markdohle

We do wander around on some threads LOL. Being an animal trainer is a good way to get to know and love animals. Also thank you for your friendship, it is always a pleasure hearing from you. I am very happy that you like my OP. Peace Mark

I really don't understand what you see as demonic or deception......so we will just have to disagree with is pretty much all we do anyway ;-). Peace Mark

That is not true, she had few experiences, her whole point was to trust in God and have faith no matter what. Littleness, hiddenness, poverty, nothingness, powerlessness - these are the words that by predilection Thérèse uses to explain the Christ mystery at work in her life. And these same words describe her way to God. The diminutives are not to subtract but to enhance, not to lead to a dwarf or pigmy state of spiritual being but to show how all the smallnesses we ignore and pass over can be used for growth. The hidden, the inconspicuous, saves us from the empty flash and glitter of trying to be great, special in the eyes of others. We don't have to aim at being famous for 15 minutes, the amount of time Andy Warhol guaranteed to everybody. The littleness of Thérèse is for the sake of gathering in the particles of our life, to make sure nothing will be lost, not letting the fragments slip through our fingers like pearls dropped into the dust.http://carmelitesofeldridge.org/therese.html It is not about ecstasy experience but an ever deeper loving relationship with God, the Trinity, with Jesus. Peace Mark

Put no limitations on God’s mercy Psalm 139 (Oh God you have probed me and you know me) This morning at Vigils we chanted Psalm 139. It is a beautiful prayer and one of my favorites. If it were possible for God to have any kind of frustration, I am sure it would flow from mankind’s struggle with “trust’. This psalm I believe is not only a prayer to God, but also a plea from the Holy Spirit for us to seek to grasp ever deeper the unconditional love that God has for each of us. I believe this psalm should be said by Christians for all of mankind to come to knowledge of God’s eternal, infinite, love for them. I have been writing prisoners for a couple of years now. I am not a man who likes letter writing, but prisoners do write us and quite a few of the monks write back to some of them. Many are just looking for someone to manipulate for money, while others just want someone to know that they exist, matter and are worth a letter from time to time. Often when I am reading a letter from one of my inmates friends, I am amazed at the mercy and love God bestows on them. Some are in prison for truly terrible crimes and they admit it and are seeking to turn their lives around. They are doing that by allowing the Holy Sport to guide them and I am humbled by their progress. Some are Catholic’s, but most are from different denominations, yet we are all brothers in Christ. I do not push my Catholic faith, but we talk about Jesus, his grace, and I continually tell them to trust no matter what happens. We talk about prayer and the reading of the scriptures. They struggle and grow and I am honored to be able to write them. There is one that I have a heavy heart for. His name is the same as mine, “Mark”, and he is on death row for murder. I read up on his crime and it was truly chilling. By the second letter I figured out he was just looking for someone to manipulate. He wanted me to send him money via another inmate, which is illegal in prison. So I wrote him back and told him that I could not do that. He stopped writing me. Because of the horrendous crime he committed, I pray for him daily. I decided to write him one more time to see if he wanted to continue to write. But he never responded, but I figured that would happen. If he is guiltily of his crime and from what I have read, there is very little doubt that he committed the crime. Even though I am against the death penalty, I can see why he received it. I certainly would not want him back out on the streets. Yet Christ Jesus died for him, so I will continue to pray that he will come to understand the love that God has for him and the price that Jesus lovingly took upon himself to bring him to the Father. Sin is something we do that goes against God’s will. Sin can also be committed against us and imprison us in hate and fear. Perhaps this prisoner Mark is suffering from both. I am not his judge, but I can always pray for him and for all prisoners. I do believe that as Christians we are called to pray for everyone and to lift them up to the Lord. If Christians cannot show the heart of Christ Jesus to the world, or to see with his eyes or to think with his mind, then we are failing to take up our cross. For to love all, even the so called least, is to invite pain into our hearts. Harsh judgments are from the ‘flesh’ and are used only to shield ourselves (I believe) from the suffering and pain of others. Only God is the judge, I cannot judge anyone, there is simply too much in me that I will project onto others and in judging them, I judge myself. I put no limitations on God’s mercy, for did he not say that he will leave the 99 to seek out the one who wanders. God sees all, understand all, so his judgments are always right, true and just. Human judgment? Well we can’t come close. We can judge actions, but anything deeper better leave it to the mercy, compassion and justice of God. Please pray for all prisoners, especially one on death row “Mark” for whom I have a heavy heart for. ++++++++++ Put on the mind of Christ Jesus O Lord that I may see with your eyes, love with your heart and understand with your mind, the dignity of your children and pray your prayer when you were on the cross: ++++++++++ “Father, forgive them, for they know what they do”. (Luke: 23:34)

Thank you for sharing my friend. Christian mystics are rooted in the scriptures, they write for a certain time period, just as we have christian writers for today. I am glad you are so firmly rooted in Christ Jesus. peace Mark

When I was a young boy, a tree fell in our back yard. We found three baby birds, not sure what breed and we tried to save them. One did survive and the day we released was one happy day for me....I have never forgot it. Thanks for sharing, it was beautiful. peace mark

Well said my friend. Thank you. Peace Mark

OK ;-). Peace Mark

If God can communicate with Paul, he can also continue to do that with others, as has been shown through out history. Any 'mystic' that is accepted by the Catholic Church has to build off the Scriptures and not come up with something different etc. We all have inspirations from God and the word mystic can be applied to humans who seek God in general. In the early church the mystical gifts were welcome. As it is in the Pentecostal movement today. I understand your antipathy to such things, but it is your opinion only based on your personal interpretation of the scriptures. For instance not all here agree with you, who are also Christians believers...... You still have not given your reason for believing that Theresa is new age my friend, your response about the furnace was not near enough. Peace Mark

Saint Paul was a mystic my friend, he even had a NDE, which he related in the third person. "He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness. (Malachi 3:3) Or Whether a person builds on this foundation with gold, silver, expensive stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one's work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one's work. (1 cor 3:3) Peace Mark

I don't understand how is this new age: "I understood so well that it is only love which makes us acceptable to God that this love is the only good I ambition. Jesus deigned to show me the road that leads to this Divine Furnace, and this road is the surrender of the little child who sleeps without fear in its Father's arms." -St. Therese of Lisieux She taught total abandonment to the Lord Jesus, by using language of becoming a little child, which Jesus talked about as being needed to enter the kingdom of heaven. So how is that a deception.....perhaps because her language is different from the expresssons used 2000 years earlier ;-). Her teaching is ones total abandonment to the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.....that is new age? Or is how this New Age: I do not will that creatures should possess a single atom of my love; I wish to give all to Jesus, since He makes me understand that He alone is perfect happiness. All shall be for Him, all! And even when I have nothing to offer Him I will give Him that nothing. -St. Therese of Lisieux I am not sure what you are getting at my friend. The Catholic Church is christian, it doctrines are Christ Centered, and your actual roots are planted firmly in Catholic soil. The scriptures were put together by the Catholic Church, yet you use them to condemn you fellow brothers and sister in Christ. Peace Mark

Thank you my friend for your understanding. I will continue to post, this is a very nice place with serious Christians posting here. Peace Mark

There is nothing new age about Therese. Perhaps you could supply some quotes to back that up my friend ;-). Peace Mark

Thank you my friend. Peace Mark

Catholic mystic's are deeply Christian, if you don't think that, take it up with the Lord Jesus. Peace mark

Thank you very much my friend. I really don't understand the reactions of some here, but that is OK. Peace mark

Thank you my friend. I don't mind, I know that I can't change anyone nor do I try. I believe that Christ Jesus as the Word of God is vaster than we imagine and that the world that He created is holy and sacred in all of its aspects.....humans being the most beautiful of God's creation. Peace Mark

Geez, I am not new age LOL.....but think what you will. Peace mark

The fact that you are doing all that you do seems to point to a great deal of inner strength aided by grace. 18 months is not a very long time so you are still in deep mourning. For all practical purposes your husband died and you were left alone.....yet look at all you have done. Your children are so lucky to have you there for them. It is obvious that you are a good mother. Grace works in ways that we do not see or understand. The Lord sees your depths, your pain and is walking with you and suffering with you. You are more than above average, you are a warrior of God who is fighting the good fight, running the race. All you have is 'today', it is always 'today', live it, get through it, pray it and trust in God which is a choice, albeit a hard one. Peace Mark

LOL, I keep forgetting they are birds......they are beautiful, all look like their are going to a fancy ball. Peace Mark

Beautifully said my friend, thank you. Peace Mark

Fruit Bats! Yeah they are big and harmless. I remember seeing a scary movie when I was young and fruit bats were the bloodsuckers. Poor bats, they get a bad reputation. I found on in our bell tower one day, got a jar for it and took it outside again. The bats around here look like little foxes up close.....though some do have rabies. Glad I am not alone with the raven and crows LOL. Peace Mark

Lovely thoughts on the subject, thank you very much. Peace mark

Thank you my friend. Many people only focus on the 'harsh' side of the law, there was also great gentleness and care in many of them. peace mark

I can see where you are coming from my friend, but that was not my intent. As I have said, animals do not have rights, but how we treat them is important. Animals do have their own lives apart from us, that is a fact ;-).......we do have dominion over them, but not the license to cruelty or sadistic behavior. Peace mark