William Hemsworth's Blog, page 86

Reflection On Christ And The Church

The Catholic church has an impressive rich history and teachings that are rooted in Christ. Dived into deeper with the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). We also have the advantage of the communion of Saints. Many of whom wrote on the matters of life within Christ.

Walking With Christ

We are called to live holy lives. Those lives emulated by the Saints. The road is not an easy one to follow. Many of the teachings of the church are harsh and unforgiving. At times we as Catholics struggle with those teachings. Challenges to our very faith and at times our very identity. More so when we feel that leaders have abandoned us in that walk with Christ.

It is easy to be discouraged when we see this unfold in front of us. Leaders that seem to have no regard for our faith while they push an agenda that clearly is not of Christ. A deep sadness and anger over takes us when we see this play out. Because of our love for Christ and our love of the Church. We feel that it is some how tainted and stained with what we see.

The Church Remains

Yet this is not the first time we have seen this kind of stuff play out. Throughout the history of the church many who considered themselves Catholic went down paths that were very far removed from what we hold to be true. Yet even with all that the church has remained firm. Even as we struggle within this current world that has made a greater push to reject God in all areas of public life. Leaders will come and they will go. Still the Catholic church remains like the tree with it’s roots deep into the Earth.

The greatest sadness that we have is when Catholics openly support things that go directly against Christ. While it would be easy to lash out with anger. It would be far more worth the effort to pray for them. We pray that the Holy Spirit would guide them and that we would be more encouraging so that more would be drawn to Christ. While are living in troubling times and have leaders who are less than ideal. God has shown us many times how strong the church truly is. Perhaps now is the time to remember an important saying: “Jesus I trust in you.”

About Our Guest Blogger

Important Links!

J.M. Kraemer is the creator of The Lego Church Project. He is active in his parish in the Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan. He is passionate about evangelization and disability awareness. You can contact him and learn more about his work with the information below.
The Lego Church Project (FB Page)

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EMAIL: kc8wzm@gmail.com

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Hebrew Poetry: Can Jesus Be Seen Here? Part 2

You can read part one of the series on Hebrew poetry here.

Jesus In Hebrew Poetry: Proverbs

The Proverbs a favorite book of those who are seeking practicality.  In other words, they are striving to incorporate Biblical lessons into their daily lives.  In proverbial literature there is no place for storytelling.  Every line is a time-tested truth that came about after being tested repeatedly.

The overall purpose of the book is to shape people into useful members of society.  Our understanding of Proverbs is fuller when looked through the lens of Christ.

The first chapter of Proverbs speaks of the fear of the Lord, wisdom, and the call of wisdom.  In this chapter wisdom is calling from the streets, and concludes with verse 33 “but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

The Messiah is not specifically mentioned, but there a few parallels.  In describing Jesus’s answers to the Tempe teachers Luke 2:47 states, “And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”  Jesus is described as wisdom personified, and his ministry revealed the same.  His teaching left those that heard it in wonder, and they said so in Mark 6:2.

Throughout the gospels Jesus teaches using parables. What many do not realize is that the word “parable” is the Greek word parabole is the New Testament equivalent of the Hebrew word for “proverb” masal.      

Another reference to the Messiah in Proverbs is in Proverbs 8:27-28.  This passage is interesting as it speaks of creation, and may possibly be a reference to Christ as the second person of the Trinity.

This passage reads, “When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep.”  Though it is not a direct link other New Testament passages allow one to make the connection.

Verses such as 1 Corinthians 1:30, Colossians 1:15-17, and Colossians 2:3 are just some to be mentioned.  The 1 Corinthians passage is intriguing as it declares that Christ is the wisdom of God.  This was also the consistent teaching of the Apostle Paul.

Jesus In Ecclesiastes

The book of Ecclesiastes in one that has baffled Christians for centuries.  It allows the skeptical side of man to have an outlet to ask poignant questions.  When the book of Ecclesiastes is read, we can feel the frustration of the writer.  As with Proverbs there is no direct link to Christ, but with the help of New Testament passages we can see that some statements are fulfilled by him.

However, there is one verse with a Messianic application using Isaiah 26:19 and the Jewish Midrash.  The verse in question is Ecclesiastes 1:7 which reads, “7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again.”  In the Midrash tradition this verse refers to the Messiah who will rescue his people from the worship of false gods.

Throughout the book the author of Ecclesiastes uses vivid imagery to get his point across.  That message is that life is meaningless, and even futile if God is not Lord of all.  Jesus also uses very real imagery to let his listeners know this same reality.

In fact, Jesus very bluntly says that he is the only way to the Father.  In John 15:5 Jesus also uses the analogy of being the vine to underscore this point.  That beautiful passage states, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”  The writer of Ecclesiastes says that apart from God you can do nothing, or it is vanity.

Christ says that apart from Him we can do nothing.  That is perhaps the biggest connection of the Messiah in Ecclesiastes, but it is one that can be pondered and dwelt on.  For the one that does their relationship with Christ can do nothing but grow, because the point of Ecclesiastes would have been followed.

Jesus And the Hebrew Poetry In Song Of Songs

The Song of Songs is a book in Hebrew Poetry recognized that the sensual side of man is a good thing.  However, it is not all about sexual intimacy, but is an allusion to God.  Since it is poetry it can be assumed that its reading is not meant to be literal, but allegorical.

When this is understood the precious gems of the book are mined.  However, with Revelation being the exception, no other book has been so frequently misinterpreted.  An allegorical interpretation was the favored one with early Rabbis and the early church fathers.

Prior to Christ it was seen as an image of the love that God had for his chosen people, Israel.  Under the New Covenant it is a beautiful portrayal of the love that Christ has for his bride, the church.

Song of Songs 1:2 states, “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine.”  This verse is a call for intimacy that can only be mediated by the Messiah.  Verse four speaks of the king that takes his bride into his chambers, and this is an image of the Messiah.

Another verse depicting the Messiah is Song of Songs 8:6 which reads, “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.”  Allegorically speaking this is a reference to the New Covenant love that Christ has for his people.

It is a love that death will not be able to separate.  The Song of Songs can be read as a series of songs for this wedding between Christ and the church.  The imagery is beautiful, and a great reminder of the love that Christ has for us.

Conclusion

The five books of scripture that make up Hebrew poetry vary in terms used, and in the message they are trying to portray.  In Job we read about the incredible suffering of a man, the sovereignty of God, and a reward for faith.  As for the Psalms, there are psalms of Thanksgiving, sorrow, and prophecy.

In proverbs the wisdom of life is presented.  Wisdom teaches men and women how to act in their personal and religious lives.  Ecclesiastes teaches us that all of our worldly pursuits are vain, unless God is at the forefront of our lives.  The Song of Songs is a series of songs that are about the Christ and his bride, the church.

In some cases Christ, can be seen clearly in the passages described, nut in some cases this is not readily apparent.  For those that are not readily apparent, they begin to be so when compared to passages in the New Testament.  This speaks to the beautiful symphony that is the Word of God.

Everything has its place, and what is hard to understand will be given light in the passages ahead.  Thus, Christ can be seen in scripture from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation.

Works Cited

Unless otherwise stated, all scripture passages are from the ESV-CE.

Recent Interview

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Overcoming Trauma In Your Life

Shannon McGraw joins me today to discuss her book “Reclaimed: Overcome Trauma And Gain Healthy Control Of Your Life“. She is an incest and rape survivor and describes her past struggles and how she was able to overcome and gain control. This was done by faith, looking at facts, and seeing that God can bring good out of bad situations. She is very candid and and gives great advice for those who may be struggling with trauma.

About The Author

About Shannon: Shannon McGraw (Deitz), Show up with Intention speaker and Mental Health Peer Support Specialist, is an incest and date rape survivor. She is Founder of Hopeful Hearts Ministry, a 501 c3 non-profit aiding in the long term recovery of survivors of abuse, and the author of EXPOSED, REDEEMED, and RECLAIMED.

Shannon has spoken across the United States and in Sydney, Australia and Madrid, Spain addressing the realities and affects of abuse in our culture and the graces faith provides for one’s healing journey. Shannon was CBS Houston’s featured author and has been a featured columnist with Choose-Now Ministries.com, featured on Charismamag.com, SpiritledWoman.com, CatholicLane.com, , Lifestyle & Charity magazine and Catholic Women’s magazine. Shannon also works as a Publisher for Decided Excellence Catholic Media. She has two sons and resides in Texas.

Interview: Overcoming Trauma

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Hebrew Poetry: Can Jesus Be Seen Here? Part 1

Within the Old Testament are a group of books that are written almost entirely in Hebrew Poetry.  With the exception of a few passages in the Psalms, they do not deal with history.  They deal with the concerns of mankind, such as suffering, sickness, and death.

For the most part they are speaking about man to the Lord, and they do all these things in a way that can be related to.  They also give glimpses of Jesus before the New Testament.

The poetic books are found within the division of the Hebrew Bible that is known as the “writings.”  There are five poetic books which are:  Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, and the Song of Songs.  Within these five books we see much commentary on things such as love, daily living, suffering, and the feebleness of pursuits without God being in the forefront.

With all the great stories, commentary, and knowledge that Hebrew poetry provides something very important may go unseen.  This something is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and Hebrew Poetry points to Him in many ways.  Over the next two days, I will explore the poetical books and show that they contain material that points to the Messiah.

Jesus In Job

The book of Job is astonishing, a bit mysterious, and tells a story of a man who endures great suffering.  Job was a righteous man that was upright and blameless before God.  Satan tells God that Job is only that way because God protects him. God says that Satan can do what he pleases to Job as long he does not lose his life.

Job then loses his livestock, children, and has sores all over his body. As if this were not enough, Job’s friends insist that he had done something to displease God.  Job vehemently denies this accusation, and this served as the backdrop of the Messiah account in the book.

In Job 16:19 Job states, “Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.”  Job says that there is someone in Heaven who will testify for him, and specifically calls for a mediator in 9:33. To testify on behalf of someone is to mediate for them.  This is seen more fully in Job 16:21 which states, “that he would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbor.” The term “Son of Man” is crucial in understanding who Christ is.

Son Of Man And Redeemer

Though it is used in Job 16:21, it is a messianic term used in Daniel 7:13-14.  In that passage all dominion and authority over everything on the earth was given to the Son of Man, and it would never be destroyed.  In the Gospels Jesus prefers this term for Himself, and uses it no less than eighty times. So far in Job we see Christ as “Son of Man”, and as a mediator.

Now we see Christ as a redeemer.  The full passage is in 19:23-27, but can be seen fully in verse 25. That passage states, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.”  The Hebrew word used for redeemer is the word Go’el.  This is the only time that this word appears in the book.  This word is used elsewhere in the Old Testament and has a few different meanings. However, in the context hear it means “defender or helper.”  Obviously, the key to the verse is the identity of Go’el.  

There are some scholars who say that someone other than God. This makes little sense considering ancient Jewish context.  To think of someone other than God as redeemer is on the level of blasphemy.  When the verse is looked at in conjunction with what is said about Job 16:19 then it is clear evidence of the Messiah in Job. Some may argue that the evidence does not declare that God became incarnate.

Given the brief evidence provided, it would seem that this as the conclusion.  The Son of Man was understood to be divine in nature, and thus only the Messiah, in the person of Jesus Christ would fit this description.

Jesus In Psalms

The Psalms have been read and sung since the days of antiquity.  When we read the Psalms, we can feel the anguish, joy, peace, and comfort from the writer. When it comes to the Messiah there is no shortage of material that can be extracted from the Psalms.

The concept of redemption is a very prominent theme, and one must have a redeemer in order to have redemption.  In the Psalms we not only see the redeemer, but we see the death of the Messiah, and as king.  It is known for its anticipation of the coming Messiah.

The Messiah is brought up as early as chapter two.  In this chapter the Messiah is in the figure of a king.  Psalm 2:6 states, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”  Verse 7 depicts a reassurance of divine sonship, and it is this sonship of the king that is referenced in Hebrews 1:5.  This was done to remind the reads that Christ was superior to the angels.

Psalm 22 is a Psalm that has very clear parallels to Christ’s death in Matthew 27:26 and Mark 15:34. Psalm 22:1 states, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Christ cried out these same words in Mark 15:34. Psalm 22:18 describes evildoers casting lots for the clothing. This was fulfilled by Christ in John 19:23-24.  In verse 16 the psalmist also writes about the Messiah’s hands and feet being pierced.

This Psalm is anticipatory, as it awaits the suffering of Christ, and his victory. Psalm 45 is also considered a Messianic Psalm because whole sections are used in the epistle to the Hebrews.  The author of the Epistle uses Psalm 45:6-7 to establish the superiority of Christ.

In this passage He is described as the king forever, and thus his superiority is established. Perhaps one of the greatest examples one could give of the Messiah in Hebrew poetry is Psalm 110.  This is seen in verse one which states, “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”  This very passage is quoted in Mark 12:36-37, and Christ says that it is David who was speaking about Him.

This Psalm also makes an appearance in the book of Acts and is quoted by Peter in his sermon on Pentecost.  This Psalm also refers to Christ as being a priest in the order of Melchizadek (Psalm 110:4).  This parallels with Hebrew 5:6, as the author utilizes this Psalm describe Christ as high priest.

These are only some of the passages in Psalms that speak of the Messiah.  There are several more such as chapters 18, 61, 72, 89, 132, and 144.  In addition, there are several more Psalms that were quotes directly by Christ to describe various things in man’s life. Part 2 will be posted tomorrow.

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Sanctus: There Is A Lot To This Hymn

The Eucharistic prayer is recited after the angelic hymn of praise known as the Sanctus. You know it: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts . . . This may seem like a repetitive hymn, and to those that hear it quite frequently that may be the case. However, its placement before the Eucharistic prayer is not accidental.

Sanctus And Scripture

It is actually a combination of two biblical passages, one from the Old Testament and another from the New Testament. The first verse that makes up the Sanctus is Isaiah 6:3 which says, “And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory” (NRSV). The second part consists of Mark 11:9 which reads, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” (NRSV).

Sometimes we sing or say this at Mass, but we don’t understand the significance.

The role that the Sanctus plays in relation to the Eucharistic prayer cannot be minimized or understated. It lays the foundation for the supernatural events that are about to take place within our midst.

The people take the place of those on the first Palm Sunday who ushered our Lord into Jerusalem with palm leaves and praise as he was riding on a donkey. We see what Isaiah say and sing the angelic hymn of praise to the Lord who is sitting on the throne (Is. 6:1).

We Lift Up Our Hearts

We lift up our hearts and voices to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords in an unending hymn of praise.  This has been sung since the beginning of time.

As the angels physically worship the Lord in heaven, and as the Israelites ushered the divine Davidic king into Jerusalem.  In Mass we welcome him physically and supernaturally in the words of consecration that comes through the Eucharistic prayer.

The Sanctus gives thanks for the great mysteries that are about to happen in the consecration. When we say the Sanctus we join with what St. Cyril of Jerusalem calls “the heavenly militia.”

This heavenly militia are the Seraphim previously mentioned in Isaiah chapter 6. By singing this great hymn of the Sanctus we are uniting our praise and worship with that of the angels whom were created to praise in Heaven. When this happens we what the Angels see in the liturgy.

As previously stated, the Sanctus, is made up of parts of Isaiah 6 and the Palm Sunday accounts in Mark and Matthew. However, the end of sacred scripture, the book of Revelation, assists us in pulling this most significant moment in the Mass together.

The Book Of Revelation And Sanctus

In Revelation chapter 4 we see a vision of heavenly worship as witnessed by St. John. In Revelation 4:8 we see a very familiar hymn to the thrice holy God as sung in the Sanctus in Mass, and Isaiah 6. What is even more telling is Revelation 4:11 which states, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (NRSV).

This is the song of the twenty-four elders who prostrate themselves before the throne of God in heavenly worship. As we participate in this section of the Mass we are being transported to the throne room of God. St. John saw this and said he was unworthy, the twenty-four elders in Revelation bowed down, and the Seraphim hid their faces with their wings.

It is at this point in the Mass where we bow in praise and adoration before the heavenly altar. This is why the Sanctus is so amazing and is more important than what many think.

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Don’t Believe The Lie Of Satan

I am very active on social media. Every few days I get a direct message that more or less conveys the same message. The person writing says that they have messed up so badly that there is no way that God could ever forgive them. That is a lie and what Satan wants you to believe. If you are truly sorry you can be forgiven no matter what you have done. The grace of God is greater than any sin.

What Satan Wants

Satan wants to keep you from God and will use any means necessary to accomplish his mission. He uses our past against us and makes us think that we are to bad for God. I know I have fallen for this trap before, and chances are you have at one point or another.

Our Lord says otherwise. Jesus died on the cross for our sin. He loves us that much! Saint Peter denied Jesus three times, and when he repented he was restored. He is our first pope and was the prince of the apostles. Looking at the lives of the apostles and early church gives us a lot of hope.

The Prodigal Son

I encourage you to look at the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. The youngest son demands his share of the inheritance from his father. In essence he was telling his father, to his face, that he wanted him dead to get the money. This was scandalous then just as it would be now. He blew the money on a sinful lifestyle. When he ran out of money he worked with pigs. This made him unclean under Jewish law.

When he was down and out, he came to his senses and realized the error of his ways. He decided to go home and try to become a servant in his fathers house. This didn’t happen. His father saw him, ran to him, embraced him, gave him a party, and restored him to his place of honor.

That is what God does for us when we repent in the sacrament of reconciliation. We are restored no matter what we have done. Don’t believe the lie of Satan!

Saint Quotes About Satan

The devil does not bring sinners to hell with their eyes open: he first blinds them with the malice of their own sins. Before we fall into sin, the enemy labours to blind us, that we may not see the evil we do and the ruin we bring upon ourselves by offending God. After we commit sin, he seeks to make us dumb, that, through shame, we may conceal our guilt in confession. -St. Alphonsus Liguori

The usual snare with which the devil catches the young is to fill them with shame when they are about to confess their sins. When he pushes them to commit sins, he removes all shame, as if there were nothing wrong with it, but when they are going to confession, he returns that shame magnified and tries to convince them that the priest will be shocked by their sins and will no longer think well of them. Thus the devil tries to drive souls to the brink of eternal damnation. Oh, how many lads does Satan steal from God – sometimes forever – by this trick. – St. John Bosco

It often happens that Satan will insidiously commune with you in your heart and say: “Think of the evil you have done; your soul is full of lawlessness, you are weighed down by many grievous sins.” Do not let him deceive you when he does this and do not be led to despair on the pretext that you are being humble. After gaining admission through the fall evil has the power to commune at all times with the soul, as man to man, and so to suggest sinful actions to it. You should answer it: “I have God’s written assurance, for He says: ‘I desire, not the sinner’s death, but that he should return through repentance and live'” (Ezek. 33:11). What was the purpose of His descent to earth except to save sinners, to bring light to those in darkness and life to the dead? – St. Symeon Metaphrastis

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Arianism: 3 Modern Examples Of Ancient Heresy

Arianism, though thoroughly condemned, has had many emanations throughout history.  The theology may not be the same, but the foundational ideology is that Christ did not always exist.  In today’s article, three modern day sources of Arianism will be discussed along with the church’s Apostolic response.

Arianism And The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints

One movement which is gaining in popularity in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  They also teach that Jesus is the son of God and that he is fully divine, but not always eternal.  In this view Jesus was created  and Jesus and Satan are brothers.

According to LDS doctrine Christ was the “the firstborn spirit son of God” (LDS, 9).  The founder and first prophet of the church states, “Among the spirit children of Elohim, the first-born was and is Jehovah, or Jesus Christ, to whom all others are juniors” (Smith, 70).

The doctrine of who Christ is differs widely from the historic view of Christianity.  However, like the Arians of old, scriptures are eisegeted to make is seem like doctrine is in scripture.

The point of scripture is another point of contention as the Mormon church recognizes the King James Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price as Scripture.  This varies widely from the scriptures that were listed at the Council of Rome in 382, and are from Apostolic origin.

The concept of Christ is so vastly different that the Catholic Church sees Mormon baptisms as invalid, and they cite apostolic succession such as previous councils, etc.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith declared

“As is easily seen, to the similarity of titles there does not correspond in any way a doctrinal content which can lead to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. The words Father, Son and Holy Spirit, have for the Mormons a meaning totally different from the Christian meaning. The differences are so great that one cannot even consider that this doctrine is a heresy which emerged out of a false understanding of the Christian doctrine. The teaching of the Mormons has a completely different matrix. We do not find ourselves, therefore, before the case of the validity of Baptism administered by heretics, affirmed already from the first Christian centuries, nor of Baptism conferred in non-Catholic ecclesial communities” (Doctrine of Faith).

Jehovah’s Witnesses And The Person Of Christ

Perhaps the most popular example of modern day Arianism is the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.  This group is known by its more popular name of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Just like the Arians of old they believe that Jesus was a created being.

Their official doctrinal position is that Jesus is the archangel Michael, and was the first created being (Watchtower, 19).  According to the doctrinal manual “Jesus is the sole direct creation of God” (Watchtower, 5).  In their view God created Christ, and Christ created everything else.

They are very mission oriented and can be seen knocking on doors almost every day.  Though admirable, their views Christ have been condemned throughout the ages.  The canons of Nicea still apply to their view.

Modernism And Arianism

The third movement that often falls in Arianism is modernism.  That may seem shocking, but when carried to its logical conclusion it denies the divinity of Christ.  Modernism started in the 19th century by elevating human reason as the judge of all.

Human reason is a great gift from God, but modernist theologians started denying the inerrancy of scripture, the virgin birth, the resurrection, and divinity of Christ.  John Shelby, who was a modernist Episcopal bishop, writes, “The virgin birth tradition of the New Testament is not literally true. It should not be literally believed” (Shelby, 215).

He goes on to say that Christ did not really rise from the dead and that his divinity is also questionable.  Though modernism is technically defined as a different of doing things, it is clear that things can get out of hand without a sound authority to guide it.

The church in the late 19th and early 20th centuries spend a great deal of time combatting modernism.  In 1910 St. Pope Pius X wrote an encyclical titled The Oath Against the Errors of Modernism.  

In that encyclical he writes, “firm faith I believe that the Church, guardian and mistress of the revealed word, was instituted proximately and directly by the true and historical Christ Himself, while he sojourned among us, and that the same was built upon Peter, the chief of the apostolic hierarchy, and his successors until the end of time” (Denzinger, 550).

Works Cited

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual.  Salt Lake City, UT:  2000.

Smith, Joseph F.  Gospel Doctrine.  Deseret Publishing.  Salt Lake City, UT:  1959.  Print.

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.  THE QUESTION OF THE VALIDITY OF BAPTISM CONFERRED IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.  Vatican City:  2001.

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.  The Watchtower.  Wallkill, NY:  2010.  Print

Shelby John.  Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism. Harper Collins.  New York: 1991. Print.

Denzinger, Henry, and Karl Rahner, eds. The Sources of Catholic Dogma. Trans. Roy J. Deferrari. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder Book Co., 1954. Print.

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The Love Driven Man

I recently had the opportunity to interview Catholic author and speaker Marek Rudak to discuss his book “The Love Driven Man: How To Open Your Heart To What Matters Eternally“. He is very candid in sharing his past failures, and shares how to love with a selfless love. We also discuss how to truly love our spouses versus using them for our own benefit. The discussion will help you become a better husband and father.

About Marek Rudak: The Author Of The Love Driven Man

Marek Rudak was born and grew up in communist Poland. He lost his dad at a young age. When he was fourteen, his mom remarried, and Marek moved to California. He came to feel like he was the fifth wheel in his new family.

This led him toward a desire to control others by focusing on earning his worth through personal accomplishments. Marek graduated in the top 10% of his class at West Point and became a Ranger in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Marek Rudak

After receiving an honorable discharge from the Army, Marek went with the highest paying job he could find, ExxonMobil, where he worked for ten years on multi-billion-dollar projects all over the world. A tough divorce led Marek to a lot of soul searching and multiple life changes. After meeting the love of his life, Marek decided to quit his job and commit himself full time to the mission of improving men’s love proficiency. For more information, please be sure to visit www.marekrudak.com.

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Faith, Overcoming Trauma and Gaining Healthy Control of your Life

Whether as a child, teenager or an adult, sexual assault and domestic abuse can cause victims to lose their voice out of shame, fear and guilt. A victim needs the opportunity to speak about what is or has been done to them without question or judgment. Encountering God’s word throughout years of therapy, I found that it is possible to overcome my trauma and gain healthy control of my life.

Source Of My Trauma

I am a survivor of incest by my mom’s father, my maternal grandfather at the age of 3.  Those memories of the trauma I was subjected to didn’t present themselves fully until I was in my late 30’s.  Due to that early childhood trauma many boundaries had been obliterated and led to many other instances of me either falling victim to other abuses or failing to see the warning signs of bad relationships.  For years I felt out of control when I desperately wanted control of my life. It wasn’t until I ‘died to myself’ and gave up all control to God that I realized that surrender was how I would seek ‘healthy control’. The verses of Ephesians 5:6-20 stood out to me in a time when I felt most out of control, in a spiral of impending doom and negativity.  

Those verses helped me to see the lies that the traumas had created, leaving me in the dark and believing their empty arguments.  When I found Christ’s light–His truth–I began to understand the truth about myself and thus began to heal from the inside out.

Ephesians Was A Wake Up Call

These verses in Ephesians were a blueprint to understanding what had been done ‘to’ me and also what I fell into while stumbling through that muck of darkness and lies.  Ephesians 5:14, “Awake, O sleeper, arise from the dead and Christ will give you light” was the first verse that rang over and over in my mind and led me to explore the rest of the chapter before and after the verse.  To me it stood out clearly as a directive from God for those of us stuck in the spiral of depression, anxiety, fear, etc. that trauma and abuse can cause.  These verses in Ephesians helped me to realize that healing is a journey, that we have to ‘try’, and that we can have freedom. 

It is vital that we understand what our “facts” are in order to take the first step to overcoming trauma.

Often when we’ve been through something that has caused us great distress, we can get caught up in our feelings and surroundings more than the reality itself. We feel as if the world is against us, or that we will never get out of the hole we feel trapped inside.

Look At The Facts

Taking a moment to stop and look at our lives in a very general, factual way can often bring us into a clearer perspective, allowing the opening for us to move forward and get the courage and strength to carry on.  For example, my simple facts are: today I am alive, I am not sick today, I have a roof over my head, I have food on the table, I have a husband whom I adore and family and friends that support me. Everything else I can work on piece by piece, knowing that there is a stable ground to begin on.

Self-confidence can be extremely low when coming through trauma. Believe me when I say that a survivor’s self-confidence CAN be restored even when feeling broken.

When we begin to look at our facts, and then take inventory of these lies that are perpetuating this insecurity and lack of confidence, we can begin to name the opposite of those lies.  In the moment of this exercise it may seem silly or even ridiculous and obvious, but if you are feeling the lie within and it’s causing a debilitating insecurity, you must focus on what the opposite of that lie is – THE TRUTH. Then we can begin to see that maybe the insecurity is founded on a lie and not the truth.

As we make these little efforts and begin to realize the truth, embracing the truth, we celebrate the ability to do so.  Perhaps to someone who hasn’t experienced any major trauma or setback in their life may not understand these small steps, but to the rest of us they are meant to be celebrated. The more we celebrate our progress forward, the more confident we begin to feel, and we can work on letting the insecurity remain in the lie, leaving it behind.

Prayer is an important aspect of healing. We must pray even when we are angry at our circumstances.

When I have been particularly angry at someone or at the fact of having a life-threatening illness and find that my anger is at God for allowing it to happen, I take comfort in knowing that even Christ himself asked God to take his cup of suffering from him in the last hour. 

Trauma Doesn’t Define You

I recall when I was most angry, hurt, betrayed, and even scared, I had to voice these emotions to God and ask Him to give me the desire to even want to pray for the person who hurt me or the circumstance. So, for days and even weeks I would pray for the desire to pray about the situation. Slowly the desire came, and I began to pray for my heart to be at peace in regard to the person and situation. As God answered that prayer, I found myself able to give it over to Him and let it go.  There were times that the slow healing wound would be pressed, and I would find myself back at step one, seeking the desire to pray about it. But the important thing is merely the willingness to bring God into the center of it all. 

It is vital to remember your facts in the light of thankfulness.  Writing out what you are thankful for, even just the fact that the sun is shining, or that you are able to take a breath today, focus on what you can find that is good.  Then you will soon, with God’s help, be able to pray and want to pray for the person or circumstance. It is a journey that only God is able to bring you through to overcome trauma and gain healthy control of your life.

Shannon McGrawAbout Our Guest Blogger

Shannon McGraw is a survivor of both incest and rape. At the age of 27, with no place to turn, she found God surrounding her with His peace. It was the beginning of a love story that continues to unfold day by day. Shannon founded Hopeful Hearts Ministry, a non-profit organization which supports long-term recovery of survivors of all forms of abuse through peer support, counseling and public awareness services. Her newest book is Reclaimed: Overcome Trauma and Gain Healthy Control of Your Life. 

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Watchtower: A Look At Jehovah’s Witnesses

A few months ago I was fortunate enough to interview popular apologist Gary Michuta.  Gary is a brilliant Catholic apologist, speaker, radio show host, and author.  He has a great deal of  experience in studying and debating the teachings of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.  We know them as Jehovah’s witnesses.

A couple months ago I interviewed Kimberlee Jones who is a Catholic Convert.  We discussed how she discovered the Trinity and you can watch that interview below.

We discuss their origins, beliefs, and how we can get them thinking about the truths of the Catholic faith.  Gary also has a great cd set on the topic that is put out by Catholic Productions.  Listen to Gary’s daily radio program on Virgin Most Powerful Radio.  Also visit his website at handsonapologetics.com and garymichuta.com.

Origins Of The Watchtower

In Part one of the interview, which is available below, Gary goes into great detail on the origins of the Watchtower.  He details how it is a schism, of a schism, of a schism.  The lives of the early leadership are detailed along with the failed prophecies of the coming of Christ.  Details of how these prophecies were “recalculated” are discussed.

Example of Arianism

Perhaps the most popular example of modern day Arianism is the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.  Just like the Arians of old they believe that Jesus was a created being.

Their official doctrinal position is that Jesus is the archangel Michael, and was the first created being.  According to the doctrinal manual “Jesus is the sole direct creation of God”.  In their view God created Christ, and Christ created everything else.

Evangelism is important to them and they knock on doors almost every day.  This is a very admirable trait, but their views Christ are heterodox.  Early councils hold views such as theirs in condemnation.

Faulty Translation By The Watchtower

There are many translations of scripture available that are faithful to the original biblical languages.  However, the Watchtower, uses a translation known as the New World Translation.  The translators deliberately added words that were not in the original Greek.

The result is a text that bears no resemblance to the original.  A prime example of this is John 1:1.  Their translation says that the “word was a god“.  That is quite different than the meaning that St. John intended.

Gary speaks about how that the translation came about.  At the end of part one of the video discuss the mistranslation of definite Greek and Hebrew articles.  In his cd set he goes into great detail about these.

YouTube Interviews

My apologies for there being two videos.  For whatever reason skype broke the interview up into two parts.

This is much different than my regular posts, but great information is in these videos.  Therefore, I wanted to share them with you.

In the part two, which is available below, Gary gives some great tips on evangelizing members of the Watchtower.

In the third video Kimberlee gives evidence for the Trinity from scripture.

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