Hey, if you are interested in buying Guerilla Apologetics for Catholics (see review below) and/or Guerilla Apologetics for Life Issues (ah... the review isn't posted yet, but should be above this posting soon), you may get them at:
Amazon's site - http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/002-6824022-0665645?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=%22guerrilla+apologetics%22&Go.x=13&Go.y=14
or
R.A.G.E. Media's site -http://www.dyinglight.com/store/
They are a great value - lots of info, plus each include a recommended resources section at the end - so get a few for your friends, too! Peace. ~~~mary
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Guerrilla Apologetics for Catholics
Guerrilla Apologetics for Catholics - that's the title of a book which I recently read. What a title!
What an image -- crucifix wearing, camo-clad people darting out from behind trees shouting, "Sorry!," as they dive, roll and dart behind another tree. Hmmm...
Well, that doesn't have anything to do with the book.
Apologetics is a matter of defending faith. Guerrilla Apologetics for Catholics is author Paul E. Nowak's treatise for how Catholics should approach situations that have often been a matter of fruitlessly defending our faith. We all know that becoming angered by incorrect harsh assertions about the Church (you do know that Catholics aren't Christians, right?) ultimately serves no purpose. A defensive stance in a discussion is a weak position. Nowak advocates taking the offensive position in the discussion so as to develop a genuine conversation.
Throughout the book, the author presents and discusses contentious topics to be brought up Catholics when engaged by evangelical Christians intend upon the Catholics the "error" of their ways. By being prepared to question the questioner, who believes they are posing loaded questions, Catholics may in fact diffuse the minefield laid by wrong thinking tract writers who have misinformed those well intentions individuals.
The only thing in this book with which I had a problem - and it wasn't really a problem, more of an uneasiness - was the fact that Nowak says in more than one place that our personal relationships with the people involved in the discourse is more important than "winning a debate." On the surface I agree with that, but, if it is a matter of Truth (note the capital T), I do believe that we should not let erroneous information about the Church/God/Jesus/et. al. go unanswered. Throwing someone on the ground and not letting them up until they repeat the Truth isn't acceptable, but there is middle ground between that and leaving things unsaid for the sake of friendship - otherwise, what kind of friendship do we have if we can't state that which we believe to be true?!? We are to spread the good news, not hide it for the sake of false friendships.
Paul Nowak wrote another "Guerrilla" book that I'll tell you about later. Peace.
What an image -- crucifix wearing, camo-clad people darting out from behind trees shouting, "Sorry!," as they dive, roll and dart behind another tree. Hmmm...
Well, that doesn't have anything to do with the book.
Apologetics is a matter of defending faith. Guerrilla Apologetics for Catholics is author Paul E. Nowak's treatise for how Catholics should approach situations that have often been a matter of fruitlessly defending our faith. We all know that becoming angered by incorrect harsh assertions about the Church (you do know that Catholics aren't Christians, right?) ultimately serves no purpose. A defensive stance in a discussion is a weak position. Nowak advocates taking the offensive position in the discussion so as to develop a genuine conversation.
Throughout the book, the author presents and discusses contentious topics to be brought up Catholics when engaged by evangelical Christians intend upon the Catholics the "error" of their ways. By being prepared to question the questioner, who believes they are posing loaded questions, Catholics may in fact diffuse the minefield laid by wrong thinking tract writers who have misinformed those well intentions individuals.
The only thing in this book with which I had a problem - and it wasn't really a problem, more of an uneasiness - was the fact that Nowak says in more than one place that our personal relationships with the people involved in the discourse is more important than "winning a debate." On the surface I agree with that, but, if it is a matter of Truth (note the capital T), I do believe that we should not let erroneous information about the Church/God/Jesus/et. al. go unanswered. Throwing someone on the ground and not letting them up until they repeat the Truth isn't acceptable, but there is middle ground between that and leaving things unsaid for the sake of friendship - otherwise, what kind of friendship do we have if we can't state that which we believe to be true?!? We are to spread the good news, not hide it for the sake of false friendships.
Paul Nowak wrote another "Guerrilla" book that I'll tell you about later. Peace.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Just the same old same old me
Okay. This is the Tuesday after Easter. What did I gain, from this Lenten exercise? Have I become a better Christian? Did I learn to put myself aside? Did any epiphanies result? Nope.
I experienced the same level of frustration in my life. I argued. I was me. Flawed. I knew that before I began and am very much aware of it now. All I did was record it. And because of the pain, I didn't even record it every day.
Today I dealt with someone who has mightily proclaimed her desire for an elevated spiritual life. Should that not be the type of person with whom I should have untroubled exchanges? I mean she wants to be a saint. That fall in line with what we should all desire. But she drives me crazy!!!!!!! I find myself wanting to tell her what I think of her judgments, materialism, gossip and general lunacy. How is that right?!?!?! It isn't and I so try to not be that way. In fact, when I deal with her, I look at how she is and wonder if my difficulty with her is that I am committing a sin of being scrupulous. I wonder that. I don't really know to what degree someone's actions/attitudes must be "scrupulous" for the actions/attitudes to be sinful - so I then wonder about that. Then I wonder how I could imagine that I could ever wonder about falling into a situation of overzealousness - kind of laugh to myself - then go back to nearly disliking this person. I don't get how someone can so talk a good talk yet seem to embody that which she says she disdains. Gossip, ohhhh how she loathes gossip. She will note that she doesn't want to gossip - she doesn't want to have to go to confession for gossiping. Then, in a hushed stereotypically gossipy tone, she will say something about someone - something that serves no good. I feel I'm quite liberal as to my definition of conversational information - as opposed to gossip. If saying something does some good - even if is just that it lets you blow off steam - I don't consider it gossip. But if you are whispering to me that a neighbor left her family when we aren't on any subject, before or after you say that, related to that information, then I call that gossip. And wonder what compelled you to tell me, conspiratorially, that little tidbit.
Okay - am I any better of a person? Sure doesn't seem that way.
Jesus sweat blood. Peace.
I experienced the same level of frustration in my life. I argued. I was me. Flawed. I knew that before I began and am very much aware of it now. All I did was record it. And because of the pain, I didn't even record it every day.
Today I dealt with someone who has mightily proclaimed her desire for an elevated spiritual life. Should that not be the type of person with whom I should have untroubled exchanges? I mean she wants to be a saint. That fall in line with what we should all desire. But she drives me crazy!!!!!!! I find myself wanting to tell her what I think of her judgments, materialism, gossip and general lunacy. How is that right?!?!?! It isn't and I so try to not be that way. In fact, when I deal with her, I look at how she is and wonder if my difficulty with her is that I am committing a sin of being scrupulous. I wonder that. I don't really know to what degree someone's actions/attitudes must be "scrupulous" for the actions/attitudes to be sinful - so I then wonder about that. Then I wonder how I could imagine that I could ever wonder about falling into a situation of overzealousness - kind of laugh to myself - then go back to nearly disliking this person. I don't get how someone can so talk a good talk yet seem to embody that which she says she disdains. Gossip, ohhhh how she loathes gossip. She will note that she doesn't want to gossip - she doesn't want to have to go to confession for gossiping. Then, in a hushed stereotypically gossipy tone, she will say something about someone - something that serves no good. I feel I'm quite liberal as to my definition of conversational information - as opposed to gossip. If saying something does some good - even if is just that it lets you blow off steam - I don't consider it gossip. But if you are whispering to me that a neighbor left her family when we aren't on any subject, before or after you say that, related to that information, then I call that gossip. And wonder what compelled you to tell me, conspiratorially, that little tidbit.
Okay - am I any better of a person? Sure doesn't seem that way.
Jesus sweat blood. Peace.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Bishop Rhoades Reflection
My blog today is a matter not of my thoughts or words; rather, they are the words of Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Harrisburg Diocese. He shared his personal reflections for Holy Week in the Catholic Witness, March 30, 2007 issue. Please pray for our dynamic Bishop.
When we begin the Easter Triduum on Holy Thursday night, we enter, in a sense, into the Upper Room with Jesus as we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. We give thanks for the two sacraments instituted by Christ during the Last Supper: the Eucharist and Holy Orders. The Lord Jesus gave us the Holy Eucharist as the perpetual memorial of His death and resurrection so that we can participate in His sacrifice and receive the graces of redemption through the Paschal banquet. The Lord Jesus gave us the ministerial priesthood so that the Eucharistic sacrifice of His Body and Blood, the source and summit of our lives, would be celebrated in every time and place. Please pray with me this Holy Thursday for our priests and seminarians and for an increase in priestly vocations, for without ordained priests, who alone receive the power to consecrate the Eucharist, we cannot celebrate the Eucharistic Sacrifice. Perhaps you can keep this intention in mind during prayer before the Blessed Sacrament this Holy Thursday night when the Eucharist is solemnly reserved for adoration in our parish churches and chapels after the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Peace.
When we begin the Easter Triduum on Holy Thursday night, we enter, in a sense, into the Upper Room with Jesus as we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. We give thanks for the two sacraments instituted by Christ during the Last Supper: the Eucharist and Holy Orders. The Lord Jesus gave us the Holy Eucharist as the perpetual memorial of His death and resurrection so that we can participate in His sacrifice and receive the graces of redemption through the Paschal banquet. The Lord Jesus gave us the ministerial priesthood so that the Eucharistic sacrifice of His Body and Blood, the source and summit of our lives, would be celebrated in every time and place. Please pray with me this Holy Thursday for our priests and seminarians and for an increase in priestly vocations, for without ordained priests, who alone receive the power to consecrate the Eucharist, we cannot celebrate the Eucharistic Sacrifice. Perhaps you can keep this intention in mind during prayer before the Blessed Sacrament this Holy Thursday night when the Eucharist is solemnly reserved for adoration in our parish churches and chapels after the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
Peace.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
The Father will honor whoever serves me // the Lord God helps me
John's Gospel is my favorite. Not surprising. It seems to be the favorite of many people. Anyway, being that it is my favorite, when I look up an event in Jesus' life I usually turn to John. In my imagining, I can see Jesus saying,
"Whoever loves his love loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it in for eternity. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will be my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me (John 12:25-26).",
on the Wednesday before His death. I'm not a bible scholar or even moderately well studied, but that goes on my personl timeline for today, roughly 1970 years ago. It isn't part of the Gospel reading in Mass today (see Matthew 26:14-25 for that) but sure seems to mesh well with the Old Testament reading.
The first reading is from Isaiah 50:
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary. Morning by morning he wakens, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. (4-9)
Peace.
"Whoever loves his love loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it in for eternity. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will be my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me (John 12:25-26).",
on the Wednesday before His death. I'm not a bible scholar or even moderately well studied, but that goes on my personl timeline for today, roughly 1970 years ago. It isn't part of the Gospel reading in Mass today (see Matthew 26:14-25 for that) but sure seems to mesh well with the Old Testament reading.
The first reading is from Isaiah 50:
The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary. Morning by morning he wakens, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. (4-9)
Peace.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Sarcasm
Sarcasm can be the life blood of household. Such a household is a very mean-spirited place with mean people who have mean words. Compliments would certainly not what they seemed. The intent of a compliment, when voiced, could be said to point out an area of inadequacy by snidely praising. Or might it be that it only seems that way.
That's the thing about living in a verbal war zone - you are never quite sure of where the barb wire lies. It is often disguised. Camouflauged. Sarcasm can be used to mask a vitriol spirit. And the people skilled in using it are often thought to be clever.
If a person turns her back on that existence, does it ever leave her? If her heart's desire is peace, simple interactions, honest exchanges - is she able to purge the dirtiness that had sullied her life? Does a rattle snake cease being a rattle snake if it spurns the shake of her tail and the drip of her venom? Her life is that of a snake. Even if never used, as long as she lives, she possesses a death rattle. Instinct will ever press upon her.
Peace.
That's the thing about living in a verbal war zone - you are never quite sure of where the barb wire lies. It is often disguised. Camouflauged. Sarcasm can be used to mask a vitriol spirit. And the people skilled in using it are often thought to be clever.
If a person turns her back on that existence, does it ever leave her? If her heart's desire is peace, simple interactions, honest exchanges - is she able to purge the dirtiness that had sullied her life? Does a rattle snake cease being a rattle snake if it spurns the shake of her tail and the drip of her venom? Her life is that of a snake. Even if never used, as long as she lives, she possesses a death rattle. Instinct will ever press upon her.
Peace.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Making Memories. Or Not.
The Chrism Mass was this evening. Did I remember before seeing mention of it just now as I paged down the blog trying to figure out what I should write tonight? Weeeellllll... No. Guess that means that I'll just have to look forward to next year being the first year I attend one. In reality, in the shape I'm in right now, I shouldn't have gone anyway.
I need to find the right time to talk to Scott about how he feels about my lack of memory. The reason I say that is because he seemed somewhat frightened today when he asked me why I didn't remember a decision I had made 15 minutes before I said something that made it apparent that I didn't remember the decision. He knows as much about my memory situation as I do, yet I think this time - the small amount of time between one thing and the other - kind of knocked him off balance. He has always done really well with my limitations, but the incongruity of a seemingly intelligent person losing recollection of something so quickly seemed to get him. If it would have been 2 hours, he very well may have just chalked it up to the MD and moved on. The fact that the decision was a parenting related one may have heightened his anxiety too. If the person in charge doesn't have a firm grasp on things, maybe that would make a kid's world a little wobbly. Then again, I may be reading too much in to it. The only way to find out is to talk to him. I must remember to do that. I must remember to do that. I must remember to do that. I must... Oh, shoot. What was it that I was gonna do? Peace.
I need to find the right time to talk to Scott about how he feels about my lack of memory. The reason I say that is because he seemed somewhat frightened today when he asked me why I didn't remember a decision I had made 15 minutes before I said something that made it apparent that I didn't remember the decision. He knows as much about my memory situation as I do, yet I think this time - the small amount of time between one thing and the other - kind of knocked him off balance. He has always done really well with my limitations, but the incongruity of a seemingly intelligent person losing recollection of something so quickly seemed to get him. If it would have been 2 hours, he very well may have just chalked it up to the MD and moved on. The fact that the decision was a parenting related one may have heightened his anxiety too. If the person in charge doesn't have a firm grasp on things, maybe that would make a kid's world a little wobbly. Then again, I may be reading too much in to it. The only way to find out is to talk to him. I must remember to do that. I must remember to do that. I must remember to do that. I must... Oh, shoot. What was it that I was gonna do? Peace.
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