obedience to God. When Saint Paul preaches the gospel, he makes the same kind of proclamation and calls for the same kind of response (see Acts 13:16-41; 1 Cor 15:1-11).

According to Scripture, then, the gospel is: a proclamation of the life, death and resurrection,and ascension of Jesus Christ which calls for our response of repentance, baptism and a life of obedience to God.

What is the Biblical View of Salvation? Because God is just and loves justice, if we hope "to see his face"-- that is to live with him in friendship- then we ourselves must become "upright," as he is. The First Letter of Peter puts it this way: "Be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, 'Be holy because I am holy' " (1:15-16).

How do we become Holy? We cannot save ourselves, and we cannot earn heaven on our own. Rather, we are saved by grace--God's merciful aid, given to enable us to become holy as he is holy. It's an absolutely unmerited, free gift of God, made possible through our redeemer, Jesus Christ and his atoning death on the cross for us. 

By Grace Alone absolutely  but NOT by Faith Alone.

Certainly, our faith in Christ's power to transform us is essential to our salvation by God's grace. But a mere intellectual assent to the truths of the gospel is not enough. Scripture insists that faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (see James 2:14-26) The only place in scripture where the words "faith alone" appear together is in James 2:17 where  scripture emphatically states one is not saved by faith alone.

When we are justified (literally, "made just") by God, he doesn't just declare us righteous as a kind of legal fiction so that we can escape eternal punishment. Divine justification actually wipes out sin and provides supernatural, renewing infusion of his power. By cooperating with grace, we become holy, fit to live with him forever. 

In this way good works, and the transformation of character they contribute to and reflect, are indeed necessary for salvation. (see also Mt 7:16-23; Mt 16:27; 25:31-46). "To the obedient," he promises, "I will show the salvation of God" (Ps 50:23).

The Gospel Presented in Every Catholic Mass

I have heard of zealous ex- Catholics who then discovered Christ outside the Church say they never heard the Gospel (at least the way it is presented by many Fundamentalists) when they were in the Catholic church.

For me, being an ex-fundamentalist, this was one of the first things I recognized in the Catholic Mass. The Gospel is preached in every Mass. It just amazes me how anyone can miss it.

The Gospel from a Catholic viewpoint is actually the whole of Christ's life and teachings-- not the truncated version that Fundamentalist present which leaves a lot out.

However, according to many Fundamentalist Churches and Campus Ministries, this is how they lay out the Gospel.

1) acknowledge that we are all sinners in need of God’s forgiveness.
2.) we recognize that only God can save us.
3.) acknowledge Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins and to bring us to God.
4.) the final step is that each individual accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior to be saved.”

The Gospel is Preached in Every Catholic Mass

1.) “First, we acknowledge that we are all sinners in need of God’s forgiveness.

Catholics start every Mass with a public declaration of our own personal sinfulness and look to God for forgiveness.
After the Greeting, the Mass continues to what is known as the Penitential Rite.

“I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault. In my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do.”

It is here in this section that each Catholic/Christian states publicly that he or she is individually a sinner- not merely in a general sense, but specifically in thoughts, words and deeds. You can’t get much more complete than that.
The priest reaffirms this confession of sin by praying,

“May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.”

And the whole congregation says “Amen,” that is, “I believe.” The priest continues.

“Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy,”
and finishes by saying;

“Lord show us your mercy and love. And grant us your salvation.”

2.) We recognize that only God can save us.Catholics look to God alone to save us

“Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, you are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.”

Likewise, the doxology spoken just prior to communion reads,

“Through him, with him, in him; in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is your, almighty Father, for ever and ever.”

3) The third step is that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins and to bring us to God.

Every week Catholics proclaim that Jesus died for them.
If Catholics don’t believe what they are praying, they ought not to be publicly proclaiming it. Since we can’t read the dispositions of other people’s hearts, we ought not to judge whether they truly believe what they are saying.
The Profession of Faith reads,

“For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.”

In the Eucharistic Prayer 1, the priest prays

“Remember [Lord] all of us gather here before you. You know how firmly we believe in you and dedicate ourselves to you. . . We pray to you, our living and true God, for our well-being and redemption . . . Grant us your peace in this life, save us from final damnation, and count us among those you have chosen.”

The prayer ends with an appeal to God for salvation through Jesus Christ

“May, these and all who sleep in Christ, find in your presence light, happiness and peace. For ourselves, too, we ask some share in the fellowship of your apostles and martyrs . . . Though we are sinners, we trust in your mercy and love. Do not consider what we truly deserve, but grant us your forgiveness. Through Christ our Lord you give us all these gifts. You fill them with life and goodness, you bless them and make them holy.”

Similarly the second Eucharistic Prayer proclaims,

“Dying you [Jesus] destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory. . . Have mercy on us all; make us worthy to share eternal life with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with the apostles and with all the saints who have done your will throughout the ages.”

Likewise, Eucharistic Prayer 3 reads,

“All life, all holiness comes from you through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, by the working of the Holy Spirit . . .
Father, calling to mind the death your Son endured for our salvation, his glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven, and ready to greet him when he comes again, we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice. Look with favor on our your Church’s offering, and see the Victim [Christ] who death has reconciled us to yourself . . .
May he make us an everlasting gift for you and enable us to share in the inheritance of your saints . . . “

Lastly, the fourth Eucharistic Prayer reads,

“Father, you so loved the world that in the fullness of time you sent your only Son to be our Savior . . .

In fulfillment of your will he gave himself up to death; but by rising from the dead, he destroyed death and restored life.”

In this prayer, the congregation proclaims the mystery of faith

“Lord, by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free. You are the Savior of the world.”

4) the fourth and final step is that each individual accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior to be saved.

Catholics accept Jesus into their hearts initially and then reaffirm that at every communion. It is here that all those who are prepared to receive Jesus Christ walk up to the front of the church but they don’t just believe in Christ or merely ask Jesus into their hearts, they receive that same Christ who died on the cross on Calvary into their mouth and into their stomachs — body, blood, soul and divinity.