Why People Hold Grudges: Letting Go The Past Part 2

Psalm 39




1 I said to myself, “I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” 2 But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse. 3 The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words: 4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. 5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”







6 We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. 7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. 8 Rescue me from my rebellion. Do not let fools mock me. 9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you. 10 But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand. 11 When you discipline us for our sins, you consume like a moth what is precious to us. Each of us is but a breath.
12 Hear my prayer, O Lord! Listen to my cries for help! Don’t ignore my tears. For I am your guest— a traveler passing through, as my ancestors were before me. 13 Leave me alone so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more.

Psalm 39 has a ring to it, at least for myself. Back in the days of my youth, (The high school years 1981-1985) Life seemed simple, growing up from Adolescent to an adult, learning morals, respecting people and accepting them as they are. Life back than seemed harmless. I attended a minor Seminary High School in Santa Barbara, Ca operated by the Franciscan Order. It was a College Preparatory high school for young men. What I learned coming out of high school and into the college years was a well rounded education, not only in math and sciences, but in philosophy, ethics and grace. That was God's grace. life back than was Peaceful. I had my close net of friends and family. Over the next 15 to 20 years I saw my life before me in a blink of an eye. LIFE is very short, we should thank the LORD for waking up everyday.

Why hold grudges?? Why the snarls, the disagreements and arguments?

Why? Perhaps It's human nature to be always right, to prove a point, or perhaps personal pride. It's hard to admit that we are wrong. That is why it's so important to develop a personal relationship with God to overcome these obstacles. NEVER Lose touch with our Lord and Savior. The Lord has taught us to Forgive and to pray, along with other countless examples of humility. Put on Christ:

Philippians 2

Imitating Christ's Humility If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Shining as Stars Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Why People Hold Grudges: Letting Go the Past

Philippians 3:13-14 (New International Version)




"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."













Colossians 3:13 (New International Version)




"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."







I remember a period of time letting go was unbearable, it seemed like the end of the world. A relationship break up, loosing a friendship, a bitter divorce, you name it I experienced it at one point or another. Last Sunday's Sermon at the church I attend on a regular basis and now actively involved talked about the power of change. The difference in NOT just reading the bible, but to read the bible and putting into practice in what we read.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (New International Version)

"Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

Holding onto a grudge against someone not only unchristian but psychologically damaging as well. It will only fuels the fire, not extinguishing it. Jesus Christ himself, and echoing through the letters written by St. Paul teaches us to Forgive and keep on forgiving not only for the people who have offended us, but we must forgive ourselves. We are forgiven by God through His son Jesus for past, present and future sins.

Matthew 18:21-22

" Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”
“No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!"

"..Seventy times seven!" Jesus said. That means we must keep on forgiving despite if others don't forgive us.

As I sat during the church service listening to the pastor's sermon, I reflected on the power of change in my life since the beginning when I started going back to church in October of 2006. I thought back to see if I REALLY applied the gospel to my life. I also reflected a little bit on past relationship on how I offended people. One such friendship came to mind. NOT that I can change the past, but that one person, that one friend still holds a grudge, still holds the resentment. After the service I began to cry, Not because of what I did, What I contributed, remember that's the past. I prayed for a day reconciliation, But I am afraid it's too later for that, So I have accepted Our Holy Father's forgiveness and have moved on. I cried because that one person saw me, and moved clear across to the other side of the church preventing to sit with this person's family. It's the reaction, That's a mirror of myself of HOW MUCH damaged I caused to this Person, OF Course "Let things be Tim." I said to myself.

So I PRAYED For God's healing power for this person. Luke 1:37 " For Nothing is Impossible with God."

Just remember KEEP FORGIVING NO matter if the other party refuses to forgive or even acknowledges you. Remember to always pray.

God Bless

Your brother in Christ Jesus

Tim

1 Corinthians 10:28-31 ; 1 Corinthians 11:1

"But if anyone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ."

Saint Paul reminds us to imitate Christ in all we do. Our freedom should not be judged by others except by God alone. Thanking God for all we do, and giving Him praise.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

"If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."

We are also reminded to be careful where we stand. God remains faithful always offering us a way out of our struggles as long as we stay TRUE to his word.

So keep focused on whatever you do, your work, at home or at a social function among friends.

God Bless

Tim

Where Are We Going?

I ask myself this question at the start of every year. I always answer " No where to fast." I have friends both personal and professional at work, but most importantly is my family, my precious children. LIFE ( I capitalize life for a reason.) is a precious gift from God. As my previous blog entry, Wisdom Chapter 2 (see Previous blog) We have to look at what God's Will is, Once we understand that things tend to fall in place. Going to Mass, or Church service does not make you holy, it's our good deeds to our neighbor. Jesus Christ Died for our sins, He has done it. We just have to pick up and continue where it was left off. We can do that by placing others ahead of us. Fear God, Don't boast, Humble yourself before God. Micah 6:8 says " You have been told old man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God."

This Country of ours is experiencing the worst economic slump since the Great depression. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs already, their homes, their cars, and whatever else. The road ahead looks bleak and uncertain. Keep the Faith with Jesus Christ and God, and pray. First Thessalonians 5:16-17 " Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing."

Whatever your situation is don't give in, KEEP THE FAITH, and Don't forget to make that phone call to a friend, a family member to share that Faith. A simple get together for coffee, or just a walk.

God Bless, and may our Lord show you His will.

Tim

Wisdom Chapter 2

they who said among themselves, thinking not aright: "Brief and troublous is our lifetime; neither is there any remedy for man's dying, nor is anyone known to have come back from the nether world.

For haphazard were we born, and hereafter we shall be as though we had not been; Because the breath in our nostrils is a smoke and reason is a spark at the beating of our hearts,

And when this is quenched, our body will be ashes and our spirit will be poured abroad like unresisting air.

Even our name will be forgotten in time, and no one will recall our deeds. So our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud, and will be dispersed like a mist pursued by the sun's rays and overpowered by its heat.

For our lifetime is the passing of a shadow; and our dying cannot be deferred because it is fixed with a seal; and no one returns.

Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are real, and use the freshness of creation avidly.

Let us have our fill of costly wine and perfumes, and let no springtime blossom pass us by;

let us crown ourselves with rosebuds ere they wither.

Let no meadow be free from our wantonness; everywhere let us leave tokens of our rejoicing, for this our portion is, and this our lot.

Let us oppress the needy just man; let us neither spare the widow nor revere the old man for his hair grown white with time.

But let our strength be our norm of justice; for weakness proves itself useless.

Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.

He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD.

To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like other men's, and different are his ways.

He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father.

Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him.

For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes.

With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience.

Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him."
These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them,

And they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls' reward.

For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him.

But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who are in his possession experience it.

CHALLENGING TIMES, Strengthen The Faith through Catholicism.

Why I choose Catholicism.






Background :







John 10:9







"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved."













The Catholic Faith, the true religion of Christianity. It is Believed that Jesus Christ appointed the apostle Peter to be the Leader of the Church,The first Pope.




Matthew 16:18-19





"Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”












Since Christ Time, the succession of Pope's have been passed down through the generations. The first split of the church happened after the fall of the Roman Empire and before the renaissance period. This became the Greek Orthodox or Eastern Church. The next Division came during King Henry the VIII reign in England. Other splits happened with John Calvin, and Martin Luther




Most Recent changes in the Catholic Church took place what is known as Vatican II. Vatican II started by Pope John XXIII in 1962 and completed by Pope Paul VI in 1965 Changed the order of the mass, replaced Latin with English, moved the alter toward the congregation, and many other changes. It recognized other religions world wide and modernized to the times.







The Catholic bible consist of 73 books, 7 additional books not found in the protestant version. The books found in the Catholic version: Baruch, Judith, 1st and 2nd Maccabees, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), Tobit, and Wisdom. These books were added in the Catholic bible after series of debates during the early Church called councils.











A time line of sequence of events of the Catholic Church on a local level, the East Bay:



( borrowed from the Web site http://www.christthelightcathedral.org/ )







Hallmark Events of the Catholic Church in the East Bay
1772 Spanish Franciscan Friar Juan Crespi celebrates the first Mass in East Bay, near the swamp that becomes Lake Merritt.
1797 Mission San Jose is founded in present-day Fremont. The mission becomes renowned throughout California for its music, written for, played and sung by native converts.
1853 Pope Pius IX establishes the Archdiocese of San Francisco, which includes what is now Contra Costa and Alameda counties.
1850-1900 Immigrants from Ireland, then Portugal, Germany, and lastly Italy settle in the East Bay, making up the bulk of its Catholic population.
1900-1945 The population becomes more broad-based as African Americans migrate from the South to Oakland, especially for the war industries. During World War II, the U.S. bracero program attracts many Mexicans to the East Bay. At the end of the war, over a dozen priests, some survivors of Dachau prison, escape communist regimes and begin more than 40 years of service in the East Bay.
1962 Pope John XXIII founds the Diocese of Oakland, comprising Contra Costa and Alameda counties, naming the central Oakland church St. Francis de Sales as the Cathedral. Bishop Floyd Begin is named to lead the new Diocese.
1965 The Second Vatican Council, which emphasized participation by the laity and outreach toward other faiths, culminates in Lumen Gentium, which begins "Christ is the Light of all nations". This document is to be the eventual inspiration for the name, The Cathedral of Christ the Light.
1965-2000 Immigrants from Central America, the Philippines, Vietnam, China, and Africa arrive in significant numbers.
1977 Bishop Begin dies and Bishop John Cummins is appointed second Bishop of Oakland.
1989 The Loma Prieta earthquake irreparably damages St. Francis de Sales Cathedral.
2000 Parishioners, priests, and Diocesan leadership formally discuss a new Cathedral, reaching a consensus to go forward with planning to build a Cathedral Center.
2003 Bishop John Cummins retires and Bishop Allen Vigneron is named third Bishop of Oakland.
2005 Ground-breaking ceremonies are held and construction begins on the Cathedral Center of Christ the Light.
2008 The Cathedral of Christ the Light was dedicated on September 25, 2008.

I was born and raised catholic, I found always a sense of belonging growing up, practicing the faith, serving community, and helping people in need. The Catholic faith is Universal. A spiritual bond between God and with other catholics world wide.

I developed strong faith in Catholicism, The TRUE Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. A history, despite the down falls there is good, nobody is perfect.

Despite the economic times of our country, LIFE will continue on, and so well the Catholic Church.

Romans 7:15-18

" I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. "

I find the catholic faith helps me conquer the sinful nature.

God Bless

Tim K.