Quote of the Day =)

“Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.”
-Jaroslav Pelikan


Exerpt from: http://christianbookreviews.net/?p=9

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Christians Voting

OK – everyone, I know that this is a hard topic, and one that no- one alogn with religion likes to talk about with others. But, I am in a pickle of sorts and need to vent.

I am a Democrat – Yes a hard working – family oriented, was a member of the DEC and the Homestead-Fla city Democratic Party… I take politics very seriously. When it was time for me to choose what party I wanted to be involved in – I did my research and felt that I wanted to be associated with the Democratic party. I believe in working families and better wages, civil rights, I believe in national health care, etc… I still try to stay involved. Some of my closets friends are Dems and most of my family either are Dems or choose to vote Dem.

I am a huge Obama fanatic!!! He is an incredible speaker, mentor, father and husband. He is being very adamant on the hunt for a shift in perspective for all Americans. I believe that is exactly what N. America needs right now. With the struggles of recent Bush Administration turmoil, we require someone in office that will re-unite the nation and I believe that Obama can do just that. Hence, why I have chosen to vote for him!

So, now that you have an idea of my view on Dems, I am Christian. Does it really matter you ask? Well, my hubby and I have been “discussing” this for a few weeks now. My husband votes democrat but is a registered Republican. He recently became a man of God and is diligently working toward a new life within himself and with the family. In doing so, he has changed his thought process significantly. He doesn’t see how we can be both Christian and Democratic at the same time. He is battling over the decision of how to vote this coming election. It seems he is battling the concept of a true Christian voter (more Conservative) and the candidates that are actually running. He brought up a valid point, if we are pro-life – how can we vote someone in to office who is pro-choice. However, I thought – even if we are pro-life and we vote a candidate who is pro-life, who’s to say that he won’t send thousands of our fellow brothers and sisters to die overseas. Does an American Soldier have no worth over a hopeless fetus?

Voting is the most overwhelming way to make the nation hear what you have to say. If we vote toward someone whose values and morals are misguided, then that is how he will run the nation. Conversely, if we vote for someone who values their morals, our country will be lead to that direction.

The way I see it is that the separate between church and state does not entice Christians not to voice their beliefs and opinions. God teaches us to balance the earthly and spiritual portions of our lives. We have been blessed us with free will and the said will to choice who we believe will be the best at leading this nation under God. I am Christian before I am Democrat. Hence, why I am choosing to vote for a person who has a strong Christian edification, morals and values! Having someone in office with such standing will ultimately lead the nation accordingly!

Grace

Humans were disgraced with Adam and Eve and regained its sanctified grace through Jesus Christ. As a result, “grace can not be accepted or rejected” (Himes Track7). It is something one has intertwined in their soul; sanctifying grace is the type of grace that God assimilated into our souls. . We are all blessed with His grace and Himes describes grace as: When God chooses to give God self away outside the Trinity it is called grace (Himes). The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Catholicism describes how the “Catholic Church believes in both grace (the gift of God’s presence in our life) and our own good nature” (CIGTUC p7). I like Being Catholic further states that “Grace is everywhere. All is grace! Catholicism affirms life, affirms flesh, affirms pleasure, affirms art and music, affirms a God who is present in the object and events and persons of daily life” (ILBC p4-5). “Divinity is everywhere and in everything… ILBC p9).

Himes describes grace as the underlining factor of nature; as your palm underlies the back of your hand. The two entities are not considered separately but just your hand. You can not separate the two (grace and nature). In fact, in our daily lives we are not to distinguish between our sacred and our secular life. As I work in the ministries in our parish, I use the water and oil analogy. Water and oil do not mix. Hence, the hesitation to keep the two perspectives separate.

God will send us a temporary edification described as actual grace to help strengthen our minds, our hearts and most importantly our souls. This in turn is the presence of the Holy Spirit. You have a decision or will to not to cooperate with the actual grace. An example that I use in speaking with the ministries is: Mass has just ended and you are pulling out of the Church’s parking lot. You are become frustrated at the person who is requesting to cut you off and you react un-wholly… The sanctifying grace brought you to mass but your will to disregard your actual grace lead you to become frustrated in the parking lot. It is ultimately your choice. You must discern all that God has placed in front of you – every actual grace that God sends your way will help strengthen the sanctifying grace of your soul…

Proto-Gospel

The word Gospel translates to mean “good news”. The essence of the good news of Yeshua is simply love. But not just a philios (brotherly) love but a deeper agape (unconditional love) as a parent would implement with their child. Yeshua clearly stated: You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37)

I believe that love is key, an essential fragment that needs to be implemented in everything one does. In turn, because God has this unconditional love for each one of us; it will enable us to do the same for those around us. “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1John 4:16) Yeshua has shown me nothing but unconditional love and in doing so, I have been able to portray that love in everything I do. The love of Christ is embedded in my every thought, in all of my senses, all of my experiences and relationships. It is important to stress the love of thy neighbor, which was Yeshua’s second new found commandment, You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:38). Which in turn further clarifies: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15).

Love is “divine” because it comes from God and unites us to God; through this unifying process it makes us a “we” which transcends our divisions and makes us one, until in the end God is “all in all” (Deus Caritas Est 18)

Quote of the Day

There are no accidents...
there is only some purpose
that we have yet understood

-Deepak Chopra