Saturday, August 30, 2008
Who am I?

Hi
Today in class, we talked about where our sense of self comes from.

Is it from being accepted? being in the "in-crowd"? being cool?
Is it determined by how much money we have, how good we look, how many friends we have, how much power or authority we have, how famous we are, how successful we are? how well we do in our studies or CCA?

These external things may fail us someday. Only God will never fail us.

Here's a video entitled, "Who am I?" You are a child of God. You belong to God. No one can take this dignity away from you. Enjoy!

Sunday, August 24, 2008
The Bamboo and the Fern

Stole this from the blog of the 3pm class! :P Enjoy, nonetheless.


One day I decided to quit… I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

‘God’, I asked, ‘Can you give me one good reason not to quit?’

His answer surprised me…

‘Look around’, He said. ‘Do you see the fern and the bamboo?’

‘Yes’, I replied.

He said: ‘When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.

In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit.

Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. ..But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.

Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots. I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.

Don’t compare yourself to others.

The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful.

Your time will come. You will rise high.’

‘How high should I rise?’, I asked.

‘How high will the bamboo rise?’ He asked in return.

‘As high as it can?’ I questioned.

‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Give me glory by rising as high as you can.’

What presents itself as silence on God’s part need not be indifference. Perhaps God is allowing you to grow roots as you mature.

Saturday, August 23, 2008
Got faith?

A tight-rope walker strung a wire across the Niagara Falls as a crowd gathered on both sides of the falls. First, he walked across using a balancing pole. Next, he walked back across with the pole. Then he wheeled a wheel-barrow across. On the other side, he shoveled 150 pounds of dirt and rock into the wheel-barrow and wheeled it back across the falls. The crowd's applause was louder than the roar of the falls! The man asked the crowd, "Who believes that I can wheel a man across the falls?" Everyone shouted their affirmation. Then he asked, "Who's going to get in the wheel-barrow?" The crowd dispersed immediately.

We may think that we have faith God, but what we really have is just belief. It’s one thing to believe in God, but it’s quite another to have faith in him. Just like it’s one thing to believe that a master tightrope artist can carry you over Niagara Falls in a wheelbarrow, and it’s quite another to have enough faith in him to get in the wheelbarrow and let him push you across.

What about you? If God asks you to get into the wheelbarrow, will you get in? Let us pray for the gift of faith.

Thursday, August 21, 2008
Vending Machine God

Last lesson, we talked about the image of a Vending Machine God, a God who was supposed to give you what you wanted as long as you prayed.

One of us talked about how God is a con-man. You pay money (pray), choose your drink (ask for something). You ask for one drink. God gives you two. Unfortunately, neither drink is what you asked for!

Well, God gives us what we need, not what we want. Here's a poem I would like to share with all of you.


I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for,
but everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself,
my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Something for you to read :

There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town.

One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit.

Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak...'I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright.

I stopped the lad and asked, 'What you got there, son?'

'Just some old birds,' came the reply.

'What are you gonna do with them?' I asked.

'Take 'em home and have fun with 'em,' he answered 'I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time'

'But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?'

'Oh, I got some cats,' said the little boy. 'They like birds. I'll take 'em to them.'

The pastor was silent for a moment. 'How much do you want for those birds, son?'

'Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't even pretty!'

'How much?' the pastor asked again.

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, '$10?'

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone.

The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free.

Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story.

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. 'Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!'

'What are you going to do with them?' Jesus asked.

Satan replied, 'Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!'

'And what will you do when you get done with them?' Jesus asked. 'Oh, I'll kill 'em,' Satan glared proudly. 'How much do you want for them?' Jesus asked .

'Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!'

'How much?' He asked again.

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, 'All your blood, tears and your life.'

Jesus said, 'Done!'

Then He paid the price.

The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and he walked from the pulpit.

Hope you were as blessed by this story as I was.


I asked Jesus "How much do you love me?"
"This much," he answered, and stretched out his arms and died.

Saturday, August 16, 2008
When God Ran

Hi
This is the song we played in class. Same song, different pictures. i think this one nicer! :)
Enjoy.
elizabeth

my first post

Hi all!!!

This is your other Cathecist, posting my first post on this blog.

I must say, Liz, you've been doing a really great job keeping up the blog with all the posts and all... There're really great posts related to our Faith. I guess with me around, the general 'mood' of the blog will change. Cos... ah well, I guess you guys get a lot of spiritual input in class, so we can use this blog as a platform to throw in some other aspects of our life I guess? :)

Nice to see you guys are pretty active over here... keep this up!! there're, any dead blogs on cyberspace, let's not let this one become one...

Well, here's a nice quote I read some where... really interesting...
"Ironically, our society tends to portray artist as dreamers. But those who suppress their creativity are actually the ones living in a dream. An artist is someone who sees and feels reality very intensely."
Danny Gregory, The Creative License

This is a really great book with practical tips and encouragement on how to bring creative energy into your life, and how to unlock the "natural" artist within you. Good for all those aspiring artists/musicians etc... It has this interesting idea that art is essentially a way of seeing the world, and porducing art helps you appreciate the beauty of life more.

Btw, I heard Zach recorded a CD... Mind bringning it to class one day? Curious to listen what you can produce...

Cheers, all.
Mark

Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Mary Had a Little Lamb

Well, the Feast of the Assumption is coming. So I'll talk about Mary.
I don't know where I heard it from, but apparently the children's song we sing, "Mary had a Little Lamb" may be a hymn. The lamb is Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Here are the lyrics:

Mary had a little lamb ,
Its fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school one day;
Which was against the rule;
It made the children laugh and play;
To see a lamb at school.

"Why does the lamb love Mary so?"
The eager children cry;
"Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know,"
The teacher did reply.

Well, I'm really not sure whether it was meant to be a hymn, but I came across this picture online. I believe it is speaks about the school shootings that happen in America.



The Feast of Assumption is on Friday, 15 August. It is a day of obligation. Do remember to go for Mass!

Mass timings:
Thursday, 14 Aug: 6.15pm
Friday, 15 Aug: 6pm, 8pm

Sunday, August 10, 2008
Let Go, Let God

As children bring their broken toys
with tears for us to mend.
I brought my broken dreams to GOD
Because He was my Friend.
But then instead of leaving Him
in Peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
With ways that were my own.
At last I snatched them back and cried
"How can You be so slow"?
"My child," He said,
"What could I do?
You never did let go."

I’m afraid

Wrote his poem quite a long time ago. But today's Gospel about Jesus walking on the water reminded me of it. May we all learn to trust God in the daily storms of our lives.



I’m afraid
To cross the stormy sea
All my bones cry out
This is crazy!
But walking on the water
You smiled and said,
“Come, follow me”

I’m afraid
To break down the wall
To reach out to the world outside
I’m afraid
To let others come in
I’m afraid I’ll end up hurt
And they’ll be hurt by me

I’m afraid
To open up my heart
To let another in
I’m afraid
To let them see who I really am
I’m ashamed of me

I’m afraid
To let go of the wheel
To let God take control
Cos He never tells me where He’s going
Just asks me to trust His will.

Saturday, August 9, 2008
Walking on Water

In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’

When things get really tough, may we always keep our eyes on Jesus. When we feel that we are drowning, may we always cry out like Peter, "Lord! Save me!" And may we always have that faith that God will save us. He will never let us go.

Friday, August 8, 2008
Shine for Singapore

It's National Day and there's really a lot to be thankful to God for on this day: We enjoy peace and prosperity. We have an honest and clean government. There are equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of race, religion or how rich you are.

I think what strikes me most about the national day video is that it sends a message that there is a place in Singapore or everyone: the child, the elderly, the physically disabled. We are a family.

That's the same with the church. It doesn't matter who you are, what your background is or even what you have done. There is place in church for one and all, saints and sinners alike. If you haven't been to mass in a long time, just remember this: your family, the church, will always be waiting for you to come home.



Happy National Day!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Dinosaurs and the Bible

Someone in class asked why dinosaurs were not recorded in the bible. I surfed the internet for a while and this was what I got:

It wasn't until 1841 that the concept of the dinosaur was formed. There is no word for "dinosaur" in the Hebrew language.

Obviously, there were a lot more creatures than just dinosaurs that were left out of the creation account. If God were to have included every creature in the creation account (well over one billion), such inclusion would have completely lost the spiritual significance of the passage. The purpose of the Genesis creation account is to give an account of how God created mankind and provided for him.

While not limited to dinosaurs only, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

"Nothing exists that does not owe its existence to God the Creator" 338

"Each of the various creatures, willed in its own being, reflects in its own way a ray of God's infinite wisdom and goodness" 339

hope that answers your question! :)

Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Transfiguration

Well, tomorrow, 6th August, is the Feast of the Transfiguration.
The account can be found in Matthew 17:1-9


Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling as light. And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him.

Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you want me to, I will make three shelters here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and suddenly from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’

When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them, saying, ‘Stand up, do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but Jesus. As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about this vision until the Son of man has risen from the dead.’

Jesus was transfigured just before He had to make that difficult journey up Calvary. He was so afraid. But God encouraged him by giving him a taste of the eternal glory to come in the transfiguration.

If your life seems to be in darkness now, do not be afraid. You are not alone. God will give you the courage and the strength to go through it all.

Happy feast day!

Eucharistic Miracle at Lanciano

At around 700 AD, a Basilian monk, wise in the ways of the world, but not in the ways of faith, was having a trying time with his belief in the real presence of Our Lord Jesus in the Eucharist. He prayed constantly for relief from his doubts, and from the fear that he was losing his vocation. He suffered through the routine of his priesthood day after day, with these doubts gnawing at him.

One morning, while he was having a strong attack of doubt, he began the Consecration of the Mass for the people of the town. What he beheld as he consecrated the bread and wine caused his hands to shake, indeed his whole body. The host had turned into Flesh. The wine had turned into Blood.

The Body and Blood are still present and kept in the Church of the Eucharistic Miracle in Lanciano. Here are pictures:







An extensive scientific research was done in 1970 which used the most modern scientific tools available. The results of the tests are as follows:

* The flesh is real flesh. The blood is real blood.
* The flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the heart (myocardium)
* The flesh and blood belong to the human species.
* The flesh and blood have the same blood type (AB).

Adapted from: http://www.miraclerosarymission.org/lanciano.html

Sunday, August 3, 2008
Team Hoyt

Someone forwarded this message and powerful video:

"A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?'. The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'.

They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.' To which, his father said 'Yes' too.

For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever.
The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island. Father and son went on to complete the race together. View this race .......