DOES GOD EXIST?
This is one of the best explanations on
the nature of God that I have ever seen...
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: 'I don't believe that God exists.'
'Why do you say that?' asked the customer.
Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?
If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.
I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.'
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: 'You know what? Barbers do not exist.'
'How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber. 'I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!'
'No!' the customer exclaimed. 'Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.'
'Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.'
'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 'That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.'
If you think God exists, send this to other people---
If you think God does not exist, delete it!
BE BLESSED & BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
I really liked this; I hope you share it...........
Friday, May 6, 2011
Is modesty outmoded?
How sad it is to see so many Catholics dressing for the summer season in attire that is unbecoming to a person wanting to please God! What is it about summer that lowers inhibitions and blinds so many to what is modest? Several church bulletins have covered this subject yet many Catholics still uncover themselves as soon as the weather warms up.
Although we should always present ourselves in a modest way, do we ever stop and consider that immodest dress shows a lack of respect, not only for ourselves, but for the other people who share in the Mystical Body of Christ. The signs at the door asking for decent apparel in church, goes way beyond what we wear at Mass. Modesty is not a good dress or outfit worn for Sundays but a way of life the entire week.
We are responsible for how we represent ourselves. Clothing that incites sinful thoughts or distractions during Mass falls entirely to our own blame. How many times, however, have you met modest people from Mass who do not carry the modesty into the rest of their lives? They seem to have compartmentalized their modesty to the situation in which they find themselves. Is there less sin involved in short shorts worn at the mall than in church? It seems that many good people have failed to grasp ‘the big picture’. The thinking on modesty is adjusted to meet their needs of the moment, not God’s holy desires for us.
A modeling class once taught that you should always take a few minutes to review your dress for the day in a full-length mirror. You need a head to foot check to make sure everything is as it should be for where you are headed. Perhaps, we need to install a spiritual full-length mirror. It would be kind of a review of how our soul will look according to how we are viewed by the world. Delving into this kind of thought process can be painful. Many items of clothing in our present wardrobe would be tossed out. We might have to wear something that may be a little warm for a summer day but the hereafter could end up being a good deal warmer! Modesty is a conscious decision and a matter for the free will graciously given to us by God.
Although we should always present ourselves in a modest way, do we ever stop and consider that immodest dress shows a lack of respect, not only for ourselves, but for the other people who share in the Mystical Body of Christ. The signs at the door asking for decent apparel in church, goes way beyond what we wear at Mass. Modesty is not a good dress or outfit worn for Sundays but a way of life the entire week.
We are responsible for how we represent ourselves. Clothing that incites sinful thoughts or distractions during Mass falls entirely to our own blame. How many times, however, have you met modest people from Mass who do not carry the modesty into the rest of their lives? They seem to have compartmentalized their modesty to the situation in which they find themselves. Is there less sin involved in short shorts worn at the mall than in church? It seems that many good people have failed to grasp ‘the big picture’. The thinking on modesty is adjusted to meet their needs of the moment, not God’s holy desires for us.
A modeling class once taught that you should always take a few minutes to review your dress for the day in a full-length mirror. You need a head to foot check to make sure everything is as it should be for where you are headed. Perhaps, we need to install a spiritual full-length mirror. It would be kind of a review of how our soul will look according to how we are viewed by the world. Delving into this kind of thought process can be painful. Many items of clothing in our present wardrobe would be tossed out. We might have to wear something that may be a little warm for a summer day but the hereafter could end up being a good deal warmer! Modesty is a conscious decision and a matter for the free will graciously given to us by God.
Barbara's Motherly Lament . . . feel free to join in the chorus!
I have a feeling that if the entire world fell into stillness for one long moment and a universal clamor could be raised, it would be "Why don't THEY listen to ME?" (They being the generic for children and me being we parents.) Even without the one moment to voice this plea as a group, I know it does get said by most parents on an average of three times a day.
One day I decided to take time to listen to what I was saying and compared it to what my children did in response. They DO listen! They just process the results of our commands differently.
When you tell children to clean up their room, you have to be very specific. You have to tell them what day and time you expect to see the results of their labor. Phraseology is very important. During one of my housecleaning purges, I exclaimed, (okay, so I yelled), "Clean up your room and I don't want to see ANYTHING on the floor." Two hours later, there was not a thing on the floor. It was all piled on their beds. I neglected to mention that beds were out of bounds.
Another time I said I did not want to open their closet and find everything stuffed in it. Later I opened the closet in question and found everything stuffed in it. The children were very shocked at my anger. As they explained to me, they HEARD me say I didn't want to open their closet so they figured they would not have to worry about cleaning it!
There is one rhetorical question I know most of us are guilty of saying to our children. We come into a room, find one or more of our offspring busily painting the walls with toothpaste (substitute item of your experience here.) Your query is, "What do you think you are doing?" Immediately the children presume your parental stupidity as it is perfectly clear WHAT they are doing!
I really thought I had them once. I actually got their attention and I know they heard what I had to say. I mentioned that Three Kings' Day was coming up. If they wanted the Three Kings to leave surprises in their shoes, they had better get their bedrooms in order. With the inborn suspicion of childhood, my children looked me in the eye and said, "The Three Kings never left anything in our shoes before. . ." I smiled and said, "Precisely!"
The next time I viewed their rooms that day, I found the closet securely closed, everything piled on their beds and every shoe they could get their hands on lined up along the perimeter of their rooms. WHY DO THEY LISTEN TO ME???
One day I decided to take time to listen to what I was saying and compared it to what my children did in response. They DO listen! They just process the results of our commands differently.
When you tell children to clean up their room, you have to be very specific. You have to tell them what day and time you expect to see the results of their labor. Phraseology is very important. During one of my housecleaning purges, I exclaimed, (okay, so I yelled), "Clean up your room and I don't want to see ANYTHING on the floor." Two hours later, there was not a thing on the floor. It was all piled on their beds. I neglected to mention that beds were out of bounds.
Another time I said I did not want to open their closet and find everything stuffed in it. Later I opened the closet in question and found everything stuffed in it. The children were very shocked at my anger. As they explained to me, they HEARD me say I didn't want to open their closet so they figured they would not have to worry about cleaning it!
There is one rhetorical question I know most of us are guilty of saying to our children. We come into a room, find one or more of our offspring busily painting the walls with toothpaste (substitute item of your experience here.) Your query is, "What do you think you are doing?" Immediately the children presume your parental stupidity as it is perfectly clear WHAT they are doing!
I really thought I had them once. I actually got their attention and I know they heard what I had to say. I mentioned that Three Kings' Day was coming up. If they wanted the Three Kings to leave surprises in their shoes, they had better get their bedrooms in order. With the inborn suspicion of childhood, my children looked me in the eye and said, "The Three Kings never left anything in our shoes before. . ." I smiled and said, "Precisely!"
The next time I viewed their rooms that day, I found the closet securely closed, everything piled on their beds and every shoe they could get their hands on lined up along the perimeter of their rooms. WHY DO THEY LISTEN TO ME???
Sorting the cupboard shelves brings on inspiration . . .
In making sure my kitchen is in good shape while I'm on vacation, I sorted through the pantry cupboard to see what was on hand and what I might need to purchase. Even when I'm out of the house (and country!), I want to make sure my husband has everything he needs to eat sufficiently. I have very long apron strings and they are anchored in my home and family.
I noticed I had stocked up on canned pumpkin so went in search of possible recipes that could use the extra ones up. I found this one and although I haven't tried it yet, it looks simple yet makes a fancy presentation. It has everything in it - citrus, pumpkin, and spice plus a decadent cream cheese frosting.
Interesting note but canned pumpkin only has to have a certain percentage of actual pumpkin in it to be labeled as such. We might be getting some Butternut squash in it as less expensive filler. Doesn't bother me as Butternut squash can be cooked into a 'pumpkin' pie without anyone noticing the switch. So, if my store-bought can of pumpkin incorporates some other squash, I'm okay with that.
Pumpkin Squares
1 spice cake mix
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 16-ounce can pumpkin
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix all the pumpkin bar ingredients in a bowl just until well combined. Pour into a 13x9-inch cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until a toothpick comes out of the center clean. Cool completely.
While the cake is cooling, cream the cream cheese and butter together in your mixer bowl until quite fluffy. Mix in the powdered sugar until well blended. Add vanilla, orange zest, and mix well. Chill frosting in the refrigerator until the cake is completely cool, frost, and serve.
I noticed I had stocked up on canned pumpkin so went in search of possible recipes that could use the extra ones up. I found this one and although I haven't tried it yet, it looks simple yet makes a fancy presentation. It has everything in it - citrus, pumpkin, and spice plus a decadent cream cheese frosting.
Interesting note but canned pumpkin only has to have a certain percentage of actual pumpkin in it to be labeled as such. We might be getting some Butternut squash in it as less expensive filler. Doesn't bother me as Butternut squash can be cooked into a 'pumpkin' pie without anyone noticing the switch. So, if my store-bought can of pumpkin incorporates some other squash, I'm okay with that.
Pumpkin Squares
1 spice cake mix
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 16-ounce can pumpkin
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix all the pumpkin bar ingredients in a bowl just until well combined. Pour into a 13x9-inch cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes until a toothpick comes out of the center clean. Cool completely.
While the cake is cooling, cream the cream cheese and butter together in your mixer bowl until quite fluffy. Mix in the powdered sugar until well blended. Add vanilla, orange zest, and mix well. Chill frosting in the refrigerator until the cake is completely cool, frost, and serve.
Quotes and thoughts for a Friday . . .
"Part of the inhumanity of the computer is that, once it is competently programmed and working smoothly, it is completely honest."
-- Isaac Asimov
"Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge."
-- Paul Gauguin
"Arithmetic is being able to count up to twenty without taking off your shoes."
-- Mickey Mouse
This last quote brings back such memories of trying to get the basic concept of arithmetic into my older son's head! I was sure he would have to attend college math classes barefoot in order to do the lessons! Fortunately, he grew out of that mind set by age five and graduated in the top one percent of his class . . . with shoes!
-- Isaac Asimov
"Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge."
-- Paul Gauguin
"Arithmetic is being able to count up to twenty without taking off your shoes."
-- Mickey Mouse
This last quote brings back such memories of trying to get the basic concept of arithmetic into my older son's head! I was sure he would have to attend college math classes barefoot in order to do the lessons! Fortunately, he grew out of that mind set by age five and graduated in the top one percent of his class . . . with shoes!
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