There was once a boxer named Joe. "Sweet Joe" to be exact. Sweet Joe had trained for 5 solid months for an upcoming fight that could (if he won) make him a top contender for the heavy weight title. After 5 grueling months of training not only was Joe in the best shape of his career, he had also worked out a solid strategy to defeat his upcoming opponent. Actually it was Joe's trainer (who had been in the boxing business for 30 years) that had come up with a solid game plan to help him be victorious. His trainer had told him many times to be patient and stick with the plan. "It will work." He would say. "Just stick to the plan."
Joe's trainer was totally convinced that if Joe listened and "stuck with the plan", he would win and be next in line for a title fight.
On fight night Joe's adrenaline was pumping. He had never felt so confident and prepared for a fight like he did tonight. During the fight, Joe was controlling the tempo and was winning the after the first 5 rounds of the 12 round bout. He had stuck with the game plan and thus far, was doing rather well.
About 1 minute into the 6th round, Joe slightly dropped his hands and took a hard jab that broke his nose. Joe immediately knew his nose was broken and became furious. He fought back with a vengeance and in his fury nearly knocked his opponent down before the end of the round.
Joe won the 6th round.
In between rounds Joe's trainer evaluated the break and told Joe to settle down and stick with the game plan. Basically, the plan was to conserve his energy and not throw more than 25 punches for the first 2 1/2 minutes of each round. The idea was to conserve as much energy as possible up until the last 30 seconds of each round and then get really aggressive. The conservative game plan had worked up to this point, as it was really frustrating his opponent. Joe's opponent was stronger, had more knockout power, and did not fight well against conservative opponents.
Joe's strategy was to stay light on his feet, move around, and limit his punches. The strategy was to wear down his opponent and knock him out in the late rounds.
As the bell rang for round 7, Joe was reminded to stick to the plan. After a few exchanges Joe got caught (rather lightly) in the nose again. It didn't take much force to aggravate his already broken nose as the fresh break was swollen and extremely tender. At that moment Joe decided he had enough. He wasn't going to let his opponent continue to tear his nose up for the next 5 rounds...he was going to end this now.
As Joe hurled a flurry of punches at his opponents head, he could hear a distant voice from his trainer yelling, "Stick to the plan....stick to the plan, Joe!"
Joe blinked his eyes several times and was suddenly startled at the sight of his trainer kneeling beside him only inches away. "You okay, Joe?" The trainer asked.
It was then that Joe realized he had been knocked out. In his fury, he abandoned his strategy and got caught with an uppercut. Joe was knocked out cold before he ever realized what happened.
* * *
We all get advice. Sometimes we ask for it and sometimes we don't. Some advice is good and some...eh...not so good. Then there's advice that we just really need to listen to regardless of what/how we feel. Sweet Joe's story above ties into the Story of the Wise and Foolish Builders in the Gospel of Matthew...
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Matthew 7:24-27
Sweet Joe trained for 5 grueling months and had a solid game plan that should have aloud him to defeat his opponent. Then in the midst of adversity (and thinking he knew better than his trainer), he abandoned the plan and paid the price. He was knocked out and lost a chance to fight for the heavyweight title.
If we are to listen, remain obedient, and put God's word into daily practice then we emulate the wise man that built his house on the rock. Meaning that when the storms of life come (temptation, impatience, selfishness, greed, etc.) we are grounded in the foundation God's word and remain steady. However, if we abandon, get out of practice, or alter our path because we think that we have a better way...then we will soon meet a similar fate to Sweet Joe and the man who built his house on the sand.
There's only one way to salvation... and it's not your way... and it's not my way.... it's God's way.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Nine words
Unfortunately, there are many poor and crippled people on this earth. I think in many instances, we have become so use to seeing beggars/panhandlers that we tend to ignore then. In some situations (mostly in larger cities), there are people who intentionally panhandle for a living. These individuals deliberately seek and take advantage of the good will and charity of others in order to make a living. In fact, there are numerous surveys where (depending on the location) a panhandler can make between $150-$200 a day.
There are many things that have changed over the past 2,000 years, but petitioning the charity of others certainly has not...
and many less fortunate people actually rely on it for their very survival.
* * *
Gospel Story:
One day, (this was after Jesus' ascension) Peter and John were making their way to a temple around prayer time (3p in the afternoon). As they made their way up the temple stairs a crippled man called out to them. He had been a cripple since birth and begging was his only means for paying for a meal. Upon hearing him both Peter and John turned toward the man and Peter instantly said...
"Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping, and praising God.
When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade.
Acts3:3-11
* * *
Try to imagine the absolute joy felt by the man as he stood up for the first time in his life. Imagine the emotion and adrenaline that poured through his body. I'm quite sure that before that day he had accepted his fate. He most likely had come to terms with the fact that he would never walk and would remain a crippled beggar for the remainder of his difficult life.
He was down, but through the power of Jesus Christ he stood up.
For many us we get knocked down on a daily basis. Most of us have the power to stand back up. For God has blessed us with the ability to walk and work in order to take care of ourselves and our families. It's these small things that we take for granted every day. But for this man...his life changed the instant Peter spoke those nine words. "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Acts 3:6
The road in life is riddled with challenges and the walk down the path toward Christ is not easy. Read 1 Peter 4-18
So my question is this...Do we have to wait for a miracle before we go walking and leaping and praising God? Does it always need to be a "what's in it for me" scenario? The answer to that question is simple.
What's in it for us = Eternal Life.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
There are many things that have changed over the past 2,000 years, but petitioning the charity of others certainly has not...
and many less fortunate people actually rely on it for their very survival.
* * *
Gospel Story:
One day, (this was after Jesus' ascension) Peter and John were making their way to a temple around prayer time (3p in the afternoon). As they made their way up the temple stairs a crippled man called out to them. He had been a cripple since birth and begging was his only means for paying for a meal. Upon hearing him both Peter and John turned toward the man and Peter instantly said...
"Look at us!" So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping, and praising God.
When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade.
Acts3:3-11
* * *
Try to imagine the absolute joy felt by the man as he stood up for the first time in his life. Imagine the emotion and adrenaline that poured through his body. I'm quite sure that before that day he had accepted his fate. He most likely had come to terms with the fact that he would never walk and would remain a crippled beggar for the remainder of his difficult life.
He was down, but through the power of Jesus Christ he stood up.
For many us we get knocked down on a daily basis. Most of us have the power to stand back up. For God has blessed us with the ability to walk and work in order to take care of ourselves and our families. It's these small things that we take for granted every day. But for this man...his life changed the instant Peter spoke those nine words. "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Acts 3:6
The road in life is riddled with challenges and the walk down the path toward Christ is not easy. Read 1 Peter 4-18
So my question is this...Do we have to wait for a miracle before we go walking and leaping and praising God? Does it always need to be a "what's in it for me" scenario? The answer to that question is simple.
What's in it for us = Eternal Life.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Guardian Angel
Question:
How is it that we avoid so many close calls in life? I can't even count the number of near miss collisions that I see just driving home on the freeway. How do we keep it together? How do we keep it from falling apart? Today's post might bring to light some answers...
Saint Joesemaria Escriva, founded Opus Dei in Madrid, Spain on October 2, 1928 (which is the Feast of the Guardian Angels). Although he wrote and spoke about many great things as it relates to our daily relationship with God, the focus for today's post is on a true story involving an Angel. Saint Joesemaria Escriva was convinced that God had placed an Angel beside each and every human being to help that person along the road of life.
Here is a true story:
One day during a very intense time of anti-clerical persecution in Madrid, Spain, an assassin made his way toward Monsignor Escriva (intending to kill him) as he walked down the street. As the would be assassin got closer, a very large man (who seemingly came out of no where) instantly placed himself between the assassin and Monsignor Escriva and drove the would be assassin away.
It all happened within the course of a few seconds and was over as quickly as it started. Swiftly, the large man turned, came over to Monsignor Escriva, and whispered into his ear... "Mangy donkey, mangy donkey."
It was the exact phrase that Joesemaria Escriva would recite while praying privately to God and his Guardian Angel. You see, in private, Joesemaria Escriva would pray something along the lines of..."Lord, I am nothing more than a mangy donkey, help me to do your will and glorify your name for I am nothing without you." The expression "mangy donkey" was only confessed in prayer and no human had ever known that he expressed this. Immediately, peace and joy filled his heard as he recognized this intervention was his Guardian Angel.
Answer:
The Lord watches over His children and has charged His angels to guard us every moment of the day. God loves us more than we can ever comprehend and He has a specific plan for each of us. In the case of Saint Joesemaria Escriva, this point proves that God alone has the final say in every matter on earth and in Heaven. When the devil deceived the heart of the would be assassin, the Lord vetoed the final act. Saint Joesemaria Escriva had much more of God's work to do on this earth and it was not his time.
Even the Saints humble themselves in front of the Lord. If they do this, then certainly we should try to emulate that as well. Mangy donkey, mangy donkey...
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Psalm 91:10-12 (NIV)
10"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
Matthew 18:10 (NIV)
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
How is it that we avoid so many close calls in life? I can't even count the number of near miss collisions that I see just driving home on the freeway. How do we keep it together? How do we keep it from falling apart? Today's post might bring to light some answers...
Saint Joesemaria Escriva, founded Opus Dei in Madrid, Spain on October 2, 1928 (which is the Feast of the Guardian Angels). Although he wrote and spoke about many great things as it relates to our daily relationship with God, the focus for today's post is on a true story involving an Angel. Saint Joesemaria Escriva was convinced that God had placed an Angel beside each and every human being to help that person along the road of life.
Here is a true story:
One day during a very intense time of anti-clerical persecution in Madrid, Spain, an assassin made his way toward Monsignor Escriva (intending to kill him) as he walked down the street. As the would be assassin got closer, a very large man (who seemingly came out of no where) instantly placed himself between the assassin and Monsignor Escriva and drove the would be assassin away.
It all happened within the course of a few seconds and was over as quickly as it started. Swiftly, the large man turned, came over to Monsignor Escriva, and whispered into his ear... "Mangy donkey, mangy donkey."
It was the exact phrase that Joesemaria Escriva would recite while praying privately to God and his Guardian Angel. You see, in private, Joesemaria Escriva would pray something along the lines of..."Lord, I am nothing more than a mangy donkey, help me to do your will and glorify your name for I am nothing without you." The expression "mangy donkey" was only confessed in prayer and no human had ever known that he expressed this. Immediately, peace and joy filled his heard as he recognized this intervention was his Guardian Angel.
- - -
Answer:
The Lord watches over His children and has charged His angels to guard us every moment of the day. God loves us more than we can ever comprehend and He has a specific plan for each of us. In the case of Saint Joesemaria Escriva, this point proves that God alone has the final say in every matter on earth and in Heaven. When the devil deceived the heart of the would be assassin, the Lord vetoed the final act. Saint Joesemaria Escriva had much more of God's work to do on this earth and it was not his time.
Even the Saints humble themselves in front of the Lord. If they do this, then certainly we should try to emulate that as well. Mangy donkey, mangy donkey...
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Psalm 91:10-12 (NIV)
10"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
Matthew 18:10 (NIV)
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
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