Stephen K. Ray's Blog, page 497

Was Jesus Nice?

People often criticize us if we speak the truth or step on someone's toes — usually if we are honest about sin or bad conduct.

Jesus was loving and kind. He would never . . .

Wait, was Jesus nice? How does "nice" relate to "love"?

A few weeks ago I ran to the Western Wall where the Temple once stood. It is the place where one of the stories took place.

Click here to read my whole article "Was Jesus Nice?"

A YouTube video that reaffirms my thoughts exactly.

BIG NEWS! George Weigel to Speak to our Group in Rome!

George Weigel, the biographer of Pope John Paul II, has agree to speak to our pilgrimage in Rome.

We arrive in Rome to share in the historical event of the Beatification of Pope John Paul II – AND YOU CAN BE THERE!

JOIN US — hear George Weigel, experience the Beatification, tour Rome, visit Assisi, audience with the Pope, enjoy the best food in the world and much more!

ACT FAST! Call Suzanne at 800-727-1999, extension 121 or write sparran@ctscentral.net. To see and print the brochure, click here.

A Video Glimpse into India and our Ministry here

Enjoy the movie and India. Let me know what you think. This is the most exotic country I've been to and most Americans can't even imagine.

I have been giving talks each day in standing-room-only parishes across Bombay and Pune. The thousands of people are then invited to the main event in Bombay on January 29-30 which is a huge auditorium which we hope to fill with 2,500 people for a two day Apologetics Conference.

Today we are flying to Goa further south for parish missions and a large conference of over 2,000 for a two-day Apologetics Conference. Stay tuned for more videos and updates. Please pray for us!

Another Interesting Run on the Beach

Another run on Juhu Beach along the Indian Ocean in Mumbai. Have to keep in shape, love the adventure, and love to share the world with my friends.

It was hot and the beach was crowded. Again, running 3.5 miles along the big public beach, I was the only white guy and with my Western running gear and my Tilley hat I draw a lot of stares.

Sad to see a used condom and hypodermic needle used for drugs. But I see this in Rome, America and other places too. It was interesting seeing all the fishing boats, the people finding clams and mussels in the sand and all the friendly young people who yell out, "Where are you from?" and "Welcome".

See run here

Needles & Condoms on the Beach

Another run on Juhu Beach along the Indian Ocean in Mumbai. Have to keep in shape, love the adventure, and love to share the world with my friends.

It was hot and the beach was crowded. Again, running 3.5 miles along the big public beach, I was the only white guy and with my Western running gear and my Tilley hat I draw a lot of stares.

Sad to see used condoms and hypodermic needles used for drugs. Worse yet is the unsupervised vagabond, filthy children as young as two scavenging along the trash on the beach for things to eat and play with.

See run here

"You are Peter" in Jesus' language of Aramaic

Since we will soon be in the land where all this took place — Israel — I thought you would find this interesting.

So, what did it sound like at Caesarea Philippi when Jesus renamed Simon and made him the foundation of the Church: "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it" (Matt 16:18)? Compare John 1:42.

You know of course, that Jesus did not speak English.  If most of us heard Him speak those words today we would have no clue what He was saying. Jesus spoke Aramaic and that language is still alive in very small communities in the Middle East.

What you see written to the right is Syriac Aramaic as written by my friend Efrem Nissan in Bethlehem. He is a Syrian Orthodox Christian. (Click on the text for a larger image.)

Now, not only can you see the script — which is close to what would have been written in the time of Jesus – but you can listen to it as well. I took this short video clip of Efrem reading the words you see written here. He read them on our pilgrimage. Listen for the word "kepha" twice. Kepha is the word "rock" in Aramaic.

Official Blessed! John Paul the Great!

It's official: Blessed John Paul II, Pope Benedict to declare predecessor Blessed

Pope Benedict XVI approved the miraculous healing of a French nun on Friday, paving the way for his predecessor to be officially declared Blessed, the final stage on the road to sainthood. The beatification will take place at the Vatican on May 1. Read more. Pope's body will be moved to Basilica.

We are going for the beatification!! Join us! Call Suzanne at 800-727-1999, extension 121, or write at sparran@ctscentral.net.

Infant Baptism

Infant Baptism is discussed and argued about quite a bit in some circles. I, of course, was raised Baptist and taught that Infant Baptism was a man-made tradition invented by the heretical Catholics who abandoned the Word of God to follow ill-advised tradition.

(Picture: My granddaughter Elizabeth Arabella Rose Ray is baptized.)

But not all Protestants reject Infant Baptism. My favorite theologian during my later years as an Evangelical Protestant was Dr. Francis Schaeffer. He actually wrote a booklet on Infant Baptism. Granted, they do not accept the full Catholic understanding, but they did teach and practice infant baptism. Another author that I read was R. C. Sproul.

Protestant Reformed theologian R. C. Sproul writes, "The first direct mention of infant baptism is around the middle of the second century A.D.  What is noteworthy about this reference is that it assumes infant baptism to be the universal practice of the church.  If infant baptism were not the practice of the first-century church, how and why did this departure from orthodoxy happen so fast and so pervasively?

"Not only was the spread rapid and universal, the extant literature from that time does not reflect any controversy concerning the issue. . . . Those who dispute the validity of infant baptism make it less inclusive with respect to children, despite the absence of any biblical prohibition against infant baptism" (Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, [Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1992], 228).

For my simple article on Infant Baptism, click here. For my blog on Baptism in general, click here. The whole middle section of my book Crossing the Tiber goes into the biblical and early Church teaching and practice of baptism, including that of infants.

Good Movies for Catholic Families; Good Way to Start a New Year

Janet and I got rid of television years ago. We called the cable company and canceled our service. We began reading more and renting movies for the family to watch together. It have been a huge life-changer and has had a noticeably positive effect on our family.

We put up a list of the Ray Family Favorite Movies on our website along with other resources for Catholic families. We have to admit that much of our culture is shaped by movies. But not only movies. Our kids are also shaped by what they watch on TV. As parents we have to protect and educate our children — preparing them for heaven.

And I don't miss being insulted by stupid commercials and commentaries. TV aims at the status quo or lower, and helps shape peoples' minds to be status quo or lower. Not for ME!

Another great source for information is the Decent Films website. This is a goldmine of information for Catholic families who want to know what their kids are watching and what they should be viewing together in the home.

I strongly suggest that families cut the ties with the TV and start watching wholesome and wonderful movies together as a family. Netflix is one way our family has selected movies to watch.

There may be other rental services available as well (let us know in the Comments below if you know of any). [Thanks to Kevin Lay of Scepter Press another good site is www.piusmedia.com.]

It is smart to set up a movie night and make a family affair out of it. Kids love such family events and might not even realize that we are shaping their morals and values at the same time.

Popcorn anyone?

Update on Two Things

Here in Pune India I have no Internet access. I am doing everything with my iPhone. Soon I will upload more when I get Internet access.

Join us in Rome with 2 million others to witness the beatification of John Paul the Great! Call Suzanne at 800-727-1999, ext. 121 or at sparran@ctscentral.net – for more info or to register! We are taking a great group with a full tour of Rome with daily Mass and General Audience with the Pope!