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Fakenewsims, The New Pandemic

November 9, 2020 2 Comments

As our usual Taco Tuesday custom, we had tacos for dinner. This Tuesday was different because it was election night. Mike, our daughter Sonja, Russ and their boys, and our friends Sarah and Jason came to watch the results of the election. We waited for states to be called red and were pleasantly surprised. This was intense, but we continued to watch. Our conversation was about all the positive rallies for Trump and our belief that the media was going to play an underhanded game with this election.

The Media

The purpose of this organization is to keep us informed, to be in the know and to present an unbiased report on the affairs that are being reported. Our media is not only not impartial, they are so liberal that they can’t even get the weather right. What is happening here is that they all caught the disease of bogus reporting; the lay term for this illness is: Fakenewsism. This disorder attacks the mind and causes delusional thoughts to enter the brain. If you attempt to go for another diagnosis, all the doctors (news agencies) will tell you the same. They will prescribe an extra dose of fake news to keep you in the dark. There is only one antidote, well perhaps two: God and prayer.

The Liberal Mind

Fakenewsism spreads faster than COVID-19; it has been a pandemic for a while. I can recall a telephone conversation with a liberal relative, and I was not at all surprised when she obtusely said, “How can all the media be wrong?” When I heard this, I knew fakenewsism had taken over her reprobate mind. There was no hope; the lights of reason were turned off, so our conversation ended.

This mindset also attacks Christians. How can this be? Some Christians take up one cause and will compromise the things of God to satisfy that one stand. They do not understand the non-negotiable: protecting life from womb to tomb, protecting the sanctity of marriage, and obeying the laws of God. They haven’t sold out, but because of their disorder they no longer think what God created their mind to think.

The News

We watched several stations during the elections, switching from Fox, to NBC, and CNN. Some of the reporters could not hide the look on their faces when a state turned red. Then it started; the fake news quickly kicked in and the reporters stopped calling the states. Russ took the boys home, Jason left to be with his daughters, and Mike went to bed. Sonja, Sarah and I stuck to the news. We were anxious, so we all decided to make a donut run to DK Donuts. The euphoria lasted for about five minutes because that is what sugar does. Around 10 o’clock we all turned in because I had to give Sonja a ride home. I was going straight to bed but I decided to watch more of the secularized news. I started to pray; I was not praying for victory, I was praying for justice to prevail.

On Wednesday I visited my sister out of state while all this presidential information was being sorted out. My sister Norma does not watch any news whatsoever, so my mind was at ease the entire visit. Norma and I went on a late night walk and prayed the Rosary. I fell asleep praying in the Spirit.

On my way home, I continued to pray. My phone lit up with the news projecting Biden as the winner. I got a pit in my stomach and pulled out my Rosary and prayed. Shortly afterwards the fake news media declared Biden the winner. I was looking for other news feeds to ease my troubled mind. I came across Taylor Marshall, pulled up a YouTube video and listened to what he had to say.

The Walls of Jericho

Taylor Marshall is a genius. A staunch Catholic to the core, he announced that it was not over yet, that Catholics are gathering around all state capitals especially the questionable battle-ground states to march at 12 o’clock noon for victory. This March started on Saturday, November 7th. I am asking that in solidarity we join them in prayer at 12 p.m.

When the Israelites marched around Jericho, they had with them the Ark of the Covenant, which was carried by the High Priest. The Ark of the Covenant contained the Laws of God. We who serve and follow God still live by these Ten Commandments.

After Moses’ death, God commissioned Joshua to lead. Joshua had the mantle of Moses, the anointed of God. God chose Joshua because our Lord was going to instruct him on how to fight this battle. The only secret weapon was the Ark of the Covenant, which carried three things: a jar of manna, Aaron’s rod and the Ten Commandments. Equipped with this, the Israelites marched on. Were they scared? Did they believe that by just marching around Jericho the walls would come down? They weren’t scared, they were terrified; but because God kept encouraging them they prevailed. They claimed the promises of God. God never leaves a job half done.

²⁵Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed, be firm and steadfast. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies against whom you fight.”

This is the same Enemy that has been tormenting us since the begining of time. Our battle is with him, not our friends, and not our family members. I love them and will continue to pray for the truth of God to be revealed.

Social Media

God allowed this medium for the sake of spreading the Good News. In all my previous posts, I proceeded with a circumspect heart, never using the name of our President Trump. Why? Because a big red flag of analytics would wildly wave. My free speech is muzzled because I am speaking against the liberals by exposing the truth. The anger of others quickly follows with unwarranted remarks like this, “Like it or not, Biden is the new president of this country!” My first reaction was surprise, then the Holy Spirit calmed me into praying for this angry person. So much controversy with social media and all the tech giants, but to God they are mere grasshoppers.

I average about 2,000 hits a day, sometimes more; one day I reached over 7,000 hits. So why me? I’m a speck of dust in the social media realm, but to them I’m a threat. If they are coming after me, imagine what President Trump is subjected to.

Fact-Checkers

One of the main fact-Checkers originated from CNN. Allen Duke, who worked as an editor for CNN for 26 years, was quickly picked up by Facebook to do their fact-checking dirty work. They are nothing more than liberals adding their judgement to twist the truth. This, too, is going to stop because God will intervene and set them straight.

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes

I have a circle of friends and family members who I am always in contact with. Torie, my sister Jo’s middle son, is one of them. Torie shared a story about his son Jake. Jake asked his father, “Dad, who was the apostle who betrayed Jesus?” Torie answered, “Judas.” To this Jake replied, “Jesus told him to do what he had to do.” This profound statement from a seven-year-old was a confirmation that the Democrats are doing what they have to do.

My Prayer:

Lord, we believe in Your Word, and what You stand for. You stand for the sanctity of human life and biblical marriage. Help those of us who are walking in Your light to see as You see. Lord, You are the God of Justice, and we trust that all truth will be revealed. Create a new bond between heaven and us, so that we can continually look to You for our answer in the results of this election. Lord, expose all lies and fraud. Amen.

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Dear Pope Francis

November 2, 2020 22 Comments

With so much bombardment of the media, it was impossible to not miss the most shocking of all news feeds. Pope Francis has announced that he supports same-sex civil unions. I, for one, was not surprised by this grievous report.

The Pope Encounter

In April of 2014, our missionary group traveled from Israel to Rome. We were there to witness the canonization of Pope John Paul II. A few days before the blessed event, we had an audience with the Pope. We had tickets, got up extra early, and took a taxi to the Vatican. I had to beg my friend Cathryn to allow me to push her in a wheelchair; thankfully, she agreed. It was a cold morning, but that did not matter because of the excitement of seeing the Pope. We were sitting in the front row; you can’t get any closer than that, right? We were eating the breakfasts that the hotel had prepared for us; then the weather turned. We had umbrellas, but the rain was constant, softly falling over everyone. We were getting soaked. Suddenly these men in long black coats motioned for us; to get up. One girl from the U.S. started to complain, “Why are you doing this? We came from so far away, and now you’re asking us to move?” I had an idea as to what was about to happen. I wanted to tell the foolish girl to be quiet, but I had to push Cathryn. What these men were doing was getting us out of the rain. I was running ahead of others to get a good seat to the private auditorium. The bumps on the cobble stone were causing Cathryn to bounce up and down like a rag doll. That did not matter because I was running to secure a good spot. All I could think of was my plan to get through the massive wooden doors before others. In all the commotion, two rows were formed, with a wide aisle between them. That’s when it hit me: the Pope was going to come in person to greet our small group first! There was a huge, televised live screening that allowed us to see the thousands of people waiting outside St. Peter’s Square. The young American girl started with her lamenting again, “We want to be outside! We want to see the Pope in person, not on a live screen!” This time I gave her a disapproving look, and was about to tell her to shut up when were were all handed a small piece of paper. The paper was written in Italian, but I knew what it said. We were about to experience a holy encounter with the Pope.

My traveling companions, Natalie, me, Carmelita and Angie

The Company You Keep

We were traveling with our lay group that included two Filipinas, one of whom was Carmelita. Carmelita and I had roomed together on several other missionary trips. She was responsible for getting me into the habit of praying more fervently. Late at night if I made the slightest move, Carmelita would say, “Lynda, are you awake?” I was always tired but would reluctantly answer yes. With Carmelita it was never a simple five minute prayer but the entire Rosary with special intentions in between the decades! She is one of the most faithful, holy women that I recognize as a truly devout Catholic.

Sure enough, just as I suspected, The huge doors swung open and there he was, in the flesh, Pope Francis. Whatever was about to happen was going to be quick and sweet. Carmelita and her friend were sitting next to Cathryn and me. She started to cry, “Oh my God, the Holy Father! The Holy Father!” These were real tears and, as I was witnessing this, a quick thought came to me. “Should I cry too?” With all the emotion and trying decide whether to cry or not, when the Holy Father came to me, I took his hand and kissed his ring. You will never guess what he did to me; he gave me a swift pat on the head and moved to the next person. I received this as a “Snap out of it moment!” I had given Carmelita and her friend my phone in order for them to take pictures, but with all their emotions flying all over the place, neither of them could get a good shot. I tried to remember Pope Francis’ outstanding features, all the freckles on his face, the color of his pearly gray teeth and how he smiled and shuffled his feet. I was mesmerized by his presence. This feeling stayed with me the entire day.

The Canonization of Pope John Paul II

April 27, 2014, was the day of the canonization of His Holiness John Paul II. We had a wake-up call at 3:00 a.m. No vehicles of any sort were allowed near the Vatican, so we had to take the metro. Our tour guide warned us to stay together because of the crowds. I had purchased a small folding stool in California; this would prove to be both a blessing and a curse. All the entrances to St. Peter’s were secured with barriers. We were a group of about eight. As soon as we exited the metro, our group was violently separated. In a rush, a police officer opened a small portion of the barrier and hundreds tried to make their way in, trampling others in their path. We lost half of our group with that episode. We reached an area on the side of St. Peter’s and we stayed there for hours. A Polish group kept singing the same annoying song; it was undoubtedly a praise song but it was way too early to receive this blessing. Then a Polish man pulled out an accordion and started playing music. My heavy, sleep-deprived eyes were rudely forced opened by this irritating music. We were all taking turns sitting on the stool. Nothing was more uncomfortable than this stool but we needed to rest our feet. I wanted to cry from the pain of sitting on this three-legged stool, but the pain of standing outweighed it. Finally after six hours the barriers were opened, and once again the crowds rushed to get in. I closed my eyes and tried to recall our front row seats from the days before this mayhem. Now we were so far back, sitting on the cold cobble stones, reduced to peasants. Not even the stool from hell brought us any reprieve.

The Special Surprise

As we settled on the cold ground, the most beautiful music filled the crisp air. I cannot compare anything to this welcoming sound; it quieted the crowds into submission and ushered in the anointing. On this special day Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis shared the same stage. I love Pope Benedict, so this was magical for me to witness. Now I understand why Pope Benedict stepped down. He foresaw the evil the Church was going to go through.

Present-Day Pope Francis

Pope Francis’ ambiguous remarks are weighing heavy in my heart. Many Spirit-filled Catholics have been carefully listening to what he is attempting to introduce. I, for one, struggle with who he really represents. In my observation our Pope comes across as worldly with undertones of Socialism. His opinion on gay unions was so misinterpreted that by the time it hit the news, gay Catholic couples were being interviewed, rejoicing in celebration. The Pope never said that the Catholic Church’s position on marriage between a man and a woman was going to be altered. The Church would never allow this. Our Pope never clarified this statement, so who could blame the news media with this confusing, speculative misinformation.

The presence of evil will always be allowed by God. We need to remain steadfast in our Catholic beliefs and fight the good fight. Satan and his minions are working double-time to destroy anything that is holy. This type of evil is much stronger than ever before. It is almost tangible and, for certain, you can see it with your own eyes.

MyPrayer

Dear Lord, I pray for Pope Francis, that You would touch his heart and convict him when he is out of Your holy order. Lord, we beseech You to help us through these trying times. Strengthen us spiritually to fight this battle and to have victory for Your Kingdom. Lord, I pray for the national elections in our broken country. Lord, bring forth the man who will protect the rights of all humans, the sanctity of marriage and the right to life. Please hear our prayers. Amen.

My Heart of the Matter

Finding Your Way Back Home

October 26, 2020 116 Comments

On October 23rd we celebrated the Feast of San Juan Capistrano and the return of the swallows of San Capistrano to Goya, Argentina. I live in Southern California, which is about 30 minutes from San Juan Capistrano. The Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded by Father Juan Junipero Serra on November 1, 1776. On October 23rd, the swallows circle the Mission one last time before they leave on a 6,000-mile journey to Argentina. They will return on March 19th, the Feast of Saint Joseph. These common cliff-nesting swallows do not understand the religious significance of their journey; the only thing that comes natural is their instinct to find their way back home.

We all have that same instinct in our spirit. We all need to make our way back home to our Creator. Until you come to terms with this supernatural phenomenon, you will always have something missing in your spirit. This spiritual homecoming is what completes us because it unites our heart, mind, soul, and spirit to God.

The Israelites

It took the Israelites 40 years to find their way home. They kicked and screamed at every turn; but when they finally reached the Promised Land, they realized they were home. The entire time God was with them; He fed them their daily bread (manna); they had fresh water to drink; and when they wanted a change in the menu, God brought them quail. Our Lord continues to provide for those who are still wandering in the desert of life. God is with them every step of the way. They can’t see Him because they have allowed the things of the world to weigh them down. Their eyes become clouded with tears from the pain of living in the desert. The desert is extremely barren, miserably hot and dry in the summer, freezing cold and unforgiving in the winter.

The Lord remained faithful to the lost Israelites, He provided a comfortable cloud covering by day, and fire by night. How much more will He do for you?

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

The San Juan Capistrano Swallows

These cliff-nesting swallows must prepare for their long journey home. For more than two centuries they have made their mud nests under the Roman arches of the Franciscan monastery of Capistrano. According to an article in the story of the swallows, they travel for 30 days to reach Mission San Juan Capistrano on March 19th (www.sanjuancaspistrano.net). During their voyage, to avoid wasting any time, they do not eat or drink because they fly from dawn to sunset. They fly at an altitude of 6,600 feet because this helps them catch favorable tail winds. They fuel their tanks with flies, spiders and worms for their long journey. Once they arrive, they restrengthen their nests for the birth of new life.

²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰And even the hairs of your head are all counted. ³¹So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

The Papal umbrella granted by the Holy See proclaiming Mission San Juan Capistrano a Basilica

God’s Plan

These swallows are no different from us when we finally arrive home. We want to stabilize our lives by renewing our spirits for new life. God’s plan is not for us to be abandoned in the desert, but for us to seek what He has in store for us. Our life in the desert is a learning experience that involves strenuous obstacle courses for our minds. If we fail, the Lord is there to spot us. He patiently waits for us to cross that finish line.

When I returned to college as an adult, I had to take a class on statistics. This was the most challenging class I have ever taken. When it was time for the final, I knew I was doomed. All of the younger students finished the test in no time, but I was still trying to figure out how to use my computer to get to the problems. I was the last person in the class. It was past 9:30 p.m. when I went to the professor to let him know that I could not finish the final because I needed more time. He looked at me and said, “Take all the time you need, I will wait for you to finish.” With those words, a load was lifted off of me and I finished the test. This is exactly what God does for us; He gives us all the time we need to pass our life test.

Mission San Juan Capistrano

On Sunday morning Mike and I took a ride to San Juan Capistrano to attend Mass in the Basilica. This Mission is known as the Jewel of Missions. We arrived early so that I could walk the grounds and visit the Chapel of FatherJuan Junipero Serra, but due to COVID-19 it was closed. We attended the 9:00 a.m. Mass. It had been years since I last visited this church. As I walked in, my eyes were fixated on the altar. Surrounded with gold are Jesus “top center,” St. Juan Junipero Serra to His right and St. Kateri Tekakwitha to the left. Beneath her is St. Francis of Assisi, the Virgen de Guadalupe (at the feet of Jesus) and St. Joseph (to the bottom right). In the Jubilee Year 2000 this Mission was proclaimed a Basilica. This title was granted by Pope John Paul II. This honor was granted by the Holy See because of its historical and cultural significance in welcoming pilgrims.

Before Mass I was silently praising God when I heard the sound of music; the organist began to play a solemn hymn. This hymn was not only to welcome the parishioners but to unction the Holy Spirit. At exactly 9:00 a.m. the church bells rang as if to wake up this sleeping community. I love the sound of church bells; they make my heart rejoice to be in the House of God.

My Prayer:

Dear Lord: I lift up to You those who are struggling with substance abuse, anger, loneliness and abandonment. Only through Your Holy Spirit can they make their way out of the desert. Lord, allow them to speak these simple words,”Jesus, I trust in You.” Put a new song in their hearts, and wipe away all their tears. Deliver them from all the bondages that have kept them from serving You. May the manna You feed them nourish their spiritual dry bones. Refresh them with Your holy water and bring them home. Amen.

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