nevercompromise's Blog

Everybody on Earth dies and goes to Heaven. God comes and says, "I want the men to make two lines. One line for the men that dominated their women on Earth and the other line for the men that were dominated by their women. Also, I want all the women to go with St. Peter."

Said and done, the next time God looked, the women are gone and there are two lines. The line of the men that were dominated by their women was 1000 miles long, and in the line of men that dominated their women, there was only one man.

God got mad and said, "You men should be ashamed of yourselves. I created you in my image and you were all whipped by your mates. Look at the only one of my sons tht stood up and made me proud. Learn from him! Tell them My son, how did you manage to be the only one in this line?"

And the man replied, "I don't know. My wife told me to stand here."

(A friend sent this to me in 99 while I was still in the military, I don't know who wrote it, but I thought it was funny, and certainly not without truth. I hope you enjoyed it)

I wrote this long comment on the Jesus in New York video, partly in response from another user who criticized the belief that Jesus could become bread and to explain, in a take it or leave it way, why Catholics believe Jesus when He said that His body was bread and wine. The user called the host a "cracker" and commented that people who believe that the "cracker" is Jesus "should get their brains checked."
Another user commenting on that same video called the monstrance "satan worshiping". I wanted to clear that up as well, because if it were, the Isrealites would be satan worshipers.
I tried to keep the comment short, ....but I failed. There is a lot more to this topic that would add to the validity of the argument, but who wants to read half the night on a blog?
Read this with your Bible. It is not my logic or points that make the argument, it is the scripture. Read the scriptures I made use of for yourself and you will at least understand the view I present. My comment was as follows:

I pray that what I say will bring peace to those who do not understand the Catholic/Biblical view of the Eucharist. In EXOD 25:8 God tells Moses, "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will DWELL among them"...then God describes the ark to be built. NOTE, the Ark is beautiful and made with pure gold and other beautiful materials. 2 SAM 6:16 says that David leaped and danced before the Lord as the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David.
Next, LUKE 1:43-44 "But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy" Just like David leaped for joy before the ark, now so does John the Baptist (Elizabeths baby) Why? Because Mary has become the new arc, carrying Jesus.
Now, Hebrews is a great resource to read about the word becoming flesh...but the short version is JOHN 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his DWELLING among us" Clearly John is speaking of Jesus. Jesus is the new covenant. Why? 2 CORINTH 3:6 "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant-not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
BTW if you haven't figured, I am Catholic and I believe in Scripture and tradition. IF there is ever a contradiction, I would choose Scripture over tradition, but I have never found a contradiction.
However, for non-Catholics who believe Sola Scriptura, explain how you can call the Eucharist anything but the body and blood of Jesus Christ, when He is ADAMENT that it is His body and blood, over and over again in scripture. Using your only resource, Scripture, where does the Bible say that the bread we break and the wine that we drink for communion in rememberance of Him is not His body? That would be a bold statement in contradiction with Jesus, and in the Bible, you'll be looking long and hard for that verse.
John 6:51 "The bread is my flesh..." 6:56 "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him." I cannot explain how bread and wine become his body, but I also cannot explain how He turned water into wine at Cana. Or how He walked on water or a number of other things. But why can we believe those things, but cannot believe Him when He says his body becomes bread and wine? Was the wine they drank at the wedding in Cana not really wine? Was it water that tasted like wine? By faith I believe it was wine! Was Lazarus not really dead? Do we question all the miracles, or just the ones we don't understand?
Those who question the body and blood of Jesus in the Eucharist remind me of those who didn't believe Jesus when He said His flesh and blood should be eaten in John 6:60 "On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" and then in 6:66 "From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." I know it is difficult, but so are all the miracles, if you lack faith.
Your church may teach that it is not his body or blood, but instead some spiritual representation. But if you believe that then you hold your church (or pastors) teaching over Jesus's. Jesus said we should eat His flesh and drink His blood.
No matter what kind of mystery this presents, or how difficult it is to understand, can you imagine yourself at Jesus's table with the disciples at the last supper after He says, "take this all of you and eat, this is my body". Is that the moment where you would stand up and correct Jesus? Would you say, "My pastor says it represents your memory, not your body" or whatever else you and your pastor might think it to be?
Be mindful that even against direct opposition from the Jews and the disciples who deserted Jesus, that Jesus did not water down His word choice when He said "body" and "blood". Jesus did not try to keep those people from leaving by some parable that explained what He meant in a more palatable way.
If it was his body and blood back then, it is the same now. If it is a "cracker" now, then it was a cracker then. But that would go against what Jesus said to everyone during His days. Saying it is not his body and blood makes Him ambiguous when in the Bible He seems adament. Paul agrees, I believe, in 1 CORINTH 10:16. "Is not the cup on thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the BLOOD of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the BODY of Christ?" The verses are overwhelming for the argument that it is His body and blood.
Lastly, the Monstrace (sun looking thing with a window in the middle) holds the Lords body (or cracker, if you are not Catholic). As God instructed Moses to build a beautiful ark where he could dwell EXODUS 25:8, the Monstrance holds the body of Christ, the bread that Jesus told his disciples was His body.
Having a Monstrance is not satan worshipping as some have commented. If it is, then Moses and the Isrealites were satan worshippers for building the ark that God instructed them to build. David too would be a satan worshipper for leaping and dancing before the ark which was the presence of the Lord according to 2 SAM 6:16.
I do not condemn those who do not believe the bread and wine are actually Jesus's flesh and blood. I only believe that it is no more, or no less, the body and blood of Jesus Christ today as it was the night He gave it to His disciples. Those who do not believe it is His actual body could say the exact same thing, saying "It is bread and wine now, it was bread and wine then."
I used a minimal amount of scripture for an argument which I believe has overwhelming scriptural support. I would like to see an overwhelming SCRIPTURAL argument for the opposite view. OVERWHELMING not VAGUE. But if one cannot be presented, then at least try and accept that Catholics believe the host is Jesus's body and the wine is Jesus's blood, and know that we honor His presence where ever He is.
For David and Israel He was in an ark. It wasn't the actual ark David was excited about, there could have been 10 arks made, but it was the presence of the Lord (where God said He would dwell in EXOD 25:8) that David was excited over. And when John the Baptist leaped in the womb it was not for the worship of Mary, it was for Jesus. For Moses God spoke through a bush. Did God command Moses to take off his sandals? Yes. Was that ground holy on it's own, or because God was there? God's presence is Holy, and the honor the Catholic church gives the host is entirely appropriate.
I hope I have spoken accurately. I believe that someone else could have made a better argument for my point of view. I am young and unwise. Therefore, if I have made errors in anyway, please forgive me first, pray for me second, and if you feel a respond is necessary, harsh tones or sarcasm are not necessary. Respond as though I were your own brother. PEACE

Are we so consumed by our own hardships, that we look to the second coming of Jesus without much thought to what we should be doing until He returns? When we are falling backwards because of the blows that we take, we neglect the trials and difficult circumstances of others around us and we become apathetic to the genuine and very basic needs of our non-Christian brothers and sisters. By refocusing our attention toward the suffering of non-Christians we would soon forget our own troubles and resume the mission to which we have been called.

Between apathy, Jesus's return, hardships, and works, the least important subject for discussion is Jesus's return. Let us tackle the end times first, so we can measure the faults of over examining this obscure subject and the problems associated with end times obsession.

The end times are a popular topic. Even Jesus said something about the end that some people seem to be unfamiliar with. "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only" (Matthew 24:36) I jape that some people are unaware of this verse because there is so much emphasis on which denomination tells us the right ending. Do people not believe Jesus regarding the end? Because there is so much exegesis in this area, I wonder if some people are vainly trying to decipher something that humans will only be able to see in retrospect. Based on what Jesus said there seems to be no need for interpretation or calculation to discover when this will all happen. The Father knows.

But people still spend money on new books and put time into studying new ideas and theories, only to discover after examining them, that they are no closer to knowing when Jesus is coming back. I think these people are swayed into these investments when they see a book jacket decorated with nuclear weapons, hypodermic needles, and calligraphic 666 artwork. I ponder the intentions of people who are buying these books and I wonder who they are.

If by reading some book we could discover when Jesus is coming or how close we might be to the final countdown, would that knowledge motivate us to start praying and helping those in need? And then would that even be considered charitable? That kind of last minute preparation for the end, would be like going on a diet with a goal to lose 20 pounds in two days. No person can expect to make up for years of unhealthy living with such a sudden deadline. It is the same with spiritual matters.

The point that end times book's don't address, is that not very many people live beyond one hundred years. So we need to have prepared hearts within our own approximate one hundred year window of life, and we should not look for signs that will motivate us to get our lives in order. Motivation should not come from the frightening events that lie ahead, but should be inspired by the passion Christ exhibited between the night of the last supper and his death.

Put the end in perspective. Rapture could be another two thousand years away. We however, will certainly die in this century and we cannot afford to be distracted by signs and ideas which only seem to accomplish further division of our Lord's people.

Look around. Examine for yourself who has benefited from having so many different views of the end times? Are new insights to Revelation restoring those who are broken, feeding those who are hungry or housing those who are homeless? Knowing end times theories will serve no purpose in Heaven and that should be a clue to the value we place on them while we are still on Earth.

I assume it to be true that part of the reason we focus so much on end times is because of the condition of the world. The danger seems to be getting close. But we should expect close danger, and accept that God's plan for our salvation and His justice is unyielding on its' course. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (II Tim 3:1-5) What can we do when the danger is close? If we are not looking at the end, then we are left to look at the present. And what does God want us to see? In light of all that is bad, nothing is good here.

The disasters we see unfolding in the world and in our own lives can often become obstacles to our peace. If we are so inwardly focused on our own afflictions, could we neglect the purpose for which God has called us? Have we become so enveloped with our own struggles and setbacks that we have become apathetic to the beggars and panhandlers? "Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt 25:37-40) Is there a lack of emotion, interest or concern from our Lord for anyone, regardless of their need? Certainly, there is not.

I argue, however, that there is a lack of interest and concern for the mendicants whom we encounter daily. I think the Lord has made it easy for us, by putting one or two drive through charities (we call them bums) on nearly every seventh city block. We can pretend not to see these ungroomed filthy people, freezing, through our Windex clean driver side window, but we will not be able to keep up this pretense upon the day of our judgment. To quickly remind us of our identity in Christ, God even gives all vagrants cardboard shields upon which He usually writes his own name, as the beggars usually write, "may GOD Bless You." God has shown all of us unmerited favor. Then He puts a homeless beggar in front of our eyes, with a sign that bears His holy name, to be sure that we are thinking about both Him and the broken, poor and lost, at the same time. And what do we do? Speed off, usually.

What have we become? If we ignore the trials that others face, we quickly abandon our relationship with God, which without, we have no purpose in life. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephes 2:10) Works give us a connection with Jesus.

Works and tradition are sometimes grouped in the same category by people wanting to distinguish that we are saved by faith alone and that we are not saved by works. I have no disagreement with the belief that we are saved faith alone and acknowledge Paul as an authority. But I also see no disagreement between Paul's writing and James's writing. Both writers are in fact inspired by the same Holy Spirit. When we focus on the world and its doom, we tend to take grace and stick it into our pocket, like Willy Wonka's golden ticket into Heaven forever. We reject all suffering. We do nothing in the body of Christ because we have grace and expect the blessings to roll in. Does God approve of such ideology? We lean on Paul and neglect James, and forget altogether what it is like to walk with Jesus every day and we lose our sense of feeling for those people whom Jesus calls us to engage. The non-believers. The "least of these" people. The bum with the Chiquita banana shield, that God signed with a Sharpie.

We are not called to ignore the world while waiting for the grand finale. We are not called to Christ so we can enjoy blessings and relax as middle class, Americans. Our own lives need improvement, but we should not wait for happiness, peace or perfection to become our regular feelings, before moving forward in the body of Christ. We should not wait until we are wealthy before sharing what we have. He called us when we were not religious. Accordingly, we should not wait until we acquire a human standard of spirituality before responding to His call. For this call we must be bold.

A Christian life encompasses blessings, significance and peace. But these things are not given to all. They are gained by a few who understand obedience, integrity, self-denial, discipline and faith.

For some people, it is my opinion that grace has abolished works. James says that our works make our faith complete because they work together. I find no reason to disagree. We cannot show our worth, but instead our appreciation. It is a shame that people are zealous to push one view without consideration for the other, when both views are biblical and work perfectly together. The danger in the message of being saved by grace alone is that, in its attempt to slander traditional practices and make traditions obsolete, it inadvertently fails to call into action the followers who need to serve in the body of Christ in order to experience a fullness of the truth and not just a superficial, or shallow Christian experience of one's Sunday best.

I'm doing works. Not for salvation, but in obedience. And to whoever tries to stop me and correct me with their saved by grace message, I am respectfully stepping around, to break bread with the homeless and take communion with some false accusers. I will not do any works more miraculous or numerous than what Jesus or the Saints have done. And by virtue of that fact, if what I am doing is wrong, how much more wrong are they for their greater works?

The dullest knife a Christian carries is suffering. We embrace our blessings and our lives are outwardly free from angst. Inwardly, our passions are holding us hostage, and every escape that we make from danger, is narrow. "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake" (Philip 1:29) How quick we are to avoid all suffering. And how little suffering we endure before feeling deep frustration. The things we suffer are obstacles to service and we need to understand that our Christian lives are not meant to be free from suffering, but whatever God sends is to be endured with a service like attitude. "However, in this mortal life, our peace consists in the humble bearings of suffering and contradictions, not in being free of them, for we cannot live in this world without adversity. Those who can best suffer will enjoy the most peace, for such persons are masters of themselves, lords of the world, with Christ for their friend, and heaven as their reward." Thomas a Kempis

If we develop a head ache, we promptly seek an aspirin. When we encounter an unpleasant person, even if the encounter is brief, we often reflect on that encounter for the rest of the day, with grief. We have relationships that do not work out to our liking and we dread the following loneliness. Never mind if the relationship was inappropriate. We feel robbed of love, but in reality, love never developed in this relationship. One day we can leisurely shop for exactly what we want. Later, when that purchase doesnât work out, we have to take that item back and endure waiting in line to get our money back. It's a faltering world when we see our boss for the back-stabbing, over-reacting, short-fused, lying, office-supply-stealing, privilege-abusing, manipulator that he is. When the big bosses are toasting his work, which is actually our brilliant work, normal anger develops. The fact is that we are not all that different from eachother in that there is always a problem in life that we have to address.

We need to remember, as we encounter worldly frustration, that God puts up with more from those people who are burdens to us, than what we could ever put up with from them. His patience always waits for them to repent and turn from who they have become. God is waiting for us too, to realize what others put up with from us.

How terrible is it if some people doesn't like us and they are bold enough to tell us. Even from a brief encounter with a stranger we can feel rejected. But by contrast, how many people welcome the homeless? And when a homeless person develops a head ache, gets a scrape or cut, or has a cold or rash, where is their medicine cabinet with the relief they need? When the weather turns cold and the wind picks up, where is the extra jacket or heavier pair of socks for the homeless person? There is no band-aid, sunscreen, neosporin, q-tip, or chapstick. How patient would a homeless person be if he or she had to wait in line to get some money back into their pockets? Quite patient, I presume.

We sometimes embellish our hard times so they become worse than they actually are. Jesus endured many more hardships than we will ever face. And he and his followers reached out much more than we will ever reach out. It seems that because we are better off and not nearly so afflicted and persicuted, that we should be doing more than we are.

Unfortunately, if we think Jesus is coming tomorrow because our personal trials are such a burden to our peace, and we are studying end times (so we know the countries are all poised and wormwood is on a collision course with the wailing wall) and we don't selflessly volunteer because we are only saved by grace and nothing else is necessary, then we dwell in life's frustrations, which are common to everyone, and we live in apathy, never extending our reach outside of our brick church community.

I pray that we put our focus on the non-Christians. Not the Christian church up the street with different particular views from us, but those who are entirely lost. Those who are addicted to drugs, lying, stealing, violence and lust. Ignoring the world will not bring us peace. Finding the broken homes and bringing into them a message of peace and friendship, this is how the Christian soldier should mobilize. The message isn't simply the presentation of the gospels with a series of questions about death, judgement, heaven, salvation, sins and eternity. The message is the action. The concern for another human being. Doesn't God share this concern for all human beings?

And if we suffer, then we endure through scripture that tells us that we are to suffer, and how to suffer. "For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully." (I Pet 2:19) But let this suffering be only temporary, so as not to divert you for the purpose to which you have been called. Set your focus on those truely in despair and counterfiet agony will not stop you in reaching them.