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.....ahh...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?

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

- 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 of 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 it agree...

somebody has to pat....

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

Why do you think that is?...

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 doesn't work that way...I didn't create 

you for things to be done like that...

I love you too much. 

Wat do you mean?

Love doesn't work that way...otherwise

it's not really love...

.

Please explain...

I created you with your own 'space' if you will, and I 

respect that...I don't '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 choose to accept or not...

.

Even if what I choose is bad for me?

Yes...

.
That doesn't seem fair...

What's 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 understand...people are free to think what they way...

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 are free...

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

Because I am...I've always been '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 because 

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

they are so common to people...

You mean "regrets and performance" issues?

Yes...

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 what's that?.

Hmmm...perfection??

You mean 'your' idea of perfection....

Well...what "I" want...

Hmmm...seems like I've heard that somewhere before...

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

You tell me...it's your issue...I'm here to help you reach

what's 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 jus 

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...it's 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?

That's right...

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 isn't 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 and not Me??

I guess.

Well...that's impossible but you keep trying....

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

to have happen.....which seems to 'go against the grain'

That's 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, what's 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...

Why do you think I would?

.
Love?...

It's who I am...I've made a way for you. I 

have already paid the price...taken the 

punishment for your sins / failings...'carried

your sorrows...bore your pain'...by my stripes

you are healed...

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 according 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, it's 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 justified punishment on yourself in your

own way which only adds to your burden and which 

never works anyway...

So...now what?

How about I make it simple for you?

That sounds really good...I like that...

You give me the regrets...all the emotions / pain / sorrows / guilt

connected with them...all the self-inflicted punishment...beating 

yourself up / self-condemnation...hatred...shame...anger and ask

Me for the Grace you need to do that...

It's all GRACE isn't it?

Yes...as well as for having mercy on yourself...

Forgiving myself  in your Name...

And by Grace to let go of your control...anger...

accepting your weaknesses and asking me to Change 

and Heal you.....

And of course Thanking You...

You will still remember the regrets but the pain 

will be gone because I took care of it. ..

Thank you so much 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...person by person...Journaling is helpful

-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...

The Transformation Prayer

                          

          

                Romans 12: 1-2  

         I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, 

         to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,

         which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be 

         transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may discern what 

         is the will of God- what is good and acceptable and perfect.

 

                   Lord Jesus...Pour out your Holy Spirit upon me so that 

                   I may be Transformed by the Renewal of my Mind to..

                   Think + as You Think

                 

                   See + as You See

                   Hear + as You Hear

                   Speak + as You Speak

                   Love + as You Love

                   that we may be One...I in You...and...You in me...

                   Come Holy Spirit...Come...  Amen...May it be so...

       Reflection / Discussion:

      - Ask the Holy Spirit how does He wants to Renew your mind.

      - What does surrendering to Jesus mean to you? 

      - How can reading / praying with Scripture aid in this process.

      - Evaluate how you spend your time with media and ask Jesus about it.

      - Evaluate the world's outlook on issues vs how Jesus looks at them.

      -  How do your relationships help / hinder this Transformation?

      - Evaluate how you're doing at loving service to others.

      - Ask / Seek / Knock for what you need...Expect Answers...