The Donkey

(Mildred the Donkey)

THE DONKEY

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried
piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be
covered up anyway.
It just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.
They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.
Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well.
He was astonished at what he saw.
With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing
something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal,
he would shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge
of the well and happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake the dirt off and take a step up.
Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving
up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to being happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more
5. Expect less

NOW --------

Enough of that ...
The donkey later came back, and bit the crap out of the farmer who had
tried to bury him.The gash from the bite got infected, and the farmer eventually died in
agony from septic shock.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:
When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes
back to bite you.

(Via NChristAlone and TexLady, emails)

Afghanistan Online

Friends...

Mr. Ahmad Khalid Majidyar runs a very informative blog titled Afghanistan online. It is among the best personal blogs I've seen concerning this beautiful country, and his coverage of the issues going on there is informative and intelligently written. If you have a moment, please stop by and check his site out.

(Photo from Herat, Afghanistan!)

The Blood

THE BLOOD

One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart.
She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution.
But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church.
She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children.
It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor's son..

The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans.
This is when the problems began.
You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor's son.
The church began to argue and fight about the matter.
So they decided to have a meeting.
As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand.
The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past

As she began to cry the pastor's son stood to speak.

He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this:

"My fiancee's past is not what is on trial here.
What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin.
Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?"
The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters.
Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely.
If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.
What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus! End of case!!!!

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."
Psalm 55:22

(Via email... thank you to Cindy's wonderful neighbor!)

WHAT DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE?

I've had some questions come in via email, and I wanted to give answers... a general overview... in here, for those wondering just what exactly it is that Catholics believe.


Belief in Deity
Trinity of the Father (God), the Son (Christ), and the Holy Spirit that comprises one God Almighty.

Incarnations (state of being)
Jesus Christ is God's only incarnation, Son of God and God.

Origin of Universe and Life
A literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis is held by some, but the Church maintains that God gave humankind both supernatural revelation in the Bible and natural revelation through the rational human mind. One may harmonize science with the book of Genesis, in that a "day" in the Bible is not defined as a 24-hour day. God created the universe from nothing, so if the "Big Bang" theory is true, then God created this event. If evolution occurred, it is under the choice and control of God.

After Death
God immediately judges who will go directly to heaven or hell; most will go to purgatory for punishment and purification. Reward and punishment are relative to one's deeds. Hell was traditionally considered a literal place of eternal torture, but Pope John Paul II has described hell as the condition of pain that results from alienation from God, a thing of one's own doing, not an actual place. When Christ returns at the end of the world, he will judge all humans. All the dead will be bodily resurrected, the righteous to glorified bodies, evildoers to judgment.

Why Evil?
Original sin. All are sinners and prone to the influence of Satan unless they find salvation in God through the Church. ('Church' is not all-inclusive, as in only the Catholic Church, or only one denomination.)

Salvation
All are already saved (through Christ's death and resurrection), are still being brought to know that salvation (through the efforst of the Church), and will be saved in the future (second coming of Christ). Demands faith in and prayer to God and Jesus Christ, good works, and sacraments, including only one baptism (not to be confused with the christening of an infant. Baptisms performed by other denominations are accepted under the 'one baptism' banner.) One's salvation must be restored after commission of a mortal sin through the sacraments of repentance/confession and Communion. In other words, there is no sin in heaven. Even those who have Salvation can compromise that salvation by putting their egos in God's place. Sin is, at its most basic, an act of selfishness. After we sin, we must make efforts to realize why we were weak to that particular sin, and make an act of contrition (asking forgiveness of God, as well as asking him to help us avoid that pitfall.)

Undeserved Suffering
Some suffering is caused by the inheritance of mortality originating from Adam and Eve's disobedience to God, which includes vulnerability to illness and disease. Also, Satan rules the earth, causing pain and suffering. Suffering is God's design to test, teach, or strengthen belief in Him. Suffering, in itself, is not meant as a means to punish us. God does not give anyone more than he can bear, both in suffering and in joy.

Contemporary Issues
Abortion is considered to be a form of murder, an act worthy of excommunication. Sex outside of marriage is sinful. Women are afforded the highest regard as mothers and wives. Marriage is considered a sacrament and permanent; divorce and remarriage are not acceptable unless the first marriage is annulled. Remarriage without an annulment results in inability to receive sacraments. (Divorce is allowed for biblical reason.) Euthanasia is sinful. Medical research which destroys fertilized embryos is wrong. The death penalty is rarely justified. If in doubt about the strictness of these views, remember the info under Salvation, which allows us to realign ourselves with God.

Other Beliefs
The pope is the head of the Roman Catholic Church. He and the magisterium (the teaching authority of the Church) clarify doctrine. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is highly revered, though not worshipped. Saints are asked to intercede on behalf of sinners. Social justice teachings urge Catholics to show a special preference for those who are poor and weak.

Other Denominations and Faiths
The Church calls for unity between Christians, Jews and Muslims. The three Theistic faiths should work together towards peaceful co-existence. The Church has learned from the mistakes of its past, and strives towards a better social and spiritual unity. The denominations of Christianity, outside the Catholic Church, are part of the one (inclusive) Holy (from God) catholic (universal) and Apostolic (the Word spread by Jesus' followers) church (body of Christ), so long as they teach the belief of the Trinity, and the forgiveness of sins and Salvation.

If you would like more information on Catholic beliefs, please feel free to contact me via the email link on my profile. I don't believe in 'converting' people from a belief system that works for them, but I do believe that the sharing of what people believe goes a long way in preventing misunderstandings between those of differing doctrines. The misinformation, and misunderstanding or lack of understanding, between Catholic and non-Catholic people only furthers division within the church body of Christ.

Church of East Corinth, Vermont, New England, USA