Proclaim the Gospel!

This is a great article from Zenit News Agency on Pope Benedict XVI's message for World Mission Sunday! Check out the article below, it's very powerful and it speaks for itself:

Here is Benedict XVI's message for the 82nd World Mission Sunday, to be celebrated Oct. 19.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On the occasion of the World Mission Day, I would like to invite you to reflect on the continuing urgency to proclaim the Gospel also in our times. The missionary mandate continues to be an absolute priority for all baptized persons who are called to be "servants and apostles of Christ Jesus" at the beginning of this millennium. My venerable Predecessor, the Servant of God Paul VI, already stated in the Apostolic Exhortation "Evangelii Nuntiandi": "Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity" (n. 14). As a model of this apostolic commitment, I would like to point to St Paul in particular, the Apostle of the nations, because this year we are celebrating a special Jubilee dedicated to him. It is the Pauline Year which offers us the opportunity to become familiar with this famous Apostle who received the vocation to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles, according to what the Lord had announced to him: "Go, I shall send you far away to the Gentiles" (Acts 22: 21). How can we not take the opportunity that this special Jubilee offers to the local Churches, the Christian communities and the individual faithful to propagate the proclamation of the Gospel to the ends of the world, the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Cf. Rm 1: 16)?

Humanity is in need of liberation

Humanity needs to be liberated and redeemed. Creation itself - as St Paul says - suffers and nurtures the hope that it will share in the freedom of the children of God (cf. Rm 8: 19-22). These words are true in today's world too. Creation is suffering. Creation is suffering and waiting for real freedom; it is waiting for a different, better world; it is waiting for "redemption". And deep down it knows that this new world that is awaited supposes a new man; it supposes "children of God".
Let us take a closer look at the situation of today's world. While, on the one hand, the international panorama presents prospects for promising economic and social development, on the other it brings some great concerns to our attention about the very future of man. Violence, in many cases, marks the relations between persons and peoples. Poverty oppresses millions of inhabitants. Discrimination and sometimes even persecution for racial, cultural and religious reasons drive many people to flee from their own countries in order to seek refuge and protection elsewhere. Technological progress, when it is not aimed at the dignity and good of man or directed towards solidarity-based development, loses its potentiality as a factor of hope and runs the risk, on the contrary, of increasing already existing imbalances and injustices. There is, moreover, a constant threat regarding the man-environment relation due to the indiscriminate use of resources, with repercussions on the physical and mental health of human beings. Humanity's future is also put at risk by the attempts on his life, which take on various forms and means.

Before this scenario, "buffeted between hope and anxiety... and burdened down with uneasiness" ("Gaudium et Spes", n. 4), with concern we ask ourselves: What will become of humanity and creation? Is there hope for the future, or rather, is there a future for humanity? And what will this future be like? The answer to these questions comes to those of us who believe from the Gospel. Christ is our future, and as I wrote in the Encyclical Letter "Spe Salvi", his Gospel is a "life-changing" communication that gives hope, throws open the dark door of time and illuminates the future of humanity and the university (cf. n. 2).

St Paul had understood well that only in Christ can humanity find redemption and hope. Therefore, he perceived that the mission was pressing and urgent to proclaim "the promise of life in Christ Jesus" (2 Tm 1: 1), "our hope" (1 Tm 1: 1), so that all peoples could be co-heirs and co-partners in the promise through the Gospel (cf. Eph 3: 6). He was aware that without Christ humanity is "without hope and without God in the world" (Eph 2: 12) - "without hope because they were without God" ("Spe Salvi," n. 3). In fact, "anyone who does not know God, even though he may entertain all kinds of hopes, is ultimately without hope, without the great hope that sustains the whole of life (cf. Eph 2: 12)" (ibid., n. 27).

The Mission is a question of love

It is therefore an urgent duty for everyone to proclaim Christ and his saving message. St Paul said, "Woe to me if I do not preach it [the Gospel]!" (1 Cor 9: 16). On the way to Damascus he had experienced and understood that the redemption and the mission are the work of God and his love. Love of Christ led him to travel over the roads of the Roman Empire as a herald, an apostle, a preacher and a teacher of the Gospel of which he declared himself to be an "ambassador in chains" (Eph 6: 20). Divine charity made him "all things to all, to save at least some" (1 Cor 9: 22). By looking at St Paul's experience, we understand that missionary activity is a response to the love with which God loves us. His love redeems us and prods us to the missio ad gentes. It is the spiritual energy that can make the harmony, justice and communion grow among persons, races and peoples to which everyone aspires (cf. "Deus Caritas Est", n. 12). So it is God, who is Love, who leads the Church towards the frontiers of humanity and calls the evangelizers to drink "from the original source, which is Jesus Christ, from whose pierced heart flows the love of God" ("Deus Caritas Est", n. 7). Only from this source can care, tenderness, compassion, hospitality, availability and interest in people's problems be drawn, as well as the other virtues necessary for the messengers of the Gospel to leave everything and dedicate themselves completely and unconditionally to spreading the perfume of Christ's charity around the world.

Evangelize always

While the first evangelization continues to be necessary and urgent in many regions of the world, today a shortage of clergy and a lack of vocations afflict various Dioceses and Institutes of consecrated life. It is important to reaffirm that even in the presence of growing difficulties, Christ's command to evangelize all peoples continues to be a priority. No reason can justify its slackening or stagnation because "the task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church" (Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation "Evangelii Nuntiandi", n. 14). It is a mission that "is still only beginning and we must commit ourselves wholeheartedly to its service" (John Paul II, Encyclical "Redemptoris Missio", n. 1). How can we not think here of the Macedonian who appeared to Paul in a dream and cried, "Will you come by to Macedonia to help us?". Today there are countless people who are waiting for the proclamation of the Gospel, those who are thirsting for hope and love. There are so many who let themselves be questioned deeply by this request for aid that rises up from humanity, who leave everything for Christ and transmit faith and love for Him to people! (cf. "Spe Salvi", n. 8).

Woe to me if I do not preach it! (1 Cor 9: 16)

Dear Brothers and Sisters, "duc in altum"! Let us set sail in the vast sea of the world and, following Jesus' invitation, let us cast our nets without fear, confident in his constant aid. St Paul reminds us that to preach the Gospel is no reason to boast (cf. 1 Cor 9: 16), but rather a duty and a joy. Dear brother Bishops, following Paul's example, many each one feel like "a prisoner of Christ for the Gentiles" (Eph 3: 1), knowing that you can count on the strength that comes to us from him in difficulties and trials. A Bishop is consecrated not only for his diocese, but for the salvation of the whole world (cf. Encyclical "Redemptoris Missio", n. 63). Like the Apostle Paul, a Bishop is called to reach out to those who are far away and do not know Christ yet or have still not experienced his liberating love. A Bishop's commitment is to make the whole diocesan community missionary by contributing willingly, according to the possibilities, to sending priests and laypersons to other Churches for the evangelization service. In this way, the missio ad gentes becomes the unifying and converging principle of its entire pastoral and charitable activity.

You, dear priests, the Bishops' first collaborators, be generous pastors and enthusiastic evangelizers! Many of you in these past decades have gone to the mission territories following the Encyclical "Fidei Donum" whose 50th anniversary we celebrated recently, and with which my venerable Predecessor, the Servant of God Pius XII, gave an impulse to cooperation between the Churches. I am confident that this missionary tension in the local Churches will not be lacking, despite the lack of clergy that afflicts many of them.

And you, dear men and women religious, whose vocation is marked by a strong missionary connotation, bring the proclamation of the Gospel to everyone, especially those who are far away, through consistent witness to Christ and radical following of his Gospel. Dear faithful laity, you who act in the different areas of society are all called to take part in an increasingly important way in spreading the Gospel. A complex and multiform areopagus thus opens up before you to be evangelized: the world. Give witness with your lives that Christians "belong to a new society which is the goal of their common pilgrimage and which is anticipated in the course of that pilgrimage" ("Spe Salvi", n. 4).

Conclusion

Dear Brothers and Sisters, may the celebration of World Mission Day encourage everyone to take renewed awareness of the urgent need to proclaim the Gospel. I cannot fail to point out with sincere appreciation the contribution of the Pontifical Mission Societies to the Church's evangelizing activity. I thank them for the support they offer to all the Communities, especially the young ones. They are a valid instrument for animating and forming the People of God from a missionary viewpoint, and they nurture the communion of persons and goods between the different parts of the Mystical Body of Christ. May the collection that is taken in all the parishes on World Mission Day be a sign of communion and mutual concern among the Churches. Lastly, may prayer be intensified ever more in the Christian people, the essential spiritual means for spreading among all peoples the light of Christ, the "light par excellence" that illuminates "the darkness of history" ("Spe Salvi", n. 49). As I entrust to the Lord the apostolic work of the missionaries, the Churches all over the world and the faithful involved in various missionary activities and invoke the intercession of the Apostle Paul and Holy Mary, "the living Ark of the Covenant", the Star of evangelization and hope, I impart my Apostolic Blessing to everyone.

From the Vatican, 11 May 2008

Comments? How did the words of our Holy Father impact you? Please share with us!

World Youth Day

Well I hope you were able to read about World Youth Day or watch some of it.  I’ve been hearing great things about it.  I’ve also read some of the Pope’s messages over there – very powerful!  

My friend Lilian from Australia sent me today an amazing write-up on World Youth Day by Peter Kentley.  Peter is a non-Catholic Christian who is the CEO of Australian Marketplace Connections (AMC) http://www.marketplaceconnections.com/.  AMC is a Christian organization bringing the Kingdom to bear in the work world. Lilian and her husband Bjorn (both Catholics) works with AMC.

I thought it was a wonderful perspective from a non-Catholic Christian, which gives me great hope for deeper Christian unity and renewal and evangelization!

The Cross of the King of Kings was front page news across the nation this week as World Youth Day took over Sydney. The media respectfully honoured Christ as the top news for a week, with the city awash with pilgrims from across the world flooding the streets and the hearts of the people of Sydney.

As a visitor to Sydney last week I want to honour our Catholic brothers and sisters for an outstanding invasion of a city with the presence of the Spirit of Christ. Everywhere ordinary Aussies were touched to the heart by huge crowds of happy, smiling, praying, joyful young people... Truly reflecting the face of Christ in the world.

AMC was invited to contribute to this event with a workshop on marketplace ministry led by Bjorn Schmid at St Aloysius college, Milson's Point. A wonderful group of vibrantly alive young people came to search out ways they could serve Jesus in their everyday working world. The session concluded with a joyful sharing of stories, beautiful fellowship across all boundaries and spontaneous prayer. It was a wonderful experience in the Spirit.

Alexandra Bekiaris, producer of the movie "MOST" was also invited to show her movie as part of the World Youth Day celebrations. Alexandra reports:

I saw the multitudes of every nation, tribe and tongue, listening to the cry of God, as they shared his heart for unity in the Nation and for the nations, for the youth and our City and our Church.

He needs more and more workers in this field, it is so vast. I just saw the fields of Gold, ready for his people to take the sickle and reap. I don't think I will ever be the same after last night, it was so overwhelming.

I had a taste of a whole City , thousands of youth, united from every nation, wanting more of God. Whether you believe that this was an elaborate Catholic expedition or not, God showed me a larger picture. I saw  a whole City, worshipping to songs we know and sing in church every Sunday.

People singing on the streets of the City in circles. Dancing like David danced. Everywhere your eyes looked there were multitudes of pilgrims. I saw and had a taste of revival, it was amazing. People with flags of different nations from everywhere chanting for Jesus.

I tasted the heart beat of Jesus when I felt like I could not love again. He put a new heart in me to love the lost more!  I felt the heart beat of the father and his heart beats and beats and beats for the lost.

Get ready in your city. The Lord needs us to be effective for him where we are!

The hairbrush and the love of God

Beth Moore is a Christian Bible teacher and author, and is a married mother of two daughters. This is one of her experiences.

As I read it I knew the reality of this story and encourage you to open your heart to the deeply personal love of God in Jesus Christ. Also, pray and ask the Lord to make you available to the opportunities he provides to carry his love to others in our daily lives!

On April 20, 2005, at the Airport in Knoxville , waiting to board the plane, I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing.

I'd had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say this because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you. You could end up doing some things you never would have done otherwise. Life in the Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons not the least of which is your ego.

I tried to keep from staring, but he was such a strange sight. Humped over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes that obviously fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier. His knees protruded from his trousers, and his shoulders looked like the coat hanger was still in his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones.The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy, gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man.I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering if I'd just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then, I remembered that he was dead. So this man in the airport...an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us somewhere?

There I sat; trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned about a thin slice of humanity served on a wheelchair only a few seats from me. All the while, my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for him. Let's admit it. Curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern,and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man.I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall. I've learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen. And it may be embarrassing.

I immediately began to resist because I could feel God working on my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind. "Oh, no, God, please,no." I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, "Don't make me witness to this man. Not right here and now. Please. I'll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don't make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!"There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, "Please don't make me witness to this man. Not now. I'll do it on the plane."

Then I heard it... "I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair." The words were so clear, my heart leapt into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No-brainer. I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, "God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man. I'm on this Lord. I'm your girl! You've never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am going to witness to this man."Again as clearly as I've ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. "That is not what I said,Beth. I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair." I looked up at God and quipped, "I don't have a hairbrush. It's in my suitcase on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?" God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God's word: "I will thoroughly furnish you unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:17)

I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself. Even as I retell this story, my pulse quickens and I feel those same butterflies .I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as possible, "Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?"He looked back at me and said, "What did you say?""May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?"To which he responded in volume ten, "Little lady, if you expect me to hear you, you're going to have to talk louder than that."At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, "SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?"At which point every eye in the place darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Long locks. Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me with absolute shock on his face, and say, "If you really want to." Are you kidding? Of course I didn't want to. But God didn't seem interested in my personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, "Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don't have a hairbrush." "I have one in my bag, "he responded.I went around to the back of that wheelchair, and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger's old carry-on, hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man's hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted.

I don't do many things well, but must admit I've had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls. Like I'd done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands,remembering to take my time not to pull.A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old mans hair. Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair. I know this sounds so strange, but I've never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I - for that few minutes -felt a portion of the very love of God. That He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while.The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God's. His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant's.I slipped the brush back in the bag and went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knees and said, "Sir, do you know my Jesus?"He said, "Yes, I do." Well, that figures, I thought.He explained, "I've known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn't marry me until I got to know the Savior." He said, "You see, the problem is, I haven't seen my bride in months. I've had open-heart surgery, and she's been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride."Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we're completely unaware of the significance. This, on the other hand,was one of those rare encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known.

It was a God moment, and I'll never forget it. Our time came to board, and we were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I'd acted earlier and would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft.I still had a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, "That old man's sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do that?"I said, "Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!"And we got to share.

I learned something about God that day. He knows if you're exhausted,you're hungry, you're serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you're hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you're sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need!

I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities just like that one had I missed along the way. .. .. all because I didn't want people to think I was strange. God didn't send me to that old man. He sent that old man to me.

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. "We Have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father,full of grace and truth."John 1:14

Amazing! What are your thoughts and comments? Ever been in a random situation like this?

What is communitas?

In talking with my friend Chip who is a dear brother in Christ about the importance of community in evangelization, he told me about “communitas.”  I said, “what?”  Well, apparently its a Latin word closely related to community – which is kind of like “community on mission” or its the “type of community guys have in a foxhole together.”

The type of community where you realize its life or death, and you really need one another.  And the fact that the guy next to you doesn’t pray like you, or crosses himself too much, or lifts his hands in worship, or speaks in tongues, or loves the saints and Mary, or is “into” social justice, or is a conservative, or a liberal, or is a Protestant, or is Orthodox – these differences are drastically lessened.  Because they are put into perspective.  We are at war.

Everyday we are assaulted by a world system opposed to the loving and benevolent Lordship of Jesus Christ.  Everyday we are exposed to subtle deceptions, distortions, and divisions of the one Jesus calls the Liar, the murderer, Satan.  Everyday we fight to put to death the “deeds of the flesh” as St. Paul reminds us.  Everyday we have the opportunity to lift someone closer to heavenly things or pass them by or even plunge them towards an eternal life separated from Eternal goodness and splendor.

Do some of those differences matter? Yes   Should we dialogue with others and be committed to deeper spiritual and doctrinal unity? Yes, of course.   But is this the War we are fighting? No.  These are internal exchanges between foxhole brothers and sisters committed to unity for the sake of the Gospel.

In talking about the martyrs of other Christian churches in his ecumenical encyclical, That they May be One, Pope John Paul II says, “These brothers and sisters of ours, united in the selfless offering of their lives for the Kingdom of God, are the most powerful proof that every factor of division can be transcended and overcome in the total gift of self for the sake of the Gospel.”  He continues to tell use we need to overcome the past sins of division and, purifying our prejudices and ignorance we must pursue dialogue with others.  The Pope continues, “What is needed is a calm, clear-sighted and truthful vision of things, a vision enlivened by divine mercy and capable of freeing people's minds and of inspiring in everyone a renewed willingness, precisely with a view to proclaiming the Gospel to the men and women of every people and nation.”   

So, back to “communitas.”  We need not only a vision of communitas and the War we are waging, but real-life practical people to connect with and carry forth the mission of Jesus Christ.  The following is an excerpt of an article written by Alan Hirsch focused on small groups, making disciples, and mission.  Its written from a non-Catholic, more free-church mentality, but there are some extremely important insights he has to offer.

Then there is the idea of communitas. This should be interesting to small groups because communitas represents a kind of community that develops in the context of a shared ordeal or challenge that calls people out of a normal understanding of themselves. They are centered around the kind of experiences that turns friends into comrades. Often our sense of connection and reliance on each other is minimal, and what a communitas will do is restructure the relationships between people and help them experience and interact with each other in a fundamentally new way. In essence it means putting the adventure back into the venture....

It seems to me that if we fail to make disciples-that is, people who can become like Jesus Christ, which is a very simple definition of discipleship-if we can't get that right, then in doesn't matter what else we do because there will be a fundamental weakness in our ministry. The lack of disciples will always undermine any effort beyond that. But if we succeed in developing and creating an environment where people really can become more Christlike, it seems to me that the movement is on, and everything else will have a substantial basis along with it.

The problem is that we are being discipled every day by our culture, and it's done very profoundly and very well-and I say this with a background in marketing and advertising. There are billions of dollars going into advertising, which is not just selling us products. There's much more of a religious dynamic going on. So if we as a church or a small group don't disciple in the way of Jesus, then the culture gets to have the primary say. And I have to say that, despite our best efforts, the culture is winning at this stage.

We wanted to diminish the reliance on the professional class of ministry. I'm a deep and profound believer in the ministry of all believers, and so we wanted to empower our people and wean them away from a dependence on the church. [In Catholic terms this is the “priesthood of all believers” and the “apostolate of the laity,” checkout http://www.christlife.org/sharefaith/articles.html#lay for more on this]

It's ironic. When you "do church" well, you create dependency, because then people can't reproduce it themselves. We had to break that. We had to communicate that all disciples carry within themselves the potential for world transformation. We wanted to communicate that you have the power to do this, so don't outsource it to other people. That's the Faustian bargain at the heart of many churches-that people outsource their primary gifting, calling, and function to the institution, to the professionals in ministry.

Small groups can play a tremendous role in moving out of the dependency, but they have to move from being Bible studies and prayer groups to being mission agencies. And they need to take seriously the idea of a common set of disciplines that begin to form them and shape their culture-not just a common set of beliefs that everyone agrees on for life. You have to get at their behaviors....

I do believe that risk and adventure are important for us. We go and watch it in the movies all the time, partly because we've outsourced it to the movies. But deep down in the human heart is a desire to do something of note-to test oneself, literally. But we've lost the art of it.

And so I think our churches and small groups need to take on tasks and functions with a very real possibility of failure. We need to do something where, unless we find each other and all work together, we're going to fail. We need to put ourselves in situations like that and see what happens. There's going to be failures, of course, but we need to try. Because when people find themselves in those situations, their very relationships with one another are restructured....

Think about a small group of 20 or 25 people that adopts a rubbish dump in Mexico City-a place where a community of people are literally living off the rubbish dump. And that group says: Over the next 10 years (take it over a long time, not a short-term project) we are going to spend a significant part of our holidays and unpaid leave, and every one of us is going to go down there and help the people build a little village. We're going to get those people off that rubbish dump. We're going to bring whatever expertise we have to go and do this thing. We're not just going to send money; we're going to go there and do this thing ourselves.

I promise you, if a small group does that, they will be different people in 10 years time. Now, that might sound like a lot, but a group from where I am in Southern California could easily do that. And it doesn't have to be that ambitious. I know of a group that adopted their local park in a similar way. They cleaned it up, they set up barbeques and played volleyball-they were creative.

But the main thing is for people to just get out-and I say this with all love and respect-just get out of the house. It's too safe in our houses. We need to start inhabiting the places where other people inhabit. If you can pull off "church" in a third place, in a place where people go to spend their spare time, you will be forced to contextualize your message and get away from the bad three-chord choruses and stuff like that.

Because often our small groups in our houses are run like mini-churches, aren't they? We do the same thing we experience on Sunday, but it's just bad. We have a mother and son combo on the guitar, and the Bible study is never quite as good as the pastor's sermon. It's a back up. It's just mini-church done badly. I mean, are there other ways to worship God than singing songs in public? Surely there must be, for goodness sake. God can be worshiped in all ways, so go find them.  

The full article is located at- http://www.christianitytoday.com/smallgroups/articles/smallgroupmissionofgod.html  

Any comments?

My Cardboard Testimony

Take a look at this video!

This very simple means of having members of a congregation share a key point of their conversion, or place of deepening faith is very powerful and profound! It is a great way of sharing your faith in humility and succinctly. It is also a great opportunity for the person sharing the testimony to reflect and note a specific turning point.

This willingness of the people to humbly honestly share what has brought them to faith in our Lord, or to trust him more completely in crisis, is the way the Lord deeply touches those who need his grace and mercy!

One practical response to seeing this video, is to take the time to pray and write down your point of conversion or deepening faith in the Lord. Think of it as writing a few words just like they did on cardboard and then flipping it over and giving the change that has occurred. Some of us have numerous testimonies from our journey. All of them are redemptive doors of grace for people the Lord brings to us in daily life. This is a good exercise for each of us to do. It will increase your praise and thanks to God for the mercy He has shown you!

Can you imagine doing this in your parish! What amazing grace could be released for others, and what an amazing opportunity this would give us as parishioner's to proclaim the good news and lead people to receive forgiveness and into personal commitment to the Lord Jesus!

Receive the Power!

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses...to the ends of the Earth.” -Acts 1:8

This years World Youth Day marks Pope Benedict's first visit to Austrailia. This year's theme is a new penecost and outpouring of the power of the Holy Spirit! World Youth day is expected to attract more than 125,000 international visitors. Attending will be musicians such as Matt Maher, Hillsong United, and Human Rythmns. In an article by Zenit News Agency The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI explains that Jesus is the answer for everything and the reason for World Youth Day is to have a relationship with Him and proclaim Him when you go home. An excerpt from the article is below:

"Where can young people find the answers to their questions about the existence of God and the injustices they see in the world? In Christ", says Benedict XVI.

The Pope said this in a video-message taped ahead of his trip to Australia, dated July 4, to the people of the nation and the young pilgrims who will take part in World Youth Day. The video was released today in Australia.

The 23rd International World Youth Day, to be held in Sydney from July 15 to 20, has as its theme "You Will Receive Power When the Holy Spirit Has Come Upon You, and You Will Be My Witnesses."
"How much the world needs a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit," the Pontiff said. "There are still many who have not heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, while many others, for whatever reason, have not recognized in this Good News the saving truth that alone can satisfy the deepest longings of their hearts."

The Holy Father said that he firmly believes the youth to be the "instruments of that renewal, communicating to their peers the joy they have experienced through knowing and following Christ, and sharing with others the love that the Spirit pours into their hearts, so that they too will be filled with hope and with thanksgiving for all the good things they have received from our heavenly Father."

Benedict XVI continued: "Many young people today lack hope. They are perplexed by the questions that present themselves ever more urgently in a confusing world, and they are often uncertain which way to turn for answers. They see poverty and injustice and they long to find solutions.

"They are challenged by the arguments of those who deny the existence of God and they wonder how to respond. They see great damage done to the natural environment through human greed and they struggle to find ways to live in greater harmony with nature and with one another."

The Pope asked, "Where can we look for answers?"

"The Spirit points us toward the way that leads to life, to love and to truth," he stated. "The Spirit points us toward Jesus Christ."

Quoting St. Augustine, the Pontiff affirmed, "If you wish to remain young, seek Christ."

"In him we find the answers that we are seeking," he continued, "we find the goals that are truly worth living for, we find the strength to pursue the path that will bring about a better world. Our hearts find no rest until they rest in the Lord, as St. Augustine says at the beginning of the Confessions, the famous account of his own youth.

"My prayer is that the hearts of the young people who gather in Sydney for the celebration of World Youth Day will truly find rest in the Lord, and that they will be filled with joy and fervor for spreading the Good News among their friends, their families, and all whom they meet."

Please pray for everyone attending World Youth Day 2008 that they would be filled with the Holy Spirit and have the zeal and courage to spread Jesus' love to the world!

Enter the mission where you are!

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. Matthew 9:35-10:1

The heart of God is moved by compassion for those who are lost, confused, broken, wandering without knowledge of His love and forgiveness for them. So much so that the Father sent the Son so that, whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. The reality of this truth is perfectly revealed in the Lord Jesus in his passage from Matthew. He taught that God’s reign was here, now! He demonstrated this good news that the Lordship of God by healing every disease. In compassion he was and is moved to urge us to pray for more workers to carry on His mission. But in addition to praying, which is the essential work of evangelization, He wants us to go into the harvest fields and do what he did! See the last couple verses above!

The Lord Jesus has you strategically placed right where you live daily life. Pray for eyes to see the opportunities he has already arranged for you to engage, be kind and befriend those you get to encounter each week, and be ready to share about the Lord’s love for you and them, anytime and anywhere! Fasten your seat belt and watch how he uses you to help others know Him! He is moved by compassion and urgently wants all to enter into his life through his people, the Church!

Catholics in the Media

It is encouraging to see how the Church can use the media to evangelize, and how many people it can reach. Tom Peterson is the founder of Catholics Come Home and uses television and the Internet to reach alienated Catholics and draw them back home to the Church. Zenit News Agency came out with an article about Tom Peterson's efforts and the amazing results they are producing:

TV Ads Bringing Catholics Home
6,000 Respond to Phoenix Campaign

By David Hartline

PHOENIX, Arizona, JULY 8, 2008 (Zenit.org).- For many who have left the Catholic Church, there is often a great desire to come home. However, fear and guilt often lead many to put off the gnawing decision to return to the Church. Not knowing where to turn, many who were once faithful feel lost and ashamed.

Tom Peterson, founder of Catholicscomehome.org, has found television and the Internet to be just the place to reach out to those wishing to come back to the Church.

Earlier this year Peterson tested his methods and ideas using an advertising campaign geared toward the 3.5 million who live in the Diocese of Phoenix.

More than 6,000 people inquired and came back to the Church via the Catholicscomehome.org Web site, and many more came back to Catholicism by reporting directly to a parish near their home. One priest reported that 16 people came to him for confession after they saw the television ad.

"One of the biggest surprises for us was the amount of inquiries from those who are not Catholic," said Peterson. "About one quarter of those expressing an interest in the Catholic Church are from those who have seen our commercials or visited our Web site and want to better understand the Catholic Church, or have actually made the decision to become Catholic."
Reasons

When sorting out what caused many to leave the Church, Peterson said "about 90% of those who left the Church can't give a good reason."

He also explained that many can't express why they want to come back. Many simply say they felt something was missing.

"They often want to come home but don't know how. They feel uncomfortable about coming back and don't know what to do -- when to sit and when to stand, and what to pray. We try to ease those fears and remind them of God's desire to see them come home," the director said.

Once they come back to Church, he added, they feel renewed. "They experience the Eucharist again and the power of confession. They feel their hunger for the truth has been met and a feeling of joy overcomes them."

When asked why he thought his brief television commercials had such an impact, Peterson said: "Our commercials are a basic reminder of who we are, the Church Jesus founded, the Church that Jesus entrusted to Peter and every pope who followed him.

"We are the Church that gave the world the Bible. When we quickly explain these facts and use the Bible to do it, people really respond. They admit that either they never really knew this or simply forget."

Testimonies

Peterson said he is often greeted with surprise as to how well Catholicscomehome.org has done. Several testimonies sent to his site show the impact it has had on viewers.

After seeing the commercials on Phoenix television, a visitor named Michael wrote, "It is highly effective and so very much needed at this time."

Another from an Angela said, "I've been away from the Church for over 35 years and over the past 20 years I have become agnostic. [...] For me to actually look this site up from a TV ad says a lot."

For some the commercials brought a great sense of joy. David wrote, "I wanted to commend you on the commercial. Wow. That was really well done. I'm so proud to be Catholic!"

Even non-Catholics wrote into the Catholicscomehome.org Web site to praise their efforts. Jean said, "I am not Catholic, but I think your commercials are extremely well done, tasteful and persuading."

Still another e-mailer, Deborah, was so impressed that she wrote, "I am interested in the Catholic Church. What do I have to do to convert?"

Beginning

The project has even caught the attention of the Holy See. Recently, Peterson said, he discussed the initiative with Cardinal John Foley, prefect of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, and Archbishop Claudio Celli, prefect of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

While the results have surpassed his expectations, Peterson explains that this is only just the beginning. The group has plans to launch similar campaigns this winter in St. Louis, Lincoln, Colorado Springs, Sacramento, Atlanta and Fargo.

"We are ramping up to 2010," he added, "when we hope to start a national advertising campaign starting with the 2010 Super Bowl."

Peterson takes no credit for his success. He simply says: "The world needs Jesus. We need to remind others how much they are loved by Jesus and needed by our Church family."

Jesus is the way!

One of the fruits of the Second Vatican Council and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Catholic Church in the 1960s is the new movements and communities – which the Pope quite frequently speaks of. One of these new communities, the Neocatechumenal Way, was recently approved by the Vatican. Zenit news interviewed Kiko Argüello, one of the initiators of the Way. The Way has a strong emphasis upon baptism, the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit – all wonderful things! Here is an excerpt from the interview:

Q: Why is baptismal catechesis the key to evangelize modern man?

Arguello: Because baptism opens to us the door of the Church, participation in divine nature. As St. Paul says, "For the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."

The problem of the man of today is that, because of original sin, he lives everything for himself; he has placed himself at the center of the universe, substituting God as the center of his person, and does not realize that he lives enslaved, condemned to live for himself. This causes profound suffering, because the truth is something else; because God is total love, total giving to the other that he has shown in Christ; man suffers because he doesn't love like Christ.

In countries where transcendence has been denied for years, where God has been denied, as in the former Communist countries, the rate of suicides is very high, because happiness is to live in the truth, and truth is love. And this original sin can only be erased through baptism.

That is why it is important to call men back to the faith, through preaching, the proclamation of the kerygma, the proclamation of Christ dead and risen. When Peter makes this proclamation on the day of Pentecost, the people are moved and ask him what they should do. Peter replies: "Be baptized and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

The first baptismal fonts were pools -- the Council talks again of immersion -- to which the neophyte descended by steps. This first form of baptism represents perfectly what this sacrament means: death of the old man and resurrection to new life, to man regenerated by the Holy Spirit, who can love and give himself. That is why the crucified Christ is the true image of the free man.

Q: Is this, therefore, the answer to secularization?

Arguello: Of course. How can man be free of the sin that acts in him? Only Christ can free man, make him able to love others, make him share in his divine nature. This is something fantastic that changes man's life; it must be told to the whole universe; the world must be re-evangelized.

As Pope John Paul II said, this new evangelization requires new ways, new contents, and this is what God has inspired through the Way. Now that the statutes have been approved, we can offer this Way to bishops and to the entire Church, to carry forward the new evangelization.

Amen! I hope this article hits you, because it definitely hit me and made me realize how important it is to carry on this new evangelization to the world. People are spiritually dying to know the love of Jesus Christ! How can I live in this freedom of Christ and not share it with others!

What did you get from this article? Comments?

Holiness & Mission

Here is an excerpt from a July 4 address of Pope Benedict to the Church in Brindisi. His comments on the Church and the integral connection between holiness and mission are refreshing to hear.

The Church in essence, like Christ and together with him, is called and sent out to establish the Kingdom of life and to drive out the dominion of death so that the life of God may triumph in the world; so that God who is Love may triumph....

The Church in Christ then is the place in which to accept and mediate God's love. In this perspective it is clear that the Church's holiness and missionary character are two sides of the same coin: only because she is holy, that is, filled with divine love, can the Church carry out her mission, and it is precisely in terms of this task that God chose her and sanctified her as his property. Our first duty, therefore, precisely in order to heal this world, is to be holy, configured to God; in this way we emanate a healing and transforming power that also acts on others, on history....

The Church is the community of sinners who believe in God's love, letting themselves be transformed by him and thus become holy, sanctifying the world.  

Enlivened by the hope in which you have been saved, may you too, brothers and sisters of this ancient Church of Brindisi, be signs and instruments of the compassion and mercy of Christ. To the Archbishop and priests I fervently repeat the words of the divine Teacher: "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without pay, give without pay" (Mt 10: 8). This mandate is once again addressed in the first place to you today. The Spirit who acted in Christ and in the Twelve, is the same as the One who works in you and enables you to perform among your people, in this territory, signs of the Kingdom of love, justice and peace that is coming, indeed, that is already in the world.

I love the part about the Church being the “community of sinners who believe in God’s love.”  I pray that we and all the Church would rediscover our calling as “a people set apart – called to declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (see 1 Peter 2)

Any comments?

Personally, his final statement “the Spirit who acted in Christ and in the Twelve, is the same as the One who works in you” is a wonderful reminder that the same Holy Spirit abides in us and empowers us to “heal the sick, etc.”  Bill Johnson repeated this theme (see Podcast 47 at http://christlife.libsyn.com) when he said, “Do you not realize that the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead dwells in you?!” (see Romans 8:11).  What a wonderful wake up call to the reality of all those who are baptized into Christ.

The Sound of Heavy Rain

Elijah said, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of heavy rain.”
(2 Kings 18:41)

A time of renewed faith and life in the Holy Spirit
Over the last four or five months here at our offices we have become aware of our hunger and desire for more of the Lord’s life, presence and power. As we begin each day in our chapel before the Blessed Sacrament there has been a noticeable increase in the quality of our prayer times (subjectively speaking) and in the length of time devoted to praise and worship of the Lord. We have also experienced an increase in the Lord speaking to us through Scripture and prophesy.
I believe that what we are experiencing here at our ChristLife is something that the Lord may be doing in many Christians presently. I think that it is possible that there is a time of renewal coming and He wants us praying and crying out to him for his mercies to flood the earth! We need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the Church and the nations!

Lakeland Florida
In the context of this season of what I would characterize as a time of increased faith in his faithfulness and renewal in the Holy Spirit I had the chance to go to go to Lakeland, Florida, a place about forty miles west of Orlando in the middle of no-where (apologies to the local residents). I went because I had heard about some revival meetings taking place there from some trusted Christian leaders, and then watched some of the meetings on Internet web-casts. I went because of what the Lord has been doing among us and specifically because I sense the Lord Jesus renewing me in the use of the spiritual gifts for evangelization.

From what I have learned, back in the beginning of April a young Canadian evangelist had gone to an Assembly of God church in Lakeland, to do a mission that was planned for a week. Those meetings took off from gatherings of seven hundred to now several thousand meeting every night. There have been meetings every morning and every evening since April 2nd. That’s over 94 days! There have been many healings and creative miracles and there is a way that the grace of the Holy Spirit is being imparted to those who attend so that they go back home praying for others themselves.
The evangelist’s name is Todd Bentley, he and his family are from British Columbia. Todd is a most unlikely Christian leader. He is a much tattooed and body pierced former biker (as in motorcycle gang biker not as in Lance Armstrong biker), who is not only unorthodox in appearance but also in ministry style. Sometimes as he prays with people for healing he says, Bam! Sort of like Emeril the TV chef. He says that is what he feels is happening inside him in the power of the Holy Spirit as he is praying for people - bam! That alone is enough to turn a lot of folks off and away from taking a closer look at what is happening in Lakeland.

Discernment with love as our aim, not condemnation
I have learned over many years of fellowshipping and praying with Christians from various Christian churches, that it is easy to make judgments against other believers simply because they don’t do things the way we do them. I am not suggesting checking our brains at the door, but I am suggesting that when we hear about things that are going on with fellow Christians, that are different from us, we take the time to discern and learn with love as our aim- not condemnation.

You may recall that in the Gospels and Acts it was frequently religious leaders that didn’t recognize Jesus as the Christ, meanwhile at his birth wise men from foreign lands recognized him, and later his Lordship was quite clear to those who were possessed by evil spirits! How about St Paul and Silas as they went about on their missionary journey in Asia Minor? The religious leaders condemned them, while the fortune telling demon controlled girl stated they were of God? And what about the Lord Jesus’ own statement about the ‘church going’ people not accepting John the Baptist because he was a kook out in the dessert and He, Himself, was accused of being a drunk hanging out in the bars with sinners? The same was true when we read the lives of many Saints; they were criticized and persecuted often by fellow Christians and sometimes by those in authority during their lifetimes. My point is that in movements or visitations of the Lord, sadly it is often the case that believers are the ones who condemn what just may well be the Lord! If you haven't been there and are reading some of the negative and condemning reports, I encourage you to bless and not curse as some are doing. If it is not your cup of tea, that is not reason to condemn nor to speak against.

One thing I can tell you personally is that I have learned a lot of very important truths from other Christians, through which I have benefited as well as those I serve in the Catholic Church. Okay, enough with the pastoral qualifications! Let me share a variety of things that are happening at this Lakeland revival, as it is called.

Pilgrimage
One thing I experienced as soon as I walked into the meetings was the number of people from other countries! It is quite amazing as you talk with people you are seated near to learn where they have come from. I sat with people from Australia, South Korea, England and Texas (that is a separate country, right?!). Each of the three nights I attended, there were people from over 30 countries present, and they were not in the area to visit the Mouse in Orlando! They were there for the Lord Jesus and the conviction that the Holy Spirit was doing something new that could help them share the Gospel back in their own cities! Remember these meetings have been going on for 90+ days and already people from all over the world are coming, hungry for God. Doesn’t that remind you of pilgrimages that have happened over the centuries in the Catholic Church!

Media for a new evangelization ( a great example for all Christians)
GodTV is broadcasting each morning and evening service. You can check out the meetings at: freshfire.ca They are broadcasting by satellite in over two hundred countries with a potential audience of over 140 million. Many of the people I talked with from other countries had learned about the revival by seeing it on TV. I heard the witness of one woman who was healed of breast cancer while watching it on TV. Her sister had called and told her to drive over to her house to see this TV show. After watching Todd Bentley minister healing, as she drove home she realized she was healed; the lump the size of a golf ball was gone! Her doctor later verified it! In addition to GodTV carrying the meetings, many of the major TV networks are now coming to record what is happening. ABC network was there all three days I attended. It should be interesting to see what they say and to watch how the Lord uses it. He longs for people to know his love and mercy and will use all things to do that!

Power evangelization One wonderful development that says a lot about the major thrust of these meetings is what is taking place daily with teaching and practice evangelizing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Each afternoon they are training those who come to the revival how to operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit in sharing God’s love with others. After each session they have everyone go out prepared to share their faith, as the Holy Spirit gives them opportunities. On one afternoon as two mean teamed up to go out they prayed and the Lord gave them each an image. The one man saw a baseball field and the other say bleachers with a person sitting in them. They began to drive around Lakeland and found a baseball field with no bleachers, so they continuing searching and found another with bleachers AND a young man sitting in them alone. When they shared with him it turned out he had planned on taking his life, they got to share how and why they were there and he turned to the Lord for help!
Praise and Worship I think that the praise and worship that is occurring at these meetings is really exceptional. It is charismatic in style and led by a very good worship team. Generally the time of prayer lasts at least 90 minutes. The second night I attended it went on for over two hours!

Emphasis on the Glory of God Todd Bentley places a significant emphasis on the presence of the Lord among us and the fact that the Lord Jesus wants us to carry his presence out into the world! He repeatedly states that what we receive at these meetings should be brought back to our countries and cities and given away. There clearly is something about the presence of the Lord at these meetings that is a transferable impartation of the graces of God.

Healing A major part of each evening is Todd or whoever is leading the service prays for healing. Most of the time it begins with words of knowledge, where the Holy Spirit gives gifting to know the condition of people who are suffering with different illnesses. One development that I think is very helpful for those discerning if this is authentic is that they are asking for medical verification of the healings people receive. They now have a medical doctor on staff that reviews the medical records. Here are a few of the healings that occurred or were shared about on one night while I was there.
* A lady with failing kidneys resulting from diabetes was given one year to live in January. She came the first week of the revival. During worship she felt the power of God come upon her and felt her kidneys pulsate! She felt that she needed to use the toilet and based on that knew her kidneys were functioning again! She has since been to the doctors three times and they confirm the kidneys are working properly.
* There was a couple we met who was sitting in front of us from Texas. They had come to bring a woman suffering from fibromyalgia, chronic pain in every part of her body over the last nine months. She was in such pain that she couldn’t come for the worship time and the husband had to go the hotel to bring her late. While sitting in her seat she heard Todd give a word of knowledge for fibromyalgia, stood up in faith and the power of the Spirit came upon her obviously, we got to pray with her, she now has no pain!
* A woman 80% deaf in one ear and 70% deaf in the other had both ears 'pop' open. She said she now needs earplugs because everything is so loud!
*One man's testimony is what revival is all about! He was just released from jail three weeks ago and only attended the meeting because of the urging of a friend. During the meeting a tumor under his arm, the size of his nose, just shrank and completely disappeared. He was holding his arm up so everyone could see the place where there now was lose skin on his armpit! He then gave His life to the Lord Jesus! Meanwhile his friend is jumping up and down with joy!

Come Holy Spirit! Rain down upon the nations!
Something wonderful is happening in Lakeland and the people who are leading as well as many who are coming from around the world believe it is for the church and for the conversion of the nations. Having attended I believe it is for renewal and empowerment to bring the Gospel with power to those around us. Isn't that what our Lord Jesus desires?!

Let’s cry out to the Lord for more of his love and mercy to fall afresh upon the nations! Oh Lord Jesus, give us faith to see the lame walk, the deaf hear and the blind see! Give us hearts that carry your compassion for those who do not know you! Amen.

Hunger & Healing

"If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,'you would not have condemned the innocent." -Matthew 12:7
ChristLife's latest podcast is dedicated to the healing power of Jesus in our lives when we hunger after Him, not because of anything in us, but because of His great love and mercy. Pete and ChristLife's director, Dave, discuss the awesome healing works of the Lord. Dave shares stories from Lakeland, Florida and the healing revival going on there. Also, Laura, a friend of ChristLife, shares her testimony of her hunger for the Lord and His healing power in her life! Listen in here, or press play below:

Year of St. Paul the Apostle

Well I'm excited. The Church just began on Saturday a year dedicated to St. Paul. He's the man. In the Pope's words:

"Dear brothers and sisters, as in early times, today too Christ needs apostles ready to sacrifice themselves. He needs witnesses and martyrs like St Paul. Paul, a former violent persecutor of Christians, when he fell to the ground dazzled by the divine light on the road to Damascus, did not hesitate to change sides to the Crucified One and followed him without second thoughts. He lived and worked for Christ, for him he suffered and died. How timely his example is today!"

"And for this very reason I am pleased to announce officially that we shall be dedicating a special Jubilee Year to the Apostle Paul from 28 June 2008 to 29 June 2009, on the occasion of the bimillennium of his birth, which historians have placed between the years 7 and 10 A.D."

Personally, the writings of Paul have had a huge impact on my life. With the Holy Spirit he wrote a good portion of the New Testament. These letters are a valiant and courageous witness to Jesus Christ.

This weekend I went whitewater rafting on the Cheat River in the middle of nowhere in West Virginia (actually a little town called Albright). It was an awesome time! Anyway, we went to confession and mass the evening before rafting (on Sunday) and the priest, Fr. Paul, a Passionist priest from Pittsburgh, celebrated the mass. At the beginning he turned to the group of guys I was with and gently encouraged us to ask for St. Paul's prayers - since the Apostle himself was shipwrecked. We nervously laughed, not realizing the next day we were going on Class V rapids. Though we all did great!

Anyway, instead of a homily, a letter from Bishop Bransfield was read about the Year of St. Paul. It is a very inspiring letter. In it the Bishop challenges us all to take up the mission of Christ in three ways:

"This should be a year when we study and reflect on this magnificent man and his New Testament writings. But we must do more; we must allow our reflection to move us to action and, like St. Paul, to challenge ourselves and others in three important ways: to grow in our personal commitment to Christ, to invite the inactive to return to our communities, and to reach out to the unchurched."

This is the heart and soul of ChristLife. It all begins with our own personal commitment to Jesus Christ and flows on to reaching the inactive and those who've never encountered the beauty, truth, and joy of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ.

One final important message from the Pope about this Pauline year:

"Finally, there is one particular aspect to which careful attention must be paid during the various celebrations of this bimillennium of Paul’s birth: I am referring to the ecumenical dimension. The Apostle of the Gentiles, who was particularly committed to bringing the Good News to all people, gave everything he had for unity and harmony among all Christians. May he guide and protect us in this bimillennium celebration, helping us to go forward in the humble and sincere search for full unity between all the members of the mystical body of Christ."

--

Father, in Jesus name, we ask that we would be servants of unity and that we would follow closely the example of your servant Paul this year. Help us to imitate his compassionate, zealous and bold heart as we reach out to those around us. Stir into flame our passion for your Son Jesus. Amen!