As we see more and more evil happening on TV and around the world, I keep getting asked what I think about the world ending soon. New TV series seem to pop up almost daily dealing with The End Times or “Left Behind” types of Movies.
So I must ask; Is it all just a great big Disney Fun House ride? (Think “Pirates of the Caribbean” or “It’s a Small World After All”)
Perhaps this world and this life is all set up just to see what your actions and reactions will be. Maybe everyone deflates when you leave the room and it’s only you and God all along. Not to say that others don’t matter. Because they do (more than anything), but maybe they’re just part of the big ride.
We are all so concerned about the end of the Fun House itself rather than the end of our individual ride in it. Who cares when the ride is retired and put away? We better care more about when our own Fun House cart pulls up to the exit ramp. What kind of state are we in then? How did we react to the characters along the way?
Maybe the people and situations we meet daily are part of God’s vetting program to see if we are the kind of people with which He wants to share eternity. Of course He loves us, but He is checking to see if we can and will choose to love Him, through others. How do we demonstrate selflessness over selfishness? It’s a learning process.
How many times have we heard stories of saints who helped out a stranger in need and then the stranger disappeared? Or the saint is told by Christ Himself that it was really Him in disguise? What is that all about? If this whole life is not a proving ground for the next?
So, yes pay close attention to those around you. Meet their personal, spiritual, and temporal needs as best you can. But don’t be surprised when the ride is over for you. Keep your eyes on that ending rather than the Fun House burning down!
Hopefully the guy who took your ticket and strapped you in at the beginning, will offer you a hand up and out of your little Fun House cart as He speaks the words we are all “dying” to hear, “Well done good and faithful servant… now enter into the home of my Father”.
BY A 15 yr. OLD SCHOOL KID who got an A+ for this entry (TOTALLY AWESOME)!
Since the Pledge of Allegiance And The Lord’s Prayer Are not allowed in most Public schools anymore, Because the word ‘God’ is not to be mentioned….. A kid in Arizona wrote the attached NEW School prayer:
“New Pledge of Allegiance” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now I sit me down in school Where praying is against the rule For this great nation under God Finds mention of Him very odd.
If scripture now the class recites, It violates the Bill of Rights. And anytime my head I bow Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green, That’s no offense; it’s a freedom scene.. The law is specific, the law is precise. Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall Might offend someone with no faith at all.. In silence alone we must meditate, God’s name is prohibited by the state.
We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks, And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks… They’ve outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible. To quote the Good Book makes me liable. We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen, And the ‘unwed daddy,’ our Senior King. It’s ‘inappropriate’ to teach right from wrong, We’re taught that such ‘judgments’ do not belong..
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.. But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It’s scary here I must confess, When chaos reigns the school’s a mess. So, Lord, this silent plea I make: Should I be shot; My soul please take! Amen
If you aren’t ashamed to do this, Please pass this on.. Jesus said, ‘If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father.’
~~~~~~~~~~~AWESOME~~~~~~~~~~
This Wednesday is the first meeting of DTS for the 2014-2015 year. Come to the library outside the youth ministry office at 7 pm. At 7:30 move to room 21. This is for all teens 8th – 12th grades! Come and learn about the lives of the Saints in the Church. See how things that happened long ago are VERY much the same as the things going on in your world today. How did these people handle it and rise above it all to become Saints? Come and find out. It is very cool to be a part of this teen organization which is all over the world now but started right here in our diocese. If you are a member then wear your DTS hood to the meeting. If you are not yet a member… this is your personal invitation to join. Bring all your friends too. God bless our year! All you Saints and angels, pray for us! Michael A. Barone
We had our first successful meeting of the 6th and 7th Grade SJOA Youth Group. The rain did not keep us away or dampen our spirits! We played broom ball, Gaga Ball, and Corn Hole. There were prizes for the 1st 2nd and 3rd place in Corn hole. We voted on our new name which is S.J.A.P. and stands for “St. Joan of Arc Parish”. We also voted on our T-shirt design. The entries are posted below and the winner is too. Next month we will be going to the Columbus Blue Jackets Faith and Family Night Hockey Game and “Unspoken” Christian Concert. Tickets are $33.00 each but we will pay for half the price if you order them before October 29th. Email Michael A. Barone at Herringbone777@live.com or call him at 614-285-2741 to let him know you want tickets. This is a great and exciting group! Welcome to everyone who came and everyone who is coming in the future! So Start inviting your friends in the 6th and 7th grades to come with you! God bless you all.
The Winner is pictured below. We will have shirts made for everyone!
SJOA SKI/SNOWBOARD CLUB Meeting Thursday Oct 9th at 6 pm in rooms 9 & 10. Open to all 8th – 12th grades. And families. Call Michael for details! 614-285-2741
Hey we all get it, that kind of down feeling when you get home from a weekend retreat and all hell breaks loose. Maybe your parents yelled at you for not cleaning your room before you left for the retreat. Maybe your little sister spilled grape juice all over your bedspread while you were away. Maybe there was an assignment or test at school that you totally forgot about. It happens to all of us. It’s called “Blowback” . It’s just the evil one trying to undo what you experienced while on the retreat. Even us youth ministers experience blowback. Sometimes from the ones we love most. It always seems like a big deal at the time and makes you feel like nothing really changed for you on the retreat. But there is nothing further from the Truth. You were changed and that great feeling you had on Sunday morning at Adoration or Reconciliation at 1 AM??? You will get that back again. It’s just a matter of time, part of the peaks and valleys of the spiritual life. One great way to maintain the experience of the retreat is to plug yourself into the TRUE~LIFE Youth Ministry programs that are ongoing all week here at the church. Tuesdays we have Praise and Worship and Eucharistic Adoration at 700 pm in the day chapel right after 615 pm Mass and the rosary for life. On alternating Wednesdays we have Bingo with the elderly at the Worthington Christian Village on rt 23 and starting mid October we will have DTS meeting too. Bingo with the elderly is like visiting the sick and imprisoned. And that is one of the corporal works of mercy. Plus it’s a lot of fun. Thursday night is TRUE~LIFE night at the church at 7 pm in the social hall or rooms 9 &10. Saturday mornings are Ultimate Frisbee at 10 am as long as the weather holds out. So don’t sit at home and feel sorry for yourself because of blowback! Come down and get plugged into TRUE~LIFE!
