The Seven R’s

April 3, 2009

Here is a document with The 7 R’s spelled out and in outline form as well.

THE 7 R’s

Recognition:  When I recognize that I am a sinner, I become aware that I can commit and have committed sin. I acknowledge in some definite way that I have made a choice to willingly and knowingly perform an act that is contrary to God’s law. Once I recognize my sin I can choose to ignore it or to renounce it. If I acknowledge that I am a sinner who has sinned, I can also describe the evidence and effect of my sin.

Remorse:  When I consider God’s goodness to me and contrast that with my failure to respond accordingly, I can choose to ignore my sense of guilt or I can choose to acknowledge the grief I feel for my past wrongs. When this remorse is sincere and effective, I feel genuine sorrow for my shortcomings; I feel contrite and am humbled by my weakness.

Repentance:  To repent is to change my perception of my actions and resolve to reform my life. I make a conscious decision to turn from sin and dedicate myself to the amendment of my life. The underlying intent should be that the change for the better will be a permanent change. I make a firm decision to avoid sin and to resist the desire to be tempted.

Reconciliation: Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation I can seek to restore the compatibility between me and God. I can restore my capability to live in harmony with God as well as with whomever I have wronged by my choice to commit sin. My ability as well as my willingness to seek and accept God’s forgiveness is restored.

Restitution:  Part of my obligation as a servant of God is to make compensation for the wrong I have done. I am accountable to God for the way my actions affect my life as well as the lives, and perhaps even the souls, of my family or my community. Sometime this compensation is a form of penance that is an act of devotion — praying certain prayers prescribed my confessor — or I am directed by the priest to restore an equivalent for what I have wrongfully taken, to make amends for some injustice that is physical or spiritual. In either case the objective is to cause restoration of a previous state. He completely forgives – and more importantly, completely forgets – my sin.

Renewal:  When I acknowledge my sins and repent, confess my sins and do penance, resolve to avoid sin and to resist the desire to be tempted and to seek and to accept God’s forgiveness, I experience a restoration of the state of Grace God intended for me when He created me. I am spiritually reborn, converted from a sin-stained soul and reconformed to the image of God. I am radically changed and able to recognize, accept, and make use of the graces God has given me. I am made new again.

Rejoicing:  My restoration to harmony with God and with humanity has the effect of generating inexpressible joy and unsurpassable peace. My ability to obey Christ’s Law of Love allows me to remain in His love. It also allows His Love to remain in me. Jesus Himself told us this so that His Joy would be in us and that our Joy will be complete (see John 15:10-12)*. I feel delight because God has not only shown me what my heart desires; He has also satisfied that desire beyond my expectations, beyond even my ability to comprehend. The Psalmist found delight in the Law of the LORD. My delight — our delight — is in the fulfillment of that Law through the salvific Grace given to us in Jesus. As St Paul said in Romans 5, 10-11*: “Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

*New American Bible Copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC.

 

Seven Key Words of Faith in God’s Forgiveness

 

  1. Recognition

1.1.      See there is a problem

1.2.      Know sin

1.3.      Know that I am powerless against it

  1. Remorse
    • I regret the outcome of my actions
    • I trust in God’s understanding of my sorrow
  1. Repentance

3.1.      I make a conscious decision to correct my thinking, my communications, and my actions

3.2.      I make that decision public through my actions

  1. Reconciliation
  • I am resolved to restore the relationships with God and with my community that I have damaged through my sin
  • I seek and accept forgiveness from God and my community
  1. Reparation
  • I am willing to atone and to offer compensation for the damage I have caused
  • I gratefully acknowledge expiation of my sins
  1. Renewal
  • I am transformed by the renewal of my heart, my mind, and my actions.
  • I make it my resolve to avoid the kinds of circumstances that enabled me to sin
  1. Rejoicing
  • I rejoice in the restoration of a right relationship with God and my community.
  • I share my rejoicing freely and still, with due humility, show respect for others,

Aloha Friday Message – April 3, 2009

April 3, 2009

914AFC040309 Happy Aloha Friday!!

Last week I mentioned that I planned on sending The 7 R’s for this week’s message. Today I am going to send you an outline of that document. You may recall we had a series of Aloha Friday Cards some time ago that featured the 7 R’s. Just as a reminder they are [1] Recognition, [2] Remorse, [3] Repentance, [4] Reconciliation, [5] Restitution, [6] Renewal, and [7] Rejoicing.

The document I used in the series last time mentioned the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This outline does not present that information. Instead it is focused on restoring a right-relationship with my God, my self, and my community. This approach is more general and less Catholic for those of you who are not members of that church. Even if you are not a Christian, the content of this outline is a good guide for good relationships. Except for faiths that are based on karmic principles, these seven ideas are compatible with just about any approach to responsible citizenship in a moral community.

If you would like a copy of the more detailed – “more Catholic” – version, let me know, and I will send it to you – free of charge as they say!

So why send this again and why now? We are nearing the end of Lent, and whatever your life-view, there is always some value in reexamining your life to see if you are doing all that you can to promote civility and goodness among all people. That examination turns out best when it begins by looking at how you yourself view yourself and what you do about what you see. If you muster the humility to see that changes are needed and submit to that humility by making a concerted effort to make those changes, you will have done well.

The 7 R’s is a little tool for beginning that introspection. I hope you will find it useful, not just at this time of year, but as often as you think of it. Here then is the outline for The 7 R’s.

Seven Key Words of Faith in God’s Forgiveness

1. Recognition
1.1. See there is a problem
1.2. Know that it is sin
1.3. Know that I am powerless against it
2. Remorse
2.1. I regret the outcome of my actions
2.2. I trust in God’s understanding of my sorrow
3. Repentance
3.1. I make a conscious decision to correct my thinking, my communications, and my actions
3.2. I make that decision public through my actions
4. Relations Restorations
4.1. I am resolved to restore the relationships with God and with my community that I have damaged through my sin
4.2. I seek and accept forgiveness from God and my community
5. Reparation
5.1. I am willing to atone and to offer compensation for the damage I have caused
5.2. I gratefully acknowledge expiation of my sins
6. Renewal
6.1. I am transformed by the renewal of my heart, my mind, and my actions.
6.2. I make it my resolve to avoid the kinds of circumstances that enabled me to sin
7. Rejoicing
7.1. I rejoice in the restoration of a right relationship with God and my community.
7.2. I share my rejoicing freely and still, with due humility, show respect for others

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service
—
AGE QUOD AGIS
In God WE trust
chick

Aloha Friday Message – March 27, 2009

March 27, 2009

913AFC032709

Not long ago in the AFC topic, “Where is He?” references were given that spoke of answers to that question, and I mentioned perhaps taking up the corollary of that question, “Where are you?” That is today’s topic. I think the first time that question comes up is in Genesis. The LORD stops in at Eden for a visit, and Adam and Eve are hiding. You remember the scene:

“Where are you?” (Gen. 3:8-9) 8. When they heard the sound of the LORD God moving about in the garden at the breezy time of the day, the man and his wife hid themselves from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9. The LORD God then called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?” Looking back we know they were at the end of an era and the beginning of a new relationship with their Creator. They hid. They knew the difference between good and evil. They must choose between those opposites. They have to choose to move toward the LORD or away from Him. What they lost that day was more than just Heaven on Earth. Their legacy is that now every living soul has the same choice to make – to move toward the spiritual reunion with the LORD or to move toward the spiritual separation we inherited from original sin.

Answer – Away from God (Isa. 53:6) We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all.

Answer – Guilty before God (Rom. 3:10-19) There is no one just, not one, 11 there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have gone astray; all alike are worthless; there is not one who does good, (there is not) even one. 13 Their throats are open graves; they deceive with their tongues; the venom of asps is on their lips; 14 their mouths are full of bitter cursing. 15 Their feet are quick to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery are in their ways, 17 and the way of peace they know not. 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that what the law says is addressed to those under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world stand accountable to God, 20 since no human being will be justified in his sight by observing the law; for through the law comes consciousness of sin.

Answer – Lost to God (Luke 15:24, 31-32) Then let us celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. 31 He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. 32 But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’

Answer – Found in Christ (Romans 6:4-6) 4 We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. 5 For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.

Answer – Restored through Grace (Ephesians 2:4-8) 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God.

Answer – In the protection of His Hand (Psalm 139:5-6) 5 Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach.

If we decide to return to the LORD, we must exercise our gift of choice, and decide on moving away from darkness into Light. It is the essence of repentance – making the decision to be found is as simple as turning around, of chasing Jesus until He catches you.

In a recent conversation about repentance I said that the good thing about repentance is that there is no limit to how often you can repent. That’s a good thing, yes? I know for me it is good and reassuring to know that repentance is just grace-in-action. I don’t earn it. It’s everywhere God is, so it is never far from me. It sounds too easy, too good to be true.

But it is true.

When I thought about repentance later, I thought about a character in a television program a few years ago that about a law firm. One of the characters was always saying, “Bygones.” Another phrase we hear that is similar is “Oops. My bad.” How about “Whatever!!”? All are expressions that attempt to give the impression of acknowledgement of guilt and a semblance of apology or contrition. This TV character was feigning reconciliation. I do that sometimes. How about you? How can we tell if “Bygones” really means something?

When I admit that I am wrong but do nothing to make it right, I am convicted by the Law, and my conscience prompts me to act on that. It is through the Law that we feel the conviction for conversion. It is through Grace and Grace alone that the conviction becomes conversion. If I say, “I repent” but do not change, have no intention of changing, and don’t even believe change is necessary – have I repented? Of course not. So there is no limit to the number of times I can repent as long as what I do is repent. Then and only then can I say, “Bygones.”

One week left before Good Friday. I have The 7 R’s scheduled for next week, but that may change.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever — at your service, Beloved. Pray for one another and for all others.

Many requests this week for members’ families and friends suffering illness, economic tsunamis, poverty, shaken faith, and also many praise reports. Offer these intentions as intercessions from your own hearts. He will know about whom you’re praying.

Aloha Friday Message – March 20, 2009

March 20, 2009

912AFC032009 – What DO you know?
Today I am sending a collection of little one-liners that I have accumulated over the years — many of them from many of you. Perhaps you’ll find one or two of these really ring a bell. I hope you will let me know which one(s) really grabbed your attention. WBS, OK?

Someone once said …

Give God what’s right — not what’s left.
Man’s way leads to a hopeless end — God’s way leads to an endless hope.
A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.
People generally don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care.
In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma–but never let him be the period.
Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a faith-lift.
When praying, don’t give God instructions – just report for duty.
Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to church.
We don’t change God’s message — His message changes us.
The church is prayer-conditioned.
What God ordains, He sustains.
WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.
Plan ahead — It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.
Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible.
Exercise daily — walk with the Lord.
Never give the devil a ride — he will always want to drive.
Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.
Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.
He who angers you controls you.
Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.
Give Satan an inch & he’ll be a ruler.
God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
Read the Bible — It will scare the hell out of you.
BIBLE – Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
Don’t let your worries get the best of you, remember, Moses started out as a basket case!
Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited – until you try to sit in their pew.
It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come pretty close.
When you get to your wit’s end, you’ll find God lives there.
People are funny. They want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.
Opportunity may knock once, but temptation leans on the bell.
Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn’t belong.
The phrase that is guaranteed to wake up the congregation: “And in conclusion…”
If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.
God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?
To make a long story short, don’t tell it.
Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
Peace starts with a smile. Go out there and start something: Smile!
I don’t know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?
A lot of church members who are singing “Standing on the Promises” are just sitting on the premises.
We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
If you don’t want to go to church with all those hypocrites, doesn’t that mean a hypocrite is standing between you and God?
Outside of traffic, there is nothing that holds this country back as much as committees.
Be ye fishers of men. You catch them – He’ll clean them.
Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
Don’t put a question mark where God puts a period.
Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to church.
Forbidden fruits create many jams.
God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
God grades on the cross, not the curve.
God loves everyone, but probably prefers “fruits of the spirit” over “religious nuts.”
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
He who angers you, controls you!
If God is your copilot – swap seats!
The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us.
The will of God will never take you to where the grace of God will not protect you.
We don’t change the message, the message changes us.
You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to… discourage him.
The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4given.
If you are going to pray for rain, bring an umbrella. If you are going pray for peace, bring your neighbor.
Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician.
I live in my own little world. But it’s OK … they know me here.
I don’t approve of political jokes… I’ve seen too many of them get elected.
The most precious thing we have is life….. Yet it has absolutely no trade-in value.
Life is our greatest treasure because it is given to us expressly for the purpose of losing it, and how well we do that is what makes all the difference.
I am a nobody, and nobody is perfect; therefore I am perfect. But first let me ask my wife.
Everyday I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I’ve stayed alive.
If carrots are so good for the eyes, how come I see so many dead rabbits on the highway?
How come we choose from just two people to run for president but 50 for Miss America?
If you can remain calm, then you just don’t have all the facts.
Snowmen fall from the heavens unassembled.
If you really knew as much as you think you know, you’d know it’s not enough.
Prayer: It works hard so you don’t have to.

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He listens.
Whenever you want to listen, He speaks.
Whatever He says can be completely trusted because He cannot lie.
He can live anywhere in the universe, but He chose…your heart.
Face it friend, He is crazy about you!
God didn’t promise days without pain,
laughter without sorrow,
sun without rain, but
He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.
What a good God we have!

God tests us. He uses one of those incredible essay questions:

“Do you love Me? Why or why not? How do you know?”

That’s THE BIG ONE worth 95 points out of a hundred possible points. But then he gives us lots of 25 point pop-quizzes with hundreds of bonus questions each worth up to 10 points each. Some are T/F, some multiple choice, and some fill-in-the-blanks. Yes, He does test us, mostly on the essay; but, Good God that He is, he wants us all to get an A+ so they’re all open Book tests.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service…

You know, it just occurred to me that we could ask each other the same incredible essay question:

“Do you love me? Why or why not? How do you know?”

And an even better form of the question would be

“Do I love you? Why or why not? How do you know?”
[Yes, how do you know – unless I ACT on that love for you!?]

Guess what, Beloved! I do love you.
Make it a wonderful day, Beloved! Jesus loves you, and so do I. HE JUST DOES IT BETTER!
chick
—
AGE QUOD AGIS
In God WE trust

PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE. ALL THE PEOPLE.

Aloha Friday Message – March 13, 2009

March 13, 2009

910AFC031309

In the account of our Lord’s life, the first question that came up about His life is …

“Where is He?”

The questioners: (Matthew 2:1-2) 1 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”

The Answer and the follow-up:

In the Manger – Incarnate (Luke 2:15-16) 15 When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

On the Cross – Dying (Rom. 5:8) But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (Philippians 2:5c-8) Christ Jesus, 6 Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. 7 Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, 8 he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.

On His Throne – Exalted (Acts 5:31) God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. (Philippians 2:9b-11) God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In our hearts – Invited and Fulfilling (Rev 3:20) Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me. (Ephesians 3:14-19) 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge or understanding, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. (Colossians 3:16) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. (1 Peter 3:15) “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” (Isa. 55:6-7)

Not as far away as we think! (Acts 17:24-27) 24 The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything. 26 He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions, 27 so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us.

So, Beloved, this week turn around and look for Him. He is there to receive your alms, to share your fasting; to hear your prayer, and to intercede with you; to turn with you toward His – and your – Abba in adoration, thanksgiving, and praise; and to walk with you through your small desert as you seek Him.

Look! He is there in the neighbor with the barking dog, the child who cries constantly, the hungry, the homeless, the politician, the poor and outcast, the widowed and orphaned, the pastor and the parishioners, the saint who lives on your block, the suffering, the dying, the prisoners, and all who seek Him with sincere hearts. He is Emmanuel – God with us – the Promised of Ages. Now is the time. This is the place. He is the One. Chase Him until he catches you!!

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever and with Him, in Him, and through Him forever — at your service
chick

Aloha Friday Message – March 6, 2009

March 6, 2009

911AFC030609

Today I want to share with you the results of some Bible-sleuthing I’ve been doing this week. I am thinking a lot about the connection between Advent and Easter — to me they grow closer and closer together every passing year 🙂 – and how we search for their meaning in our lives. We have such tragedies in the news! Mass murders, insurrections and riots, terrorism, financial treachery, and so many people experiencing the most challenging times of their lives. Under those conditions, we often ask “Why” and hope someone will come to us with the answers. We watch and wait for that someone, or we go and look for that someone. Where can we get the help we need?

Perhaps the connection between Easter and Advent is that in both seasons, we are looking for The Lord. Today’s topic looks at the question, “Where is He?” Maybe in some future writing we will look at the question, “Where are YOU?”

Happy Aloha Friday, Beloved. What I am sending today is sort of a rerun. I have not been able to get this off my mind since I received it from A.T. It sort of lines up with the idea of Re-Lent from last week. If you got this recently please reread it and think about community again. Think about what that word means to you. Think about what it means to God. God is Community. We are created in His image, united in His Breath of Life. It is that Breath that stirs the embers of our lives into warmth and light. I am reminded of Daniel Iverson’s short hymn:

Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.

So, now the message that has been so persistently in my thoughts this week:
Sermon without a word~~

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending Services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher Decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preachers Visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace, and waited. The preacher made himself at home but said nothing.

In the heavy silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning Logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly-burning ember, and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he silently sat back in his chair.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember, and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host, with a tear running down his cheek, said, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”

We live in a world today which tries to say too little with way too much. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are thrones left unspoken.
What we do says who we are. Actions speak louder than words.

What God Sees
It is not what you are nor what you have been that God sees with all merciful eyes, but what you desire to be. Gen 9:1-13, Ps 102, Mark 8:27-33

“Were not our hearts burning within us?

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever at your service.
Chick

—
AGE QUOD AGIS
In God WE trust

Aloha Friday Message – February 27, 2009 Re-Lent (?)

February 26, 2009

Aloha nui loa everyone. Make it a wonderful day!
909AFC022709
I think many of you will remember me writing about “Today’s Healing Word” and how I come up with one pretty much every week (if not, just drop me a note and I’ll send you “What Is The Healing Word?”). Often that word comes as a surprise, and sometimes it takes me a while to figure out what it means in the context of my life. This past Sunday was the last Sunday before Lent, and so Lent has been kind of on my mind – What am I going to do for Lent?

I guess all of us have phrased that differently: “What am I going to give up for Lent?” Well, there are definitely things I could do without for at least 40 days (and probably the rest of my life if I’m honest about it). A couple of years ago on Ash Wednesday, Crucita and I stopped smoking – sort of poetic justice in that I guess – and that has been a 99% lasting change (we fudged a little for about a week some time ago). I could certainly give up loading up on SUGAR before I go to bed! Maybe a little less vino would be a good idea. But really, the best Lenten observances are they ones where you ADD things.

You can add more prayer, for example. You can get a smidgen less sleep and read the Bible – maybe even some devotional material along with that. You can go to church more often, or give time, talent, and/or treasure to a needy family, a just cause, or a reputable charity. You can be reconciled to God and to your neighbor or family member or even to yourself. Lots of good things happen when you add something to Lent along with giving up something. So all of that was on my mind Sunday, and I am thinking I want to be sure to write down “Today’s Healing Word” in my journal. Wait….. Wait…. It’s almost time…. “…Only say the word and I shall be healed.”

RELENT
I WROTE IT DOWN! But I wrote it like this: ReLent. I closed my journal and got back into the Eucharistic Prayer. Later I looked at it and saw ReLent. I thought, “That’s silly! It’s like Re-Lent – Do Lent over. Silly old man! You can’t do it over! This is a new one.”

Later I thought about it some more. The homily that day had jarred loose the memory that when God made us in His image, He gave us the power to forgive one another and also – something most of us are not very good at – to forgive ourselves. Not all of us have the authority to expiate sin, but all of us have the power to forgive injury, whether by force or hatred, by doubt and despair or misunderstanding or marginalization – whatever the injury, we can forgive it in others and in our own lives.

I’m the type of person who is highly self-critical. Some people who know me well would disagree with that because I’m often annoyingly arrogant and can fly off the handle quickly (takes me a long time to land after that, too!). But I know all of that about myself, I know what a jerk I can be sometimes, and I get on my case about it perhaps too often. To relent is to become less severe, to be more pliant, less strict, and certainly less punitive. I thought about this Lent being a good time to relent on my past transgressions. God doesn’t remember them any more, so there’s really not much sense in me beating myself up for things that are long gone. The reminder that I can do that stuff is something that can be useful, but getting angry with myself about it is not needed. I can work on that. That would be a good thing.

Then I remembered about God saying he would relent. There is this passage in Joel: “… return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the LORD, your God.” And of course there’s that time when Moses spoke with God on the mountain and said “Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage. So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people.”

Good. That’s something to focus on, too. God will relent. He says He will do that whenever we remember Him and live as he intends us to live. In fact, that pretty much makes all the rest of the stuff we go through worth getting through it. He just keeps forgiving us and loving us even when we can’t to that for ourselves. Way cool! With these two terrific ideas to think about, I began to feel like this would be one of those great 40 days what would end with a spiritual boost to get me through the weeks and months until the next Lent. By the time Wednesday rolled around, I was positively excited about starting let again.

AGAIN?!?! Wait! I thought we couldn’t Re-Lent! **ding!** I got a idea! The light bulb went on. Of course we can! You can re-up – as in reenlist. You can come back and do some more of the same thing, but it’s not the same thing really because now is a new time and you are a new person because you’ve changed since the last time you did what you’re doing {huh?} You know what I mean! Sure! You reenlist, you volunteer to do some more because that’s what you want to do, it’s what you feel right doing; it’s what makes your life better. It’s your vocation, your calling from God. Yeah! Really! Didn’t you hear Him calling, “Yet even now, says the LORD, come back to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning”; He’s telling you to come back, to re-up, and to Re-Lent!

Oh, my! I am so ready to do that! Care to come along?

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever — at your service
chick
—
AGE QUOD AGIS
In God WE trust

PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS

Here is something you could add each day that will make a difference.
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

Aloha Friday Message – February 20, 2009

February 20, 2009

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“A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.”

~ Denis Waitley ~

If you should meet someone without a smile, give them one of yours. No other gift could cost you less to give or be of such great value when received.

~ Chick Todd ~

“Work for justice with joyous compassion, dispense mercy with generous kindness, live righteously, and walk humbly before God and man.”

Jaspard to Fortitude Foundling in The Adventures of Fortitude Foundling

“Pay attention to your dreams. They are the map-reading system for the many precious moments in your life. The best way to get through life is to live every single moment of it, waking or sleeping, because each of them is brand new.

“Hold on to them. Share them. Make them realities. Make sure you give them the resources they need to survive. Get help with them. Give help for them. Make sure they are dreams, and not illicit appetites. Dreams have a purity that is edifying, enlightening, and uplifting. They are spiritual, and therefore a gift from God. They are your lifeboat in a sea of doubts and woes. They are the very best reflection of your soul which is made in the image of God. He created you to contain, use, and enjoy one of his most essential characteristics: Self-determination. Some call this gift “Free Will.” It was through an act of his will that he created all that there is (including you, beloved), and without that act of his will nothing would exist. The same power of self-determination is in you, and your dreams are the guide to using that power. Let your dreams, then, be your map and compass as you journey through life. In doing so, you honor the Giver by honoring the Gift. It is the highest form of worship, and also the simplest. It requires only that you accept the gift of self-determination and use it to make your dreams come true.”

From
The Adventures of Fortitude Foundling
Spoken by Talrad to Forti

Dreams are the theme song for the experience of Hope. Prayer is the instrument that plays the song. Sing a dream to God and He will give it His Harmony.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service.
chick

Aloha Friday Message – February 13, 2009

February 13, 2009

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Happy Trisckaideca-Aloha Friday! (That means 13 Alohas for you today!) Hopefully none of you have triskaidekaphobia – pathological fear of the number 13. Here is a list of twice-thirteen snappy little aphorisms. Try them out and have some fun!

1. I smile because I don’t know what is going on.
2. I don’t suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
3. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
4. Don’t take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.
5. You’re just jealous because the voices only talk to me
6. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
7. I’m not a complete idiot — Some parts are still missing.
8. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
9. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
10. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
11. Being ‘over the hill’ is much better than being under it!
12. Wrinkled was not one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up.
13. Procrastinate Now! Stay Busy Later!!
14. I have a Degree in Liberal Arts; “Do You Want Fries with That?”
15. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
16. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.
17. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!
18. Ignorance is curable. Stupidity is terminal.
19. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD.
20. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three thousand times the memory.
21. Ham and eggs…A day’s work for a chicken, a lifetime-commitment for a pig.
22. “If we had some ham, we’d have ham and eggs if we had some eggs.”
23. This isn’t my reality. I’m just filling in for a friend.
24. There is an explanation for everything that happens in the Universe. Unfortunately many of them make no sense whatsoever!
25. Time flies like the wind. Fruit flies like bananas.
26. If you were me, then who would I be?

Make it a wonderful day, Beloved. Pray for the people – all the people everywhere and especially pray for one another all the time.

Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service

Chick

(Tip of the hat to CW for starting this.)

Aloha Friday Message – February 6, 2009

February 6, 2009

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Happy Aloha Friday! This week I have been thinking about two BIG things: Obedience and Hope. Today I am going to combine a couple of writings on those topics. The one on obedience is “fairly new.” It’s been rattling around the old brain pan for a while, and is probably still in need of refinement. I wanted to use it today because I want to reissue an older item titled Circle of Life. You remember that song from The Lion King, right? Well, this circle of life is a little different from that because its central subject is Spiritual Life. So let’s begin with Obedience and then see how that leads into the Circle of Life.

Obedience without understanding is fright.

Obedience with understanding is trust.

Obedience with trust is faith.

Obedience with faith is righteousness.

Obedience with righteousness is the foundation of hope.

Hope is the outcome of humble love to the very end of everything.

Humble love can be visualized like this: As Jesus carried the cross to Calvary, the entire world was on his back and he carried all of it to God his Father. This is humble Love unto the very end. Many martyrs have loved humbly unto the end. Many parents have loved unto the end despite tragic consequences for their children. Humble love unto the end is a gift of Grace, and that gift is the seed from which hope sprouts and bears fruit. Hope comes from humble love because hope is neither selfish nor proud. Indeed, hope is selfless and humble. Remember that old aphorism “Where there’s life there’s hope.”? Well, where there is hope, there is also peace because true hope is always the same, always faithful, never broken by greed, or pride, or any other evil. Many seek hope in religion like Simon the Pharisee. Religion can show us the effects of humble love until the end, but only hope can help us live like that. Humble love seeks only to give love because love that is freely given always returns, and that is a lot to hope for.

My hope for you today is that you will know you are freely loved in ways that surpass all understanding, and that is a love so great that it can’t help but engender greater hope.

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