The Storm

in the midst of a Storm - a painful

adventure which challenges me this 

way and that - especially when the 

outcome is protracted and nebulous 

while feeling powerless to confidently

steer my half-sunken vessel into any 

of the meager options as anxious 

imaginations and vain dreads flash-

flood my battered beliefs as my

repetitive cries for relief and favorable 

resolution seem to be disregarded 

once again by the Master of my 

beleaguered ship as I find myself

fruitlessly striving for Peace by Trusting 

that - whatever the outcome and however

prolonged and violent the Storm -

both within and without - He WILL 

Calm the Sea...eventually...but in the 

meantime as the winds gust and the 

rain hammers down and the rolling 

waves lash dangerously high then 

brutally low...I wait... and wait... for 

an answer but only Silence responds 

the loudest to my desperate supplications 

and I am compelled to ask...Will I

Trust... the One who Trusted while bearing 

the Burden of Unending Guilt while 

Himself being Infinitely Innocent?...

the One Lone Light in a World Darkened 

by Sin?...the One whose Intentional 

Submission Bore the Rebellion of the 

Masses? reluctantly and without surprise                          

I once again conclude that my meager

efforts will never be sufficient to reap a 

Harvest of Kingdom-Fruit to fill my now 

depleted storeroom...that it can ONLY be 

by HIS Power / Grace - not by MY Gerbil-

Wheel Striving - that will enable me to...

- Confidently Surrender to His Purposeful  

Allowances and the Mysterious Designs 

of this Adversity that it is the Best Way 

for Him to Achieve His Good Ends in me 

even though veiled from sight and arduous 

to endure..

- Receive the Balm of Peace and let it

Soothe my fierce reactions and Quiet 

my questioning heart

- Join my hidden affliction to the Public 

Degradation of His Crucifixion - 

a Spectacle of Divine Intervention 

undergone for no other reason than 

His Extravagant Mercy / Love for me 

despite all my habitual self-preoccupation 

and pitiful whining - and thus sow 

Meaning into my anguish so that I

Become More Like Him and His 

Kingdom-Grace is bestowed upon 

those for whom I make this Storm a 

Sacrificial Offering as I in Trust keep 

my eyes fixed on the Master of Mercy 

and Rely on the Embrace of His Spirit 

to bring about whatever Good He 

Desires as well as His Peaceful Calm 

to the Storm within and - in His Perfect 

Timing - without 

Reflection / Discussion:

-What is your experience of being in a Storm?

-What lessons did you learn?

-How did the Lord use it in your life?

-How do faith and feelings differ . intermingle in a Storm?

-Why is Grace the key to unlocking the mystery of suffering?

-What does "Redemptive Suffering" mean?

-How can you be a support for someone you love who is going 

  through a Storm?

The Heavy Burden

Jesus...my cross feels very heavy....

too heavy for me to carry today..

it's not always like this but now it

is...the loss of my dream of 'married 

love in the Lord'....of raising children 

who love and serve you...all gone 

through a sorrowful marriage and 

divorce...a lot of anguish and pain 

that is very difficult to carry...and yet 

still called to love...I wish the sorrow 

were over and a distant memory...

what do you think about all this..

my family...marriage and divorce..

my cross?

YOUR SUFFERING IS NOT IN 

VAIN WHEN JOINED TO MINE...

IT IS ONLY WITH THE STRENGTH 

OF MY SPIRIT THAT YOU CAN 

CARRY YOUR CROSS... ONLY BY 

GRACE IS IT POSSIBLE TO CARRY 

YOUR BURDEN AND HAVE IT BEAR 

FRUIT WHICH YOU MAY PERHAPS 

NOT SEE IN YOUR LIFETIME BUT

BY FAITH AND HOPE LINKED TO 

MY FRUITFUL PASSION...DEATH 

AND RESURRECTION YOU ATTAIN 

THE GOOD YOU SO DESIRE...IT IS 

GOOD THAT YOU KNOW YOUR 

WEAKNESS AND FEEL THE 

UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF YOUR 

CROSS FOR IT IS ONLY BY MY 

POWER THAT YOUR BURDEN 

CAN BECOME LIGHT...IT IS ONLY

BY THE INFINITE POWER OF MY 

SPIRIT THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR 

YOU TO CARRY YOUR CROSS AND

HAVE IT BEAR FRUIT....IT IS ONLY 

BY MY SPIRIT OF LOVE THAT YOUR 

CROSS OF SORROW BECOMES YOUR 

CROSS OF LOVE AND THE  PEACE 

AND JOY OF MY RESURRECTION 

CAN REST UPON YOU,.SO KNOW 

THAT EACH DAY MY GRACE IS 

AVAILABLE TO YOU TO CARRY 

YOUR BURDEN WITH ME UP 

CALVARY'S HILL WITH A

STRENGTH BEYOND YOUR 

OWN AND A JOY AND PEACE 

WHICH IS BEYOND YOUR 

NATURE AS YOU TRUST IN 

MY LOVE FOR YOU AND YOUR 

FAMILY AND HOPE IN MY 

FAITHFULNESS AND DEPEND 

ON MY SPIRIT FOR ALL YOUR

NEEDS....SO ..ONE DAY AT A TIME..

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE 

ALL YOU NEED...WHATEVER IT IS..

IT SHALL BE YOURS....FOR MY 

GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU 

AND MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT 

IN YOUR WEAKNESS...YOU ARE 

NOT ALONE..

Lord Jesus...thank you for your Word

of encouragement....I trust in you...give 

me your Grace today to carry this cross...

to trust in your plan of salvation for my 

family...strength....peace and joy even 

in the midst of the burden....to remember 

You are with me.  to count on Your Spirit 

for all I need...to keep my eyes on You 

not me or my cross... Jesus...I trust in You

The Adventure

LISTEN TO MY WORD FOR YOU...

GRACE IS NEEDED TO ACT ON THE

DIRECTION GIVEN...COURAGE / BOLDNESS 

TO STEP OUT AND R I S K WHEN FEELINGS 

OF FEAR / DOUBT MAY STILL THEATEN AND 

THE TEMPTATION TO REMAIN SILENT IS 

STRONG...SO ALSO ASK FOR GRACE TO LOVE

THE OTHER WITH MY LOVE BECAUSE PERFECT 

LOVE DRIVES OUT FEAR - IF YOU DESIRE THIS TO 

BECOME A LIFESTYLE IT HAS TO BE HABITUAL 

AND THUS 'ONE DAY AT A TIME' IS THE BEST

WAY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AND THUS TODAY

CAN BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY REMEMBERING

THAT MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU 

FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS...

YOU CAN START WITH OTHER BELIEVERS....

THEN STRANGERS...REMEMBERING THAT MANY 

WILL ACCEPT YOUR SINCERE OFFER TO PRAY 

FOR A NEED THEY HAVE.,.MANY WILL NOT

BUT A SIMPLE SMILE AND 'HAVE A BLESSED 

DAY' WILL SUFFICE FOR NOW...REMEBERING 

THAT FOR NONES THEIR GREATEST NEED IS 

TO RECEIVE THE GIFT OF SALVATION BY 

ACCEPTING JESUS INTO THEIR HEART AND 

THAT CAN START BY YOUR LOVING THEM 

WITH HIS LOVE   THUS..AT THE END OF THE

DAY...."WALKING IN THE SPIRIT" IS A LEARNING 

PROCESS AND AN ADVENTURE....IT IS TAILORED 

TO YOUBY THE SPIRIT....WHO KNOWS YOU 

INTIMATELY WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTHS  AND 

WEAKNESSES...EVEN YOUR DOUBTS AND FEARS...

AND WANTS TO FORM YOU INTO AN EFFECTIVE 

DISCIPLE ..OR PUT ANOTHER WAY ....AN EFFECTIVE 

LOVER OF AND FOR JESUS....SO START EACH 

"TODAY" ASKING FOR THE GRACES YOU NEED 

TO MAKE THIS DAY ALL ABOUT 'THEE NOT ME'...

TEACH ME ANOTHER LESSON ON HOW TO 

WALK IN THE SPIRIT...ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT 

TO "MOVE ME / LEAD ME / SHOW ME " WHO 

YOU WANT ME TO LOVE TODAY AND THE 

BOLDNESS TO DO SO...GIVE ME THE DESIRE 

TO SERVE / PARTICIPATE IN YOUR MISSION 

TODAY ..TO LET YOU USE ME TO EXTEND YOUR

LOVE TO THE ONE WHOSE HEART YOU ARE

DESIREROUS TO TOUCH TODAY... GIVE ME YOUR

"PERFECT LOVE" FOR THIS ONE YOU PLACE

BEFORE ME NOW AS WHEN JESUS ENGAGED 

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL...AND KNOW TOO 

THAT THERE IS MORE FOR YOU....SO THEN... 

ASK .SEEK... KNOCK...AND SO BE BLESSED...

The Jesus Prayers

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

have Mercy on me, a sinner.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Keep me in Your Presence. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Set my mind on You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Set my heart on You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Make me One with You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

I Believe in You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

I Adore You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

I Hope in You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

I Love You. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God 

I Trust in You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

I need You..

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God 

I depend on You.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Thank You for Your Love. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Thank you for Choosing me.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Thank you for your Mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

Thank you for your Grace. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Be my Lord and Savior.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Be First in my life. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Be my Peace.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Be my Joy.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Fill me with Your Spirit.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Help me to Live in Awe of you

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Help me To Love with Your Love. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

I am Yours.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, 

Make my life always be about Thee not me.

Reflection / Discussion:

-The Jesus Prayer is meant to provide a simple

 way to praise / worship / Be in His Presence

 wherever you are and whatever you're doing.

-Which prayer touched your heart? Why?

-How can you make these prayers part of you daily life?

-Do you have any prayers you want to add to the list? Just do it!

-Simply Speak His Name in Lore.

The Gazes

I remember every encounter...each 

one a stepping stone leading to his 

final resting place in my heart...each

memory highlighted by unfamiliar 

feelings like when.. I couldn't believe

my eyes...in the midst of all he was

suffering...all that pain...every

miniscule movement a torture...

every breath brought no relief but 

simply a prophetic sign of more to 

come...even his eyesight was obscured

half-blinded by blood's steady stream 

from its thorny creche - a mocking 

symbol of his true identity and still...

with all that...he found me imbedded 

in the jeering sometimes simply curious 

crowd fascinated by the death spectacle 

of the King of the Jews..it was as if he 

had searched me out like I was a long

lost sheep hiding amongst a pack of 

howling wolves...it brought to mind the 

first time our eyes met months before...i

t was in another crowd but this time a 

friendly one...everyone was hungry not 

only for food to fill our stomachs  but for

his words which mysteriously fed our

empty hearts way out in the empty 

countryside...he was teaching things 

we never heard before when suddenly 

he stropped to break for food though 

there were merely scraps which somehow 

he miraculously multiplied and had

baskets and baskets left over...amazed 

yet confused I got up to leave but his 

gaze moved me to stay to find some 

kind of answer to even one of the 

questions swirling in my mesmerized 

mind....who is this man? how can he 

do that? his words are touching places 

in my heart that I didn't know existed...

everyone had an opinion -some said this..

others that...I only knew I had to keep 

searching for something more that I didn't 

have right now.....then there was another

crowd this time near Passover...but this

one was cheering him as he rode a colt 

into Jerusalem...waving palms thinking 

he was the Messiah even though he didn't 

claim to be a warrior king...again the gaze..

very strange...like he had expected that 

I would be there - a familiar face even 

though as yet we had never spoken to one 

another...now...this...horrific spectacle...

not what I ever expected for such a gentle 

miraculous person...totally innocent of 

their bogus charges and now planted 

between murderers and yet... even in all

his pain he found me...again that haunting 

gaze .but this time as I took steps toward 

him he cried out as he Finished his

Sacrificial Offering amidst his Mother's

mournful goodbye as thunder rolled and 

lightning cracked and darkness covered 

the mount and apparently the Temple's 

Curtain was Completely Torn as death

hushed the staring crowd left wondering 

if there could possibly be any more drama 

to what they just witnessed.....now...days 

later... on the road to Emmaus...unrecognized..

he turned up as a fascinating stranger totally

transforming Sacred Texts into pearls of \

Revelation about the Resurrected Christ 

till at fireside he gazed at me again and 

with a smile offered me the broken bread

with his nail-scared hand and in a Final 

Encounter bade me to join him in that 

Sacred Feast...now - even though he 

vanished -I know He is Alive ..He un-

veiled the eyes of my heart...then I knew

who He was and who I am in Him...He 

is my Lord and Savior and I am His forever...

reborn by his Spirit...on mission to witness 

for His Kingdom to a world broken by sin.... 

hungry for healing and the Bread of Life...

so...what about you? are you hungry for More?...

Ask...Seek...Knock...and it shall be yours...

Reflection / Discussion:

-Ask Jesus to show you times in the past when

  He has sought you out. What was happening then?

  What was your response?

-Do you want More in your life?

-By reading this poem, is He seeking you now? Why / not?

-Have you asked Him to be your personal Lord / Savior?

-If not...what is holding you back?

- Are you asking...seeking...knocking...for More?

-What does it mean to "be His Forever"?

-What does it mean to be "reborn by His Spirit'?

-Do you have a "mission in life"?

-Are you 'hungry for healing'?

-What is the "Bread of Life"?

-He is smiling at you now, how's that make you feel? 

.that same gaze

only this time it was followed

with a smile...and it was then

I know I was reborn...never

more to forget that gaze even

when it would be my turn 

on that cross because of him...

The Difficult Talk

Father...I don't want to have this talk...

WHY IS THAT?

I know you already know why so why don't You just tell me? 

BECAUSE YOU NEED TO OWN UP TO IT

YOURSELF FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT...SO

SPIT IT OUT...YOU CAN DO IT...I'M GIVING

YOU THE GRACE...BUT AHHH...FOR GRACE

TO WORK IT HAS TO BE FREELY RECEIVED...

YOU KNOW...THAT OLD "FREE WILL" THING...

SO...NOW WHAT?...WHY DON'T YOU COME 

BACK WHEN YOU'RE READY?...

No...I'm sorry for being such a little so and so...

Ok...I'm angry and frustrated at Jim...it's so 

irritating that he never seems to change...he's 

always the same...never really wants to share

anything personal or go beyond the superficial...

he hardly ever shows appreciation and is so 

self-absorbed...it's so irritating...

SO WHAT NOW?

what do you mean?

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO ABOUT 

ALL THIS?

I don't know....how about changing him?

SO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE AWAY HIS FREE

WILL SO YOU WON'T FEEL SO IRRITATED? 

O Father...You are too much!...

HOW'S ABOUT YOU ASKING FOR THE GRACE 

TO LOVE HIM WHERE HE'S AT AND PRAY FOR

HIM TO COME CLOSER TO ME?  CHANGE IS 

DIFFICULT FOR HUMANS....INCLUDING YOU...

JIM HAS HIS OWN ISSUES AS DO YOU...NOW 

YOU SEE WHAT I DEAL WITH EVERYDAY

WITH EVERYONE...THINGS CAN CHANGE FOR

EACH PERSON WHEN THEY ADMIT THEIR 

WEAKNESS AND ACTUALLY WANT TO  CHANGE

BUT THAT IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THEIR

FALLEN NATURE AND IS DIFFERENT FOR 

EACH PERSON...SO...WHAT ABOUT YOU?

DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE?...

Well...I'd rather see Jim change...

SO YOU WON'T FEEL SO IRRITATED AND 

SORRY FOR YOURSELF? BETTER FOR 

YOU...LESS OF A HASSLE...IS THAT IT? 

Well...to be honest...yes...

HOW'S THAT SOUND TO YOU?

Pretty self-centered.

IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?

No.....

SO NOW WHAT?

Help me Father...to love Jim where he's at...

serve him where he's at...be patient...persevere..

WALK IN HIS SHOES...YOU HAVE NOT DEALT

WITH THE THINGS HE HAS AND IS DEALING

WITH...LIVED IN HIS CIRCUMSTANCES...PRAY

FOR WISDOM FOR HOW YOU CAN ENCOURAGE

HIM...LOVE HIM...WHAT WAS IT THAT YOU 

WERE TALKING ABOUT AT YOIUR MEETING

THE OTHER NIGHT?

Accompaniment...

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

Not a coincidence was it?

NO...WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT 

FOR JIM?

Maybe I should be more active in seeking You for 

what I need to accompany him? 

LIKE WHAT?

Like everything...everything we've been talking about...

but please...forgive me for my self-pitying and whining

and not for my heart to change and what Your Will is 

for Jim and how I can encourage and accompany him on

his journey...

I KNOW IT GETS DIFFICULT AND FRUSTRATING AT

TIMES...MAYBE A LOT OF TIMES...BUT THERE IS 

GRACE FOR WHATEVER YOU NEED...WHETHER IT'S 

WISDOM..PATIENCE...PERSEVERENCE...LOVE...GRACE

NOT TO JUDGE OTHERS BUT TO ACCEPT THEM WHERE 

THEY'RE AT...FOR A CHANGE OF HEART...I AM READY

TO GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED BUT YOU 

MUST ASK AND RECEIVE...I DO NOT FORCE YOU 

OR ANYONE ELSE TO SERVE...

Sounds pretty complicated

YES...BUT YOU CAN HANDLE IT...IT IS GOOD FOR YOU

TO ADMIT YOUR STRUGGLES...MANY STRUGGLE

UNTIL THEY ARE WORN DOWN AND NEEDLESSLY

PAY THE PRICE.. MANY MORE REFUSE AND GO THEIR 

OWN WAY...AND WE KNOW WHERE THAT LEADS TO...

SO...BE AT PEACE AND ASK...SEEK...KNOCK...THERE IS

GRACE TO ACCOMPANY...IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO...

AND GRACE TO DO THAT AS WELL...

Thank You Father for listening to me. I need it all starting

right now...forgive me for my sins and give me all the 

Graces I need to serve Jim in the way he needs and especially 

Mercy for me and Jim as well

Reflection / Discussion:

- Why do we need to 'own up to our weaknesses'?

- What is your experience in struggling with the weaknesses of others?

- How does 'free will / grace' work in relationships / in your life?

- Why was it difficult to have this talk with the Father?

- What does 'accompaniment' mean?

- How can you have this kind of a 'talk' with the Father?

- Do you think it's possible? Why . not?

- How does this talk help you in your relationships?

The Ingenious Decption

taking offense at objective facts -                

even when they are presented simply...              

clearly...respectfully with no other                                                              

intention than love of the other...                       

desiring the healing good of self-

acceptance as Created by their                  

Heavenly Father - is an ingenious                

deception as if you are disrespecting                

the receiver by 'hatefully' contradicting 

their cherished yet totally subjective                   

cornerstone of their confused identity 

system nonsensically and sadly 

constructed upon ever so shifting 

sands of disoriented feelings lived 

out daily in emotional decision-making 

the fruit of which has logically led to 

harvests of personal misery while 

clinging to delusional distortions of 

reality fiercely asserted yet erupting 

in endless hours of insecurity and 

eternal anxious imaginations of self-

preoccupation and yet now here you 

are having the audacity to question 

their otherwise affirmed identification

hoping they may see the light of reality 

through the fog of deception and help 

lead them to begin a new journey to joy /

peace by realizing that their true / rock-

solid identity is a Beloved Child of God 

Made in His Image and Likeness and by

Grace a Beloved Disciple of Jesus Filled 

as a Temple of the Holy Spirit and from 

Conception Created with God-given DNA 

all of which opens the door of meaning /

purpose in this life and Eternal Joy in 

the next...but predictably...you are  accused

of having the unmitigated gall to suggest 

they read an article which presents logical 

and robust scientific arguments contradicting 

their subjective feelings of self-identity 

which though humanly / biologically 

impossible to change are aided and abetted 

by a life-sentence of prescription drugs and 

proven by superficial external indicators 

and vehemently purported by preferred 

pronouns and last-but-not-least radically 

ratified by irreversible mutilating medical 

procedures - all distorted attempts of so-called

'gender affirming care' - carried out by 

the now defunct 'do no harm' Medical 

Practitioners - which if not offered - are 

considered disrespectful / reprehensible 

leading supposedly to suicide and therefore

condemned vociferously and so you 

should stop with the offensive suggestion

that they consider an alternative solution 

of Therapy as well as a Spiritual Awakening 

which is so contrary to their now entrenched 

lifestyle and a 'carpet-bombing' to their 

indoctrinated  identity infrastructure where 

true is false and false is true and the abnormal 

is normalized so often initiated at a vulnerable / 

insecure age by agenda-driven ideologues 

masquerading as empathetic Counsellors only 

interested in introducing / guiding gullible 

minors in to an 'exciting journey of self-discovery' 

yet hidden from their parents who in many 

instances will lose custody if are found to not 

support their child's transition who BTW 

is too young to buy tobacco or alcohol...vote...

get married...get a credit card...have a resume...

start a career....drive a car... get a mortgage...

be a marine...buy medication and yet can decide 

which of the plethora of genders they feel they 

are today and maybe change tomorrow only then to  

make life-long alterations to their bodies leading 

for many to a regret-filled / painful de-transition 

in the future...yet...you are the one accused of 

abuse by refusing to bow down to the Identity 

Idols by not endorsing their hallucination / 

self-mutilation / self-destructive fantasies...so..

stop with the 'love-talk' and professed concern 

for their 'true happiness and eternal welfare' 

because it is so 'hateful' to 'attack' these courageous 

children with so-called 'scientific data' which are 

so hurtful /embarrassing / having no place in their 

enlightened world of a new age / life-saving 

gender adventure in which you are not welcomed 

to have a voice nor place at the table since you are 

obviously a horrible / abusive bigot who spreads 

propaganda that only leads to despair and death...

so...off you go or we will call the thought-police 

to serve your - hopefully - never-ending sentence 

of public humiliation / isolation / cancelation...

and there you have it...all in all...an ingenious 

deception...and the demons love it...

Reflection / Discussion:

-Define True / False...Objective / Subjective...Real / Imaginary

-Is this description accurate or a fantasy?

-Why? What proof can you offer?

-What is happening in Canada...Great Britain...Netherlands about this subject?

-When / where / who started all this?

-What is the process of 'de-transition'? 

-Put faces / biographies on those de-transitioning.

-How does social media play an crucial role in all this?

-Why do you still have your children in government schools?

 

The Downsizing

This is your Official Notice - 

Like it or not...Believe it or not.- 

and you probably would rather 

not think about it this way but 

here it is anyway....you will be 

Downsizing your Primary Residence -

whatever that might be right now -

and it'll go something like this...

house...apartment...room...bed...

and finally.....Coffin / Urn - and

Nope...you won't need all those 

expensive things you're so proud of...

cars...boats...vacation home...

fancy fashions...won't need those 

golf clubs...uh uha..no room for 

all those trophies you spent your

life striving after...maybe you'll be 

in a few fading pictures in someone's 

photo album whenever it's taken out 

of it's dusty closet space and get a 

few comments - hopefully pleasant 

ones -  but you won't notice anyway - 

you'll be in your tiny resting place...

oblivious....and Oh BTW....it could 

go from house to urn like...BOOM!! 

Yes it could..- not quite the Downsizing 

you had in mind eh? I'd say 99.9% of 

us don't think this way but nevertheless 

it actually is happening now   someplace

somehow with someone but then   we're 

ALL in one stage or another of Downsizing

to our Final Tiny Resting Place aren't we?...

Yep...Downsizing...So.. Question...You 

Ready for that? Because It's Coming...

maybe sooner than you think.....So...let's 

talk about 'Then what?" -  Realities that 

are Crucial to Address Now  - before it's 

too late - what's left of your physical body 

will be in your Final Tiny Resting Place 

BUT your Soul - that which makes you...

YOU...will - FOREVER - be either in 

the Bliss of Heaven or the Fires of Hell -

Everything in THIS life is temporary..

fleeting...passing...the NEXT Life is 

Eternal...and HOW you live in this life 

will determine WHERE you live in the 

next...Who decides that?...the Judge...

Jesus...the One Offered by the Father to 

take your sins upon Himself - Purely

out of His Personal Love for you and

pay their Just Punishment by His Death 

on the Cross  but then Rose to New Life 

and Offers that Eternal Gift to you if 

ONLY you Choose to Repent and Follow 

Him in THIS life...All the Injustices of 

this life will be Reconciled in the Next...

There will be Justice for ALL...But...

NOW is the time for Mercy / Forgiveness 

while you still have the Opportunity to 

Ask and Receive...so...Question....

ARE YOU READY TO BE JUDGED?

you can not believe any of this and 

go to hell first class...OR you can ..

Repent for your sins...Ask Forgiveness  - 

Give them to Jesus and end up in Heaven...

so What's it going to be?...so...while keeping 

Downsizing in mind and realizing that 

'not to choose is actually choosing'...Ask 

yourself...Am I ready to meet Him face 

to Face? Because then it will be either 

Heaven or Hell...it is THAT STARK...

Light or Darkness... Joy or Pain...Love 

or Hate...Jesus or Satan...Don't Wait to 

Decide because...it might be BOOM!....so

NOW IS THE TIME OF SALVATION... 

Reflection / Discussion:

- How does John 3: 16-18 relate to this poem?

- Describe what 'Downsizing' means in this poem?

- Describe your feelings after you've read this poem?

- What have you been striving after in life?

- Where does Jesus fit in?

- What stage are you in?

- Why is 'not choosing actually choosing'?

- What does it mean to Choose Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

- How should you nourish this Relationship each day?

- A Simple Prayer of Commitment: 'Lord Jesus, Thank you for the Gift of Salvation...I ask your 

  Forgiveness for all my sins and I ask you to be my Personal Lord and Savior. Help me to Follow

  you Faithfully by the Power of your Holy Spirit. I Love you and desire to be with you Forever'

 

The Demonic Sliding Scale Strategy

OK...let's review the Battle Plan for

all you who are being assigned  new 

targets after a well-deserved break... 

most of you were successful in guiding

your previous assignment to their fiery 

destination...others - a relatively small 

percentage - not so much but a valiant 

effort nonetheless....circumstances keep 

changing so we'll begin by reviewing 

some basic facts on the human's nature as 

well as our assessment of their present day 

Culture through which your targets must 

navigate and hopefully 'crash and burn' as 

the humans say...first of all...you'll recall 

the human's fallen nature with all those 

delicious characteristics at our disposal of 

which you must take full advantage if you 

are to succeed in your diabolical mission - 

officially termed "Concupiscence" which 

simply means a proclivity to sin from 

disordered emotions as well as a darkened 

intellect and hence easily deceived as well 

aa a weakened will prone to being manipulated 

by said feelings - a 'pre-packaged meal' that 

simply needs to be 'heated up' to consume 

especially if your target becomes a Dedicated 

Follower of the Enemy...the next aspect is their 

Culture / World which is created by the elite 

fallen humans who are - for the most part -

under our control and we can use to create toxic 

environments detrimental to the Enemy's goals - 

eg education...media...entertainment...politics...

where we can literally pressure / harass / inculcate / 

force our values on top of the Enemy's Values... so..

that leads us to today's topic what I call our 

'Sliding Scale Strategy' for waging  Spiritual War 

against the Created Humans of our - unfortunately- 

Superior Foe...ready? it goes like this...the farther 

the target is from the Enemy...the less we have to 

do to gain a dark victory...but on the other hand...

the closer they are to the Enemy the more intense 

and devious must be our efforts - simply meaning 

eg. if the target has virtually no interest in the Enemy

or is seeped in habitual sin - in other words 'enslaved' - 

your main concern is simply 'maintenance'- ie. keeping 

them preoccupied / obsessed with themselves and their 

proclivities - especially the 'deadly ones' - as well as 

taking precautions to keep the Enemy's devotees away 

from the target - here Culture has a vital role to play..

more about that in a bit...then there's the class of 

semi-devotees who are somewhat / now and then / 

very-distracted-by-the-World Church attendees 

who have nothing really life-changing going on - 

the Enemy calls them the 'lukewarm' - which BTW 

is a pretty good description - for these targets there's 

a little more work involved to continually make sure 

they don't go deeper into things like 'repentance' /

'commitment' / 'daily prayer life' / 'personal relationship'...

for them I'd say keep distracting and deceiving eg. 

getting them to call 'good evil and evil good' or what 

is 'true false and false true'....really,,, if you can't get 

them 'cold' then just keep them 'warm' and not get 'hot'....

so put a stop to anything the Enemy tries to do to get 

them to whole-heartedly follow Him like 'resurrecting' -

pardon the pun - no offense - past wounds / sinful habits 

etc as well as stirring-up their involvement in Cultural 

matters which I will elaborate in a minute....and lastly 

there's the 'Devoted Disciples'... ones who have resolutely 

taken up their Cross to Emulate the Enemy...now those 

you really have to harass everyday in everyway you 

can think of...whatever it takes to get them distracted 

and hunkered down in their 'family foxholes' - so use 

the Culture to go after them - and here I will elaborate - 

where wombs are dangerous...darkness masquerades 

as light...schools promote preposterous pronoun propaganda 

for kiddies desperate for affirmation...a Culture where

power controls speech / behavior...lovely innocence is

Groomed and sensuality is the epitome of happiness - 

and then...if we can Terrorize the Enemy's Leaders 

into betrayal by submission - sometimes by simply 

keeping silent - we win... for as you know fear is 

our go-to weapon so therefore seek to restrict their 

influence to their Church Buildings and out of the 

Culture...fear...fear...fear...- basically Persecution or 

as they now say 'Being Cancelled' that'll give us the 

cover we need....remember...you can lose a battle but 

wining the war is the key - that's your goal: Eternal Fire!...

and, lastly, a good rule of thumb is the 'more me than 

Thee' principle...get them to daily concentrate on their 

own needs / worldly goals like 'success'...'happiness'...

'fulfillment'...or just plain ol' problems...but whatever 

the case...always make it 'me...me...me... and not Thee...

Thee...Thee'...ie the Enemy....that's always a great 'open 

door' to go down the 'rabbit hole' of self and can lead to 

a plethora of  possibilities. - 'Temptations' as the Enemy 

calls them but 'Opportunities' for us - actually the same 

ones we use for the 'lukewarm' but with a lot more 'Intense 

Imagination'...remember though...you have their files to 

research their weaknesses and histories so...keep poking 

them and don't let up especially when they get discouraged

because then it's either...persevere or give up - and we 

know what WE want! then lastly - and this applies to 

everyone on the Scale - constantly make them believe 

that they 'have a lot of time left' so they're in no rush 

to change because then...Surprise!!...Time's up!! Got ya!!

so...there you have it...the 'Sliding Scale Strategy'...not 

perfect but it works...a lot...but again...be Careful...the 

Enemy is Infinitely Stronger / more Powerful /Smarter / 

and knows the humans better than we do and - most of all -.

Loves them - especially Communing with them daily - so 

therefore never gives up offering that 'Grace' stuff...but...

still...we've got a lot going for us...so...come up and receive 

your new assignments then...GO GET'M!!

Reflection / Discussion:

-Describe in your own words the 'Sliding Scale Strategy'.

-What is the 'Human Condition'?

-Where do you fit into the 'Sliding Scale'?

-How does one become a 'resolute' follower of Jesus?

-What are you doing to grow in your relationship to Jesus?

-How are you reaching out to others on the 'Sliding Scale'?

-What changes is the Spirit leading you to make in your Spiritual Life?

The Spiritual War

the stakes couldn't be higher for the 

Spiritual War in which we are 

automatically involved merely by 

our human existence...if you win...

it's heaven - but .if you lose...it's hell...

both are forever...no turning back no 

second chances...when you die - and 

you WILL die and BTW relatively soon..

'you do not know the day nor the hour'...

you will be Judged by Jesus on how you 

have chosen to live your life...it is as 

Sacred Scripture says in Sirach 15:15-17 

"If you choose, you can keep the 

commandments, and to act faithfully is 

a matter of your own choice. He has placed 

before you fire and water, stretch out your 

hand for whichever you choose. Before 

each person are life and death, and whichever 

one chooses will be given them." simply

speaking, how you choose to live NOW in 

this life is the Warfare you are involved in -.

but Satan - your Enemy - the liar / deceiver /

murderer- is as they say 'out to get you' and 

is working full-time to destroy your life and                      

drag you to hell...sound scary?...well...that's

because it is... so just to be clear...if you don't 

believe you are in a Spiritual War - you're losing - \'

no God?...losing...no devil?...losing...no heaven?

losing...no hell?...losing...everyone goes to 

heaven?...losing...you're a 'good person' / 'nice' but 

have your own 'truth'?...losing...no one's going 

to tell you what to do or not do... thankyou? 

losing big time....so...are you winning or losing?...

if you think you're wining however...a word of 

caution...do not be overconfident...your Enemy 

doesn't give up...you can still fall away...it's not 

'once saved always saved'...remember...it IS a War..

humanity was originally Created in Union with

the Father but was then deceived by the Evil One and 

Chose to seek their own way of life - not the Father's 

Way - to decide for themselves right and wrong / good 

and evil...and as a consequence of their Original Sin

humans were thence oriented to evil by having

disordered desires - everything centered around 

"me...me...me"...a darkened intellect subject to 

deceptions and a weakened will easily swayed  by 

those same fickle feelings all the while living in a 

rebellious world / culture hostile to the things of 

God and dominated by Satan's deceptions / values 

tempting clueless humans into destructive habits 

of deadly sins - pride...envy...lust...greed...anger...

gluttony...sloth - all leading into pits of darkness... 

seems pretty formidable doesn't it?...that's because 

it is...however....on the side of Light / Life is 

GRACE...Jesus is LORD / SAVIOR...it is Jesus 

vs Satan - BUT. they are not equal...Jesus is God,,,

Satan is a creature - more powerful than humans

but a creature nevertheless and Jesus  by His 

Death and Resurrection has already conquered 

sin / death / Satan and has provided The Way to 

your Victory - Eternal Life / Joy / Peace / Love - 

but ONLY by your choice can you share in it...

Now....If you think you haven't chosen yet you 

are losing because 'not to choose is actually a 

choice'...but then you can simply choose to start 

winning - Repent...turn away from your sin...and 

Believe -.Live - the Gospel...Choose to follow 

Jesus as your Lord and Savior...ask to be.be filled 

with the Power of His Holy Spirit to start living a 

dedicated life of prayer and making His Word 

part of your daily life...start 'putting to death the 

deeds of the flesh'...Love Jesus above all...Carry 

your Cross by laying down your life in service to 

others.. find supportive relationships with fellow 

believers....resist temptations and the lies of the Evil 

One...Be an Intentional Disciple...Remember...

Before you is fire and water...Light or Darkness...

Life or Death...Choose NOW - before it is too late...

Reflection / Discussion:

-What is the Spiritual War?

-Where in you personal life / culture do you see the Choice?

-Start making the necessary changes in your life to support your Choice.

-Is it being talked about? Why / not?

-Find the support you need from others who have chosen to 

 follows the Lord even if it means changing parishes.

-Be disciplined in a daily prayer time / Scripture reading and

 a healthy Sacramental Life.

-Sample Commitment Prayer: "Jesus, please forgive me for not choosing you, for all the sins I 

 have committed, I give my life to you. I Choose to follow you as My Lord and Savior. Pour

 out your Holy Spirit upon me to help me follow you faithfully day by day. Thank you for 

 your Love and Mercy. I Love you and give my whole life to you:. 

-

 

The Regrets Dialogue

 

Lord Jesus.....I can't seem to shake these regrets...

they keep bothering me...I feel so bad about them...

I try not to think about them but they just  keep popping

up sometimes out of the blue...I've asked you for 

forgiveness but I can't forgive myself?  Why am I so 

adamant @ beating myself up every time I think them? 

what's up with that?

YOU TELL ME...

.
Well,.. I think it's because I did all those things...or in this case, I DIDN'T do what 

I SHOULD HAVE done so I SHOULD be the one who pays the price.

and, even though I can think of reasons why I SHOULD forgive myself,

I can't because that'd be like giving myself a pass and minimizing the harm

I did even though I wasn't aware of it at the time...

GOT A LOT OF SHOULDS THERE....BUT I AGREE...

SOMBODY HAS TO PAY...

right....but it's not working...why is that?

YOU TELL ME

this is so frustrating...why don't you just change me and fix it all 

so I don't have to deal with this anymore?..

IT DOESNT WORK THAT WAY...I DIDN'T 
CREATE YOU FOR THINGS TO BE DONE LIKE THAT...I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH 

what do you mean?

LOVE DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY OTHERWISE IT'S NOT LOVE..

.

please explain...

I CREATED YOU WITH YOUR OWN "SPACE" IF YOU WILL, AND I 

RESPECT THAT...I DONT "INVADE" ANYONE'S SPACE...YOU ARE A FREE PERSON 

AND I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU SO I SIMPLY "OFFER" 

YOU ALTERNATIVES FOR YOU TO ACCEPT OR NOT..

.

even if what I choose is bad for me?

YES..

.
That doesn't seem fair...

WHATS NOT FAIR ABOUT IT?

well....I might be hurting myself and others...

AND? .

you know....why not just stop me?

I JUST TOLD YOU WHY..

.

but what about all the consequences of my sins?...

and not just for me but for those I sinned against?

I KNOW...BUT THERE'S EVEN MORE TO IT THAN YOU REALIZE..

.

hmmm...you know...something I have to say...you get a lot of blame for

all the bad stuff...I mean sins...that people do...like it's YOUR fault.

because YOU didn't stop them.....

I UNDERSAND...PEOPLE ARE FREE TO THINK WHAT THEY WANT...

so...why don't you just 'set the record straight'?

THEY WOULDN'T ACCEPT IT ANYWAY AND, BESIDES, 

LIFE DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY...REMEMBER...YOU'RE FREE...

why are you doing all this...I mean communicating like this...like you're right here????

BECAUSE I AM....I'M ALWAYS "RIGHT HERE" EVEN  IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO BE...

THAT'S HOW I CREATED THINGS...AND, BESIDES, THIS IS NOT JUST FOR YOU.  

WHO DOESN'T HAVE REGRETS?...THIS IS FOR THEM AS WELL....

so...why me?

WHY NOT YOU?

well....I'm not the "holiest" guy out there.

..
NO...BUT YOU'LL DO JUST  FINE...YOU'RE OPEN TO WORKING THROUGH 

ALL THIS AND YOU HAVE THE ISSUES I WANT TO ADDRESS SINCE EVERYBODY

HAS THEM.....

you mean "regrets and performance" issues?

YOU GOT IT

that's tiring to even think about especially when I feel like 

I don't know how to resolve it all...

I KNOW...

.

it's like it's never ending...like a gerbil wheel...it keeps turning and turning 

going nowhere but just creates more and more
frustration / anxiety./ pain.. and never "reaches its goal"

AND WHATS THAT?

hmmm...perfection??

YOU MEAN "YOUR" IDEA OF PERFECTION....

well...what "i" want...

HMMM...SEEMS I'VE HEARD THAT SOMEWHERE BEFORE...

so you mean we're back to the start of this dialogue?

YOU TELL ME...ITS YOUR ISSUE...I'M HERE TO HELP YOU 

REACH WHATS BEST FOR YOU AND NOT JUST WHAT YOU WANT....

THOSE AREN'T ALWAYS THE SAME THING..SOMETIMES.WHAT'S BEST 

FOR YOU AND THOSE AROUND YOU IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT...

this is kind of frustrating...more circles.....

.
WHY'S THAT?

why don't you just give me what I want?

I AM

not really...

WHY?

because it's not really giving me the results I want.

..
WHAT'S THAT?

ahh...satisfaction...justice...peace...

IT CAN'T..

meaning...?

YOUR OFFENCES...WHETHER THEY'RE COMMISSION  / OMISSION

ARE NOT JUST THIS / THAT INSTANCE HERE AND NOW...WITH FINITE EFFECTS...

THEY'RE MORE THAN THAT.

..
what do you mean?

YOU'RE NOT JUST OFFENDING THE ONE IN FRONT OF YOU...

YOU'RE OFFENDING ME AS WELL...

.

how's that?

YOU ARE PART OF MY CREATION...WITH MY ORDER OF REALITY....

I'VE GIVEN YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER

FOR YOU TO FLOURISH IN LOVE...ITS NOT 'YOUR' ORDER THOUGH 

THAT IS WHAT YOU'D LIKE IT TO BE...
YOU WANT TO BE IN CHARGE...THAT'S WHAT STARTED ALL 

THIS IN THE BEGINNING..

..
you mean Adam and Eve and the Fall?

YES....

that whole pride / rebellion thing?

YOU GOT IT

oh...you mean all this is rooted in my pride?

YOU TELL ME..

It feels like it...

HOW?

well...like I'm the one who says what is and is not...what should be or not...

I'm the one in charge who decides not YOU...who should pay and how...

how to fix things or if it should be fixed at all....it feels like it's almost uncontrollable...

like it has a mind of its own...almost more than I can handle...

ALMOST???

OK....good point...so....now what?

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

I want this to be done...over...now...

SO...WHY ISNT IT?

because I "can't do it"...it's too much though I keep trying and failing...

you know...Performance...

YOU MEAN THE FINITE TRYING TO FIX THE INFINITE???

yeah...I suppose...

.
LIKE "you're" GOD NOT ME??

I guess..

WELL...THATS IMPOSSIBLE BUT YOU KEEP TRYING...

soo...how does this change?...that is assuming that's what I want 

to have happen.....which seems to "go against the grain^

THATS BECAUSE IT DOES...IT'S  A  BATTLE ALL THE WAY....

WHO'S IN CHARGE??  AND YOU GET WHAT YOU CHOOSE...

IT'S CALLED FREEDOM..

.
I don't like all this...why can't it just be like I want it to be?

YES...I KNOW....BUT YOUR WAY NEVER WORKS WELL...

WAS NEVER MEANT TO...THOUGH YOU...MEANING HUMANITY...

KEEP TRYING...NOW...THERE IS ANOTHER WAY....BUT YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE IT...

what's that?

YOU KNOW..

.
surrender....right??

BUT NOT 'your' WAY OF SURRENDERING 

you mean I don't get to determine the whole thing from beginning to end???
I'm joking...but not really.

..
THE WORD ARROGANCE COMES TO MIND 

so...pride again...right??

SO...WHATS THE OPPOSITE OF pride?

humility...

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

just. that YOU are the LORD and not me...and sin--my choosing to offend YOU 

by choosing to do what I want and not what I know YOU want or not want- 

means that because YOU ARE.THE LORD....ETERNAL...INFINITE...PERFECT
and I am not any of that....that therefore the punishment is of the same NATURE 

which I can't ever sufficiently accomplish no matter how hard I try...that gerbil wheel thing.

..
SO NOW WHAT?

so...I can't resolve this on my own

NEVER COULD....BUT I HAVE A SOLUTION...

What's that? 

HOW ABOUT I PAY THE PRICE??

why would you do that? you didn't do any of the sinning...

YOU TELL ME..

.
Love?...

ITS WHO I AM...I'VE MADE A WAY FOR YOU...

I HAVE ALREADY 'CARRIED YOIUR SORROWS'...

BORE YOUR PAIN...BY MY STRIPES I HAVE 

HEALED YOU...

Isaiah 53,,,so how do I go from here - my pride -  to there...humility? 

from my way to YOUR WAY???

GRACE....JUST ASK...REMEMBER...

FREEDOM...WHEN YOU ASK ACCCORDING TO MY WILL...YOU RECEIVE....

how do I know what's according to YOUR WILL???

MY WORD AND MY SPIRIT SHOW YOU...SOMETIMES IT 

TAKES A WHILE BECAUSE I HAVE MORE IN MIND FOR YOU 

THAN JUST ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS BUT ITS A PROCESS...
YOU'RE ON A JOURNEY....YOU MADE A DECISION TO FOLLOW ME AND 

YOU AND I ARE ON THAT JOURNEY TOGETHER...TO BECOME ONE..

ETERNALLY...INFINITELY...PERFECTLY...HOLY AS I AM HOLY...

ONE STEP AT A TIME...BY GRACE .- NOT BY STRIVING ON YOUR OWN...

TO METE OUT YOUR PUNISHMENT YOUR OWN WAY.WHICH

ONLY ADDS TO YOUR BURDEN....

so...now what?

HOW ABOUT I MAKE IT SIMPLE FOR YOU?

that sounds really good...I like it...

YOU GIVE ME THE REGRETS...ALL THE EMONTIONS / PAIN / SORROW

CONNECTED WITH THEM...ALL THE SELF-INFLICTED

PUNISHMENT...BEATING YOURSELF UP. / SELF-

CONDEMNATION / HATRED / SHAME...AND ASK ME FOR THE 

GRACE YOU NEED TO DO THAT...

it's all GRACE isn't it?

YOU GOT IT...TO HAVE MERCY ON YOURSELF...

forgiving myself  in your Name...

AND BY GRACE TO LET GO OF YOUR CONTROL...ANGER...

ACCEPTING YOUR WEAKNESSES / ASKING ME TO 

CHANGE / HEAL YOU...

and of course THANKING YOU..

YOU WILL STILL REMEMBER THE REGRETS BUT 

THE PAIN WILL BE GONE...

Thank you again for this talk...you knew I needed it...

You always know and You're always ready and 

willing to give me the Grace...Thank You again...

BE AT PEACE...I AM ALWAYS WITH YOU...

Reflection / Discussion:

-How would you summarize how to handle regrets?

-Why is it so hard to forgive yourself?

-What regrets do you have?

-Make a list...topic by topic.

-Ask for the Grace to face and surrender all of it to the Lord

-One by one, In Jesus' Name...Repent / Forgive yourself...Give it all to Jesus...

-Ask for His Healing / Peace...Thanking Him for His Mercy...