CORE POSTINGS

LOVE IS HERE

ent: 7/28/2005 1:02 AM
based on 7/25/05 meeting

What is LOVE?

As we saw last Monday, everyone had their own opinion of what love is and the way we express it....Even the definition of Love is somewhat varied and kinda confusing...Here is the definition....
A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.
A feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person with whom one is disposed to make a pair; the emotion of sex and romance.
An intense emotional attachment, as for a pet or treasured object.
A person who is the object of deep or intense affection or attraction; beloved. Often used as a term of endearment.
An expression of one's affection: Send him my love.
Not as simple as we thought. So how can we find TRUE love???? I can truly tell you that we will not find it on the street or online. True love requires commitment and sacrifice...which makes perfect sense once you know Christ.

We keep looking for love in all the wrong places..but we have to realize at some point that the definition of TRUE LOVE was given to us by God since the beginning....its right in front of our faces....for those that believe...and the definition is simple:

JESUS ON THE CROSS = LOVE!!!!!!!

Forget Dr. Ruth and Dr. John Gray...Men and Women are from Heaven...lets go back together and in LOVE!!!!

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WHAT IS A REAL MAN?
Sent: 8/20/2003 8:44 AM
based on Meeting of 8/18

WHAT IS A REAL MAN? I posed this question to a group of friends the other day and the standard responses fell into three categories:
1. Physical - Who's the "Biggest" or "Toughest."2. Drinking - Measured by who can chug down a six-pack of beer the fastest.3. Sexual - Who can "score" the most.
Others add that a real man is someone who does whatever he wants to do, or, a guy who has mastered financial independence. If you would have asked me in my college days I would have probably answered the same.
The truth is that everyone who fell into those categories failed to provide any type of meaning to my life. Only a man that broke the mold did that and that was Jesus.
You see, a measure of a man is defined by his Integrety and to achieve this it is important that we define our identity (alone, with others, with Christ)...Once we understand who we are and our limitations we are ready for the next step......(to be continued next Monday)




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Message 2 of 2 in Discussion
From: mike_mitrani
Sent: 7/22/2005 7:30 PM
Very Well Said!!!

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Dealing with Difficulties
Sent: 7/19/2005 12:49 PM
Meeting summary (7-18-05)
We started the meeting by separating the room, one side with the ladies and the other with the guys. We began talking about the differences between both in finding the right person and how difficult this process can be.
Jason did the first Catholic Minute, which will be a new part of the meeting, quickly explaining parts of our traditions. He gave a brief overview of what a Novena is and how it is prayed.
We moved to talk about how we deal with difficult situations, some simple and some complicated. We finalized by mentioning that we sometimes do not have the proper training to deal with these situations.
As Christians we need to get trained in how to deal with difficulties, big and small, how to act, and what to say. Difficulties happen to:
Alert us that something needs to change.
Direct us in the proper path.
Shape us into mature individuals
Unite us to work together for the common good.
Our Catholic Faith and Traditions help us solve many of the issues we encounter. These are not there to separate us from Christ, but gives us an opportunity to know Christ to the fullest, which is the true "problem solver".
The Bible at the same time serves as the "manual" or gives true insights on how to deal with our with the difficult aspects of our daily lives.
Take advantage of these resources as you go through life!!!
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Homosexuality
Sent: 8/13/2004 3:11 PM
based on Monday, August 2nd 2004 meeting

It is funny to see the reaction when you mention this word. You would think we are talking about a contagious disease when it is not.

Homosexuality is something that we have to understand fully before judging or condeming. Our church is against homosexual acts not homosexual "tendencies". I have included some further information for a more detailed explanation.

Remember, we are called to minister/ be the voice of truth by sharing the Good News that Jesus' love is for ALL!!!!

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Homosexuality
HOMOSEXUALITY: Sexual attraction or orientation toward persons of the same sex and/or sexual acts between persons of the same sex. Homosexual acts are morally wrong because they violate God's purpose for human sexual activity (2357).
Cathecism says:
Chastity and homosexuality
2357
Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358
The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359
Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
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Pope says:
The Church cannot be silent about the truth, because she would fail in her fidelity to God the Creator and would not help to distinguish good from evil.
In this regard, I wish merely to read what is said in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which, after noting that homosexual acts are contrary to the natural law, then states: "The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html
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Nuns Criticize Vatican's Anti-Gay Action; Call for the Resignation of Cardinal Ratzinger
CHICAGO - Two board members of a national organization of Roman Catholic nuns issued a blistering criticism of the Vatican for forbidding a nun and priest from ministering to gays and lesbians and called for the resignation of the Vatican official responsible for the ban.
Last week, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger ordered School Sister of Notre Dame Jeannine Gramick and Salvatorian Father Robert Nugent to stop their ministry to gay persons and their families citing the pair's "ambiguity" on the immorality of homosexual activity.
"The Vatican's misguided action against these two ministers should be reversed," said Sister Margaret Traxler, founder and board member of the National Coalition of American Nuns (NCAN). "Sister Jeannine and Father Nugent have done enormous good in helping the Catholic community understand gay people and respond appropriately to their pastoral needs. To forbid their ministry sends the unacceptable message that gay persons and their families are not entitled to the Church's pastoral care."
Gramick and Nugent have been involved in ministry with the gay community for almost thirty years with the full approval of their respective religious orders. They have written and lectured extensively on the topic of homosexuality and the Catholic Church and their work has been lauded by many including a number of Catholic bishops.
In 1974, the National Coalition of American Nuns was the first Catholic organization and one of the first national organizations to affirm the rights of gay and lesbian people. Throughout its history, NCAN has testified in support of gay civil rights legislation and has been outspoken in its call for authentic pastoral care for gay people and their families within the Church.
"Gay people have been the objects of derision and scorn. They have been abused, denied, and their pastoral needs have been ignored," said Sister Donna Quinn, an NCAN board member and director of Chicago Catholic Women. "Sister Jeannine and Father Bob have attempted to dispel the myths surrounding homosexuality and respond to the needs of this group. They have done this in faithfulness to the Church and in fidelity to the truth. Forbidding their ministry is a travesty."
While never challenging the official teaching of the Church that homosexual activity is objectively immoral, Gramick and Nugent have stressed the Church's teachings that gay persons are to be treated with respect and that they deserve a special degree of pastoral care. Some Catholic officials wanted the pair to highlight the immorality of homosexual activity and give less emphasis to the Church's call for understanding, compassion and justice.
"Father Bob and Sister Jeannine have influenced thousands of pastoral ministers and their approach has become the model of gay ministry throughout the U.S.," said Sister Quinn. "Silencing them will not take us back to the time when gay people were despised and ignored nor will it stop others from ministering to gay persons and their families. We fully support Sister Jeannine and Father Bob and we recommit ourselves to stand in solidarity with gay and lesbian people who long for justice and understanding in our Church."
In addition to urging that the ban be reversed, the nuns have called for the resignation of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the man responsible for barring the nun and priest from ministry to gay persons and their families.
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The Church Mandate for Ministry
Some quotes mandating Catholic ministry to lesbian and gay persons...
Homosexual people "should not suffer from prejudice against their basic human rights...they have a right to respect, friendship and justice...they should have an active role in the Christian community."
-- To Live in Christ Jesus
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS, 1976
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The Church can combat prejudice against homosexual people by "fostering ongoing theological research and criticism with regard to its own theological tradition on homosexuality, none of which is infallibly taught."
-- The Prejudice Against Homosexuals and the Ministry of the Church
WASHINGTON STATE CATHOLIC CONFERENCE, 1983
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"It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the object of violent malice in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the Church's pastors wherever it occurs. It reveals a kind of disregard for others which endangers the most fundamental principles of a healthy society. The intrinsic dignity of each person must always be respected in word, in action and in law... The characteristic concern and good will exhibited by many clergy and religious in their pastoral care for homosexual persons is admirable, and, we hope, will not diminish."
-- Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons
CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH, 1986
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"We call on all Christians and citizens of good will to confront their own fears about homosexuality and to curb the humor and discrimination that offend homosexual persons."
-- Human Sexuality
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS, 1990



Our Careers: What we do not learn in school.

Sent: 1/28/2004 3:12 AM
Yesterday we had a pretty interesting discussion about the things that they do not teach you at any college. Here are a few:

1) Networking- Ways to improve your current situation by capitalizing on the people you have around. The famous: "is not what you know, its who you know".
2) Office Politics- Dealing with people (with different personalities, who have special informal bonds with others) within all levels of your organization to either maintain your job or improve it.
3) Etiquette- Learning the appropriate way of behaving, dressing, communicating within an organization. The un-written rules of the organization.

It is very clear that these situations might influence your perception of your chosen career path.

However, there are many other situations that we are just not informed about when we are trying to choose what we want to do when we really grow up. For example, how do we deal with extramarital affairs in your office (boss and secretary), with employees that abuse company resources and time for personal benefits, co-workers that break the rules to solve a situation (like approving a loan to a bankrupt company to gain commissions). Gray areas, gray areas, gray areas.

As Christians we must have the understanding of what our faith requires of us and make the appropriate choices to deal with these kinds of situations without compromising our beliefs.

Tough, right? I know. We must try not to turn a "blind eye" and make choices that we feel proud of. Take a stand in favor of your Christian beliefs. If not, I assure you, you will not be happy for very long.

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What do you think of all of this? Have you had any of these situations near you? What has your reaction been?



Happy Good Friday
Sent: 4/19/2003 1:11 PM
I've been going around acting kinda crazy lately...

Yesterday, everytime I saw any of my friends I told them "Happy Good Friday!!!!!"

For me its a celebration of the heart and soul, both for personal and for spiritual reasons...

You see on Good Friday 1995 I met my beautiful wife, Maria Elena...yep its been 8 years of suffering and of carrying a big CROSS..(just kidding honey)

The reality is that the Lord blessed me with a gift on that day.....in a mysterious way...and quietly..God re-entered my heart....

Yes I know that Good Friday is a day to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us...its just that everytime Good Friday comes my heart fills with joy...

Because not only did HE bring me true love in the most mysterious way...but also because he died for ME and YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

You see, the final prayer of Jesus was about you...His final pain was for you...His final passion was for you. Before he went to the cross, Jesus went to the garden...and when he spoke to his Father, you were in his prayers...

God couldn't turn his back on you....He couldn't because he LOVES YOU!!!
....and on that evening, Jesus made his decision. He would rather go through hell for you than go to Heaven without YOU!!!!

So next time you see somebody you care for on this day tell them...

Happy Good Friday...He died for YOU!!!!! (and He LIVES)


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K.I.S.S.- Bilingual4/1/2003 1:29 AM
Hi:

I just wanted to share with you a private conversation that I had the other day with a friend of mine about one of the Monday meeting discussions. It is mostly in spanish...therefore have a dictionary handy...

Enjoy

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friendforlife: como te fue ayer?
Hernan: bien gracias a Dios
Hernan: hablamos de la guerra de iraq
Hernan: del conflicto con los palestinos
Hernan: de world hunger
Hernan: y de aborciones
Hernan: y que solucion le darian si fueran
Hernan: Supreme Chancellors del mundo
friendforlife: wow
Hernan: temas complicados
Hernan: y asi es la vida right?
friendforlife: exacto.
friendforlife: nadie dijo que hiba ser facil.
Hernan: bueno
Hernan: a la gente se le haria mas facil si siguieran el consejo eterno
Hernan: K.I.S.S.
Hernan: Keep it Simple Stupid
Hernan: hablamos un poco tambien de la religion Catolica
Hernan: y como parece ser complicada a veces para los jovenes
Hernan: ya que quieren entender todos los simbolismos que en ella se encuentran
Hernan: y en realidad ese fue el punto
Hernan: que en la vida nos complicamos por 20 mil cosas
Hernan: hasta en nuestra religion
Hernan: cuando en realidad we should
Hernan: Keep it Simple Stupid
Hernan: Love God
Hernan: Accept Christ as Savior
Hernan: and Be and Act Good
friendforlife: I agree
Hernan: las 20 mil "complicaciones"de la iglesia Catolica....despues de entenderlas bien...
Hernan: te llevan a esos mismos puntos
Hernan: pa que tu veas
friendforlife: Amen

Does Anger Get the Best of You?
Sent: 2/5/2003 6:29 PM
Hey guys..I found this article that was pretty cool regarding what we spoke about yesterday. Read it when you get a chance. Let me know what you think.
G.B.Y.!!!!!!!
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Does Anger Get the Best of You?
If you get boiling mad and out of control with your family, here’s help. On every trip they take, frequent fliers hear these words from the flight attendant: “In an emergency, please make sure your oxygen mask is in place before assisting your child with their mask.”Have you ever wondered why this instruction is given? Because if you can’t breathe, you can’t help your child, and before you know it, neither of you is breathing. The same is true with our emotions as fathers and the emotions of our children. If we cannot control our anger or other emotions, we certainly can’t expect our children to be self-controlled.Following the pattern of their own fathers, many men rarely show their emotions to family members. Others have an explosive temper that embarrasses their families. In the heat of emotion, men say things they later regret. Most often, a man’s emotion shows up in the form of anger.Even the smallest irritation can set off a firestorm of emotions. Take Bill and his wife, Debbie, as an example. They had five children in quick fashion, which added both enjoyment and stress to their marriage. Bill was a very exacting person who liked things done in a certain way. He always wanted olives in his taco salad.One evening as the family gathered around the table to pray and eat, Debbie brought over the taco salad she’d been working on in the kitchen. You guessed it -- no olives! Bill looked at the salad, and in a flash threw the entire contents of the salad bowl up in the air. It may sound too silly to be true, but I heard about it from one of Bill’s five children, who’s now an adult. The incident had left a huge negative impression.Whether we like it or not, our children will reflect what we model emotionally.Maintaining ControlWhen anger surges in a man’s blood, what he does in the next split second will determine if he is a child abuser or a loving father. We may think we would never consider abusing our children -- but many forms of child abuse are not punishable by law, yet equally devastating. We are not thrown into prison for insulting, harshly criticizing or exasperating our children, but the damage to their self-esteem and spirit can be as devastating as slapping or kicking them. What’s really scary is that we all feel those intense emotions.So, what can help us keep control? Consider three strategies:First, embrace the peace of God, which transcends all understanding and guards our hearts and our minds. God can help us respond to whatever hurt, resentment, bitterness or rage we may feel. In Philippians 4, Paul says we find this peace by bringing our requests to God -- through prayer.Second, don’t stuff your anger inside. The Scriptures say, “In your anger do not sin” (see Eph. 4:26). The emotion is a given; our response is the key. Should you be emotionless and hide what’s in your heart? Absolutely not. You’ll only become an explosion waiting to detonate. Instead, find a way to process your emotion -- or even express it -- in a way that’s directed away from others, especially your children. Use exercise, counseling or accountability with a close friend.And third, James 1 instructs us to be slow to anger, but quick to listen, because our anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Listening focuses on the needs of others, which is a good way to avoid stewing in our own emotions.A Gentle AnswerThroughout the Bible, it is assumed that anger is a part of life, and that there is an appropriate response to it. It is very rare, however, that anger or aggression is a correct response in the family.The Bible describes a better way. Remember Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”Dad, ask yourself: “Am I answering my children with gentle words no matter what they’ve done, no matter how much they talk back or criticize or resist me?” A gentle answer turns away wrath. Our kids are watching...and learning.Let your emotions toward your children be ruled by gentleness. Put on the oxygen mask of God’s Word and breathe deeply. Then you’re ready to give your children the stability and the emotional model they need. By Ken Canfield for “New Man” magazine. All rights reserved.

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Any Leaders Out There?

Sent: 10/9/2002 2:32 PM
based on discussion 10/7/02


Any Leaders Out There? by Hernan M. Mayol

When we think about a Leader in our lives we usually think of someone that can stand in front of a group and make them accomplish a task. While it is true that sometimes leaders are "in charge" of a certain group or situation, not all leaders show these characteristics.

We tend to forget that a leadership style might be passive and might be carried by a person we would have never, initially, thought of as a leader. Lets take Mother Teresa as an example. Her leadership style came as a servant. This inspired others to give of themselves and to help others in need unselfishly.

Another example is a partnering leadership style. Parents use this very often as they both find different strengths to deal with a particular situation that involves the upbringing of their children. And what about the Team leadership approach, where members rise to the occassion whenever they are needed. A heart surgeon usually waits until a patient is prepared to operate and when he does he uses precision, then somebody else might finish the job of stiching a patient.

And then comes the dictatorship style. A lifeguard might very well be in this position when lives are at stake.

Some people have the gift of Leadership and can move from one style to another while others are called to lead based on their position or function.

All of us are called to lead, not always because we want to, at some point or another. Jesus might call upon you one day and you will have to lead. But how do I lead, you may ask?

Thousands of books about Leadership have been written. These give you quick fixes and/or might help you make a quick buck. I am one that believes that the best Leadership examples are drawn from the life of Jesus Christ. Learn how he dealt with every situation through the passages of the Bible or through many other Christian books at your local bookstore. I am sure that if you learn the lessons He teaches, you will be ready to Lead.

How do you know you've become an adult?
Sent: 8/6/2002 10:25 PM
Based on meeting held on 8/5/02.
How do you know you've become an adult?
Written by Luis Villanueva (Lou594)
What makes us men and women rather than boys or girls? Is it how much money we make or what houses we live in and cars we drive? Is it our ages that determine when we stop being kids or rather our actions? Is it attending mass and a belief in God and or is it living as God wants us to?
Think about the questions above and then answer them below.
Do you do as you say most of the time or do you say more than you do?
Do you live for the moment or do you plan for your moments?
Do you save for your future or do you spend time waiting for your next check?
Do you contribute in your home or does your home contribute to you?
Do you wait patiently or get anxious?
Do you go after what you want or do you think it will come to you?
Do you make excuses for your actions or do you face your mistakes and decisions head on?
Well, the more I weigh a lot of these questions the more I realize that I am further away than I thought.... How about you? Have you arrived, almost there or still holding on to your youth at least in mind?
One thing is definitely for certain in this process that no matter how old we might be there is always room for improvement and growth in our lives.... All we have to do is ask God for some guidance to help us walk the path we should be living in and not the path of the hopeless. Because none of us are hopeless as long as we have true belief in Christ our Lord and allow him entrance into our lives.... With him by our side, keeping our hearts and eyes open he will take us where we need to be.
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Money Matters

Sent: 7/30/2002 1:12 AM
I found this article appropriate based on our discussions for this week...READ ON!!!

God bless

Hernan

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The Buck Stops Where?By Charles Ross

These 10 money mistakes will cost you big time!1. Limited Family Involvement
Matthew 18:19 says, “I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven” (NIV). I think that is a very pivotal verse and it applies to limited family involvement.What I mean is that often times husbands do not work with their wives in the money-making decisions. That creates a lot of problems. You've got to have communication when it comes to money and financial matters. If you can talk about money, you can talk about anything.2. Choosing the Wrong Career
You can't be successful financially if you don't choose the right career.A lot of times many of us are working in jobs that we're not really suited for. First Corinthians 7:7 deals with the different gifts people have in the body of Christ. A lot of people are not doing what they are gifted to do, and they wonder why the blessings don't come to them. But if you yield yourself to God’s plan for your life, He will lead you to a place where your giftings and abilities can best be utilized.3. Not Having Enough Insurance
This is a big error. Very rarely do you find somebody who’s overinsured. Many people do, however, get insurance that they really don't need--cancer insurance, pet insurance, credit card insurance or mortgage life insurance.We don't like to deal with insurance because some of it deals with morbid stuff like dying or losing property. But if something happens to you, you’ll be glad that you have enough.
4. Too Much Debt
Be careful about running up those credit cards. Not only that, but be careful about having more house or more car than you need.If you have a lease on a car, you may have too much car. People don't like to hear that, but it’s true. As a matter of fact, some people need to be living in their cars. I’m talking about payments as high as $500, $600 or $700 a month for a car note. That’s a mortgage payment for many of us!Deuteronomy 28 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. The first 14 verses deal with the blessings for obedience; the last 54 verses deal with the curses of disobedience. A pivotal verse is Deut. 28:12, which says that “You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.” In other words, you'll have more than you need for your own sustenance and be able to bless others. That’s not possible when you’re paying on three or four credit cards every month or making a hefty car payment.5. No Written Goals
Habakkuk 2:2 tells us to “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets.”Did you know that only three percent of the population hit their goals 90 percent of the time? The real difference between that three percent and the other folks is that they write their goals down.When it comes to writing down financial goals, there must be two components:First of all, there has to be a time frame. In other words, when do you want the money? Second, you have to set a dollar amount.For example, let's say you want to buy a house and you need to save $2,500 for a down payment. You set aside $50 a week, $200 a month, and guess what, come one year you have $2,500. It's not magic, it's just math!I suggest you set financial goals every six months, or at least once a year. Sit down with your spouse or, if you're single, by yourself and set those goals. If you don't have a time frame and a dollar amount, then it's just wishful thinking. Once you put those things together, then you can take the necessary steps to make your financial dreams come true.6. Not Having a Budget
Going by the seat of your pants, managing your money by the daily balance in your checking account, is no way to live.A budget tells you what has happened in the past. Most people need to look backward before they can move forward. In other words, they need look at how they’ve spent their money so they can take corrective action in the future. If you don't do that, you'll continue to make the same kinds of mistakes.7. Not Having Money for Emergencies
Every month something comes up in your budget that you did not plan. And if you don't set money aside in emergency cash reserves that you can draw upon during tough times, you're setting yourself up for failure.Even when you have debts, you need to be setting aside money for future needs. The minimum amount that someone should have in their savings account is 3 to 6 months’ worth of expenses. Many people think when they have debt it's an “either-or” situation. But we have to save as well as work to retire debt, or we’ll never get ahead.8. No Tax Planning
Get the old form from last year, or if you have a computer program you can plug the numbers in and see what you're estimated liability is going to be. Then come January there might be some steps you can take to lower your tax bill or make some changes so that next year’s bill will be lower.9. Not Giving to the Kingdom
Many people do not understand that it's not about the money. It's about changing your heart.When you give away what God has entrusted to you, you're lowering your dependence on material items and demonstrating to God that you have faith that He will supply your needs.10. Not Spreading the Risk
As men we often try to hit a home run with one investment rather than invest over the long haul. I've been doing this for 20 years now, and one of the things I have always learned is that I'm not going to be right all the time with my stock picks. As a matter of fact, many times I'm going to be wrong!What keeps my head above water is that I diversify my investments—stocks, bonds, mutual funds--because you never know which boat is going to come in, which one is going to do well.Many people put all their eggs in one basket. They do that in their 401k plan; they put all their money in company stock or in a guaranteed investment contract or whatever the case may be. But if you do just one thing, you're asking for trouble.-Charles Ross is host of the nationally syndicated radio program


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IMAGINARY FRIEND
Sent: 7/28/2002 1:18 PM
As a very young child we enjoyed playing with our dolls/toys......We had many great adventures...limited only by our imagination. When alone we would invite our imaginary friends and have long hours of pure fun, talking to them and playing for hours.

As we grow our imaginary friend starts returning the favor...talking to us often...reminding us that our heart should remain as pure as it once was...that imaginary friend is sometimes called your conscience.

It's our conscience's job to tell us right from wrong, but its OUR job to listen to it, and do what it says...Don't worry...your concience does not forget nor give up. However, quieting our consciense is especially dangerous, when the classic "everybody else is doing it" happens. The more you push it away...the more insensitive you become.

I hope you listen to it...God placed it there for a reason. Maybe you need to remember those times when you where a child; when your heart was pure...

Lets play....


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CONTROL FREAK
Sent: 7/14/2002 4:20 AM
Based on our group discussion on July 8th 2002

"Everything needs to be perfect...No mistakes if I can help it....You have to do things right". Yes, many of us are Control Freaks, some more than others. And because we want things our way, we get frustrated when they don't come out how we had planned.

Did it rain today? I am sure you wanted the sun to come out.
Did someone in your family hurt you? I am positive you would've preferred a hug, you needed it.
Did you get the job you wanted? I clearly see that you thought you were perfect for it....
Was traffic a hassle? I bet you wanted a hassle free day...

Frustrating, isn't it???

Come here, let me tell you a little secret.....YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE....If you don't believe me, just look all around you. God wants you to know that he is there ALL the TIME...and that you have to make the RIGHT decisions based on things that are outside of your control.

God wants you to mature...and get a different attitude....You see, one measure of our spiritual maturity is the way we respond when things go wrong. If we give in to despair, forget God's existence, or lash out at a some other person because of our frustrations, we have some growing up to do.

Hernan
Editor
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Don't Worry..Be Happy????
Sent: 4/28/2002 12:18 PM
Based on group discussion of 4/16/02


I have to tell you that not worrying is sort of difficult right now....War in the Middle East...a stand-off in the church of the Nativity between Muslims and Jews (how ironic, no?).....news of school shootings.

On top of all this people have to worry about....doing good in school, at work, taking care of their families, accomplishing their daily routines.....and what if you go to work to find that you have been let go. What if you had 10 children to feed?

Life is not easy....we have thousands of worries and many more to come...we want answers....we want to know how to solve every problem at this particular moment.

Do you ever wonder why God does not give you the answer to the rest of your life right now? ..Imagine yourself in a long road...then receiving detailed directions of where you have to turn (right, left, around the tree, over the bridge) for the next 5 years....did you get'em???

God never gives you more than you can handle in one day. Its easy to stress out and worry about what you've got on your plate, but in the end you'll accomplish what you can, and then the rest will has to wait.....(Matthew 6:25-34) "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of their own. Today's trouble is enough for today".

Do you still think this is easier said than done?????

Read this promise that God has made to us:

(Jeremiah 29: 11-14)
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

It is soothing to read this promise particularly when we don't know what will happen in our life....or how we will "get out of the hole"...

Funny, but I can hear God singing to me right now.....(From Bobby McFerrin's song)

"In every life we have some trouble....but when you worry you make it Double....Don't Worry - Be Happy"


What are your worries right now??? Can YOU solve them alone??? Are you having the same "troubles" you had 10 years ago???

Hernan
COREOnline- A Catholic Young Adult Community
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