Deepertruth inaugurated the "Christy Show" last night and I can't help but think how fast we continue to grow.
This morning, I am working at our local College Television/Radio Station helping them with their annual fund raising for this quarter.
I am representing SIFE "Students In Free enterprize" helping answer the phones collecting the pledges as they come in.
This is really an exciting opportunity to see how this works. I am sitting next to another SIFE member who I have had the chance to talk with last Semester.
She works here at the Television/Radio Station at Central Texas College and she is interested in helping me put together some shows for Deepertruth.
She is very interested in looking at the Catholic Faith through the discussions we have had.
You never know when the Lord will give you the opportunity to represent him.
I am finding the opportunities to be limitless! We just need to be willing and open to share with everyone we meet either through a good word for the day, or a good question and answer format.
I served in the Army for more than 26 years. That seems like a whole lifetime. I have two brothers that served in the United States Marines Corps. My Brother Randy was in Lebenon when the Suicide bomber blew up the Marine Barracks on Oct 23, 1983. My other Brother David served in Viet Nam so both of my Brothers understand what war is. I am very proud of our family as we have three Sons who are currently serving in the Army. All three of them have been to the Middle East, Afhganistan. I want to dedicate this song in honor of their service and those serving today. May God bless America!
"After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, 'This is my beloved Son. Listen to him'. Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant (Mark 9:2-10)".
This scripture places the transfiguration of Jesus six days after the first prediction of his passion and death and his instruction to the disciples on the doctrine of the cross. Jesus reveals insight into the divine glory that he possessed.
His glory will overcome his death. The cloud and heavenly voice prepares the disciples to understand the divine plan that Jesus must die before his messianic glory is made manifest. Moses and Elijah represent the law and prophecy in the Old Testament and are linked to Mt. Sinai.
They now appear with Jesus as witnesses to the fulfillment of the law and the prophets taking place in the person of Jesus. The shadow covering them reminds us of the Old Testament indicating the Lord's presence in the midst of his people (Exodus 40:34-35).
The Apostles were not to reveal what they witnessed until after the Resurrection. The Catholic Church recalls this revelation of the Lord so we can spiritually follow this glory of the Lord. Jesus shows us the true path!
The road leads to Jerusalem. It leads to Calvary, a place called Colgotha, the place of the skull. The human race is intently watching the events unfolding. Everyone plays an important part in what occurred on this hill outside Jerusalem.
It was for us all that Jesus made this journey. The true Lamb of God! "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and might, forever and ever. Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne and from the Lamb. For the Lamb who is the center of the throne will Shepherd them and lead them to springs of life giving water (Rev 5:12-13, 7:10-17)".
How does Jesus today "Shepherd" his people? Through his Church (John 21:15-19)! What is the "springs of life giving water"? This is a reference to Baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Jesus states, "For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice (John 18:3)". We should hunger for his voice (Luke 10:16), we should want to rid ourselves the vice that separate us from that close personnel relationship with him, to live within his Covenant (Matthew 26:28).
Jesus warns, "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord did we not prophecy in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name? Then I will declare to them solemnly, I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers (Matthew 7:21-23)".
Let the truth lead us to do good works and take advantage of the free grace Jesus offers in the Sacraments (Hebrews 13:16-20).
Recalling the Transfiguration of Jesus, it calls to min a Eucharistic Miracle that took place in the life of St. Clare. On one occasion when the Army of Frederick II was devastating the Valley of Spoleto, some of the Soldiers threatened to sack Assisi.
The people surrounding the convent where St. Clare lived were fleeing the country side fearing for their lives. As the Army placed ladders against the walls, St. Clare prostrated herself before Jesus in the Eucharist.
Her prayer was heard as she took the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament and went before the enemy. As the Soldiers were climbing the ladders with crowbars and axes and weapons of war, the town appeared lost.
Then Jesus in the Host illuminated brightly before the oncoming Soldiers. The Host became dazzling white blinding the attackers. Due to a sudden panic, the Soldiers subsequently fled in terror.
Today, there is another attack upon the Church from another army with different weaponry. This attack storming the walls of faith is a false doctrine called "Once Saved Always Saved" (OSAS).
This doctrine teaches that once you are "saved" you cannot lose your salvation. Ezekial 3:20 states, "If a virtuous man turns away from virtue and does wrong when I place a stumbing block before him, he shall die. He shall die for his sin, and his virtuous deeds shall not be remembered";
Jesus warns "But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13). The story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) speaks of the importance of repentance. This is reflected again in James 5:18-20) teaching that when a sinner returns to the truth, they are raised from the dead and a multitude of sins are forgiven.
Salvation is not lost because of God, he shows his mercy and forgiveness towards us for the love he has for us. The sin of presumption is to place yourself inside his judgement without his grace.
The following is taken from Culture News, an internet think tank, expose what Obama and the Gay Agenda is attempting to force Military Chaplains to conduct Gay Marriages.
The Archdiocese of the Military is saying "No 'Gay Marriage' Says Military Archdiocese. The Catholic Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, says it will continue to hold firm on marriage at the Catholic Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. But homosexualists won't stand for this. The recent acceptance of sexual deviancy in the military is not enough, they say, as they garner their forces to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)."
I can't help but think that we are entering an evil age! Is this the age of the "Anti-christ"? I don't know if we are in the time of 2 Thess 2:3, but I certainly know that we are in the age of 1 John 2:18-20.
We are heading for some ridiculas times. The Church is under attack and it is important to see our Shephards take a stand. The people will follow if the Shephards lead (1 Peter 5:1-5).
Here is some more from Culture News: "Military Chaplains Defy 'Gay Marriage' Directive - Over 2,000 Catholic and Protestant chaplains are refusing to comply with Commander in Chief Obama's Gay Agenda of performing same-sex "marriages," choosing rather to hold firm to the commands of the Almighty God.
-- From "Military Lets Chaplains Perform Gay Marriages" by Julian E. Barnes, Wall Street Journal 10/1/11
In a pair of memos, top Pentagon officials said military chaplains could participate in private same-sex-marriage ceremonies on or off military installations. The ceremonies must not be official Defense Department events and can't be held in violation of local laws. The decision came over the objection of Republican lawmakers.
. . . Clifford Stanley, the undersecretary of defense for personnel, said the ceremonies would be allowed on any military base, except where local law explicitly prohibits such private ceremonies. Six states the District of Columbia currently allow gay marriage.
. . . Republican lawmakers objected, saying such ceremonies would violate the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which restricts federal recognition of same-sex marriages.
From "More than 2,000 Evangelical, Orthodox Chaplains Join Catholics in Opposing Pentagon Directive on Same-Sex Marriage" by Pete Winn, CNSNews.com 10/5/11
A national group representing more than 2,000 military chaplains from evangelical Christian and Orthodox backgrounds said on Wednesday that the Pentagon has launched a “direct assault” on marriage, and the chaplains they endorse will not be allowed to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies under any circumstances.
Dr. Ron Crews, executive director of the newly formed Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, said . . . “By dishonestly sanctioning the use of federal facilities for ‘marriage counterfeits’ that federal law and the vast majority of Americans have rejected, the Pentagon has launched a direct assault on the fundamental unit of society – husband and wife.”
“While the memorandum acknowledges a chaplain’s right to not participate in same-sex ‘marriage’ ceremonies – a right not given by the Pentagon, but rather given by the Creator and protected by the chaplain’s faith group,” said Crews.
From "Akin: DOD allowing chaplains to officiate same-sex marriages is illegal" by John T. Bennett, The Hill 9/30/11
Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) charged Friday that a Pentagon decision to conduct same-sex marriages on military bases is part of a "liberal agenda" and is illegal.
“The Department of Defense has decided to put the White House’s liberal agenda ahead of following the law," Akin, chairman of the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee, said in a statement Friday.
"The Defense of Marriage Act makes it clear that for the purposes of the federal government, marriage is defined as between one man and one woman," Akin said. "The use of federal property or federal employees to perform gay marriage ceremonies is a clear contravention of the law."
From just what we are seeing coming from the Obama Administration, this will not stop. Obama is doubling down on his war with the Catholic Church and others who hold to traditional marriage and morality. The battle is being waged before our eyes. Like Nero of old, Obama is setting fire to the republic.
I was raised on a farm, and I really enjoyed putting this video together. One thing I did learn through this episode is that I should compensate wearing army desert boots as opposed to cowboy boots!
Getting back on YouTube for the first time in a long while, it is interesting to see the anti-Catholics are raising their head again.
I guess you can say that some things just do not change. Well, that is exactly what our faith should be like! We should be like a rock, that is standing strong for holy Mother Church, the Catholic Church!
We are the People of God, the Kingdom of God on earth. Let us not be talked out of it by cheap imitations and divisive talk.
I want to dedicate this prayer for the needs of our families and our Nation.
This is composed by Rev. John H Hampsch, C.M.F.
Heavenly Father, I come before you as your child in great need of your help; I have physical health needs, emotional needs, spiritual needs and interpersonal needs. Many of my problems have been caused by my own failures, neglect, and sinfulness, for which I humbly beg your forgiveness, Lord. But I ask you to forgive the sins of my ancestors whose failures have left their effects on me in the form of unwanted tendencies, behavior patterns and defects in body, mind, and spirit. Heal me, Lord, of all these disorders.
With your help I sincerely forgive everyone, especially living or dead members of my family tree who have directly offended me or my loved ones in my family tree who have directly offended me or my loved ones in any way or those whose sins have resulted in our present sufferings and disorders. In the name of your divine Son Jesus, and in the power of his Holy Spirit, I ask you, Father, to deliver me and my entire family tree from the influence of the evil one. Free all living and dead members of my family tree, including those in adoptive relationships and those in extended family relationships from every contaminating form of bondage. By your loving concern for us, heavenly Father, and by the shed blood of your Precious Son, Jesus, I beg you to extend your blessing to me and all my living and deceased relatives. Heal every negative effect in future generations of my family tree.
I symbolically place the cross of Jesus over the head of each person in my family tree, and between each generation; I ask you to let the cleansing blood of Jesus purify the blood lines in my family linage. Set your protective angels to encamp around us, and permit Archangel Raphael, the patron of healing, to administer your divine healing power to all of us, even in areas of genetic disability. Give special power to our family members' guardian angels to heal, protect, guide and encourage each of us in all our needs. Let your healing power be released at this very moment and let it continue as long as your sovereignty permits.
In our family tree, Lord, replace all bondage with a holy bonding in family love. And let there be an ever deeper bonding with you, Lord, by the Holy Spirit, to your Son, Jesus. Let the family of the Holy Trinity pervade our family, with its tender, warm, loving presence, so that our family may recognize and manifest that love in all our relationships. All of our unknown needs we include with this petition that we pray in Jesus precious name. Amen.
I want to ask for prayer for those needing jobs and work to maintain their households. That our economy will turn around. There is much pain and suffering due to people losing their homes and property. May God bless America.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been hijacked by an elitist leftist group of Progressives.
I recently wrote "Obama's War on Catholicism" that I share my concern for the future of our Country.
Today, the Catholics issued a letter to be read in all our Parish's informing the public of the HHS ruling. This will affect each and everyone of us.
What it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.
Our Shephards are calling for us to stand up and be counted.
First pray for the Bishops as they are going to be targeted.
Pray for all our Priests who will have to lead the fight. Pray for the whole people of God that religious libverty will be fully maintained. The following is a response from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:
BackGround: THE NEW FEDERAL MANDATE FOR CONTRACEPTION/STERILIZATION COVERAGE
On August 1, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an 'interim final rule' to require virtually all private health plans to include coverage for all FDA-approved prescription contraceptives, female sterilization procedures, and related 'patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity.' These are listed among 'preventive services for women' that all health plans will have to include without co-pays or other cost-sharing -- even if the insurer, the employer or other plan sponsor, or the woman herself object to such coverage. There have been many protests, including formal comments filed with the HHS by many organizations and a petition signed by over 430 Catholic leaders (see www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/). However, on January 20, 2012, HHC decided not to make any significant change in its rule. Important points:
1. Pregnancy Not a Disease
- The mandate treats a healthy pregnancy as a disease in need of 'prevention,' like breast cancer or AIDS (which other 'preventative services' on HHS's list do legitimately seek to prevent). In reality, some of the mandated contraceptives are associated with an increased risk of AIDS, blood clots leading to stroke, and other ailments. Inclusion of these drugs places HHS's efforts to prevent disease at war with itself.
- The claim that greater access to contraceptives will reduce abortions is not supported by the facts (http://old.usccb.org/prolife/issues/contraception/contraception-fact-sheet-3-17-11.pdf). The contraceptive mandate's strongest advocates are groups that perform and promote abortion, who hope a coverage mandate for 'prevention' will encourage government and others to see abortion as a 'cure'.
- Everyone deserves access to basic life-affirming health care, and health care reform is supposed to serve that goal. The effect of this mandate is just the opposite, as it pressures organizations to drop their health coverage for emplyees and others altogether if they have a moral or religious objection to these particular item.
2 The Problem of Abortifacient Drugs
- By requiring coverage for all drugs approved for contraception and 'emergency contraception' by the FDA, the mandate includes drugs that can interfere with implantation in the womb and therefore destroy the early human embryo.
- One such drug already approved, 'Ella' (ulipristal), is similar to the abortion drug RU-486 in its formula and its ability to cause an abortion in the first weeks of pregnancy. The new health care reform law forbids HHS to mandate coverage of abortion, but it is doing so here.
3 Violating Religious Freedom and Rights of Conscience
- The rule has an incredible narrow religious exemption for 'religious employers' (not insurers, schools with student health plans, or families purchasing insurance). Even religious employers are exempt only if their purpose is to inculcate religious doctrine, they hire and serve mainly people of their own faith, and they qualify as a church or religious order in a narrow part of the tax code. Most religious institutions providing health, educational or charitable services to others have no protection. Jesus himself would not qualify as 'religious enough,' since he healed the needy regardless of religious affiliation and taught followers to do the same (see the parable of the Good Samaritan).
- HHC says this exemption is like those enacted by most states that have a contraceptive coverage mandate, but that is false. None of the state mandates covers as wide an array of health plans, and the great majority have broader protection for religious freedom.
- Many federal laws exempt individuals and institutions from having to take part in health services against their moral or religious convictions; some of these laws specifically protect from forced involvement in contraception or sterilization (http://old.usccb.org/prolife/issues/abortion/crmay08.pdf). HHS is violating this long federal tradition, and needs to return to it. Congress should also appreve the 'Respect for Rights of Conscience Act' (H.R. 1179, S. 1467) to ensure that this happens.
THE HHS MANDATE FOR CONTRACEPTION/STERILIZATION COVERAGE: AN ATTACK OF RIGHTS OF CONSCIENCE
How important is the right of conscience in American tradition?
It has always been a paramount importance: 'No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against enterprises of the civil authority' (Thomas Jefferson, 1809). In the past, has the federal government respected conscientious objections to procedures such as sterilization that may violate religious beliefs or moral convictions? Yes. For example, a law in effect since 1973 says that no individual is required to take part in 'any part of a health service program or research activity funded in whole or in part under a program administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services' if it is 'contrary to his religious beliefs or moral convictions' (42 USC 300a-7 (d). Even the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, which requires most of its health plans to cover contraception, exempts religiously affiliated plans and protects the conscience rights of health professionals in the other plans. Currently no federal law requires anyone to purchase, sell, sponsor, or be covered by a private health plan that violates his or her consscience.
How has the Department of Health and Human Services departed from this policy?
By Issuing a mandate for coverage of sterization and contraceptives (including long-lasting injections and implants, and 'morning-after pills' that may cause an early abortion) in virtually all private health plans. In August 2011 HHS included these procedures in a list of 'preventive services for women' to be required in health plans issued on or after August 1, 2012. On January 20,2012, HHS reaffirmed its mandate while deferring enforcement against some religious employers until August 2013.
Is it appropriate to require coverage of these as 'preventive services'?
No. The other services on HHS's list seek to prevent serious disease - breast cancer, lung cancer, AIDS. Pregnancy is not a disease. The Institute of Medicine committee that compiled the 'preventive services' list for HHS said in its report that unintended pregnancy is a 'condition for which safe and effective prevention and treatment' need to be more widely available - setting the stage for mandated coverage of abortion as the 'treatment' when prevention fails. Note that women who suffer from infertility, which really is an illness, were ignored in this mandate.
Didn't HHS include a religious exemption?
Yes, an incredibly narrow 'religious employer' exemption that fails to protect many, perhaps most, religious employers. To be eligible an organization must meet four strict criteria, including the requirement that it both hire and serve primarily people of its own faith. Catholic schools and hospitals would have to eject their non-Catholic employees, students and patients, or purchase health coverage that violates their moral and religious teaching. Jesus and his apostles would not have been 'religious enough' for the exemption, since they healed and served people of different faiths. The exemption provides no protection at all to sponsors and providers of health plans for the general public, to pr0-life people who own business, or to individuals with a moral or religious objection to these procedures.
Isn't this an aspect of the Administration's drive for broader access to health care for all?
Whether or not it was intended that way, it has the opposite effect. People will not be free to keep the coverage they have now that respects their convictions. Organizations with many employees will have to violate their consciences or stop offering health benefits altogether. And resources needed to provide basic health care to the uninsured will be used instead to facilitate IUDs and Depo-Provera for those who already had ample coverage. This is a diversion away from universal health care.
But won't this provide 'free birth control' for American women?
That claim is false for two reasons. First, the coverage will be mandated, not a matter of free choice for any woman. Second, insurance companies will not be able to charge a co-pay or deductible for the coverage, so they will simply add the cost to the standard premium everyone has to pay - and among those being required to pay will be people who oppse it on conscience grounds. That is not victory for freedom.
By objecting to this coverage, is the Catholic Church discriminating against women?
Not at all. The Church's teaching against early abortion is based on respect for all human life, male and female. It's teaching against contraception and sterilization is based on respect for the power to help generate a new human life, a power held by both men and women - so health plans in accord with Catholic teaching do not cover male or female sterilization. It is the HHS mandate that shows disregard for women, by forcing them to purchase this coverage whether they want it or not.
Do religious employers violate the consciences of women who want birth control, by refusing to cover it in their employee health plans?
No, they simply decline to provide active support for procedures that violate their own consciences. If an employee disagrees, he or she can simply purchase that coverage or those procedures elsewhere.
What solution to this dispute would be acceptable?
Ideally, HHS can leave the law the way it has always been, so those who provide, sponsor and purchase health coverage can make their own decisions about whether to include these procedures without the federal government imposing one answer on everyone. If HHS refuses, it will be especially urgent for Congress to pass the 'Respect for Rights of Conscience Act' (HR 1179/S. 1467). to prevent health care reform act from being used to violate insurers' and purchasers' moral and religious beliefs.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, acting as Shephards, are alerting the faithful to the coming danger that will ensnare us all if we do not stand up against this terrible threat against human life and religious freedom.
This November will be the most important elections in our times. Pray the Rosary for the conversion of sinners, pray and fast for our nation as it is in great need for the Church to take a stand.
My hats off to the Catholic Priesthood that refuses to give Holy Communion to practicing homosexuals! The following is a report from the Chicago AP: CHICAGO (AP) - Roman Catholic gay-rights supporters wearing rainbow-colored sashes to Mass were denied communion Sunday, while dozens in Minnesota had to walk around protesters to receive the holy sacrament.
About 10 people wearing the sashes stood in line to receive communion at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, but priests refused to give them the Eucharist. One priest shook each person's hand; another made the sign of the cross on their foreheads.
"The priest told me you cannot receive communion if you're wearing a sash, as per the Cardinal's direction," said James Luxton, a Chicago member of the Rainbow Sash Movement, an organization of Catholic gay-rights supporters with chapters around the country.
An internal memo from Chicago Cardinal Francis George that became public last week instructed priests not to give communion to people wearing the sashes, which the group's members wear every year for Pentecost. The memo says the sashes are a symbol of opposition to the church's doctrine on homosexuality and exploit the communion ritual.
"The Rainbow Sash movement wants its members to be fully accepted by the Church not on the same conditions as any Catholic but precisely as gay," George wrote. "With this comes the requirement that the Church change her moral teaching."
Rainbow Sash Movement spokesman Joe Murray was among those denied communion in Chicago. He said members wearing the sashes should be seen no differently than a uniformed police officer or Boy Scout seeking communion.
"What we saw today in the cathedral is discrimination at the Eucharistic table, and that shouldn't be happening," Murray said. Those denied communion returned to their pews, but stood while the rest of the congregation knelt.
The movement, which started about five years ago in England, also has members in Dallas, New Orleans, New York and Rochester, N.Y.
In St. Paul, Minn., people wearing the rainbow-colored sashes were given communion Sunday despite protests from some parishioners who kneeled in front of the altar blocking their way.
The Rev. Michael Skluzacek said in a written statement that both sides were "mistakenly using the Mass and the Eucharist to make their own personal statements."
Brian McNeill, organizer of the Rainbow Sash Alliance of the Twin Cities, said the local group has worn the sashes every Pentecost at St. Paul Cathedral since 2001, but the group had never experienced such a confrontation.
The Rainbow Sash Movement received an e-mail Tuesday from the Los Angeles Archdiocese inviting them to Mass on Sunday, but no one wearing sashes showed up for morning or midday Masses at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, archdiocese spokesman Tod Tamberg said.
A Vatican doctrinal decree last year directed at Catholic politicians said a well-formed conscience forbids support for any law that contradicts "fundamental" morality, with abortion listed first among relevant issues. A second Vatican statement said it is "gravely immoral" not to oppose legalization of same-sex unions.
CFPA: Thank God the church is taking this stand. We only wish that all of those Catholics practicing homosexuality would wear that sash every time they go to Communion.
St. Paul writes, "Therefore, my beloved, avoid idolatry. I am speaking as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I am saying. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf" (1 Corinthians 10:14-17).
St. Paul is clear that we are all part of the body of Christ and this is seen through the breaking of the bread. If anyone is living in sin, serious sin, they are warned of the gravity of recieving the Eucharist unworthily.
Concerning idolatry, St. Paul warns, "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons" (1 Corinthians 10:21).
St. Paul makes it even more clear writing, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are ill and infirm, and a considerable number are dying" (1 Corinthian 11:26-30).
We are not to recieve God's grace in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1) and to avoid mortal serous sin (Galations 5:19-21). We need to pray for our leaders (Hebrew 13:18-19) that they will be strong in their leadership (1 Peter 5:1-5).
We also need to pray for those who are wayward, running from their faith.
The Prodigals need to come home to the Catholic Faith where they can get that total healing of mind, body, and soul, and spirit.
Aborted baby sweeteners? Not for me.
I never dreamed I would have to say that.
PS. This post is our #1 ranked post of all-time but we would appreciate you checking out some of our other stuff. Please go to Deepertruthblog.com for all kinds of links to some of our best stuff. Thanks.
I do not know of a greater human witness for life than listening to Gianna Jessen tell her story.
I remember seeing here on Hannity and Combs and other shows that interviewed her. What a stumbling block to the Pro-Abortionist!
Just as we have the opportunity to witness the testimony of Gianna, every unborn child is fully known by God (Jeremiah 1:5, Psalms 139:13-15).
Every last one of them stand before the Lord reminding Him of their executioners (Matthew 18:10).
Matthew really brings this home to me! "At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, 'Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' He called a child over (tradition says this was St. Ignatius of Antioich, Discipled later on by St. John), placed it in their midst, and said, 'Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me" (Matthew 18:1-5).
We must come to the Lord as a child! Yet, our society has made war upon the child, casualties of the Sexual Revolution.
In the United States, for 40 years we have killed nearly 60,000,000 unborn children. There is no polite way to put this? There is no nice way to say this?
This war made upon the unborn child will have it's consequence. Jesus warns, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea" (Matthew is not making Jesus out to be a "pacifist" here)! Jesus is giving a stern warning, "Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come!" (Matthew 18:6-7).
The arrogant, the secularist want to close the book on the issues of faith in our land. They want to hide the truth of God's word among the nations so they can further their agenda upon an unwilling world. Groups like the ACLU and the liberal establishment want to take the image of Christ out of the public square. As long as I am alive, this will not happen! Please listen to the following story as Gianna Jessen's Story is a miracle. Here are both, part 1 and part 2 of her story.
The following is a conversion story from one of our newest Members of deepertruth and the Catholic Faith! She is one of the leading ladies of deepertruth. Her story is printed on Catholic Apologist Steve Ray's web site: www.catholic-convert.com
Sandra's story has been very inspiring and I must admit, she is a thorn in the side of the anti-Catholics on YouTube! They would zero in on her and others like a chicken hawk but it didn't take long before they would walk a mile around her channel!
Sandra Reads Herself into the Catholic Church
by Steve Ray on January 26, 2012
My conversion story will probably sound like every other convert story. You hear the phrase from a lot of converts to the Catholic Church, “I read myself into the Catholic Church.” Read what? Well, it was a shocker when I found out. Some guys who are known by Catholics as the “Church Fathers”, you have probably heard about them… If you haven’t heard about them already, I must warn that these fellows are dangerous for Protestants. Not that they are bad or anything, but because of the long line of succession that leads you all the way to the place some, if not most protestants, will say is the ‘Church of Popes’. Yeah, you guessed it… the Catholic Church.
God must be angry!
Well, just to get it out there… I wasn’t opposed to the Catholic Church. I was never taught to be. My formation in my early years was focused on memorizing scripture verses, and morality. In my early years of schooling, I went to a Christian school for 4 years. But, I knew something was missing, but I didn’t know what. The day would start off with a worship service. It was pretty much some man or woman would get up, wearing a nice suit or tie, or a nice dress. Then he or she would read from scripture and then we would leave.
I remember after being told something by my teacher that really made me think, “Are we worshiping God, or the weather?” She told us (the class), “You can tell how God is feeling by the weather outside. If it’s a sunshine blue day outside, God is happy. If it’s raining, God is crying. If it’s thundering and lightning, God is mad.” Now, you have to understand how this sounds to an intelligent kid. I may have been small, but I am not stupid.
After our teacher said this, I went to reason. Reason and common sense said that God is indeed the Creator, and that creation
is the handy work of his hands. But, to me, what the teacher had told us sounded like if God could be manipulated. Then I thought, “Well, my mother says that down in Florida we receive hurricanes. So, when a hurricane comes, does that mean God is wigging out?” Soon after, I lost my faith and left Christianity.
I didn’t totally lose my faith, because I knew that there was a God, I just didn’t know if it was the God of Christianity. After leaving this school, I went to a school that didn’t teach any type of religion. Fast forward a few years, and I was in about 6th or 7th grade, or it could have been 6 and 7th grade; I noticed my friends were continually asking me, “Sandra do you want to attend CCD? It will be fun.” And I asked, “Does it have to do with the Bible?” They replied, “Yes, but come on! It’s fun!” Now, at this point in my life, theology was not in my ‘of interest’category. So I respectfully did not accept the invitation to go. Little did I know what was going to happen later on in life.
So, for 2 years I did not accept the invitation to attend CCD. And this continued and after a while, my friends just had quit asking me. Anyway, fast forward to my 8th or 9th grade year. One my teachers walked in during English class If I remember correctly, or maybe I was sent to give something to the vice principle of the school. Anyway, the principle of the elementary school was there, and I hear my teacher say, “Oh excuse me sister.”
I thought, “Sister? I doubt that they are related.” Then he explains to us that, he isn’t referring to the ‘sister’ as blood relation, but ‘sister’ as a nun. This was a shock to me, because for whatever reason, I had said that, “I am never talking to a priest or a nun.” The reason I even knew the words priest or nun was because, I saw the movie called The Sound of Music and Sister Act. I wasn’t taught anything Catholic, so the closest I came was by watching movies.
At this time to be honest, I didn’t even know there was such thing as the Catholic Church, but I did know that there is only 1 church. I should mention that, that nun was my 4th grade teacher who I love dearly as a teacher. So I thought, “Ok, I will make an exception for sisters, but I am still not going to be talking to priests.”
Fast forward and I had graduated from the school. 9th grade was as far as you could go until you had to switch out, so I did. I knew all of my friends were going to a school which they used the abbreviation for, which they called ABC. So, I went to ABC for the sign up process. I was accepted into the school. Summer goes by, or should I say was almost over, and they were having the open house. My mother, my dad, and I went to the open house.
As we were driving there my mother tells me, “Sandrita, Catholics do things a little differently than when you went to the Christian school.” And I thought, “Well, how different can it be?” Oh, I was about to see for myself how different. We walked inside the school and made our way to the gym.
The 1st thing that caught my attention was when I met Father (a priest) for the first time. Now, father was dressed to the nines, robe and everything. But, I was baffled a little bit. I saw father wear the little hat that the Jewish people wear. So I was thinking, “Am I attending a Catholic school or a Jewish one?” I now knew the word Catholic from my mother. Well, during the tour of the school, I learned that the school abbreviation is not ABC, but ACCHS (Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School).
Archbishop is one word, not two separate words. Fast forward again, and 10th grade has started. Next thing I knew something called a Mass was upon us. I never heard of such thing. So mass started, it was our 1 a month mass where the whole entire school attended.
It soon occurred to me this is the equivalent to the Christian service that I had attended. But attending mass was way different. I found so many things to be Jewish. But Jesus was front and center throughout. Whereas what I attended, I am sorry to say, was all about the pastor. So, this was refreshing to attend. I noticed the cross comes in 1st, incense, robes, priests…ECT. I would later discover that everything is indeed Biblical. As the 3 years go by, I was becoming head over heels for the mass.
That’s right; I was slowly converting to the Catholic Church. Everything about the Catholic faith just made sense: the Sacraments, the Mass, the History…everything. I have to say, that I am extremely grateful and thankful for my teachers in those 3 years. My friends also played a big part, because if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t have gone to this Catholic school. I would be someplace else still looking for answers to the questions I had about Christianity.
I thank God for the Catholic Church that has answered all of those questions. For example: Where did the Bible come from? How come in the Old Testament, it is categorized into 4 main sections, and one of them is history, but no one seems to be teaching it? How come I never learned about what happened after the Bible? So on so forth.
My journey is kind of like the stages of a camp fire. It goes a little something like this: Beginning in my 10th grade year the spark had come. I call it the beginning of curiosity; my attention by God was captured.
In my 11 grade year, I became a smoldering ember that was beginning to smoke up. I call this the beginning of a relationship; God was teaching me how to pray. I made my first heartfelt prayer that year, and it still continues.
In my 12 grade year, that smoldering ember now had a small flame. I call this the beginning of being humbled; God used the history of His Church to knock me off my high horse. He knocked me off my horse called: Pride. I thought I knew everything, and that I didn’t need anyone. I learned that year, that I did need someone…His Church.
After graduation, the flame grew and until this day it hasn’t stopped growing. I have learned from the Church Fathers, I will give some examples:
1. St. Jerome
2. St. Ignatius of Loyola
3. St. Justin Martyr
4. St. Polycarp of Smyrna (who by the way was taught by St. John)
I have learned from people who are not only cradle Catholics, but also converts and reverts. Some of these people are:
1. Fr. Larry Richards
2. Dr. Scott Hahn
3. Steve Ray
4. Fr. Bill Casey (from the Fathers of Mercy)
5. Deacon Alex Jones
And of course, I thank everyone who has helped me along the way. I learned throughout my journey about Mercy and Forgiveness. I was witnessed to by my senior year theology teacher who is a permanent Deacon. When I needed spiritual guidance in my senior year, he listened. I should admit that I was reluctant at first, because like I had said in my early years, that I was never going to talk to a priest or anyone of that sort.
Well, like I have heard, “Never say never.” I experienced what Catholics experience in Confession; you feel about 1,000 pounds lighter; like a big chip has been lifted off of your shoulders. Towards the ending of my senior year of high school, I ended up asking the same deacon to baptize me. Actually, there is more to it than that… I must
confess that actually I was taking Communion without being baptized. I had been testing God about Communion and he had sent me a healthy guilt, which led me to asking him. I admit that I was jealous of Catholics, because I wanted the Eucharist. About 2 years later I went through R.C.I.A, and received all 3 Sacraments of Initiation. Thank God for His Church and the Sacraments! I love
being Catholic, and I wouldn’t leave it for anything! I hope you enjoyed my conversion story. God Bless † † † WE ARE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, and APOSTOLIC CHURCH!!
Is this a hoax? I think that I will not be using Pepsi Products because of the following article from LifeNews.com. The title of the article, "Pepsi Shareholders Demand It Stop Using Aborted Fetal Cells", as someone who has been a Pepsi consumer, I am demanding they stop using Aborted Fetal Cells! Here is the article:
Pepsi shareholders have filed a shareholder resolution with the Securities and Exchange Commission and PepsiCo demanding that the company has been contracting with a research firm that uses fetal cells from babies victimized by abortions to test and produce artificial flavor enhancers.
As recently as May, Pepsi ignored concerns and criticism from dozens of pro-life groups and tens of thousands of pro-life people who voiced their opposition to PepsiCo contracting with biotech company Senomyx even after it was found to be testing their food additives using fetal cells from abortions.
“The company’s key flavor programs focus on the discovery and development of savory, sweet and salt flavor ingredients that are intended to allow for the reduction of MSG, sugar and salt in food and beverage products,” the Senomyx web site says. “Using isolated human taste receptors, we created proprietary taste receptor-based assay systems that provide a biochemical or electronic readout when a flavor ingredient interacts with the receptor.”
Debi Vinnedge, of the pro-life group Children of God for Life, explained, “What they don’t tell the public is that they are using HEK 293 – human embryonic kidney cells taken from an electively aborted baby to produce those receptors. They could have easily chosen animal, insect, or other morally obtained human cells expressing the G protein for taste receptors.”
In August 2010, PepsiCo entered into a four-year agreement with Senomyx for the development of artificial high-potency sweeteners for PepsiCo beverages. Under the contract, PepsiCo is paying $30 million to Senomyx for the research and future royalties on PepsiCo products sold using Senomyx technology. When the prolife group wrote both companies requesting they use one of several non-objectionable, viable cell lines listed in their patents, Senomyx did not respond. PepsiCo did reply however and insisted that its use of the research from Senomyx would produce “great tasting, lower-calorie beverages.”
With the boycott from supportive pro-life groups, including LifeNews.com, not changing PepiCo’s mind and further letters going unanswered, Vinnedge told LifeNews today the time has come for a resolution form shareholders.
“Shareholders have a right to know the truth about what PepsiCo is doing with their hard-earned savings,” she said. “PepsiCo’s lack of consideration to the public’s moral sensibilities has only served to fuel the fire and threatens stock values, retirement pensions and investments.”
Vinnedge said the PepsiCo shareholder who filed the resolution requested that “the Board of Directors adopt a corporate policy that recognizes human rights and employs ethical standards which do not involve using the remains of aborted human beings in both private and collaborative research and development agreements.” She said she finds it ironic that PepsiCo’s own Code of Conduct boasts that they “deal with customers, suppliers, the public and our competitors in an ethical and appropriate manner.”
“There is nothing ethical or appropriate in the way they are exploiting the remains of an innocent aborted child,” noted Vinnedge.
Vinnedge said she has heard from many pro-life advocates upset by the information about Pepsi — including one 12-year-old Florida boy who learned of PepsiCo’s research from his mom’s prolife news reports and was upset enough to take action himself. At a recent 40 Days for Life event, he told attendees, “When I found out about this, I was sick to my stomach.
“I decided I wouldn’t let this happen so I came up with a way to boycott Pepsi products called United Schools for Life. This program will attempt to remove all Pepsi products from the schools in our diocese,” Gene, who hopes to educate others about what Pepsi is doing, said. Vinnedge was deeply moved by his initiative and courage.
“We hope that PepsiCo senior management gives serious consideration to what this boy has done,” she noted. “Even a child knows this is wrong. God bless him for standing up for the unborn who have no voice of their own!”
After contacting Pepsi with their concerns, the beverage and food products company responded via email to pro-life advocates with an unsigned form response from “Pepsi Consumer Relations.”
“Thank you for contacting us to share your sincere concerns,” the PepsiCo response says. “Please be assured that PepsiCo is committed to using only the highest ethical methods in all aspects of our research. This is something we take very seriously, and we hold ourselves and all of our research partners to the same high standards as the world’s leading research centers.”
The email continues: “With respect to the flavor discovery research with Senomyx, we utilize techniques that have been the gold standard for several decades by top universities, hospitals, U.S. government agencies, food and beverage companies, and essentially every pharmaceutical and biotech company in the world. Yet, there is some misinformation being circulated meant to distort what we’re doing and question our motives and those of other companies. This is unfortunate, and it is certainly not reflective of the work we are doing. We hope this information is helpful and reassuring. Thank you again for reaching out to us and allowing us to clarify the situation.”
In comments to LifeNews.com, Vinnedge says this is the latest example of PepsiCo avoiding or glossing over the criticism it receives.
“It seems that PepsiCo is simply not able to understand the concerns of consumers as they respond to their complaints with deceptive form letters,” she said.
“First, they tried to reassure the public their relationship with Senomyx was to produce “lower calorie great tasting beverages”. Then after our first press release March 29th, they tried to insinuate the reports were false and they were being accused of doing aborted fetal research,” Vinnedge explained. “Now, as the full boycott begins, they brush off using aborted fetal cell lines as an industry gold standard.”
“Well, we have a message for PepsiCo,” the pro-life advocate continued. “We who are pro-life have a “gold standard” too. And that means we defend the sanctity of all human life
including the remains of innocent aborted babies that PepsiCo is exploiting for profit.”
“If they want to boycott to end, they need to tell Senomyx to start using moral sources for their research and development or they will sever their contracts,” she concluded.
Senomyx boasts that it has over 800,000 unique flavors for foods, Vinnedge says, but cells expressing certain proteins produce a chemical signal when the flavors are introduced, which determines if they have achieved the proper flavor. The aborted fetal cells are not in the product itself.
Pro-life organizations are asking the public to boycott all Pepsi drink products and encourage consumers to contact Pepsi management requesting that they sever all ties with Senomyx. Consumers are also encouraged to contact Campbell Soup and thank them for responding to pro-life concerns.
Pro-life groups joining Children of God for Life in the boycott to date are: American Life League, Life Issues Institute, Concerned Women for America, Colorado Right to Life, American Right to Life, Sound Choice Pharmaceutical Institute, ALL Arizona, Central Nebraskans for Life, Pro-Life Waco, Houston Coalition for Life, Mother and Unborn Baby Fox Valley, Womankind, Billboards for Life, Movement for a Better America, Defenders of the Unborn, Focus Pregnancy Help Center, Idaho Chooses Life, EMC Frontline Pregnancy Centers of NY, Four Seasons for Life, CREDO, Life Choices, STOPP Dallas, CA Right To Life, Human Life Alliance, International Right to Life Federation, Operation Rescue, the National Black Pro-Life Union, Black Students for Life, and Pro-Life Nation. LifeNews.com has joined the boycott call as well.
ACTION: Contact these companies…
Jamie Caulfield, Sr. VP
PepsiCo, Inc.
700 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577
(914) 253-2000
As the gals would sing "kick the can", that is exactly what I plan to do!
Quick Update from "Children of God For Life: URGENT: ALL OKLAHOMA RESIDENTS: Contact your State Senator and tell them you want them to support Senator Shortey's SB 1418.
Not sure who your State Senator is? Go to www.oksenate.gov Bottom right hand corner - enter your address, city, zip to find your State Senator (not to be confused with US Senate)
For Immediate Release: January 26, 2012
Oklahoma Senator correct – mainstream media wrong: Aborted fetal cells are used in development of flavor enhancers for food products.
(Largo, FL) An onslaught of articles reported by the mainstream media earlier this week ranged from utter disbelief to crass remarks denigrating Oklahoma Senator Ralph Shortey (R) over the bill he introduced banning food products developed using aborted fetal material in his state.
Unfortunately for the media, the good Senator is correct.
“This is perhaps the worst case of irresponsible reporting by the mainstream media that we have witnessed in this millennium,” stated Debi Vinnedge, Executive Director of Children of God for Life who first broke the story in March 2011. “A simple fact check would have revealed that Senator Shortey is correct about how some of our foods are being produced.”
The focus is on San Francisco based biotech company Senomyx, who states on their website that, “We created proprietary taste receptor-based assay systems that provide a biochemical or electronic readout when a flavor ingredient interacts with the receptor.”
What they don’t tell the public is that they are using HEK 293 (human embryonic kidney cells) taken from an electively aborted baby to produce those receptors.
As an example of just one of over 75 patents on file in which the aborted fetal cells are utilized, Senomyx states in US Patent number 7,297,543: “The invention provides a preferred mammalian cell lines, e.g., HEK-293 cells that stably express T1R2/T1R3 and G.sub..alpha.15 under inducible conditions. These cells are useful in cell-based assays for identifying compounds that elicit or modulate sweet taste.”
Senomyx has entered into agreements with food giants, PepsiCo, Nestles and Cadbury Adams LLC, a division of Kraft Foods in which the companies pay Senomyx for the research and development of the flavor enhancers and then continue to pay royalties on the products sold. Some of these companies already have products on the market in the US using Senomyx flavors, whereas PepsiCo’s products are still in the development stage.
Because of this, Children of God for Life began a massive worldwide boycott of PepsiCo beverages when they admitted that would be the focus of their Senomyx research collaboration.
“PepsiCo has the ability to request that Senomyx use one of the morally acceptable cell lines available,” noted Vinnedge. “Unlike Campbell Soup who listened to the public and severed ties with Senomyx, PepsiCo has referred to the research as the “gold standard” for the industry; they have openly misled the public and created a public relations nightmare for themselves!”
“We stand firmly and proudly behind Senator Shortey who had the courage to step forward and protect the people of his State who have a right to know about these products,” she added. “Shame on those in the mainstream media who never bothered to check the facts before they began assaulting his good name.”
Children of God for Life hope other states will join Oklahoma’s efforts as well.
The PepsiCo boycott has garnered the support of over 30 other US prolife organizations and has now extended to nearly a dozen foreign countries. A shareholder resolution filed late last year with the Security and Exchange Commission by a concerned stockholder would require that PepsiCo “adopt a corporate policy that recognizes human rights and employs ethical standards which do not involve using the remains of aborted human beings in both private and collaborative research and development agreements.”
