Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Sand in my eyes
Looking around on certain Facebook groups I've noticed something. Because we are all stuck on social media sites like Facebook and twitter, we think we've escaped wanting real life. The truth is, these sites (or the people on these sites) are attempting to find ways to interact as though we are actually in the room with them. I continue to see these pictures (which I admit to liking some) that say "like in 2 seconds if you like this hairstyle" or "like in 1 second if you did this as a kid." Even more telling are the pictures that have become as bad a chain emails. Ones like, "like this if you love your mom, keep scrolling if you don't." Some if these scare tactic posts even involve if you truly love God, but something tells me He is beyond Facebook likes.
Why are we not satisfied with simply speaking to our friends through comments, statuses, and chat?
I think we miss the interaction of actually going out and simply hanging out with people. There is never a purpose of hanging out, you simply sit and talk.
There is nothing wrong with interacting on social media, but it's becoming obvious that, for some people, they use it as a replacement for actual social interaction. We think that we are more connected now than ever because of the Internet, but I think it also separates us a great deal.
As an introvert, it's very tempting to simply "stay home." If you stay home, you don't have to worry about interacting. You can login and logout as you choose. Wrong. Today, we are so fixated on our "internet friends," that we barely take the time to login to the real world.
We constantly check for notifications or retweets and we are never truly free. How many if us turn off our computer at night, only to climb in bed and check Facebook one more time on our mobile devices. It's like we have a constant devotion to our new friend the Internet itself.
Maybe we should all take some time to unplug for a while. Read a book. Go outside. Talk to people. You'll be glad you did.
Thursday, February 09, 2012
Those crazy Catholics
As Catholics, we are notorious for not knowing the Bible as well as other Christian denominations. It's almost become a bit of a joke for me and some friends. If someone tries to quote a Bible passage and fails, we joke saying, "Oh, we're Catholics. We aren't supposed to know the Bible anyway."
But, how bad has it gotten when we don't truly appreciate what our faith is?
With so much debate surrounding the HHS Mandate, I've seen constant posts on Facebook. While many of these are opposing the mandate, there are a few that are taking this opportunity to point out the fact that many Catholics use contraceptives anyway. I'm not going to get into this point so much, but I would wonder if this argument would change if we changed the sin to murder. "Well, the pope should allow Catholics to murder because they're just going to murder without his permission anyway."
This may seem like I'm taking it to the extreme, but how can you justify something as alright, when our Church clearly teaches it to be wrong. Just because many Catholics fall into this trap, doesn't mean it's right. Many Catholics seem to have forgotten how horrible abortion is as well (or at least are indifferent to it) and it's still wrong. That's a debate for another time...
What's bothering me a lot right now is how some Catholics are questioning their faith. Now, they won't see it as that exactly. They think they are questioning the "hierarchy" of the Church. They see the pope and anyone up there as the old guys who make the rules. If these Catholics would take a look at their faith, however, they would realize that these guys DO NOT make the rules...God does. In other words, if you have an issue with how the Church is set up...you're going to have to take it up with God. He's your Father, talk to Him. He's always waiting for you to stop in for a visit.
Have we forgotten who the true Author of the Church is? Have we forgotten that the pope is not making the decisions for the Church, but God is working through him?
Have we forgotten?: http://www.catholicscomehome.org/answers-papacy.php
(My blog won't let me connect links for some reason, so you just have to select and go to the websites yourself.)
This thought is as horrifying as the poll results that showed that many Catholics didn't realize that the Church believes that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist.
"The Eucharist. The Real Presence. Transubstantiation...it's first grade, Spongebob!"
What is happening? Why are we forgetting our faith?
A surprising secular article: http://www.businessinsider.com/time-to-admit-it-the-church-has-always-been-right-on-birth-control-2012-2
"Here's the thing, though: the Catholic Church is the world's biggest and oldest organization. It has buried all of the greatest empires known to man, from the Romans to the Soviets. It has establishments literally all over the world, touching every area of human endeavor. It's given us some of the world's greatest thinkers, from Saint Augustine on down to René Girard. When it does things, it usually has a good reason. Everyone has a right to disagree, but it's not that they're a bunch of crazy old white dudes who are stuck in the Middle Ages."
Don't tell us our faith is outdated when the world is just too worldly to handle the Truth.
But, how bad has it gotten when we don't truly appreciate what our faith is?
With so much debate surrounding the HHS Mandate, I've seen constant posts on Facebook. While many of these are opposing the mandate, there are a few that are taking this opportunity to point out the fact that many Catholics use contraceptives anyway. I'm not going to get into this point so much, but I would wonder if this argument would change if we changed the sin to murder. "Well, the pope should allow Catholics to murder because they're just going to murder without his permission anyway."
This may seem like I'm taking it to the extreme, but how can you justify something as alright, when our Church clearly teaches it to be wrong. Just because many Catholics fall into this trap, doesn't mean it's right. Many Catholics seem to have forgotten how horrible abortion is as well (or at least are indifferent to it) and it's still wrong. That's a debate for another time...
What's bothering me a lot right now is how some Catholics are questioning their faith. Now, they won't see it as that exactly. They think they are questioning the "hierarchy" of the Church. They see the pope and anyone up there as the old guys who make the rules. If these Catholics would take a look at their faith, however, they would realize that these guys DO NOT make the rules...God does. In other words, if you have an issue with how the Church is set up...you're going to have to take it up with God. He's your Father, talk to Him. He's always waiting for you to stop in for a visit.
Have we forgotten who the true Author of the Church is? Have we forgotten that the pope is not making the decisions for the Church, but God is working through him?
Have we forgotten?: http://www.catholicscomehome.org/answers-papacy.php
(My blog won't let me connect links for some reason, so you just have to select and go to the websites yourself.)
This thought is as horrifying as the poll results that showed that many Catholics didn't realize that the Church believes that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist.
"The Eucharist. The Real Presence. Transubstantiation...it's first grade, Spongebob!"
What is happening? Why are we forgetting our faith?
A surprising secular article: http://www.businessinsider.com/time-to-admit-it-the-church-has-always-been-right-on-birth-control-2012-2
"Here's the thing, though: the Catholic Church is the world's biggest and oldest organization. It has buried all of the greatest empires known to man, from the Romans to the Soviets. It has establishments literally all over the world, touching every area of human endeavor. It's given us some of the world's greatest thinkers, from Saint Augustine on down to René Girard. When it does things, it usually has a good reason. Everyone has a right to disagree, but it's not that they're a bunch of crazy old white dudes who are stuck in the Middle Ages."
Don't tell us our faith is outdated when the world is just too worldly to handle the Truth.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
"God saw you were getting tired
And it was not meant to be,
So He put His arms around you
And whispered,''come to me''.
With tearful eyes we watched you
And saw you pass away,
Although we loved you dearly
We could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating
Hard working hands at rest
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best."
And it was not meant to be,
So He put His arms around you
And whispered,''come to me''.
With tearful eyes we watched you
And saw you pass away,
Although we loved you dearly
We could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating
Hard working hands at rest
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best."
Friday, November 25, 2011
A secular discovery
Stumble upon this on your own did ya?:
Secular views on couples living together before marriage
"But it wasn’t because Kristin wasn’t serious about the guy (they’d end up getting engaged a year later), and it wasn’t for religious reasons, either." Of course we can't agree with those crazy religious people lol.
I don't agree with everything in this article, but I do think it's funny they are trying to put a "fresh spin" on it so they don't sound like some religious person. See, there are reasons for these things outside of the faith aspect. God knows what He's doing!
Secular views on couples living together before marriage
"But it wasn’t because Kristin wasn’t serious about the guy (they’d end up getting engaged a year later), and it wasn’t for religious reasons, either." Of course we can't agree with those crazy religious people lol.
I don't agree with everything in this article, but I do think it's funny they are trying to put a "fresh spin" on it so they don't sound like some religious person. See, there are reasons for these things outside of the faith aspect. God knows what He's doing!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Ten years later...
Ten years ago today I walked back into our 8th grade classroom and noticed the TV was on. It wasn't unusual for Mrs. H to have it turned on but the fact that she hadn't greeted us or given us any instructions seemed odd. Eventually I began to take in the scene of the Twin Towers and the chaos that surrounded.
I honestly did not understand the seriousness of the matter. They kept referring to the World Trade Center, but I had never known the Twin Towers by that name. And, the only reason I would remember the Twin Towers was because of a Nickelodeon movie about their mascot Stick Stickly and his twin brother who had met each other there.
It wasn't until later that day that I realized how serious the matter was. I believe I was returning from my band lesson and as I walked back into the front doors of the school, I remembered the principal locking the front doors. She was speaking to another teacher saying something like, "If something happens here, I don't want them to wonder why we had not locked the doors. It was that moment when I think I began to understand that this wasn't just some far off threat, it could happen in our home too.
Another moment of understanding came at some point that day when a student wanted to call his Dad, an airline pilot, to make sure he was alright.
I remember talking to my brother that night (who was away at college). I asked him "how he was" or something of that nature and he replied, "Well, the World Trade Center fell over."
These are my strongest memories from that day. Of course more information was released in the following days, months, and years. It wasn't until later that I fully grasped how many lives were lost or were changed that day.
I still pray for the victims of 9/11 and for their families. I pray for those that did this and for those that applaud their efforts. Prayer can do amazing things, maybe even change enemies into friends. We need to look at that Mass readings from this week and learn to forgive. I know I would probably have a more difficult time if I was closer to the tragedy, but that does not devalue the message of Jesus Christ.
Pope Benedict 16th:
"The tragedy of that day is compounded by the perpetrators' claim to be acting in God's name," Pope Benedict said. "Once again, it must be unequivocally stated that no circumstances can ever justify acts of terrorism."
"Every human life is precious in God's sight and no effort should be spared in the attempt to promote throughout the world a genuine respect for the inalienable rights and dignity of individuals and peoples everywhere."
I honestly did not understand the seriousness of the matter. They kept referring to the World Trade Center, but I had never known the Twin Towers by that name. And, the only reason I would remember the Twin Towers was because of a Nickelodeon movie about their mascot Stick Stickly and his twin brother who had met each other there.
It wasn't until later that day that I realized how serious the matter was. I believe I was returning from my band lesson and as I walked back into the front doors of the school, I remembered the principal locking the front doors. She was speaking to another teacher saying something like, "If something happens here, I don't want them to wonder why we had not locked the doors. It was that moment when I think I began to understand that this wasn't just some far off threat, it could happen in our home too.
Another moment of understanding came at some point that day when a student wanted to call his Dad, an airline pilot, to make sure he was alright.
I remember talking to my brother that night (who was away at college). I asked him "how he was" or something of that nature and he replied, "Well, the World Trade Center fell over."
These are my strongest memories from that day. Of course more information was released in the following days, months, and years. It wasn't until later that I fully grasped how many lives were lost or were changed that day.
I still pray for the victims of 9/11 and for their families. I pray for those that did this and for those that applaud their efforts. Prayer can do amazing things, maybe even change enemies into friends. We need to look at that Mass readings from this week and learn to forgive. I know I would probably have a more difficult time if I was closer to the tragedy, but that does not devalue the message of Jesus Christ.
Pope Benedict 16th:
"The tragedy of that day is compounded by the perpetrators' claim to be acting in God's name," Pope Benedict said. "Once again, it must be unequivocally stated that no circumstances can ever justify acts of terrorism."
"Every human life is precious in God's sight and no effort should be spared in the attempt to promote throughout the world a genuine respect for the inalienable rights and dignity of individuals and peoples everywhere."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)