tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36794550262986687112024-03-12T20:25:16.063-07:00Image TrinityFamilies on a mission.Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-44801307351865433492015-10-28T06:02:00.001-07:002016-01-28T14:07:57.744-08:00Evicting the Enemy in the Gates: Porn in Church<div id="fb-root">
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<span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px; line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Satan's
greatest trick is deceiving us into thinking he doesn't exist (C.S.
Lewis). Or perhaps greater, to know he does exist, and the ways he's
working, but to do nothing about it.</span><br /><br />C.S. Lewis' <span style="font-style: italic;">Screwtape Letters</span>
is one of my favorite books. It's the chronicle of senior devil
Screwtape's advice to his apprentice tempter, Wormwood, on how to seduce
his assigned "patient" for eternity. We're given great insight into how
the devil works, particularly among "church people." I can almost hear
Screwtape speaking <span style="font-style: italic;">about us</span> today:<br /><br />"Don't worry about those who <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span> the truth, or even <span style="font-style: italic;">profess</span> it. Even <span style="font-style: italic;">we're </span>able to <span style="font-style: italic;">do </span>that.
As they become aware of our work, disguise the true horror. Make it
about something academic. Out there. Something distant. <span style="font-style: italic;">Anything to keep them from recognizing the Voice of our <span class="il">Enemy</span> commanding them personally</span>. Of course, our best weapon is to ingratiate their moral superiority! They must not see through the eyes of our <span class="il">Enemy</span>'s Rightness, but their own righteousness! By all means, let them bluster! How lovely <span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;">to hear their sneering and hissing! What music! Joining in our own chorus<span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;">... all within His very gates! </span></span>In this, we actually have them worshiping <span style="font-style: italic;">themselves</span>... in the name of the <span class="il">Enemy</span>! [hideous laughter] <br /><br />"No. Worry about those miserable, pathetic little souls who are aware of their weakness... aware that the <span class="il">Enemy</span>
made them for Himself... who approach Him not for their own status, but
with their very lives, aware that He is truly speaking... who have an
eager, ready desire to respond. We must stop this at all costs. It would
be the end."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #395fb9;">“We too need to guard the faith, guard it from darkness. Many times,
however, it is a darkness under the guise of light. This is because the
devil, as saint Paul, says, disguises himself at times as an angel of
light.” - Pope Francis [<a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eefm6&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=1&" target="_blank" title="Pope Francis quote">Link</a>]</span></span><br /><br />Does
this speak to you as it does to me? Do we really believe our ultimate
call is to see God, to be "pure of heart" (Matt. 5:8), such that we're
aware of the <span class="il">Enemy</span>'s attack through pornography? Such that we <span style="font-style: italic;">do </span>something about it?<br /><br /><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;">Putting it straight: If you or those you love are on-line <span style="font-style: italic;">anywhere</span>
without filtering or accountability software you're playing games with
eternal life. You're playing with Fire. The door is wide open, and for
many if not most of the most "religious" and "holy" among us, Satan is
coming in.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 26px;">♠</span> 90% of children 8-16 have viewed porn<br /><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="font-size: 26px;">♠ </span></span></span>64% of Christian men say they view porn once a month<br /><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="font-size: 26px;">♠ </span></span></span>50% of pastors regularly view porn<br /><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="font-size: 26px;">♠ </span></span></span>Age 12-17 are the largest group who view porn</span><br /><br />One
of our great strengths as Catholics can be a crippling weakness: we are
conceptually rich in culture. How alarming and motivating is it for
most of us to speak of porn as an "objectively grave matter"? Not so
scary. That's like chatting with friends at your kitchen table about the
burning house going up in flames across the street, and your informed
fireman friend Fred says: "Yep. I'd call that a boiling liquid expanding
vapor explosion. Sure hope no one gets hurt." <br /><br />Let's say it plainly. Hell is very real and porn can land you there. Porn is <span style="font-style: italic;">designed </span>to
land you there. Forever. On whose authority? The Son of God. He
admonished us not to fear that which can destroy the body, but that
which can destroy the soul (Luke 12:4-5). Do you <span style="font-style: italic;">believe </span>it? <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #395fb9;">“[Jesus came] to give us the freedom… [from] the enslavement the devil
has over us… On this point, there are no nuances. There is a battle and a
battle where salvation is at play, eternal salvation. We must always be
on guard, on guard against deceit, against the seduction of evil.” - Pope Francis [<a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eeffj&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=X&" target="_blank" title="Pope Francis quote">Link</a>]</span></span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;">So, you know the truth. You profess it. But where are you at? What do you really <span style="font-style: italic;">believe</span>? Let's see. <br /><br />Go
back to the above stats and replace "view porn" with "jumped off a
bridge attached to a fraying bungee cord." Imagine these thrill seekers
doing just that, mindless that the cord they're depending upon is
fraying. But you know. They're people you know and love. People you live
with. People you interact with every day. Would you say something?
Would you do something about it? Knowing that statistically well over
50% of the men you know are there, and the cord could snap any time? <br /><br />
We know the answer. Likely in the instance of physical life you would
be more than merely one who knows, or professes. You would do all you
could to be rid of the danger. You would be a believer. <br /><br />So again, are you a believer when it comes to awareness that porn can destroy the soul? <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #395fb9;">“Let us ask the Lord for the grace to take these things seriously.
He came to fight for our salvation. He won against the devil!" - Pope Francis [<a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eeffj&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=X&" target="_blank" title="Pope Francis quote">Link</a>]</span></span><br /><br />Of
course, if it's not enough, porn is not simply destroying souls. It's
not simply about eternal suffering "then and there." Porn is one of
Satan's means of ensnaring victims in a very real and tangible hell here
and now. </span><br />Neuroscientists have explained how porn
radically re-wires how men and women think, about themselves and one
another. Porn scrambles a built-in "adhesive" meant to bond a man and
woman forever in sacramental marriage. <br /><br />Porn is like <span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;">two
pieces of duct tape stuck together, only to be ripped apart. And again.
And again. For every instance of porn. What happens to the "stickiness"
of the tape? What happens to the tape? This is a remote idea of what
porn does to a soul. And why porn is responsible for destroying
countless marriages, families and relationships.</span><br /><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"></span><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><br />To
understand porn we need to understand something about God's design for
purity in connection to the "sexual urge." Another of Satan's great
attacks has been brainwashing many of us into regarding the sexual urge
as something divorced from purity, as something "naughty," or "dirty"...
or simply "our own thing." Distant from God. Of course, porn reinforces
this.<br /><br />To the contrary, the <span style="font-style: italic;">pure sexual urge</span> is a God-given, built-in compass whose Due North is God Himself. It is about our ultimate, etern<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1071132234" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">al e</span></span>nd
of intimacy with God, and in Him, with all others. It is about Holy
Communion. As Pope St. John Paul II suggested, the heart of the sexual
urge is an urge to a completion that can only be found in God. The
sexual urge is the capacity for man and woman to literally make God, who
is love, known-- through total, mutual, self-giving love (Gen. 1:27). <br /><br />And it must be emphasized that this capacity for divine-human communion is no less possible for those who are not married. <span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"></span></span><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"></span></span></span></span>
In fact, whether a priest, religious, or single, the very same "urge"
is simply directed in different ways of worshiping God, of making Him
known.<br /><span style="color: #395fb9;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Marriage
in this life is meant to foreshadow heaven where, for all eternity, we
will celebrate the 'marriage of the Lamb' (Rev 19:7), the marriage of
Christ and the Church. This is the deepest desire of the human heart to
live in the eternal bliss of communion with God himself. As wonderful
as marriage and marital intimacy can be in this life, it's only a sign, a
foretaste, a sacrament of what's to come. Earthly marriage is simply
preparation for heavenly marriage." - Christopher West [<a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eefjV&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=E&" target="_blank" title="Christopher West quote">Link</a>]</span></span><br />Porn
lies to the deepest desire of souls, promising a kind of intimacy, but
only delivers intensity. It promises transcendence, but delivers
slavery. Cut off from God, p<span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;">orn
paves the way to disrespect for others, promiscuity, infidelity and
even violence. Porn engenders deep guilt, shame and helplessness, a
brick wall keeping the Niagara Falls of God's grace from flooding into
our lives. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #395fb9;">“Let us always remember… that the Adversary wants to keep us
separated from God and therefore instills disappointment in our hearts
when we do not see our apostolic commitment immediately rewarded. Every
day the devil sows the seeds of pessimism and bitterness in our hearts. …
Let us open ourselves to the breath of the Holy Spirit, who never
ceases to sow seeds of hope and confidence.” - Pope Francis [<a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eefUN&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=U&" target="_blank" title="Pope Francis quote">Link</a>]</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;">It's time those walls come down. </span></span></span><br />It's time we quit allowing Satan to hide in the shadows. <br />It's time we shine a big, bright light on this. </span><br /><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><br /><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;">I'm inviting men and women of courage to be honest about their own challenges, personally, and in their marriages and families. <span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;">[<a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eefk2&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=J&" target="_blank" title="Nick De La Torre">This</a> short audio is particularly powerful] </span></span></span>Let's
raise the conversation. Let's create grace-filled environments marked
not by shame, but the power of the Cross. Let's recognize the power God
has given us in Christ. This will ignite a holiness revolution. <br /><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><br /><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;"><span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;">The
fact that a multitude of godly men struggle should suggest that praying
isn't enough. Being involved in church isn't enough. The Sacraments
aren't even enough... without understanding our need to cooperate, to
"avoid the near occasion of sin." To <span style="font-style: italic;">believe</span>. <br /><br />Our <span class="il">Enemy</span> is cunning. We have to know our vulnerability and minimize his influence. For our part let me say having <a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eefHi&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=t&" target="_blank" title="CatholicCovenantEyes.com">Catholic Covenant Eyes</a> on our computers and devices isn't just for our children. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What women and men need to understand.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>What women need to understand is that <span style="font-style: italic;">vulnerability </span>to
porn has nothing to do with how much we love our wives. It has nothing
to do with our earnest desire to be holy. In fact, we're <span style="font-style: italic;">vulnerable </span>to
porn precisely by God's design. God placed in each of us a relentless
desire for completion that can only be found in Himself, and He linked
this to sexuality.<br /><br />What women need to understand is that real men really want to win. They need their wives to understand their <span style="font-style: italic;">vulnerability</span>
without judging it, or taking it personally. God's transforming love
can help them overcome understandable hurt and anger and get in the
game, to go to battle for them, to sacrificially pray for them. And yes,
to insist upon accountab<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1071132235" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">ilit</span></span>y. (<a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eefHi&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=t&" target="_blank" title="Catholic Covenant Eyes">Commit</a>) <br /><br />What men need to know is that porn is <span style="font-style: italic;">grave</span>,
and is paving the way there. Porn is sexual involvement with other
women. It is adultery. (Matt. 5:28) Satan is there. As Jesus suggests,
it's not even just the physical engagement. It's your imagination. Your
soul is in danger. You need real help. You can not conquer on your own.
<br /><br />What men need to know is that regardless of how far you've
fallen, or helpless you feel after so many attempts, Paul is absolutely
right: You <span style="font-style: italic;">can </span>make yourself a living sacrifice. You <span style="font-style: italic;">can </span>conform no longer to the ways of this world. You <span style="font-style: italic;">can </span>be transformed inwardly by the renewal of the Spirit; this means your inner world of imagination, thought and feeling. You <span style="font-style: italic;">can </span>live in the abunda<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1071132236" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">nce </span></span>of God's good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where to begin? </span>Start by <span style="font-style: italic;">deciding</span>.
For real. Not kinda-sorta. Because God made you for greater things.
Because your spouse and family need you. Because you are more than a
conqueror. (Romans 8:37)<br /><br />You may have done this before, but this time <span style="font-style: italic;">mean </span>it by taking action and closing the door. <span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;">Make your declaration to the Lord. </span>Engage <span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;">a good priest or brother whom you trust. </span>Fully confess. Heartfully repent. Renounce the <span class="il">Enemy</span> in the name of Jesus Christ. <span style="background-color: inherit; font-size: 21px;">Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Back it up with real commitment. (<a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eefHi&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=t&" target="_blank" title="Catholic Covenant Eyes">Commit</a>) <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #395fb9;">“[The Devil] attacks the family so much. That demon does not love it
and seeks to destroy it. […] May the Lord bless the family. May He make
it strong in this crisis, in which the devil wishes to destroy it.” <br />- Pope Francis [<a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eefuh&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=7&" target="_blank" title="Pope Francis quote">Link</a>]</span></span></span><br />Parents,
especially dads, regardless of how much control you think you have over
media consumption, don't presume. Have the courage to sit down with
your children and ask straight forward, "Have you struggled with porn?" <br /><br />Convey to them that you get it. That God designed them for great intimacy. That the <span class="il">Enemy</span>
would rob them of it. Acknowledge that it is attractive. You're on
their side. They can come to you. You're going to battle for them.
Together you're going to help them receive all God desires for them.
Right there pray with them and bless them. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #395fb9;">“[T]he Devil is at work. But I would like to say in a
loud voice ‘God is stronger.’ Do you believe this, that God is
stronger?” - Pope Francis [<a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eefxY&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=Z&" target="_blank" title="Pope Francis quote">Link</a>]</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."<br />- Joshua 24:15</span><br /><br />In our home we've enlisted in the battle. We're committing in two ways. Please join us. First, <a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eefHi&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=t&" target="_blank" title="CatholicCovenantEyes.com">Catholic Covenant Eyes</a>
is installed on all our devices and computers. It's the best
recommended solution by every Catholic leader I know. Resist Wormwood's
whispering in your ear right now, "You and your loved one's are just
fine. You're different. You don't need it." He doesn't want that door
closed. This is your battle right now. <br /><br />Secondly, my sons and I
decided that we're going to give up meat on Fridays for the specific,
sacrificial purpose of defending and honoring God's design for women,
and to live fully our call as men. Join us. <br /><br />And if you want to
be a real Kingdom builder, you can make a difference with one click.
Share this article. Tweet. Like. Email. Consider printing and passing
out <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eefcR&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=z&" target="_blank" title="CatholicCovenantEyes.com">Catholic Covenant Eyes</a> hand out. Get it to your pastor. <br /><span style="color: #395fb9;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />“The
devil cannot stand seeing the sanctity of a church or the sanctity of a
person, without trying to do something.” - Pope Francis [<a href="http://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=eefpg&mc=Fh&s=hQ3m7x&u=0J7h&y=u&" target="_blank" title="Pope Francis quote">Link</a>]</span></span><br /><br />We
are Church. The united Body of Christ for the salvation of the world.
This is our ultimate purpose. The gates of hell will not prevail. In the
power of the Holy Spirit, let's take this world back for Jesus Christ.<br /><br />United in the great mission of making God, who is Love, known,<br /><br />Greg Schlueter<br />President / CEO, Image Trinity [Mass Impact]<br /><a href="mailto:Greg@MassImpact.us" target="_blank" title="">Greg@MassImpact.us</a></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br />
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Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-89405571137187785672015-10-27T18:38:00.000-07:002015-10-28T06:10:16.106-07:00Blessed Sacrament Made Real [A True Story from Tonight]<b>By Greg Schlueter</b><br />
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}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script><span style="font-size: small;">[October 28, 2015. The below story is all the more moving now. Last night at our <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ic7XufUhvNiTa7i86gcuEr49cXFvAYEX9he0Xsx28vs/edit" target="_blank">Parish IGNITION</a> (three night journey deeper into the heart of Christ) a number of things came together, most notably, Laurie was present. It could have gone the other way. Add Barb. Josh. Mike. Therese. Many others who were present. Each with their own stories. Pronouncing that God loves us and is working in our lives. Believe.] </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">February 1, 2013. So I'm in a new land. Been here only two days. Don't really know anyone. Find out only by chance that our real estate guy's wife has been battling cancer. Two young children. Can't imagine.</span><br />
<br />
Find out his parish is throwing an event to help pay the bills - tonight. I get directions. I go. At parish, I have to park a quarter of a mile away. Yes. That many cars. In front of me is a large group of perhaps 10 kids making their way also. Something starts welling up in me.<br />
<br />
Walk through a crowded entrance. Overwhelmed. Hundreds of people. All ages. Many wearing trademark pink shirts.<br />
<br />
Make my way into one of the large rooms. Two young brothers, 8th grade and 5th grade, are leading worship on a makeshift stage. Really, really well. And in-between witnessing to Christ. Wow. Just, plain wow.<br />
<br />
I find the only open chair amidst others eating. Next to a woman whose beautiful head reveals she's been battling cancer also. Find out she's with her grand daughter. All smiles. All hopeful. All welcoming. Real hard time keeping it together.<br />
<br />
I make my donation and my way to the gym for the spaghetti... perhaps 300-400 more people eating... an overwhelming sense of joy, hope, mission... love for someone I've never met... everyone having a part.<br />
<br />
So in this sea of unknown people I feel connected in our common faith. I meet Rick who killed his first bear last week (did you know younger beer and deer aren't as "gamey" -- I invited myself to dinner:). And Tina, who attributes her battle with cancer as part of God's purpose (took my email- says she has a story to tell... stay tuned). And John, one of the leaders- who shared heartfully their simple desire to reach their arms out around Laurie. And some awesome, young kids... the musicians and their cousins... and parents, who radiate a genuine love of Christ.<br />
<br />
And amidst all this Msgr. Billian and other priests... making their way from person to person, evidently loved and knowing names, and faces and stories...<br />
<br />
And of course, Laurie... for whom this was all for. I couldn't help but think of a different Laurie. Two years ago. I produced a film about her. Husband and two young children. Dad out of work. No insurance. Diagnosed too late. She was called home a few months later. (<a href="http://youtu.be/STtPZCJhSog">http://youtu.be/STtPZCJhSog</a>)<br />
<br />
And yet she is part of this great communion. Somehow, she's there.<br />
<br />
Family. Genuine. Alive. United beyond. All appropriately under a parish by the name of Blessed Sacrament. Otherwise known as Holy Communion. Communion literally means "with unity." In Jesus Christ. As real as it gets. Believe.<br />
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Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-84237568218309214112015-10-08T13:00:00.000-07:002015-10-08T08:15:28.020-07:00BIG PICTURE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://imagetrinity.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KdeWiFhobZ4/TiCf_KNsjlI/AAAAAAAAA1o/QKyneJEY0RY/s320/ImageTrinity+Logo+WEB+COLORED.png" width="248" /></a></div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">In Our Capacity to Love We Image the Trinity.</span></b> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What IT's all about.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Friendship is the desire of every human heart- to be in <b>meaningful communion with others</b>, beyond obligation. The Holy Spirit abides in families drawn together in friendship. Such friendship is anchored in God who is Himself a Communion of Persons, the very definition of LOVE - as each Person constantly pours Himself out for the other. This is what IT’s all about: Image Trinity. In Him we discover who we are, what we are to do, and are flooded with supernatural grace to be IT.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />What does IT looks like?</b> <b>An entire community being transformed in Love. <br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dynamic retreats and events. Engaging television and radio programs showcasing families Living IT. Dynamic resources. Integration through web and social media. Dynamic integration and partnership with Eucharistic communities.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When families discover their identity, they get IT more and more, and become a vital basis for extending IT to other families in need. <br /><br />Imagine-- PreCana, Marriage Encounter and other programs not being an end, but an initiation into a vital community- one grounded in friendship, and fully integrated into local parishes, but accepting that vitality comes from the “living it out” beyond church walls... leaven in the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This vision is already happening. We are a growing network of families united in friendship and committed to a common vision and mission... a desire to be more deeply formed by our Image of the Trinity, and to live out the implications of that identity.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.exoticexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/129-million-elegant-mansion-in-jupiter-florida.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.exoticexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/129-million-elegant-mansion-in-jupiter-florida.jpg" height="123" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We are a light on a hill.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Pope Saint John Paul II, we will build a large family retreat as a warm, welcoming, prayer-filled environment for vital family-transformation in our own area, and as a spring board to the rest of the country... including publications, radio, television, resources, programs and conferences. If you are called to help us make this vision a reality, please shoot us an <a href="mailto:Greg@ImageTrinity.com">email</a>. Above all, please join us in prayer and work that we all might more fully Image the Trinity. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Become what you are, and the world will know God who IS Love!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Stay tuned. Get on board <a href="http://massimpactohio.blogspot.com/p/join-prayer-get-on-board.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Greg and Stephanie Schlueter</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="mailto:Greg@ImageTrinity.com">Greg@ImageTrinity.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(814) 449-8808</span>Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-34402144173075964902015-10-08T07:45:00.002-07:002015-10-08T07:59:20.974-07:00Awakening Pop Culture's Great Belief<div id="fb-root"></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>“For as I walked around looking
carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, ‘To an
Unknown God.' What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you.”
Acts. 17:23</b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ux79O4TIxN4/VhaBctszpsI/AAAAAAAASF4/2MNT9z4Zomk/s1600/BlueeBlooodsOught.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ux79O4TIxN4/VhaBctszpsI/AAAAAAAASF4/2MNT9z4Zomk/s320/BlueeBlooodsOught.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">In a recent episode of Blue Bloods, NYC Police Commissioner
and patriarch of New York City's police family, Frank Reagan (played by
Tom Selleck), suggests his beloved Catholic Church needs to "get with
the times" where it concerns gay “marriage.”</span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ironically, the great service this episode offers of humanizing one
group (those with same-sex attraction) is done at the expense of another
(Catholics). “Catholicism" was caricaturized by a merely acquiescent
Cardinal, and a gay nun. These particular examples of the familiar
"straw man Catholic" didn't need to be dusted off by writer Ian
Biederman. It's a favorite, perhaps even required, desk-pet of pop media
and culture.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This article is not about gay marriage <i>per se</i>, it’s about something much more foundational: pop media and culture’s great belief in <i>Ought</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What’s Ought? Ought is the presumed, albeit undefined, basis for asserting a supreme set of values <i>everyone </i>should be required to observe. In the present instance, pop media and culture maintain that all <i>ought </i>to accept gay “marriage.” Even Catholicism ought to bow.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What
might we understand about pop media and culture’s belief in Ought? It
seems to be absolute and universal. There’s no tolerance for what is
deemed intolerant. Disagree and you’re branded discriminatory, or
hateful… or penalized. Even put behind bars.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Note that we’re not speaking about respecting individual, private
conceptions of Ought. Same genders have always been free to live
together. We’re speaking about a legal Ought, imposed upon all, granting
special privileges to a few, compelling our financial support through
tax benefits, and expecting adherence whether or not it accords with our
right to determine our identities.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, this imposition by the hands of an unelected, unaccountable, all-powerful few smacks of tyranny.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Let’s just state it. There will be Oughts. It is our nature to have
Oughts. The once-atheist C.S. Lewis noted that a person’s subordination
to an abstraction such as a law betrays their regard for a value greater
than him/herself, without which such adherence would be absurd. As the
argument goes, something as simple as stopping at a stop sign betrays
one’s practical belief in a higher Ought, by one’s subordination to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Absence of definition of a particular Ought does not diminish its
existence. By the same token, having a particular definition of a
specific Ought should not exclude it from participation in the
marketplace of ideas, even determinations of law.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Which Ought?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Whether or not one chooses to regard or name <i>their </i>Ought, I
choose to call mine God; and I understand my God to be most fully,
logically, historically and experientially anchored and articulated
through Catholicism.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We don’t just “believe” our God is real and relevant; He has indeed
become flesh, with the undeniable, evident impact benefitting all of
society: Catholicism has been the agent of unprecedented advancement in
education, medicine, law, government, architecture, art, music, science
and just about every other area of human advancement.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">More than just leaving Ought undefined, Catholics profess with the
framers of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution that Oughts
are anchored in an immovable God, for the self-evident, demonstrable
good of every human person.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We maintain that while there must always be adaptation to “the
times,” the fundamental principles do not change. It will neverbe the
case that another’s liberty and pursuit of happiness is more valuable
than your life. That this does not “change with the times” is a very
good thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If what Catholics profess is a function of popularity and public
opinion, to subjective whim and inclination, to ever-changing times, God
is either a schizophrenic, or He changes His mind. If we’re honest,
more accurately that god is something we’ve made in our own image. In
which case, “to each, his own.” There’s no basis for condemnation or
judgement by anyone, for anything. Ever. Anything goes. All is absurd.
We are adrift. Isolated. There is nothing binding us all together.
“Prayer” and “faith” and “religion” are really just shared illusions. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Let’s
put it directly, if our fundamental principles can “change with the
times” we’re really just worshiping ourselves in the name of God.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, the good news for every human person is that this Ought is
a fabrication. We recognize in the lives of every person who ever lived
a Truth we did not shape, but Who is shaping us. A Truth one can not so
much break, but only be broken against.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Amidst the ever-changing tides of 2000 years of history we have in
the Catholic Church a steadfast Anchor holding us fast; a Compass
guiding us toward our greatest, ultimate and eternal good, on earth as
it is in heaven.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It doesn’t so much matter if you believe in God; He believes in you.
He has fashioned you for a purpose that can only be found in Him,
through a life of worshipping Him. You ought to see this Truth. It will
make all the difference in the world. But that is up to you.
</span><br />
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Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-24552503206288042092015-09-17T11:22:00.000-07:002015-10-08T08:03:35.967-07:00The Velveteen Cabinet<div id="fb-root">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">With a bunch of younger kids there were things we didn't bother fixing. Particularly after the second or third time. Door knobs. Cabinet hinges. Chairs. Each new blemish or brokenness met with resignation. Sometimes an expletive. Worn carpet. Chipped paint. Wall stains</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 19.32px;">.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now, as they're getting older, as that first newborn I held so many years ago is a beautiful, young woman on the verge of leaving the nest... these no longer beg repair. They charm me. Haunt me. Like old family photos. Memories of our life together. Creaky floors and steps. The passage of time. They indelibly mark a kind of ongoing christening. What was once just a house has become a home. Is becoming a home.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">All this moving me to wonder just now. Looking at our kitchen cabinets. Wondering if what I might have once regarded as something worn, to be fixed, masked, isn't more truly, something real. Unmasked. Genuine. And in the contrast, I'm amazed by awareness not of how these have changed, but how I have changed. From merely tolerating things being worn, to revering them as something real.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And I wonder. In our ever-accumulating blemishes and brokenness, is this what God sees of us? Worn of our paint. A bit off our hinges. Frayed at the edges. Does He rush in to fix them, or do these move His heart? Does He see each and every unique mark and deeply treasure them... love them... love us?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And I wonder If all this isn't, in fact, our Christening... our becoming more like Christ. The real "home" making. Preparing us for our eternal home here on earth, as it is in heaven.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today, as you encounter the same old blemishes and brokenness, consider that perhaps your healing and repair and restoration is precisely in recognizing Jesus Christ, whose healing hands are still marked by all of this. By us. And that all this is not simply endured by God, but celebrated... in the breaking of the bread. At every Mass.</span></div><div class="fb-comments" data-href="http://www.catholic365.com/article/2508/the-valveteen-cabinet.html" data-numposts="5" data-width="550">
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Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-66407082902237674722015-09-15T09:07:00.002-07:002015-10-08T08:08:52.573-07:00Are You An Amusing Catholic?<div id="fb-root"></div>
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<a href="http://liveitchallenge.eventbrite.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VGwIz0EAcZ8/VfhBjIb3nfI/AAAAAAAAR44/YFn1mskfr0A/s320/rollercoasterImageTrinity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was Dominic’s inaugural ride at Cedar Point. As the Millennium Force clicked it’s way up, higher and higher, scenes of his 9 years of life must have been flashing before his eyes. Just before the dramatic descent, all surrounding counties surely heard a little boy shouting from the top of his lungs, “Oh, my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee…”</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amusement parks. If a </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">muse</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is to reflect deeply, a-musement is the opposite, to deliberately </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">not </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reflect deeply. And so it is with an amusement park. It’s about diversion. The thrill. Made possible by dramatic turns. Ups and downs. Keeping your lunch down. Trying not to blackout. Wondering what your obit will say. Then, on to the next ride. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Young people epitomize a-musement, particularly when the park is empty. They repeat their favorite rides </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ad nauseum</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Without the nuisance of having to stand in line. Without having to connect with people. Without musing. Thrill after thrill. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For most of us older folks, we’ve been there, done that. We’re like BB King. “The thrill is gone.” After the Maverick I was done. I would have preferred waterboarding. The antique cars looked menacing. We older people are grateful just to be with the company of our families. We’re about people. Connecting. Attending to needs. Observing. And dare I say, musement. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-2ec2842c-d1b8-1bb4-d5a5-cfeee2a70a71" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good thing there was no musement detector. I would have been kicked out. I found myself musing. Are our ordinary lives any different? Are we not addicted to the next thrill? Are we not wired for the next movie. Or TV program. Or video game. Or special event. Or thing to buy. Or gossip. No worries if none of these satiate the thrill-addicted beast within, it’s world has evolved to personally equip us with an unending buffet... through our divisive, er, device. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Always pining for the next ride, at what point do we awaken to realize we’re being ridden? </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If the Three Persons of God are our design, our greatest fulfillment only found through genuine intimacy, through mutual, self-giving love, a-musement wiring is truly treacherous. Epidemic. It’s our greatest threat today. It keeps us away from our humanity. It keeps us confined to our prison walls. Cut off. Empty. Hungry. Alone. At a distance from who we, and others, fundamentally are. From intimate communion with God.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For those of us bold enough to take an honest look in the mirror, are we “faithful Catholics” not infected by a kind of a-musement park spirituality? Going from one thrill to the next? </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps our rides go by names of CRHP, TEC, ACTS, Cursillo, IGNITE, FUS or Lift Jesus Higher. Perhaps our lengthier stage shows go by names of Knights of Columbus, or the Ladies Altar Society, or That Man is You</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Endow</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps a number of us are even into a-musment park design and engineering. We’re entertained by </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Forming Intentional Disciples</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, or </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Divine Renovation</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, or </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evangelical Catholicism.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One, big question: What real, lasting, concrete difference have these made? </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have our concepts and convictions translated into concrete commitments? In particular, are we any more engaged as disciples of Jesus Christ </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in the heart of our marriages, families and homes</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? Beyond what we profess, what do our calendars pronounce about what is truly most important to us? How much time last week did you spend talking and praying as a family in your home? </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t get me wrong. I know the Holy Spirit </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">powerfully present in each of these opportunities. In fact, that’s precisely the point. Has His power empowered us, or merely entertained us? If the concepts and convictions don’t translate into real, concrete commitments, beyond the comfy bounds of the particular group, and into our world where it matters, we’re partaking of them like kids rounding their favorite ride, going round and round, up and down, but getting no further than where we started. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over time, we know what happens. We’ve seen it happen. We’ll not only become inoculated against God’s real power, but we’ll be depriving this starving world of authentic witness to the truly life-transforming power of Jesus Christ through His Church.</span></div>
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Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-61580063675752221962015-06-25T08:09:00.002-07:002015-06-26T07:17:46.645-07:00A Swift Kick in the Butt to Parents (Turn IT Around)<div id="fb-root">
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<span style="font-size: large;">We're so ready to recognize the tragedies around us without admitting their very seeds within us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We labor for the kind of house that makes it impossible for it to ever be a home. We celebrate pregnancy long enough to deliver them predominantly to the care of another. In the name of our expensive education. In <i>their </i>name "boredom" or "unfulfilled."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And at the end of the day, when they are with us, we really aren't with them. They get the waning scraps of our time, attention and energy. We orphan them to devices, television, video games and electronic media. We sacrifice our kids for things, instead of things for our kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We are fathers of the fatherless. In absence of our love our daughters search for it elsewhere. In the way they dress and act we allow them to think of themselves as objects. (Have we forgotten what it was like to be a testosterone-charged teenage boy?) To our sons we bequeath an image of "father" that is anything but. A "right" to maximize being plugged in to ourselves, and unplugged from everyone else.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We are beleaguered. We have surrendered our responsibility to be Godly leaders. Without a fundamental sense of mission and purpose, we merely reflect the rudderless culture around us. We are thermometers, not thermostats. We have given up important boundaries and expectations to their push back, leaving them prey. Our abdication reaffirms absence of a loving God, and their own lack of real worth.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To all this we offer the parental standards of "Ok" or "Alright," as in, "They'll be ok" or "They'll turn out alright" - standards we wouldn't even think of offering a prospective employer inquiring about how we'd do on the job. We console ourselves that children may go astray with even the best of parenting, without really subjecting ourselves to the shining light of "best parenting."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Many of us hide behind being religious, or even spiritual. We faithfully attend church on Sunday. We pray before meals. We have holy images on our walls. We even attend spiritual events and read spiritual materials. Too often we regard these as "products" of spiritual cosmetology, versus our life blood. Too often we're more fixed on appearing holy than in actually becoming holy. Our spiritual pride keeps us insulated from taking a hard look in the mirror. <br /><br />Whatever we may say about our various, holy activities, the greatest evidence is that our lives are not contagious enough to connect with the multitude of searching hearts around us; numbers are in steady decline; the Holy Communion we receive does not correspond to a Holy Community we live.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Many of us have failed to navigate beyond momentary conviction to a total commitment. Our calendars pronounce what we really worship. If a coach were to request an additional 60 minutes of practice tomorrow, we'd get them there. We would make the sacrifice. Yet, when is the last time we set aside just 60 minutes as a family to talk and pray, to encounter the life-giving grace of the Holy Spirit alive in our relationships? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And we wonder. Why are our children so disconnected. Confused. Angry. Misguided. Disrespectful. Rebellious. Selfish. Unkind. The hard truth is, they image us. They are our proclamation of faith. They are our legacy. They are crying out for a kind of love they were designed to receive, for which we alone were uniquely designed to give. Our greatest and most sacred trust. Nothing and no one can fill the vacuous cavern left by a parent's absence. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Parents, there are no presents that surpass the gift of our presence. Fashioned in the image of God in Jesus Christ, our greatest joy in life will only be found in giving our lives away (Matt. 16:24). God calls us to this great mission. Family is it's capacity. We have but a moment and then it's gone. No identity or mission surpasses the truth: we Image the Trinity. Our mission is to make God, who is Love, known. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This week turn IT around. Put a flag in the sand. Commit to so much more than a moment, but a movement. Start by setting aside just 10 minutes as a family to take the <a href="http://massimpactohio.blogspot.com/2014/11/our-ultimate-drama-this-weeks-live-it.html" target="_blank">Live IT 60/7 Inventory</a>. It is an eye-opener, and likely a door opener to a great adventure. More than ever, our world needs this testimony. Join us!.</span>Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-6662602274905040972015-05-27T12:05:00.001-07:002015-05-27T12:29:11.982-07:00Giving Your Body Away<div id="fb-root">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity. As with every Mass, we're challenged to recognize how we are participants. We're invited to open the door to our supreme identity and mission. We exist to make God, who is Love, known.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />We <b>I</b>mage the <b>T</b>rinity. We're called to Live IT.
<br />How do you do this... personally?
<br /><br />Your body is language. Your capacity for communication. Intimacy. To become one. The deepest desire of your heart.
</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">"My whole" body that does not correspond to "my whole" life is, by definition, a lie. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">"My whole" body that can not be fully given or received is, by definition, incompatible. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">"My whole" body as gift that excludes the Giver is, by definition, not sacred. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">"My whole" body to many, or for whatever reason, or impermanent, is, by definition, splintered. Cheap. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">"My whole" body and soul bruised, beaten, broken... brought earnestly to Him who bore it, in Whom restored it, is, by definition, transformed.
<br /><br />The Rules are not arbitrary. They are not oppressive. They are the very shape of love, and communicated by those who truly love. We are not their author. We do not make them, they make us. We can not break them, only be broken by them.<br /><br />In some way, each of us are broken. Without being sinners we have no need of a Savior. Without being broken, we have no basis of intimacy with the Restorer.
Matt 11:28: All who are weary, all who are broken in any way (all of us), here's your invitation to Holy Communion... a life of great intimacy that is true.</span>Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-18140505433665688702015-04-07T14:09:00.000-07:002015-05-27T12:39:38.303-07:00GETTING THE HELL OUT [Parents Against Porn] <a href="https://covenanteyes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=883_11_1_33" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="90" src="https://covenanteyes.com/affiliates/media/banners/CE-KidsSecret-Ad-v7-728x90-09-26-12.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="575" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://covenanteyes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=883_11_1_33" target="_blank">CLICK HERE to GUARD SOULS</a><br />Dear Parents and Spouses, </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We are parents. Our six children range in age from 17 to 10. Whatever else we do in life, our ultimate measure of success is whether or not they make it to heaven. Nothing is more important. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>There's no greater assault today on a soul's eternal destiny than anonymous access to pornography</b>. </span>[<a href="https://covenanteyes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=883&url=http://www.covenanteyes.com/pornstats/" target="_blank">REFERENCE: ALL STATS</a>]<br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">95% of all teens are on-line.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">78% own a smartphone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">93% of boys and 63% of girls view porn before age 18. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Age 11: The average age one views porn. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Ages 12-17: Largest consumer group of porn. </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The impact on marriages, families and society is devastating. </span></b><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">68% of divorce cases involved one party meeting a new lover over the Internet.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Those who have ever committed adultery are 218% more likely to look at porn. </span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here's the hard truth: If you don't have filtering or monitoring on your kids' (spouse's) devices, you're playing games with their souls.</b> We all know way too many good people whose lives, marriages and families have been shattered by porn. We're naive if we think somehow our families are less susceptible. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Being convicted isn't enough. We've got to do something, and there's something we can do. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you find another service, great. Please let us know. Otherwise, we've been researching various services for years. Our experience with <a href="https://covenanteyes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=883" target="_blank">Covenant Eyes</a> filtering and reporting software (on computers and devices) has been second to none. <br /><br />Yes, there is a price, but a price we can't afford NOT to pay knowing our children are safe from seductive, addictive and destructive content.
Join our family in protecting our families. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://covenanteyes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=883_8_1_18" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="200" src="https://covenanteyes.com/affiliates/media/banners/banner16.jpg" style="border: 0px;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Check it out. <a href="https://covenanteyes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=883" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We can be difference makers. Get on board. Spread the word. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Parents and Families United in Jesus Christ, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Greg and Stephanie Schlueter </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Image Trinity [<a href="http://massimpact.us/">MassImpact.US</a>]</span>Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-15724434733481946012015-04-03T11:23:00.000-07:002015-05-07T11:24:28.395-07:00AWESOME SEX [Designed by God]<div id="fb-root">
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It's beyond tragic so many people, so much of culture... reduces sex to a personal amUSEment park. Commitment terms,...<br />
Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GregSchlueter">Gregory Schlueter</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GregSchlueter/posts/10153253835024780">Wednesday, May 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-7576299852972172352015-03-04T12:20:00.001-08:002015-03-12T13:50:40.426-07:00"The Great Treasure of the Little Flower" (Fr. Dave Nuss)<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fimagetrinity.blogspot.com%2F2015%2F03%2Fthe-great-treasure-of-little-flower-fr.html&width=600&layout=standard&action=like&show_faces=true&share=true&height=80&appId=257482020951979" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 600px;"></iframe><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oDVUAxmf6Do/VPdpDUId5hI/AAAAAAAAL3I/igKJz_5MZCA/s1600/MassImpact-TheTreasureOfTheLittleFlower-FrDaveNuss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oDVUAxmf6Do/VPdpDUId5hI/AAAAAAAAL3I/igKJz_5MZCA/s1600/MassImpact-TheTreasureOfTheLittleFlower-FrDaveNuss.jpg" height="246" width="400" /></a><b></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">In this three-part series Fr. Dave Nuss (pastor of Little Flower Parish in Toledo, Ohio) invites us to receive the great treasure of the Little Flower. Become a saint!</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22px;"><b>PART I: St. Thérèse, Saint for Troubled Times</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22px;"><b>PART II: St. Thérèse and Suffering, the Way of Love</b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 22px;"><br />PART II: St. Thérèse and Humility, the Way of the Child (SOON)</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://imagetrinity.blogspot.com/2011/07/big-picture.html" target="_blank">MORE ABOUT IMAGE TRINITY</a></span>
Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-89323605699581477182015-03-01T06:45:00.000-08:002015-03-04T12:14:04.982-08:00A Lenten Challenge: "Just Live It" (Fr. Larry Richards)<div id="fb-root">
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<a href="http://imagetrinity.blogspot.com/2012/02/for-lent-just-live-it-fr-larry-richards.html" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aDmHLJXc2j0/Tz5z7Hxi-NI/AAAAAAAABnw/OnjmmwanhxE/s400/Fr-Larry-RichardsJustLiveIt.jpg" height="246" width="400" /></a><br />
<b>With humor and conviction Fr. Larry Richards challenges us to take Lent seriously, to fix our eyes on becoming saints. LISTEN NOW!</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://imagetrinity.blogspot.com/p/picture-it.html" target="_blank"><b>Image Trinity</b></a> is a movement of Catholic families inviting all to journey in the great adventure of our identity (Image Trinity) and mission: Live IT!<br />
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</audio>Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-58751832838777861152015-02-10T08:39:00.002-08:002015-02-10T08:47:27.349-08:00IGNITE RADIO LIVE: Marriage Series<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fimagetrinity.blogspot.com%2F2015%2F02%2Fignite-radio-live-marriage-series.html&width=550&layout=standard&action=like&show_faces=true&share=true&height=80&appId=257482020951979" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 550px;"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">Part I. Men: A Call to Arms</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Men are called to be spiritual leaders in the mission of Jesus Christ (Eph. 5). </span><span style="font-size: large;">The statistical / sociological portrait validates the spiritual truth of a man's irreplaceable role. </span><span style="font-size: large;">This impactful program challenges and inspires men. A number of men called in expressing their love for their wives and children. <br /><br /><b>Listen. Share. IGNITE the Planet.</b></span>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-KFR4eE3b35U%2FVC666o4AQ8I%2FAAAAAAAAGK4%2F25-tVXRlzbU%2Fs1600%2FIGNITERadioPRINT.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KFR4eE3b35U/VC666o4AQ8I/AAAAAAAAGK4/25-tVXRlzbU/s1600/IGNITERadioPRINT.jpg" -->Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-36337171256426911222015-02-02T12:56:00.000-08:002015-04-19T08:27:10.736-07:00A Couple, A Dog and A Dinner [This Lent, Rediscover Love]<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fcatholiclane.com%2Fthis-lent-rediscover-what-love-does%2F&width=550&layout=standard&action=like&show_faces=true&share=true&height=80&appId=817138581645978" style="border: none; height: 80px; overflow: hidden; width: 550px;"></iframe><br />REPRINT FROM CATHOLIC LANE<br />
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<div style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: verdana, lucida, sans-serif; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://rediscoverlove.eventbrite.com/" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #336699; font-size: 12px; list-style-type: none;"><img alt="RediscoverLove" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-50726" src="http://catholiclane.com/wp-content/uploads/RediscoverLove-300x200.jpg" height="200" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); clear: left; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 5px 0px; padding: 2px;" width="300" /></a>Though my wife and I both grew up with dogs, we do not have dogs. There are a number of reasons, not the least of which is that some of in our family have allergies. But this did not keep us from hosting a dear, elderly couple for dinner last week, their little “Sparky” in tow.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Love does this. God is love (1 Jn. 4:8).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The invitation to Love is always accompanied by an invitation to exchange what is lesser for what is Greater.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Specifically, on this night, Love was allowing Sparky to explore every part of the house, knowing the “blessing” to us (and the Benadryl company) would remain long after he was gone… because of the joy it brought our friends.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Love was in the tremendous blessing of them sharing their growing-up stories, captivating our children at the dinner table long after dinner was done.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Love was in a little, friendly trash-talking with the Mr. during a Cribbage game, because sometimes Love comes in that language.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Love was in my smirk, watching Sparky lap up some of the Mr.’s Wild Turkey Honey… and his nap, and our laughter, that followed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Love was in our joint family prayer… hearts united in Him through praise and worship, reflecting on a Psalm and our children’s “prayers from the heart” which specifically included expression of appreciation and blessing for the couple.</span></div>
<div style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: verdana, lucida, sans-serif; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Love was in little hands lifted in praying over the Mrs. for healing from her recent accident; love was in her tears (ok, and mine) and her head rested on my wife’s shoulder.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Love was in our children accompanying them, even arm in arm, as they made their way to their car later than any of us expected, but not nearly late enough.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Love is me wishing you could have been there. I wish you could have seen it. It was beautiful. We can’t wait for them to come back, Sparky and all.</span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: white;">The Turn</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I’m certain you have had rich encounters like this, the kind that captivate you, leave you different, merit your commitment. I know you would readily and easily speak of these glowingly to others, would readily invite others into the experience – saying “I wish you could have been there.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">So consider: how does this correspond to the way we talk to others about Mass? Prayer? Spiritual commitments? Do we readily and easily speak of these to others? So much that we might invite them?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I’m guessing, for most of us, the answer is “no.” But therein is the opportunity for the Church’s constant refrain of “Encounter Jesus Christ! Evangelize!” to hit us – and not like a deer in the headlights. Not just as some deed we “ought” to do.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Let’s get below that “suppose to” layer. Privately we are beleaguered by religion. We’re good soldiers, but perhaps we wonder: Where’s the life? Where’s all the dynamism of a real, engaging, life-transforming, interactive relationship?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">This questioning could be a really great thing right now. It’s an honest, good space where God can meet us. We should be encouraged by the truth that if we haven’t really encountered Jesus Christ, we won’t evangelize; <strong><em>but if we</em> <em>really encounter Jesus Christ, everything we do will be evangelization</em></strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">There’s something to genuinely anticipate here. If committed prayer is not your daily priority, if you’re not enthusiastically sharing the story and inviting others — God’s conquering love awaits you. Right now, perhaps.</span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: white;">This Lent: Rediscover Love (Join us).</strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Lent is not about something as trite as simply giving up sweets. Lent is an invitation from the Heart of God to more deeply find ourselves in Love, in Jesus Christ. This is time for the Great Exchange: giving up lesser things for the Greater.</span></div>
<div style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: verdana, lucida, sans-serif; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">God is inviting you and me to “Rediscover Love” and then, to make Him known. This seven week, Lenten journey begins the week of February 16 and ends on Easter. Take the 60/7 challenge. As a family (or peer group), commit (schedule) 60 minutes a week for seven weeks.</span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: white;">What do you have to gain?</strong></div>
<div style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: verdana, lucida, sans-serif; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Right now schedule just 10 minutes with your family or group of friends. Have each member complete the simple, one-page <a href="http://imagetrinity.com/LITGathering/LITInventory.pdf?utm_campaign=Image%20Trinity%20%7C%20Mass%20Impact&utm_content=A%20couple%2C%20a%20dog%20and%20a%20dinner...%20%5BRediscover%20Love%5D&utm_medium=email&utm_source=A%20couple%2C%20a%20dog%20and%20a%20dinner...%20%5BRediscover%20Love%5D" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #336699; list-style-type: none;">Live IT 60/7 Inventory</a>. It asks members to measure seven important areas revealing the state of God alive in your relationships.</span></div>
<div style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: verdana, lucida, sans-serif; line-height: 16.7999992370605px; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Then download and print out the <a href="http://massimpactohio.blogspot.com/2014/11/our-ultimate-drama-this-weeks-live-it.html?utm_campaign=Image%20Trinity%20%7C%20Mass%20Impact&utm_content=A%20couple%2C%20a%20dog%20and%20a%20dinner...%20%5BRediscover%20Love%5D&utm_medium=email&utm_source=A%20couple%2C%20a%20dog%20and%20a%20dinner...%20%5BRediscover%20Love%5D" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #336699; list-style-type: none;">Live IT Gathering Guide</a>. Schedule your weekly gathering over the subsequent seven weeks (Page 2). Commit! God’s grace will follow. If you are faithful, God will come more fully alive in your relationships. This will be demonstrated when you take the Live IT 60/7 Inventory again at the end.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><strong>Register Now. </strong>This enriching Lenten resource is free (please pray for our benefactors). But to maximize your experience, and partner with us in this movement, we ask you to plug in here: <a href="http://rediscoverlove.eventbrite.com/?utm_campaign=Image%20Trinity%20%7C%20Mass%20Impact&utm_content=A%20couple%2C%20a%20dog%20and%20a%20dinner...%20%5BRediscover%20Love%5D&utm_medium=email&utm_source=A%20couple%2C%20a%20dog%20and%20a%20dinner...%20%5BRediscover%20Love%5D" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #336699; list-style-type: none;">RediscoverLove.eventbrite.com</a>. Thank you!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Greg Schlueter is an award-winning Catholic film producer, writer, speaker and movement leader. He is President / CEO of Image Trinity, a Catholic, non-profit organization committed to families living their identity and mission (</span><a class="_553k" href="http://imagetrinity.com/" rel="nofollow" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; list-style-type: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://ImageTrinity.com</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; white-space: pre-wrap;">), and it's ecclesial outreach, Mass Impact, which is committed to parishes becoming dynamic communities of missionary disciples (</span><a class="_553k" href="http://massimpact.us/" rel="nofollow" style="border-bottom-style: none; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; list-style-type: none; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://MassImpact.us</a><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 14.3520002365112px; white-space: pre-wrap;">). Greg lives with his wife and six children in Toledo, Ohio</span></span></div>Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-84014933974428698482015-01-26T17:58:00.003-08:002015-04-19T08:28:06.581-07:00Classical Education: The Alternative to Common Core<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="//www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fimagetrinity.blogspot.com%2F2015%2F01%2Fclassical-education-alternative-to.html&width=600&layout=standard&action=like&show_faces=true&share=true&height=80&appId=257482020951979" style="border: none; height: 60px; overflow: hidden; width: 600px;"></iframe>
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<b><b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Lee J. Strang | </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Director of Faculty Research & Professor of Law </span></span></b></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Dr. Kenneth Calvert speaks</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> about the development of citizenship and virtue in classical education, and how the common core does not focus on these important attributes; instead, it focuses only on making people good employees. Classical education, on the other hand, is the educational curriculum of our country's Founders, and molds citizens into virtuous human beings who then become outstanding citizens of their communities.<br /></span></span><br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n4lhQC18Mrc/VMbs9k2DiVI/AAAAAAAAK-A/GfNNvc9p0U8/s1600/DrCalvert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n4lhQC18Mrc/VMbs9k2DiVI/AAAAAAAAK-A/GfNNvc9p0U8/s1600/DrCalvert.jpg" height="200" width="159" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Dr. Calvert urges people to work together to move their current schools towards the Classical Model and turn away from the devastating "all kids are average" common core model. He says Classical Education involves memorization of important facts, such as math drills, grammar rules, states/capitals, presidents, poems, etc in the elementary grades; and this knowledge lays an important foundation for all student's academic success. With this knowledge, students can proceed on to jr high and high school by delving into subjects more deeply and will ask intelligent questions. He compares this to coaches expectation of kids on the playing field: teachers should expect a lot from their students in the classroom by challenging them to their personal best. <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">"Students always rise to the challenge of what our teachers ask of them, and afterwards they are very proud of themselves." <br />Dr. Calvert </span></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">HANDOUTS:</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="http://www.educationviews.org/common-core-add-stem-success/" target="_blank">Dr. Calvert's Handout</a> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxZbNYdTvy_pRkh3cnhHRWVrWVpWTTlVZzhxR184ZGtqTV9J/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Action Plan (Toledo Catholics Against the Common Core)</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>SHORT BIO:</b><br />Dr. Kenneth Calvert, a graduate of Wheaton College and Harvard University, is Assistant Professor of History at Hillsdale College and Headmaster of The Hillsdale Academy, a K-12 private classical school, in Hillsdale, MI. Dr. Calvert has served as the Headmaster of The Hillsdale Academy for twelve years and has advised and supported dozens of classical schools. For twenty years, Hillsdale Academy students have ranked at the 97th percentile or above on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills.</span>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C38T3aIqoSA/UQaU-2dAalI/AAAAAAAACeg/itwWNlPLFqI/s1600/WagnerFamilyWithMom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C38T3aIqoSA/UQaU-2dAalI/AAAAAAAACeg/itwWNlPLFqI/s320/WagnerFamilyWithMom2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 24px;">It was 1976. Michael and Joanne Wagner boarded a bus heading for the March for Life in D.C. Everything about them proclaimed God's gift of life. Joanne was carrying baby number 13.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 17px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Somewhere around midnight, while on the bus... head resting on her husband's shoulder, at the very young age of 39 - God called her home. She died silently in her sleep. Many years later, some who were on the bus that night reported the little boy kicking in her womb.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Burdened with an anguish I could never imagine, Michael returned home... loss of his unborn child, and the love of his life, an empty bed, an empty home, to face the demands of twelve children without a mom. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Michael made no more than $25,000 a year. He worked night shift. So many demands. How would he do the all-consuming, overwhelming "it"? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Somehow, beyond human understanding... though not without the usual travails of life- their life radiated the incomprehensible but evident light of God's abundant grace. As an anecdote, somehow they found a way to put each child through <span class="il" style="background-color: #ffffcc; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;">Catholic</span> schools. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KTJmhp0yYnc/UQaSrvPt7zI/AAAAAAAACeE/nDlLH4mcnRo/s1600/StephanieSchlueter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KTJmhp0yYnc/UQaSrvPt7zI/AAAAAAAACeE/nDlLH4mcnRo/s200/StephanieSchlueter.jpg" width="161" /></a>My wife, Stephanie, was number 11. She was only five years old at the time. She shares a touching story of her first day back at school. Not quite understanding everything, she knew her mom expected her to have her hair in piggy tails (or "honkers" because her brothers use to pull them!). Not having her there to do so, her dad rose to the occasion. He used common twisty ties. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">While Michael has since been reunited with his wife, they remain great examples to me... for my children, of a life well lived... that radiated a providence beyond our poverty, a completion beyond our calculation. They gave us the great legacy of this simple but formidable truth: What God calls us to, He will provide for. </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VaLGOfseXQ8/UQaTGyKtiiI/AAAAAAAACeM/88KKG-0tWbg/s1600/WagnerFamily2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VaLGOfseXQ8/UQaTGyKtiiI/AAAAAAAACeM/88KKG-0tWbg/s200/WagnerFamily2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Had to include a photo with youngest brother Keith</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">So may it be for all God's children, born and unborn. Beyond our means,whatever you're dealing with right now, know His great love for you. Trust in Him. You don't need to find a way. Just turn to Him who is the Way.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br />---------------------------<br /><i>Greg Schlueter and his wife, Stephanie, are parents to seven children (one in heaven) and lead Image Trinity, a Catholic family movement committed to engaging families in the great adventure of discovering our identity and living IT - we Image the Trinity. (Get IT?) Also see the person and parish transformation movement at <a href="http://massimpact.us./">MassImpact.us.</a></i></span>Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-5169944966940214252014-11-18T14:47:00.000-08:002015-01-19T08:41:38.358-08:00HELP US IGNITE DYNAMIC PARISH COMMUNITIES<b><span style="font-size: large;">Image Trinity (Mass Impact) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation.</span></b><br />
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<b>ADDRESS:</b> Image Trinity | 7433 Fox Lane | Holland, Ohio 43528<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">"IGNITE the PLANET: Our Catholic Moment"</span> </b><br />
<b>A 13 Minute Fanfare from Ignite the Planet Banquet.<br /></b><br />
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Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-40815590338981782372013-12-20T08:35:00.002-08:002013-12-21T09:39:39.035-08:00Duck Dynasty & A&E : The Battle for Human Nature<div id="fb-root">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Below is excerpted from the <a href="http://www.gq.com/entertainment/television/201401/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson">GQ interview</a> with Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson. Based upon Scripture, he included homosexual activity in speaking of sin. Duck Dynasty was subsequently dismissed by A&E. </span></b></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In our ongoing dialogue with culture, this article prompted some questions and considerations in sincere interest of reply. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Doesn't A&E's decision reveal their OWN organization to be "intolerant," "hateful," "discriminatory," "judgmental"? Doesn't their decision demonstrate that we can not NOT judge? Indeed, disputing this, or anything herein, constitutes judgment.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If we're going to navigate life based upon judgment, ought not the compass be based upon the indisputable, human nature we all share? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the instance of homosexual <i>activity</i> (not inclination), what argument can counter the one the body has already made: Same genders do not "fit" together; their sexual processes can never accomplish their undisputable, natural end. Does anyone deny that the sexual arousal involving an erection is complementary with a woman's physical receptivity, as are the complementary purposes of sperm and egg?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As such, homosexual activity is un-natural, as un-natural as is eating and intentionally throwing up. As un-natural as any sexual arousal divorced from it's intended purpose, outside it's evident, natural context of commitment between a man and a woman.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Peal back the layers, the heart of the argument for homosexual "marriage" is simply this: "Per sexual preference, to each her own, recognized with rights." No one has the right to question anothers' sexual preference. So much more, homosexual "marriage" insists that <i>we as a society </i><i>recognize anyone's preference</i> in the form of <i>special rights</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyone challenging this is met with the pop-cultural Leviathan unleashed: "hateful," "discriminatory," "judgmental." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What the multitude do not realize is that this Leviathan will not have a leash. It will not play by our selective rules. It turns on us. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What objection can anyone make to "marriage" comprised of multiple partners? Or between a father and a son? Or with a pet? Or with one's Ipad? Answer: Nothing. We've got nothing to say. How dare we be so hateful.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Monster is unleashed. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">When we don't recognize and respect a special something, it becomes everything, and thus, nothing. Thus we find ourselves today, internally and in our relationships - divided, splintered, alienated, incomplete. Something within us constantly beckons for real intimacy and wholeness (the root meaning of "holiness"). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our internal and external worlds reveal us to be at war with ourselves, with our nature. We are a people given a gift as a participation in the life of the Giver. Used apart, using others, using ourselves - we remain in exile. We are in prison. There, we will never find peace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All this culturally reinforced by false understandings of "tolerance" and "freedom" whose values a false liberalism has enshrined. When we see the Leviathan banish Duck Dynasty, but extol Miley Cyrus, we ought to recognize it has fully morphed into a full-fledged ideology of <i>anti-nature</i>. Unmoored from our anchor, who we really are, whom we are revealed to be, we are adrift. There can be no real freedom. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And yet our enemies are not human, but "spiritual powers in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 6:12), those whose rabid jealousy seek to deceive us into rejecting our God-like nature. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Robertson's was a "truth spoken in love" - validated by the sociologically proven fact that we really can't break the law, only ourselves against it. Indeed, what Commandment have any of us ever broken that has not, in fact, broken us?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which of us, in fact, have not fallen? Are we not all in need of God's abiding, healing, transforming grace and mercy?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In this very moment, with an impassioned heart we could never comprehend, God seeks us back into the Great Fellowship, the Great Intimacy with Him for which we were designed, and in which we are destined if we would choose.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Brothers and Sisters, this Christmas Season He beckons us. Seek. Choose. Believe. He is near. Emmanuel.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">“Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong... Sin becomes fine,” he said. “Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Paraphrasing Corinthians he added: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The gay and lesbian rights group GLAAD was quick to criticize Robertson for his comments and called on A&E to take action.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Phil and his family claim to be Christian, but Phil's lies about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe," said GLAAD rep Wilson Cruz. "He clearly knows nothing about gay people or the majority of Louisianans – and Americans - who support legal recognition for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples. Phil's decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a stain on A&E and his sponsors who now need to reexamine their ties to someone with such public disdain for LGBT people and families."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Robertson also told GQ his family has lost its privacy since they were thrust into the limelight as the stars of the hit show, but it was well worth it because the series has given him a platform to spread his religious beliefs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">“For the sake of the Gospel, it was worth it… All you have to do is look at any society where there is no Jesus. I’ll give you four: Nazis, no Jesus. Look at their record. Uh, Shintos? They started this thing in Pearl Harbor. Any Jesus among them? None. Communists? None. Islamists? Zero. That’s 80 years of ideologies that have popped up where no Jesus was allowed among those four groups. Just look at the records as far as murder goes among those four groups.”</span>Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-2181918412255589782013-06-24T09:26:00.000-07:002015-06-24T05:12:16.909-07:00Mary, Medjugorje, Mass Impact. Grace Pouring Out...<div id="fb-root">
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This week has historically been a big week of grace in my life. June 21 marks Summer Solstice, the day of great light, the longest day of the year. It was on that day my wife and I began dating in 1996, and on that same day we were married a year later. On June 24 we celebrate the Feast of my confirmation namesake, St. John the Baptist. As the sunlight begins to decrease, so John asks us to decrease that God might increase in us. And on this date of June 24, 1991, I found myself in a little village behind the then Iron Curtain where, ten years earlier to the day, Mary purportedly began appearing to six village children.* Over those ten years numerous books and television programs showcased the miraculous things that were happening in Medjugorje.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6GJqe6_dkd0/SGdv-jodkHI/AAAAAAAACRg/-LqU1V6Zds0/s400/IMc_00400056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6GJqe6_dkd0/SGdv-jodkHI/AAAAAAAACRg/-LqU1V6Zds0/s200/IMc_00400056.JPG" width="200" /></a>My personal circumstances of going to Medjugorje coincided with a good amount of trouble, heart breaking things going on with siblings and friends, exacerbated by my front-row view of a spiritually searching world as communications director of an international organization.<br />
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All I had head-learned in my Catholic faith was becoming real, particularly that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph. 6:12). Yet, in the midst of this bleakness my soul was becoming attuned to an inexplicable, deepening love for Mary, perhaps even more, her love for me. She was simply there. And I was blessed by a number of spiritually astute friends who were opening my eyes to understand her God-given role to combat the devil (Gen. 3:15), particularly in these days, particularly through encounter with Her Son.<br />
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The story of how Medjugorje "happened" for me was miraculous enough, but for another time. While there, I was joined by a multitude from every nation, each drawn for their own reasons, but all united beyond words like a close-knit family. That alone was miraculous. I met with the visionaries- those whom Mary communicated with every day. I witnessed numerous instances of miraculous, physical healing, including a little child who came blind but, after prayer, could see. Many, perhaps everyone, shared a sense of spiritual healing.<br />
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Looking up one evening at Mont Krizevac, or "Cross Mountain," I observed with all present the mysterious, bright light that consumed the cross. I observed and gazed upon the "dancing sun," that should have left me blind. The burdens that seemed so heavy only days earlier all seemed to dissipate. One evening, gazing out from the top of that mountain, I was acutely aware of an all-consuming peace that blanketed the place. I couldn't help but think: "The Mother of God is appearing here, inviting us to pray from the heart, to know her Son... and I'm worried about <i>what</i>?"<br />
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Whether one believes Mary is appearing there or not is of little interest to me. There's nothing she's saying that has not already been emphasized by our Church. She's calling us to pray from the heart, to believe and know God is with us, to turn from our sins and prepare our hearts for Him.<br />
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There's so much more to share, but nothing that wouldn't require a lot more ink. The bottom line is that we are living in spiritually perilous times. Satan is competing for our souls, causing us to be distracted, if not lost, by so many lesser things. But more importantly, the gates of heaven are open and God's grace is being poured out. God is calling us to Himself. He wants so much more than our empty actions. He wants our hearts. He wants to awaken us to His indwelling Spirit. And He gives us His Mother to help lead us there.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span id="goog_1396919308"></span><span id="goog_1396919309"></span>The great thing in all this is to tell you that you don't have to go overseas to experience all this. His full, real power and presence is awaiting us... likely within miles of where you're reading this. He's inviting us to more than a moment, but a movement. </span>He is really here, and He's waiting for you.<br />
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Find out more at <a href="http://massimpact.us/" target="_blank">Mass Impact</a>.<br />
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<b>*On the Church and Medjugorje: </b>Many books and programs have showcased the miracles taking place at Medjugorje. Scholar Dr. Mark Miravalle's well articulated <a href="http://www.medjugorje.org/ismedjugorjereal.htm">summary</a> concludes: "Is Medjugorje real? According to the Church's own criteria, the spiritual fruits superabundant throughout the world, and the saintly witnesses and discernments of Pope John Paul II and Bl. Teresa of Calcutta, I believe the only proper theological response is 'yes.'"Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-22973533484053319552013-04-17T14:59:00.001-07:002013-04-17T15:47:24.838-07:00Parenthood Today for our Kids Tomorrow (Taking Off the Gloves)<div id="fb-root">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">We labor for the kind of house</span></b> that makes it impossible for us to ever be home. We celebrate pregnancy long enough to leave them on others' door steps. In the name of our expensive education. We name them "boredom" or "unfulfilled."<br />
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And at the end of the day, when we are with them, they get the scraps of our time, attention and energy. We have our TV programs and electronic media. We buy them stuff to further orphan them. We sacrifice our kids for things, instead of things for our kids.<br />
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We are fathers of the fatherless. In absence of our love our daughters search for it artificially; we allow them to dress and act in certain ways as if we've forgotten what it was like as a teenage boy. To our sons we bequeath an image of "adult" that is anything but. No true north. No anchor. No fundamental sense of mission and purpose. To both we surrender important boundaries, expectations, follow-through easily to their push back, leaving them puppets to the world around them-- which reaffirms their lack of worth. <br />
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To all this we say, "they'll be ok" - an answer we wouldn't think of giving our boss about our work. <br />
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And we wonder... why they're disconnected. Confused. Angry. Misguided. Disrespectful. Rebellious. Selfish. Unkind. The truth is, they're imaging <i>us</i>. They are passing along <i>us</i>. They are our legacy... crying out for a kind of love they were designed to receive, for which we alone were uniquely designed to give. Your greatest and most sacred trust. <br />
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Parents- there are no presents that surpass the gift of our presence. Our greatest joy in life will only be found in giving it away-- to our spouses and our children. We have but a moment and then it's gone. That moment is given now. <br />
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Let's live it.Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-46398582925178329292013-02-02T07:20:00.001-08:002013-02-02T07:25:01.632-08:00Lenten Road Map: Begin Here (Pope Benedict's Letter)<div id="fb-root">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vEr8VqVAibQ/UQ0tzHLUPPI/AAAAAAAACgU/uoHh64naeoY/s1600/faith_maps_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vEr8VqVAibQ/UQ0tzHLUPPI/AAAAAAAACgU/uoHh64naeoY/s200/faith_maps_01.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">For Lent this year don't just give up something, gain EVERYTHING! Recognize the invitation to an authentic, richer, fuller life - only possible in Jesus Christ, enlivened by the Holy Spirit. Let this be our road map. Share it. Let's Rock this place (Matt. 16:18). </span><br />
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<br />VATICAN CITY - "Believing in Charity Calls Forth Charity: 'We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us' (1 Jn 4:16)" is the title of the Holy Father's Lenten Message this year. </div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: medium;">Pope Benedict XVI on Lent</span></h1>
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,</div>
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The celebration of Lent, in the context of the Year of Faith, offers us a valuable opportunity to meditate on the relationship between faith and charity: between believing in God?the God of Jesus Christ?and love, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and which guides us on the path of devotion to God and others.</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: small;">1. Faith as a response to the love of God</span></h2>
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In my first Encyclical, I offered some thoughts on the close relationship between the theological virtues of faith and charity. Setting out from Saint John’s fundamental assertion: "We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us”, I observed that “being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction … Since God has first loved us, love is now no longer a mere ‘command’; it is the response to the gift of love with which God draws near to us”. Faith is this personal adherence?which involves all our faculties?to the revelation of God’s gratuitous and “passionate” love for us, fully revealed in Jesus Christ. The encounter with God who is Love engages not only the heart but also the intellect: “Acknowledgement of the living God is one path towards love, and the ‘yes’ of our will to his will unites our intellect, will and sentiments in the all-embracing act of love. But this process is always open-ended; love is never ‘finished’ and complete”. Hence, for all Christians, and especially for “charity workers”, there is a need for faith, for “that encounter with God in Christ which awakens their love and opens their spirits to others. As a result, love of neighbour will no longer be for them a commandment imposed, so to speak, from without, but a consequence deriving from their faith, a faith which becomes active through love”. Christians are people who have been conquered by Christ’s love and accordingly, under the influence of that love?“Caritas Christi urget nos”? they are profoundly open to loving their neighbour in concrete ways. This attitude arises primarily from the consciousness of being loved, forgiven, and even served by the Lord, who bends down to was h the feet of the Apostles and offers himself on the Cross to draw humanity into God’s love.</div>
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“Faith tells us that God has given his Son for our sakes and gives us the victorious certainty that it is really true: God is love! … Faith, which sees the love of God revealed in the pierced heart of Jesus on the Cross, gives rise to love. Love is the light?and in the end, the only light?that can always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working”. All this helps us to understand that the principal distinguishing mark of Christians is precisely “love grounded in and shaped by faith”.</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: small;">2. Charity as life in faith</span></h2>
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The entire Christian life is a response to God’s love. The first response is precisely faith as the acceptance, filled with wonder and gratitude, of the unprecedented divine initiative that precedes us and summons us. And the “yes” of faith marks the beginning of a radiant story of friendship with the Lord, which fills and gives full meaning to our whole life. But it is not enough for God that we simply accept his gratuitous love. Not only does he love us, but he wants to draw us to himself, to transform us in such a profound way as to bring us to say with Saint Paul: “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me”.</div>
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When we make room for the love of God, then we become like him, sharing in his own charity. If we open ourselves to his love, we allow him to live in us and to bring us to love with him, in him and like him; only then does our faith become truly “active through love”; only then does he abide in us.</div>
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Faith is knowing the truth and adhering to it; charity is “walking” in the truth. Through faith we enter into friendship with the Lord, through charity this friendship is lived and cultivated. Faith causes us to embrace the commandment of our Lord and Master; charity gives us the happiness of putting it into practice. In faith we are begotten as children of God; charity causes us to persevere concretely in our divine sonship, bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Faith enables us to recognize the gifts that the good and generous God has entrusted to us; charity makes them fruitful.</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: small;">3. The indissoluble interrelation of faith and charity</span></h2>
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In light of the above, it is clear that we can never separate, let alone oppose, faith and charity. These two theological virtues are intimately linked, and it is misleading to posit a contrast or “dialectic” between them. On the one hand, it would be too one-sided to place a strong emphasis on the priority and decisiveness of faith and to undervalue and almost despise concrete works of charity, reducing them to a vague humanitarianism. On the other hand, though, it is equally unhelpful to overstate the primacy of charity and the activity it generates, as if works could take the place of faith. For a healthy spiritual life, it is necessary to avoid both fideism and moral activism.</div>
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The Christian life consists in continuously scaling the mountain to meet God and then coming back down, bearing the love and strength drawn from him, so as to serve our brothers and sisters with God’s own love. In sacred Scripture, we see how the zeal of the Apostles to proclaim the Gospel and awaken people’s faith is closely related to their charitable concern to be of service to the poor. In the Church, contemplation and action, symbolized in some way by the Gospel figures of Mary and Martha, have to coexist and complement each other. The relationship with God must always be the priority, and any true sharing of goods, in the spirit of the Gospel, must be rooted in faith. Sometimes we tend, in fact, to reduce the term “charity” to solidarity or simply humanitarian aid. It is important, however, to remember that the greatest work of charity is evangelisation, which is the “ministry of the word”. There is no action more beneficial – and therefore more charitable – towards one’s neighbour than to break the bread of the word of God, to share with him the Good News of the Gospel, to introduce him to a relationship with God: evangelisation is the highest and the most integral promotion of the human person. As the Servant of God Pope Paul VI wrote in the Encyclical "Populorum Progressio", the proclamation of Christ is the first and principal contributor to development. It is the primordial truth of the love of God for us, lived and proclaimed, that opens our lives to receive this love and makes possible the integral development of humanity and of every man.</div>
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Essentially, everything proceeds from Love and tends towards Love. God’s gratuitous love is made known to us through the proclamation of the Gospel. If we welcome it with faith, we receive the first and indispensable contact with the Divine, capable of making us “fall in love with Love”, and then we dwell within this Love, we grow in it and we joyfully communicate it to others.</div>
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Concerning the relationship between faith and works of charity, there is a passage in the Letter to the Ephesians which provides perhaps the best account of the link between the two: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God; not because of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”. It can be seen here that the entire redemptive initiative comes from God, from his grace, from his forgiveness received in faith; but this initiative, far from limiting our freedom and our responsibility, is actually what makes them authentic and directs them towards works of charity. These are not primarily the result of human effort, in which to take pride, but they are born of faith and they flow from the grace that God gives in abundance. Faith without works is like a tree without fruit: the two virtues imply one another. Lent invites us, through the traditional practices of the Christian life, to nourish our faith by careful and extended listening to the word of God and by receiving the sacraments, and at the same time to grow in charity and in love for God and neighbour, not least through the specific practices of fasting, penance and almsgiving.</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'arial black', 'avant garde'; font-size: small;">4. Priority of faith, primacy of charity</span></h2>
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Like any gift of God, faith and charity have their origin in the action of one and the same Holy Spirit, the Spirit within us that cries out “Abba, Father”, and makes us say: “Jesus is Lord!” and “Maranatha!”.</div>
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Faith, as gift and response, causes us to know the truth of Christ as Love incarnate and crucified, as full and perfect obedience to the Father’s will and infinite divine mercy towards neighbour; faith implants in hearts and minds the firm conviction that only this Love is able to conquer evil and death. Faith invites us to look towards the future with the virtue of hope, in the confident expectation that the victory of Christ’s love will come to its fullness. For its part, charity ushers us into the love of God manifested in Christ and joins us in a personal and existential way to the total and unconditional self-giving of Jesus to the Father and to his brothers and sisters. By filling our hearts with his love, the Holy Spirit makes us sharers in Jesus’ filial devotion to God and fraternal devotion to every man.</div>
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The relationship between these two virtues resembles that between the two fundamental sacraments of the Church: Baptism and Eucharist. Baptism ("sacramentum fidei") precedes the Eucharist ("sacramentum caritatis"), but is ordered to it, the Eucharist being the fullness of the Christian journey. In a similar way, faith precedes charity, but faith is genuine only if crowned by charity. Everything begins from the humble acceptance of faith (“knowing that one is loved by God”), but has to arrive at the truth of charity (“knowing how to love God and neighbour”), which remains for ever, as the fulfilment of all the virtues.</div>
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Dear brothers and sisters, in this season of Lent, as we prepare to celebrate the event of the Cross and Resurrection in which the love of God redeemed the world and shone its light upon history, I express my wish that all of you may spend this precious time rekindling your faith in Jesus Christ, so as to enter with him into the dynamic of love for the Father and for every brother and sister that we encounter in our lives. For this intention, I raise my prayer to God, and I invoke the Lord’s blessing upon each individual and upon every community!</div>
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Pope Benedict XVI</div>
Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-66760334056520841992013-01-29T08:39:00.000-08:002013-01-29T08:43:12.910-08:00The Sexual Urge and Due North<b>By Greg Schlueter</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The sexual urge. Let's just keep it real. We all have it. Let's understand it. By nature it is both body and soul. </span><br />
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Here's the defining truth: The heart of the sexual urge is the urge to completion. Not found in porn. Not found in any act in and of itself. On an experiential level, people know this. They've "done it" and moved along to the next. Incomplete. Bewildered. <br />
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Yet the urge makes promises for completion. Always hoping. <br />
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Let's take our cues from great wisdom of the ages. This "urge" points to a completion that can only be found in God. It is a compass whose "Due North" is God. A capacity to participate in the total, mutual, self-gift that IS God. The end is union in God. <br />
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[For those with spiritual eyes to see, this is the great symbol of celibate priests and religious... signifying our ultimate, eternal intimacy while yet on this earth!] <br />
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Now consider Satan's great jealousy. He knows this capacity for a completion in God. Not happy. Note that the "sexual urge" rightly conceived (pun intended) is ultimately a kind of worship. A capacity to imitate and participate in God. What does Satan do to avert us from this right worship? Distracts us with a shiny apple. Magnets. Pointing toward different gods. Alienation. Brokenness. <br />
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Compass out of kilter. Is this not what we see all around us? Within us? <br />
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The good news. Note everywhere that the sexual urge is quite alive. Just not well. It's working, with it's compelling power - just not working correctly.<br />
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Imagine if this compelling compass were to be re-calibrated. Rid of the magnets. Rightly ordered. Pointing Due North. Not the pill, but in the power of God's holy will. Godly, holy, pure, powerful, self-possessed, intimate, true love. Just imagine. <br />
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We can't do it. We need a Savior. We need to be saved. Not just once, but every new day. We need to invite Him to deliver us from the magnets. We need to cooperate. In this day, this generation, He calls us to be witnesses to His great, transforming mercy. Not just a one-time event, but many steps. Take the first. Don't settle for the artificial, fleeting, wounding version of passionate fire you were designed for...<br />
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"I've come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze!" Luke 12:49<br />
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[If you have this witness and are willing to share it, perhaps are in the midst of it -- please contact me privately -- we're looking for authentic witnesses to showcase what God is wanting to do... and is doing. Please pray about it-- and for the vast multitude - that our collective, human compass once again point Due North.]<br />
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<i style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Greg Schlueter is Secretariat Leader for Evangelization and Parish Life for the Catholic Diocese of Toledo. He and his wife, Stephanie, are parents to seven children (one in heaven) and also lead Image Trinity, a Catholic family movement committed to engaging families in the great adventure of discovering our identity and living IT - we Image the Trinity. (Get IT?) </i>Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-43828071759775549692013-01-28T06:01:00.005-08:002013-01-28T09:12:05.352-08:00Some Thoughts on "Media"<div id="fb-root">
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<b>By Greg Schlueter</b><br /><br />We're cleaning house. Literally. Getting ready to move.<br />
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Going through source media of the past seventeen years. Just seeing the titles is revisiting pages of our lives. Thousands of productions. Tributes honoring loved ones. ErieAlityTV that ignited a community's generosity in an Extreme Makeover episode. Amazing stories showcasing the heart of numerous nonprofit organizations.<br />
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In the faith arena, God's powerful movement through so many people... Journey to Emmaus, World Youth Day, Catholic Leadership Institute, youth rallies, Made2Worship, Presence for Christmas, LiveITStation... clips from superstars who rocked our world- Steve Angrisano, Bob Halligan Jr, Jesse Manibusan....<br />
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A very blessed, sacred time. And this media-- we're committing it all to "the ground." Fertilizing it with some tears. (No worries environmentalists, it will be transformed!) All seeds planted with hopes of continuing to reach up to eternity.<br />
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Funny thing, the word "media" - as in "to mediate" or "connect both sides from the middle."<br />
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God has chosen "mediation" from day one. He could speak directly to us (and in certain ways, He does!), it is undeniable that He has chosen to dignify humanity by speaking through humanity... through the flesh and blood of His Son... through human and material instrumentality of ink configured a certain way on paper (Word), through Sacrament.<br />
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The testimony of this "media" approach throughout the ages is the great validation of His Holy Catholic Church... not created of human ingenuity, but given by Love for Love... She is His Bride-- His Presence whose instantiation has variantly been disguised, experienced as imperfect and blemished as we people to whom She has been entrusted, nonetheless is He has remained faithful-- and She remains His chosen means of encountering and living in His life-transforming love.<br />
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If today you hear His Voice.... Say yes to Him without reservation, without contingency... in spite of your fears, weakness, uncertainty, doubt... not based upon your own calculation of what you think you can or can not do... but on the simple promise that what He calls us to, He will provide for.<br />
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If you're down, if you've fallen... in His power get back up again. God has destined you for greatness. Embrace His Mercy. You are His beloved-- not a spectator, but a participant in an ultimate drama attended by a multitude of heavenly angels and saints.<br />
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Be fueled by the awareness that one day you will see souls in heaven who wouldn't have been there had you said "no."<br />-------------------------<br /><i style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Greg Schlueter is Secretariat Leader for Evangelization and Parish Life for the Catholic Diocese of Toledo. He and his wife, Stephanie, are parents to seven children (one in heaven) and also lead Image Trinity, a Catholic family movement committed to engaging families in the great adventure of discovering our identity and living IT - we Image the Trinity. (Get IT?) </i>Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3679455026298668711.post-46349613010170791342013-01-26T10:21:00.001-08:002013-01-28T09:12:28.044-08:00Redemption of a Hay-Wired Humanity | THE REAL WAR<div id="fb-root">
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<b>By Greg Schlueter</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">During MSNBC’s “The Cycle” on Friday, co-host Toure thanked "God and country" that "abortion was there to save me... keep me on a path toward building a strong family I have." </span><br />
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English-French... Russian-Italian... we have numerous on-line translators that help us understand in our own language what is being said in another. Our world is very much in need of a good Ooze to Truth translator. <br />
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Plugging Toure's words in, this is what I got: "I allowed one of my children to be killed to preserve my way of life. Death of one of my children has enabled the rest of us to be strong." <br />
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What's ultimately tragic is that mainstream America doesn't only buy this (literally, with our tax dollars!), they extol it as humane. Say otherwise and you're intolerant. Hateful. Really. <br />
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If that's not enough to pronounce our hay-wired humanity, it's punctuated by it's mode of delivery: one whose race triumphed over the ugly regime of slavery, predicated by persons using persons, the powerful presiding over the powerless. <br />
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I'm out of punctuation marks at the end of "hay-wired humanity!" but here's the capital letters, bold and underline: this situation of killing children through all nine months of pregnancy, for any reason -- was propelled by Planned Parenthood whose first masthead proclaimed it's eugenic intent: "More from the fit, less from the unfit." Their target was "unfit people" of "inferior race." <br />
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Satan is just laughing. Recall at the beginning of time it was he, the highest Angel of Light, the head of the Heavenly Choir who, from the vantage of being outside of time, who looked ahead and gasped at what he saw: God would not only create man IN HIS OWN IMAGE, He would TAKE THE FORM OF man!<br />
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With a multitude of his jealous minions, he rebelled and set himself to war against God through His children. That would be you and me.<br />
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Through the ages, how easily has he been able to present us with newer variations of the first, bright and shiny "apple" -- to worship alternate gods... in spite of the vacuous emptiness these offer! He has succeeded in fostering a culture where we reject our true image, His image - indeed, destroy His image in humanity. <br />
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Even more, he has succeeded in fostering a kind of culture where all this is boldly proclaimed, revered... not only as good, but IN HIS NAME!<br />
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Satan is laughing. And a multitude are crying.<br />
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Groggy but fresh off the long March for Life bus trip with our two oldest boys (arrival at 2:30 a.m. this morning!), where we found ourselves amidst a great sea of hope comprised of over a half-million standing for life, I was perhaps most struck by the cheering match that took place with "Keep Abortion Legal" protesters who greeted us at the Supreme Court steps.<br />
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Brothers and sisters, we've got to wake up and recognize that our enemy is not any other man or woman. It's not with Obama. Certainly, not the men and women involved with abortion. It's not even abortion doctors. No, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Eph. 6:12 <br />
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To think anything other is to be deceived. It's to be marginalized in this great war. It is a war. We need to awaken to that reality and understand it's nature and terms. We are at war. With real casualties, not only temporal and human, but eternal. <br />
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We need to understand our greatest weapon. From the earliest of days up till present, the love of God in Jesus Christ has been punctuated by a love so great... so alive in Him... that it entails a willingness, even an eagerness, to die... AT THE HANDS OF and FOR those God desires to know Him! <br />
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I want to be there. I need to be there. Only by His grace, we need to be there. <br />
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This generation is dying to know such a complete, holy, pure and true love that surpasses understanding. A love radiating His glory. A love that can never die, but shines with the stars -- with the light of Christ -- through endless ages.<br />
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Lord Jesus, please grant us that kind of total, holy desire. Baptize us in your very presence with that kind of love - in You who ARE LOVE. Let your holy church arise in us! Here we are Lord. Fiat! Be it done unto us, in us, with us, through us... according to You! Let Your Kingdom come!<br /><br /><i style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Greg Schlueter is Secretariat Leader for Evangelization and Parish Life for the Catholic Diocese of Toledo. He and his wife, Stephanie, are parents to seven children (one in heaven) and also lead Image Trinity, a Catholic family movement committed to engaging families in the great adventure of discovering our identity and living IT - we Image the Trinity. (Get IT?) </i>Greg Schlueterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698163837797315194noreply@blogger.com