Category: Daily Influences to Manage

Jesus Burns Away Sin. Do not expect to be welcomed if you speak God's Word.

Expect to Be Attacked when Speaking God’s Word!

Daily Influences to Manage, Life Paths, Social Media, Virtuous Actions

In a world gone wrong, those who speak the truth will be opposed. The more authentically religious you are, the more you are going to be opposed. . 

We like to think of Jesus as a unifying figure. The reality is that Jesus is a source of division before he is a source of unity. Hatred, cruelty, self-absorption, grudges, and all manner of sin must be burnt away.  If others are not willing to put such things away to follow Jesus, they will oppose you.  Like Jeremiah being lowered into the cistern, do not expect to be treated well. We know where following Christ will lead us.

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God gives us what we need to finish. Not necessarily victory.

How can God Love me? Look at my Predicament. I Am Sinking in the Mud

Daily Influences to Manage, Great People Examples to Follow, Virtuous Actions

If God loves me and has a plan for my life, then should I not expect to always win in life? And yet – I end up in horrible situations. For example, think of sin or think of addictions.

How can this be God’s plan for me? Using inspirational examples, Fr Mike describes that God may not give us victory but he gives us what we need to finish. We need to recognize our deeper identity as a child of God as opposed to what is ailing us in the moment.

And we are not alone either. A cloud of witnesses follow in support of us! From saints to Jesus himself, all witness and encourage us to finish our race.

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When you reflect on your impending death, you prepare for it and appraise things at their true value

The Secret of Great Holiness – Reflect on on Death

Daily Influences to Manage, Great People Examples to Follow, Parables and Miracles, Virtuous Actions

From ancient times, Christians have been called to reflect on their impending death. First to bring an appreciation of the gift of life. But also to put our actions in proper perspective. When we die, we need to be able to answer for our lives.

Do we strive every day to achieve happiness based on worldly items. Whether it be education, wealth, pleasures – they are all unsatisfying. Actor Jim Carrey once said, “I wish everyone could get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so that they can realize it will not make them happy.”

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Modern indifference leaves us incapable of feeling joy even in good times. St Paul describes Christian indifference which leads to joy no matter our condition

Modern Indifference – Can We Be Joyful in All Times?

Daily Influences to Manage, Important Thinkers, Parables and Miracles

What is our modern society concerned with? Entertainment? We binge watch one Netflix show after another. Our focus is always on what is next. Sometimes, we will even trade wonderful life experiences for the just okay ones.  We have fallen into a modern indifference and become incapable of experiencing joy.

Christian indifference, the type professed by St Paul, is far different. We live lives of joy no matter whether we are rich or poor. We understand what is truly wonderful and won’t compromise on the just okay.

Where do you put your focus?

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Does religion lead to violence? Not if properly interpreted says Bishop Barron

Does Religion Lead to Violence Inevitably?

Daily Influences to Manage, Important Thinkers, Key Dates

What happens when you have 2 people of different faiths come together. Religion is irrational so will inevitably lead to violence. This is the argument put forward during the Enlightenment Period. Fast forward to the events of September 11, 2001. We have another example of people of faith doing horrible things in the name of God. So does religion and Christianity in particular lead to violence? Not if you are interpreting it properly. Bishop Barron describes how Christians should approach Bible texts describing violence.

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It is a myth that the Catholic Church is Opposed to Science

The Myth of the Catholic Church’s Opposition to Science

Daily Influences to Manage, Important Thinkers, Mindsets

We’ve all heard the story of how the Catholic Church treated Galileo. Even if the actual story is nuanced, there are countless other stories of devout people who saw no conflict between their religion and their scientific pursuits. People like Fr Georges Lemaitre who proposed the Big Bang Theory. Or Gregor Mendel who founded genetics and was an Augustinian monk. And the list goes on and on. The Catholic Church reverences the sciences. There should be no ambiguity about that. And it may just be that Christianity provided the ecosystem from which the sciences flourished.

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