Guidelines How To Read The Bible

READ. Read and read again until you have understood the passage very well. The passage can be as much as one chapter or just a few verses.

THINK. Think about what you have read (meditation). The following questions will help you to think on the passage.

Is there:

an example for me to follow ?
an error or mistake for me to avoid ?
a command for me to obey ?
a question for me to answer ?
a promise for me to accept ?
a sin for me to repent of ?
a teaching for me to believe - about God, about life, about the world ?

What is the main lesson you have learnt from this passage and which is the verse that best summarizes this lesson ?

Try and commit this verse to memory.

PRAY. Pray concerning the insights and lessons you have got from the reading.

God's Will

One thing i do know is that God does care about what happens to you and to me and what we do

Psalm 138:8 - "The Lord will work out His plans for my life"

I think many of us have at some point in time asked ourselves the following question - "What is it that God wants me to do ?"

It is certainly a question that i have asked many times and if you have the same question on your heart then there is an easy answer to it and here is the answer:

James 1:5 - "If you want to know what God wants you to do-ask Him, and He will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking."

So all you need to do is PRAY and ask God to reveal it to you. AMEN

African "BOOZE" Tree

I had to add this clip - the MARULA fruit is an african fruit that is used for an alcoholic beverage called "AMARULA CREAM"

To Realize

To realize The value of a sister Ask someone Who doesn't have one.
To realize The value of ten years: Ask a newly Divorced couple.
To realize The value of four years: Ask a graduate.
To realize The value of one year: Ask a student who Has failed a final exam.
To realize The value of nine months: Ask a mother who gave birth to a still born.
To realize The value of one month: Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize The value of one week: Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize The value of one hour: Ask the lovers who are waiting to Meet.
To realize The value of one minute: Ask a person Who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize The value of one-second: Ask a person Who has survived an accident.
To realize The value of one millisecond: Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.
To realize the value of a friend: Lose one. Time waits For no one. Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special and spend every little time you can get with your Father in heaven, He is waiting!

The origin of this letter is unknown

My New Journey

For those following my blog i want to thank you all and in particular "cypress, texas" who seems to visit the blog daily - i would love to know who you are and would appreciate it if you could maybe leave me a comment !!!!

Anyway, today im marking a major change as i have decided to convert from being a methodist to a catholic and i am officially starting my classes this thursday to be confirmed as a catholic. My reasons for this is based on doctrines and theological issues with which i agree and feel comfortable with and believe it is where God wants me to be.

I had a long discussion (again) with a priest yesterday and as a convert to catholocism i will have full access within the catholic church to pursue all avenues and i am no way excluded from anything - as a convert i can even pursue the priesthood irrespective of my past if that is where my vocation lies - i will be starting classes this thursday in order to get confirmed as a catholic and as far as my involvement to do more within the church goes my priest has offered me additional guidance (mentor) if i can call it that as to determine where my vocation lies. (I know i must preach)

I also want to take this opportunity to thank a lady by the name of Michela (i hope you read this) for all the assistance and help that you gave me with various reading material etc etc and for that first appointment at the Catholic Church in Rosebank - i really appreciate it - it means a lot to me. May God bless you in many ways.

So my journey and new chapter for Jesus has started - as my blog title says "john's stuff for Jesus" well this is for Jesus so to my family and friends all i ask of you is for your support for what lies ahead - im doing this because IT IS WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO DO

Priests

Interesting.........personal reflection

Divorced Dad's

This post is especially meant for those Dad's out there who are divorced and have children.

(By the way i was divorced 7 yrs ago and my daughter is now 7yrs old)

The first thing i want to say to you is no matter what the circumstances were for your divorce MAKE TIME FOR YOUR KIDS - secondly im going to be straight forward on this and say to all the divorced and single dads out there remember you have a responsibility - A BIG ONE.

I have seen that these days it tends to be the norm that when a couple divorces most men not all - please i do not say all men - many men tend to forget there responsibilities towards the Kids and just walk away.

The first and most common thing they neglect is always the maintenance/financial part, the second thing they forget as well which i believe is one of the most important is to spend quality time with them, YES, TIME - everyone has spare time so dont use an excuse "im too busy" your child will remember you were too busy and it will catch up to you one day - ask yourself this:

IS YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN TOO BUSY FOR YOU ?

THE ANSWER IS DEFINITELY NO - HE IS NEVER TOO BUSY FOR YOU - HE IS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU - SO NOW YOU DO THE SAME AND BE THERE FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

Do not take out your frustrations of an ex spouse or a divorce out on your kids and do not make promises to your children that you cant keep - an example of this is - "you tell your child on the phone ill be seeing you on saturday and then when saturday comes you don't pitch up". That breaks little hearts into splinters.

I am sure you happily made those kids - so now you must happily accept the responsibility that comes with it.

One of Max Lucado books - i cant remember which one but he wrote that one of the ways children feel loved is not by gifts - just give them your TIME.

I do know that sweets and chocolates and dvd's and playstations surely grab there attention but nothing works as good as simply giving part of your time to them - ALL THEY WANT IS YOUR TIME.

So to all the divorced dad's out there - make the time available for your children - IT'S TIME YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.

John 14:12

"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing".

By His Wounds

Christ Supremacy over Biology

WOW - all i can say is WOW - click on this link below and read the article - I WAS QUITE STUNNED to be honest - hope you all enjoy the article

http://gospelife.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/the-supremacy-of-christ-over-biology/

He carries me

You Raise me Up

The video says it all

The Seven Deadly Sins

Actual sin is any willful thought, desire, word, action or ommission forbidden by the law of God.

PRIDE: Unrestrained appreciation of our own worth.
GREED: Immoderate desire for earthly goods.
LUST: Hankering for impure pleasures.
ANGER: Inordinate desire for revenge.
GLUTTONY: Unrestrained use of food and drink.
ENVY: Sorrow over another's good fortune.
SLOTH: Laxity in keeping the Faith and the practice of virtue due to the effort involved.

Religion in Brazil

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Statue of Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Religion in Brazil is very diversified, although over seventy percent of the population declared being Roman Catholic in the last IBGE census, which took place in 2000. About ninety percent of Brazilians declare some sort of religious affiliation [1].

74% of Brazilians (about 150 million) declared being followers of Roman Catholicism;
15.4% (about 25 million) declared being followers of Protestantism;
7.4% (about 12 million) consider themselves agnostics, atheists or having no religious affiliation;
1.3% (about 2.2 million) are followers of Spiritism;
0.3% are followers of African traditional religions such as Candomblé and Umbanda;
1.7% are members of other religions.
Brazil has a large number of Jehovah's Witnesses (about 1,100,000) and Latter-day Saints (about 1,000,000) [2] nowadays, which entered in the field of Protestants in the census referenced above. Among the field of "other religions" were Buddhists (415,000), Jewish people (300,000), and Muslims (27,000). In the same field were those who practice a mixture of different religions, such as Catholicism, Candomblé, and indigenous American religions.[3]

Meditation

What does it mean to meditate ? Meditate is described as follows:

to sit or lie down and come to a deep rest while still remaining conscious.

Why am i writing now about meditating - well im posting this as i have found that there is a wonderful way for us christians to meditate and it involves something that we look towards daily and which is a symbol of Christianity - it is THE CROSS/CRUCIFIX.

When you feel like some quiet time to unwind or just to reflect on things quietly on your own - one thing i can suggest and recommend is that you take your cross/crucifix, whichever one you may have then get comfortable, relax and clear your mind and just look at the cross/crucifix - once relaxed and you looking at your cross/crucifix start to think on what it means to you personally, just be still and savour the moment - you will be surprised how deep in thought you can end up and what flows through ones mind.

This moment of reflecting/meditating on the cross/crucifix becomes a moment between you and God and it is guaranteed to bring you to a peaceful place.

I hope you will give this a try and may that moment of reflection be a truly awesome moment for you.

1 Chronicles 28:9 - If you seek Him, you will find Him.

Catholic vs Christian

I have had to post this as i cant believe how many times people tend to class Catholics and Christians differently - Many people seem to misunderstand the term Christian so here goes:

Being a Christian is not a denomination. Catholocism is a Christian denomination.

Being Christian is simply a matter of believing that Jesus died for our sins and was resurrected from the dead.

It is simply accepting the fact that all men are sinners, including ourselves and accepting the grace that God provided through the sacrifice of his son.

There is no Christian VS Catholic any more than there is Christian VS Baptist or Methodist or any other denomination. If you refer to differences between protestant and Catholic, that is a different issue.

If you looking for answers on the differences between Catholic and Protestant that is an entire debate on its own which has too much information to post. If you want to know more on the differences use GOOGLE SEARCH and type in Catholic vs Protestant - you will get plenty reading material to browse and its an issue i not going to post on my Blog.

The 7 Last Words of Christ

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)
Amen I say to thee: This day thou shalt be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)
Woman, behold thy son. . . .Behold thy mother. (John 19:26-27)
Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? (My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?) (Matthew 27:46, ref. Psalm 21)
I thirst. (John 19:28)
It is consummated. (John 19:30)
Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit. (Luke 23:46)

The Sign of the Cross

"Let us not then be ashamed to confess the Crucified. Be the Cross our seal made with boldness by our fingers on our brow and in everything; over the bread we eat, and the cups we drink; in our comings in, and goings out; before our sleep, when we lie down and when we awake; when we are in the way and when we are still. Great is that preservative; it is without price, for the poor's sake; without toil, for the sick, since also its grace is from God. It is the Sign of the faithful, and the dread of evils; for He has triumphed over them in it, having made a shew of them openly; for when they see the Cross, they are reminded of the Crucified; they are afraid of Him, Who hath bruised the heads of the dragon. Despise not the Seal, because of the freeness of the Gift; but for this rather honor thy Benefactor." -- St. Cyril of Jerusalem, A.D. 315 - 386

Materialism

Materialism can be defined as follows:

"Constant concern over material possessions and wealth; a great or excessive regard for worldly concerns".

How often have we wanted what others have - have you ever wanted more ?

Have you felt the car you drive is not good enough - i want one thats better etc ?

Have you wanted a bigger home ?

Have you wanted the best TV ?

Have you just wanted the best of everything money can buy ?

Have you wanted more than what you have currently in material things ??

I think a lot of people can answer yes to some of the questions i have put on this post as we humans do tend to want bigger and better things - a good example that i have seen and experienced is that people are judged by others according to things like the home they live in or the car you drive - why ? BECAUSE WE ARE MATERIALISTIC.

People forget these days of things like good health, happy families, loving children/parents and God, just to mention a few and what does God tell us ? this is what He tells us:

Luke 12:15 - "Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

There is more to life than just what we have in material possessions and if you want to discover it all, then all you need to do is OPEN YOUR BIBLE AND READ.

Being in love

Not sure who wrote this but it is awesome:

Think back to when you met that man/woman that you just knew would be the one. Remember when you realized/admitted to yourself that you loved him/her. Now remember how much you wanted to act like you were in a movie, and yell to everyone in the football stadium "I love (fill in the name)!" You told family and friends how perfect he/she was; he/she was just what you were looking for.
Well, I told THE LORD that I love Him today. And He said to me, "How much do you love me? You haven't told anyone how good I've been to you. You haven't shared how perfect my love is. You haven't spread the good news that I am always there to listen to your problems. You haven't told your family how I helped you pay your bills when you didn't have a high paying job, or how I got you a better one. You haven't shared with anyone how I took away that addiction that would have cost you not only your job, but also that man/woman that was just what you were looking for. So how much do you really love me?"
So, I said I would share with my friends and family (for starters) just how wonderful, perfect, understanding, patient, loving, unselfish, considerate and forgiving GOD really is. He has blessed me with a family that loves me and friends that I can confide in. But even more than that, He has saved me from destruction I couldn't even see coming. He gave to me the peace of knowing Him, and He has never broken a promise. Truly He is the best thing that has ever happened to me. And I stand in my stadium today to tell to you all,

"I LOVE THE LORD!"

Crucifix vs Cross

A crucifix (from Latin cruci fixus meaning "(one) fixed to a cross") is a cross with a representation of Jesus' body, or corpus. It is a principal symbol of the Christian religion. It is primarily used in the Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox Churches and emphasizes Christ's sacrifice— his death by crucifixion.

The Christian cross is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity. It is a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is related to the crucifix (a cross that includes a representation of Jesus' body) and to the more general family of cross symbols.

The above info is taken from www.wikipedia.com

The Greatest Man in History - my 100th blog post

Well, this is my 100th blog post of which 98 i published so far (u might see 98 according to stats - but 2 i left in "draft")

I was looking for something special and received this on email which i think is awesome to celebrate the 100th post:

The Greatest Man in History

J E S U S

had no servants,

yet they called Him M a s t e r.

Had no degree, yet they called Him T e a c h e r.

Had no medicines, yet they called Him H e a l e r.

He had no army, yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

I feel honoured to serve such a Leader who loves us all!

Psalm 22

Where God Wants Me

My Video in reflecting to God's Call

I have written in the past about acting on God's calling which i have mentioned in an earlier post and i have also mentioned that this has been going on since 2003 - You now most probably wonder why have i not done anything since then well here are some facts:

2003 - i was 33yrs old at the time and only then got to know Christ and got fully involved in my Church (Methodist) at that time -after a few months i got clear signs to preach and live according to God's Word and to spread the Gospel - i started studying theology, i did a christian counselling course, was involved in almost all aspects in my church, met all requirements to commence ministry, was part of a bible study group etc and it got to a point where i had even done a sermon together with a qualified Minister (the most awesome thing in my life was to stand in front of the congregation to preach God's Word - things went well and i was feeling great.

What happened then was i just faded off - was scared - like a lot of us do, i think as we get to feel almost as though "wow - this cant be true and why would God want to use me" I felt my calling is just not right at that time and i felt -no this just can't be". I however slowly drifted away but what i have discovered is if God calls you, yes we might not obey as i did in the past but it will never leave your thoughts and signs will always be given to you at various times - i was also not 100% sure where i fit (where should i be).

You must be wondering why am i writing this - well i writing this as it has taken 5 years for me to realise what God has been doing and its only now that i know for sure - He has shown me where i must go and that when God calls - BE PATIENT - i in 2003 wanted things quicker as we all tend to do sometimes especially when getting to know Christ but the key word to remember is patience - don't try to rush in too quick.

Let God show you in HIS time - He has surely shown me and God will equip you fully for when the timing is right to act upon that calling - i feel equipped today which i did not feel in 2003 (weird hey).

Do not be in a hurry - Its awesome when God reveals and decides the time is right now

Psalm 23:6 - Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

In the name of God the father, The Son and the Holy Spirit - AMEN

The Symbology of Numbers

1 the Undivided Oneness of God
2 the two natures of Christ; both the Divine and the material
3 the Three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity, the three Magi and their gifts
4 the Evangelists and their Gospels; the elements, humors and material world; North, South, East, and West; the four seasons
5 the Five Wounds; the senses
6 the days of creation; creation fallen; imperfection
7 covenant, oath; perfection; the day God rested (the Sabbath being the sign of the Covenant with Adam); the seven colors the rainbow (a sign of the Covenant made with Noe); the seven Sacraments (the Covenant sign made with the Church); the Gifts of the Holy Ghost; the virtues and vices
8 the visible world, made in seven days, with the invisible kingdom of grace following; regeneration
9 man's imperfection; the choirs of Angels
10 the Commandments; the Plagues of Egypt
12 the tribes of Israel; the Apostles; the signs of the Zodiac; the hours of the day and the hours of the night; the penetration of matter with spirit (3 X 4)
13 betrayal; Judas
33 the number of years of Jesus's human life
40 testing and trial; the years of the Deluge; the years of wandering in the desert in Exodus; the days Moses spent on Mt. Sinai; Christ's days in the desert
666 the number of the Beast. (Also 616 in some later manuscripts, a number rejected by St. Irenaeas as a scribal error).
1000 the milennium -- the Church Age

The Ten Commandments

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honour thy father and thy mother.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Thou shalt not covet.

Matthew 10:38

"The one who doesn't take up his cross and follow ME isn't worthy of ME".

What is Catholicism ?

Catholicism is a denomination of Christianity. It is the oldest Church (along-side with Orthodoxy). Catholicism includes 22 rites, the most notable the Latin Rite (or more commonly Roman Rite, often called the Roman Catholic Church).

The entire Catholic Church is under the authority of the Bishop of Rome or the Pope. The hierarchy of the Church consists of ordained Deacons, Priests, Bishops and Patriarchs, and the Pope.

Catholicism is a Christian denomination that believes in the Doctrine of the Trinity, or Blessed Trinity.

Catholicism has seven sacraments (though the same sacraments the names differ from each rite due to language differences); they are: Baptism, the Holy Eucharist (also known as the Lord's Supper, Last Supper, or Holy Communion - Catholics also believe in the real presence), Reconciliation (otherwise known as Confession), Confirmation, Marriage (no gay/lesbian marriage), Holy Orders (being ordained - not for lay Catholics), and Anointing of the Sick (also known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction).

Catholics, to the contrary of public opinion, do not worship the Virgin Mary or any of the Saints.

The Church's law is the Code of Canon Law (for the Latin Rite).

What is the Holy Eucharist ?

The Holy Eucharist is a sacrament and a sacrifice. In the Holy Eucharist, under the appearances of bread and wine, the Lord Christ is contained, offered, and received.

(a) The whole Christ is really, truly, and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist. We use the words "really, truly, and substantially" to describe Christ's presence in the Holy Eucharist in order to distinguish Our Lord's teaching from that of mere men who falsely teach that the Holy Eucharist is only a sign or figure of Christ, or that He is present only by His power.

(b) All Christians, with but few minor exceptions, held the true doctrine of the Real Presence from the time of Christ until the Protestant Revolution in the sixteenth century.

(c) The word "Eucharist" means "Thanksgiving."

Mass in the Catholic Church

The Council of Trent reaffirmed traditional Christian teaching that the Mass is the same Sacrifice of Calvary offered in an unbloody manner: "The victim is one and the same: the same now offers through the ministry of priests, who then offered himself on the cross; only the manner of offering is different. And since in this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and offered in an unbloody manner... this sacrifice is truly propitiatory" (Doctrina de ss. Missae sacrificio, c. 2, quoted in Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1367). The Council declared that Jesus instituted the Mass at his Last Supper: "He offered up to God the Father His own body and blood under the species of bread and wine; and, under the symbols of those same things, He delivered (His own body and blood) to be received by His apostles, whom He then constituted priests of the New Testament; and by those words, Do this in commemoration of me, He commanded them and their successors in the priesthood, to offer (them); even as the Catholic Church has always understood and taught."[2]
The Roman Catholic Church sees the Mass as the most perfect way it has to offer latria (adoration) to God. It is also Catholic belief that in objective reality, not merely symbolically, the wheaten bread and grape wine are converted into Christ's body and blood, a conversion referred to as transubstantiation, so that the whole Christ, body and blood, soul and divinity, is truly, really, and substantially contained in the sacrament of the Eucharist.[3]

Apostles' Creed

Father, Son and Holy Spirit = The Trinity

When God Calls

The Lord's Prayer

Rosebank Catholic Church (SA)

A Prayer For You..................

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you...

I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. And It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.

I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.

Keep me strong that I may help the weak... Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those that don't believe.

But I thank you that I believe. I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God.

Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees It.

AMEN

God Bless!!!!!!!!!!!

God I love you and I need you, come into my heart, please.....

God will bless you.

Love is ........