Eyes Open

     All I could think when I first heard was..."it could have been us."  It's times like these that it's so easy to lose our faith, but it's times like these that we have to keep a hold on our faith the most.  It is not a question of "why them?!" but a question of "what do we have to learn from this?" that we should be asking.  And I'm not saying to move on, to put a smile on your face, or to act like you're not hurting, because we all know that denial does nothing good to our hearts.  But what I am saying is this event did NOT just happen, there is a reason for everything...no matter how terrifying it could be.  Years after 9/11 we learned and we are still learning what we need to do.  After Columbine too, we gathered as a nation.  What is it now? What can we do? ...to help ourselves, to help those who are hurting.  Ephesians 6:12 teaches us "our struggle is not with the flesh and blood, but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness with the evil spirits in the heavens."  Evil has always been around, and it always will be until the day the Lord comes and we unite as one faith.  But in this we must not forget that evil is strong too, and he can manipulate us into something else, something we were not designed to be.  But it is us, our soul, our heart, and our faith that helps us break out of that evil, to turn to the Lord and ask "what is your will?" "what shall we do?" "what do we have to learn from this?"  What happened in Aurora, Colorado last night/this morning at The Dark Knight Rises premiere is unbelievable, it is terrifying and it is wrong.  Prayers and thoughts and tears go out.  Lord bless those who are hurting, just bless those who are hurting.  And keep us all strong.  It is not wrong to mourn, for "blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Mat 5:4)  But, as batman taught us...why do we fall?  So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.  "Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your guard.  So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a brestplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Eph 6:13-17)

Catholic Evangelist Richard Lane.

  I met an incredible man last week who changed my life.  His name?  Catholic Evangelist Richard Lane.  Look him up and try sometime to go hear him speak, or watch his videos, you won't regret it.  My church community had the chance to have Richard for a week, giving us a church mission, it was called Mission Possible.  To put a long story short, each day consisted of many lessons.  Some just refreshed your mind, while others...well, they completely slapped you in the face.  He spoke about holding on, and to let only God open the doors to our hearts, and when necessary, close them.  Let Him take control, at every moment.  How Jesus calls us each by name, that each of us have a purpose and we are put in this life to seek that purpose.  How we cannot be afraid to show others our faith, our strength, our love for Jesus, because that is EXACTLY what He calls us to do all over the Bible.  There was so much Richard taught us that I can write about.  But, there was one thing he said to us, that, I always knew, but it never really hit me until he said it how he said it.  "When you are sad, mad, confused...Satan is looking at you saying 'yes, I got another one.'  Deep right? WE MUST GET AWAY FROM THAT.  Jesus gave us the power, the strength, His image to fight evil off just as much as He did and to this very moment is doing.  Paul teaches us in 2 Corinthians 12 "Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hard ships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong."  When we find ourselves coming home, or waking up in a bad mood, when even the smallest thing ticks us off.  When we feel like hiding under the covers for the rest of our lives...Let the teardrops fall, but let them fall to make you stronger.  Defeat the evil, walk away from it.  Pick up your sword, the work of God, your Bible, show the crucifix which clearly depicts the LOVE Jesus had for each and every one of us.  And do not, do not, be afraid to share the truth that you know, with others.


Thank you Richard Lane, you have completely changed my life.