Being a Christian Means More Than Just Going to Church

A retired nurse, who went to church last Sunday, told us this story. A man sitting nearby started to go into shock. She recognized the symptoms and immediately helped him. She also called 911. What upset her was the fact that there were other nurses there who did nothing but watch them. Is your notion of Christian behavior similar to these people? Is Christianity limited to just going to church on Sundays? Or does Christian behavior actually require that you practice what you believe, such as emulating the “Good Samaritan”, or “doing unto others what you want them to do unto you?” Will God say to you “Well done,” when it’s your turn to face judgment before Him?”

Why Go to Confession?

I've heard this question before. Here's how I look at this issue. You love your spouse. So, you have a personal relationship with each other. You love God and He loves you. Then, there should be a personal relationship between you and God. Because your are not perfect, you will sometimes "offend" your spouse, either deliberately (e.g. making fun of him/her) or inadvertently (yelling in anger). Sometimes, the offense can be more "serious", such as going to the baseball game with your buddies on your anniversary. What do marriage counselors advise in these situations? Ask your spouse for forgiveness to restore your relationship with your spouse. Likewise, you will occasionally offend God too. It happens. It can be a minor sin, such as fibbing at a job interview. Or, it can be more serious, such as fornication or adultery, or having sexual fantasies about someone other than your spouse. So how do you restore your relationship with God? For Catholics, it's called Confession. This is how you formally apologize to God for any offenses committed against Him. This includes failure to do the right thing. So don't be afraid of confession. It's the way to restore your relationship with God.

Do Pro-Choice People Really Want You to Have a Choice?

I tried to enter the URL of a pro-life site today. It brought me to a different website instead. Someone hacked into the pro-life site & redirected all traffic to another site. The culprit was very smart. This reminded me of an incident last year. The Catholic Diocese of Oakland, CA placed pro-life ads inside trains. These ads were not offensive. Yet within a few days, hundreds of ads were destroyed. These were not random incidents. These acts of vandalism were systematic, deliberate, well-planned, & organized. To destroy hundreds of ads, hundreds of people would have been involved. I don't know any pro-life person who vandalized pro-abortion ads. So why would pro-aborts vandalize pro-life ads? I also don't know any pro-life person who hacked into Planned Parenthood's site. So why would pro-aborts hack pro-life sites? I concluded that pro-abortion people don't believe in free speech. They also believe the end justifies the means, including committing crimes. What are they afraid of? Are they worried people might change their minds about the abortion issue? If so, then how can they claim to be pro-choice when they don't want people to have an alternative choice in the first place?

How I Came to Believe in the Real Presence

I said I believed the Eucharist is Jesus. I didn't believe it at first. One day, my mom was taken to the hospital. She was seriously ill & her condition was worsening. At a retreat, I asked a priest why God allowed it. He said, "Ask our Lord in the Tabernacle." So I did & I asked for her cure. I got a Bible & chanced upon John 4:47-54, about the cure of an official's son. This occurred on Saturday. When I came home, I called the hospital & found out that mom was better. I asked her when her condition turned around. She said, "On Saturday." Coincidence? On Monday, a Protestant asked me why I visited the church on weekdays. I told her what the priest told me, "to visit our Lord in the Tabernacle." So I invited her to church. Later, she told me, "I found what I'm looking for." So she became a Catholic. I asked myself, "Can bread bring about conversion?" Another person told me he had a problem & had been praying for weeks for a solution. When he asked me what to do, I said, "Pray to our Lord in the Tabernacle." So I invited him to church on Friday. On Monday morning, he told me his problem was solved. These could not be just coincidences. So from that day onward, I was convinced that the Eucharist was truly our Lord Jesus, and not just a piece of bread.

Going to Communion at Mass: What Does It Mean?

Like many Catholics, I've received communion almost as a matter of routine, without thinking much about it. One day, while falling in line to receive communion at mass, a Eucharistic Minister asked me, "Do you believe this is Jesus, your God, that you're about to eat?" I was taken aback for a moment. I was expecting her to say the usual phrase "Body of Christ." I had to think for a moment what to say. Then I realized that this is precisely what we believe as Catholics, that the bread, after being consecrated by the priest, actually becomes Jesus. So it is God that we Catholics eat during communion. Since I do believe this, I said the usual response, "Amen", which means "truly" or "I agree." I'm not sure if what she said was proper, but it did bring to mind this important Catholic belief, which I and many other Catholics, had taken for granted. I guess it's a good thing to be reminded of this key doctrine of our Faith once in a while.

Why Talk About Political Issues?

Others have asked me why I include political issues in this blog. What's the connection between politics and living a meaningful life? In order to live a more meaningful life, one would need the freedom to pursue a meaningful life. So if this freedom is denied to a person, then an injustice is being committed against that person. Such a person would not be happy. For example, when African-Americans were sold as slaves, their freedom to live genuinely human lives were denied to them. When a child is aborted, the child's right & freedom to live a meaningful life is denied to that child. When a disabled person's life is terminated, such as Terri Schiavo's life, then her freedom to live a meaningful life is also being denied. There are several cases of people, in similar or worse condition than her, who were able to recover with rehabilitation. Terri was denied rehabilitation. In conclusion, freedom and justice are required in order for people to pursue a more meaningful life. These issues happen to be considered "political" issues also. Therefore, it becomes necessary to address these "political" issues if they interfere with a person's legitimate pursuit of a meaningful and purposeful life.

Do Reasonable People Believe in God?

I read an email from someone who said only unintelligent people believe in God, & rational people don't. A critical thinker would ask, "Is this true, or is this merely an assumption?" The truth can always be proven. So let's look at the evidence. Two of the greatest scientists that the world has ever known are Newton & Einstein. Both believed in God. Some of the greatest composers in history are Mozart, Beethoven, & Vivaldi. They believed in God. Some of the great literary figures of England are G.K. Chesterton, C.S. Lewis, & J.R.R Tolkien. They believed in God. One of the most famous atheists of our time, Malcolm Muggeridge, ended up believing in God. Are these people irrational or unintelligent? So do you still think that people who believe in God are stupid or unreasonable? I think the facts speak for themselves. Don't you think so?

Will Islam Dominate?

I remember watching an internet news video of a rally held in New York by Muslim extremists. One person carried a sign stating "Islam Will Dominate." I thought at first that this was just an idle boast. But is it? If we look at the world birth rates, we see that the birth rate of Western nations, such as Germany, is much lower than those of Muslim countries, such as Niger. In fact, the death rate exceeds the birth rate. The people of the West cannot replenish themselves. What's the cause of this? What's the difference between Western nations and Muslim countries? It's simple. Western nations practice contraception and abortion while Muslim countries don't. Based on Darwin's view of "survival of the fittest", the people of the West will become extinct, while the people of Muslim nations will survive. Therefore, the notion that Islam will dominate is no idle boast. Extremists don't even need to wage Jihad against the West. All they have to do is sit back and wait for the West to drive itself to extinction. Maybe it's time for the countries of Europe and North America to wake up and realize that. And you thought that Global Warming was a threat to your survival? Guess again.

On Vacation From 7/16/07-7/20/07

I'll resume my postings when I return on 7/23/07.

What Would You Do?

Suppose you know a girl under 18 years of age, who was impregnated by an adult. This is called statutory rape. What would you do? Would you report it to the police, or would you simply ignore it & allow the sexual abuse to continue? What if it was your own daughter who was victimized? Would you do something about it? Most people with a conscience would report it. But Planned Parenthood doesn't do that. As a matter of practice, they do NOT report such cases, even if the girl was raped. They simply perform the abortion, then send the girl back to be abused again by the predator. This way, the girl would have to come back to them for abortions repeatedly. Now why would an organization that alleges to "care" about women show complete disregard for the safety of adolescent girls? The cost of each abortion is about $10,000. Could it be that Planned Parenthood, and all other abortion providers, are more concerned about making a profit instead of being concerned about the well-being of others? Would you trust or have anything to do with such an organization? What would you do?

Passing the Torch

I was watching a program on "Animal Planet" & during the commercial break, Bindi Irwin appeared. She's the daughter of the late Australian naturalist, Steve Irwin (aka The Crocodile Hunter). Like her parents, Bindi is now a wildlife conservationist and spokesperson, & she's only 8 years old. Steve mentioned a long time ago that he wanted to pass on his passion for wildlife to his daughter. I thought, "How wonderful it is for parents, who share the same passion, to pass on their ideals to their children." Now they can continue the parents' mission. Just imagine, “What if Christian parents did the same, & passed on their zeal for the Faith to their children?” Then like little Bindi, these children will continue the work of passing the Faith, not only to others, but to their own children someday. So pass on the torch of the Faith, & leave a legacy for future generations. They will not only remember you for it, but they'll be thankful that you did.

The True Worth of a Human Being

Most people today measure their worth as human beings by the amount of money they make, their social status, or their possessions. But is this really the true measure of our worth? A visiting pastor gave the answer in his sermon last Sunday at our church. Our true worth as human beings is dependent on our relationship with God. Think about this for a moment. Parents value their children simply because the kids are their children. It doesn't matter if the kids are smart, talented, athletic, or not. Parents love their children for the way they are. God, as a loving Father, also does the same. He loves us the way we are and He values us simply because we're His children. Since we should be imitators of God, we should value one another simply because we're all children of God, equally loved by God. So if we value each other for what we are, instead of what we have or what we can do, what would the world be like? Would we still suffer from worries and anxieties? Would our relationship with each other be better? What do you think?

Robin Williams' Bigotry

I read over the Internet that Robin Williams made anti-Catholic diatribes on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on 6/18/07. He was mocking priests as pedophiles. If he did his homework, he'd discover that only a small percentage of priests are guilty of this crime. Furthermore, majority of the offenders are not true pederasts but were actively practicing homosexuals instead. But Robin didn't have the guts to point this out. Was he afraid of the homosexual backlash if he did point this out? Isaiah Washington gets into trouble for lashing out at one gay person in private, but Robin suffers no consequence for lashing out against all priests in public. Furthermore, Robin insinuated that the problem lies with celibacy. If he did some research, he'll discover that Protestants and Jews, who have a married clergy, have the same problems with child molestation committed by their ministers also. Finally, Robin stated that "you can't poke fun at certain religions," but he can make fun of Catholics because at least they "don't blow you up." So is he suggesting that it's OK to denigrate Catholics because they won't resort to violence? I used to like Robin Williams and watch some of his movies. Not anymore. I've lost my respect for him, not as an actor, but as a human being.

People Can Change

Because of media bias, you won't hear this story on ABC News, nor on CNN's Larry King Live. So this story was obtained from WorldNetDaily.com instead. It's about Michael Glatze, who is a prominent gay activist & editor of Young Gay America magazine. He lived the homosexual lifestyle at age 16. But at age 30, he found God, or rather, God found him. He said his conversion was the most liberating experience in his entire life. He further stated that he had been leading a movement of sin & corruption, that homosexuality prevented him from finding his true self, that homosexuality is lust & pornography wrapped into one, and that it destroys young minds. So he abandoned his homosexual lifestyle. Now that he has a personal relationship with God, he was no longer confused, afraid, nor upset. So this story is proof that there is hope for people to change.

Respect for Life

I just read the news on the Internet today. A young woman in Wichita, Kansas was stabbed in a convenience store. The other shoppers simply walked over her, while another took a picture of the dying woman with a cell phone, instead of helping her. The Police Chief was shocked by this behavior and asked, "What happened to our respect for life?" I'd like to ask the same question. But remember, in America, a mother has a "right" to kill her own unborn baby through abortion, and a disabled person, such as Terri Schiavo, can be euthanized against her will, simply because she's disabled. So is it any wonder then, why people nowadays, have a wanton disregard for human life? No one is safe. The next "victim" could be you. Mother Teresa was quite right and prophetic when she said, "And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?" Maybe what we need is to restore respect for life, from conception to natural death.

Keep Hope Alive

I just read in The Arizona Republic about a man who ended up in a coma after an auto accident. His wife asked a judge to order the removal of his feeding tube so he can "die with dignity" (whatever that means). Luckily, his brothers and sisters objected and fought against this decision. So a higher court overturned the decision before he starved to death. The feeding tube was reinserted. Soon afterwards, he awoke from his coma. This reminds me of Terri Schiavo, and people I know personally, who "died" after their life support was deliberately removed. I was just wondering, how many of them could have recovered like this man, if people didn't give up hope. Keep hope alive, and maybe you'll keep your loved ones alive too as a result.

Good Can Come Out of Something Bad

I have a co-worker whose husband got fired from a job he held for a long time. They have 2 children, one who's about to enter college. Naturally, he was concerned about how to make ends meet. They also wondered why God allowed this to happen. It wasn't long before he found another job, doing the exact same thing he did in his previous job. The only difference is that now he's getting paid a lot more. This new job took care of his financial concerns. So something good came out of something bad. I guess we just have to trust that God allows things to happen for a reason.

Media Irresponsibility

Responsible parents worry about what their kids see on TV. Unfortunately, the media defends the type of trash they show on TV by saying that it's the parent's responsibility to control what kids watch on TV. In essence, the media doesn't feel it has any responsibility at all. Well, if you've ever visited the city of San Francisco with your kids, the media certainly won't allow parents to control what kids see. Oftentimes, you'll see billboard advertisements containing nudity, or ads on public transportation that contain vulgarity. Or, events will be held where public lewdness is accepted. So how do you expect a parent to "control" what kids see? Is it any wonder why many families are moving out of the city to areas that are more family-friendly? I think it's time the media & the government realize the influence they can have on kids, and help parents control what their kids see.

Freedom

When I was a student at UC Berkeley (the bastion of the Free Speech Movement) I read, in the school newspaper, about an incident that occurred on campus. A Pro-Life student group wanted to hold a private meeting at a school facility. When pro-abortion (aka Pro-Choice) students found out about it, they barged into the meeting uninvited, assaulted some of the Pro-Life students, destroyed the audio/visual equipment of the university, and stole some of the printed materials from the Pro-Life group. Now I'd like to ask everyone, "Do you think these 'Freedom of Choice' people really believe in freedom? Or do they believe in freedom only if your beliefs agree with theirs?" You decide.

Setting Good Examples for Kids

I heard a story from a friend about someone who's no longer a practicing Christian. When he was a little kid, his mom would leave him alone at the church hall every Sunday, without any food or water. She told the boy to stay there and do nothing, until she comes back from doing "church work." So he would starve all day. Therefore, it wasn't surprising that he grew up with a negative perception of Christianity. He no longer goes to church due to this bad experience. This raises some interesting questions. Are you neglecting your family obligations? Are you giving your kids a good impression of religion? Are you inspiring your kids, so that they too would want to become practicing Christians?