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Showing posts with the label Marianne Ball

What Standard Guides Your Life? (You might be surprised.)

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  It's Easter week. We're just days away from the commemoration of the suffering and then the  resurrection of Christ. I wanted to be mindful about Lent this year, but by the third day, I had forgotten to stay away from chocolate. I don't know what happened. I got busy and lazy at the same time.  But, other things happened over Lent that kept bringing to mind the question, What is my standard for living?   In other words, to whom do I answer? (Maybe just myself.)  Am I trying to meet a condition (as in conditional) that I've placed on myself, or someone has placed upon me?  Am I trying to keep someone happy? Am I simply trying to get through life without any conflicts or confrontation? What influence or circumstance has my allegiance? What is the standard upon which I make my choices?  CONTINUE READING  HERE

8 Things You Probably Don't Know About the Pope

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SOURCE If you've been living in a cave this week, you might not know Pope Francis is in the U.S. for a few days. He's drawing record crowds. Even non-Catholics seem to like him.  He's humble and welcoming.  He's not going to change Catholic doctrine, but he extends genuine love and compassion to all.  Here are some facts about him you might not know. 1.  As a young man, he had part of one lung removed due to an infection. 2.  While in college, he worked as a bouncer in a bar to pay for his studies.  The makes me chuckle. CONTINUE READING HERE...

We Have a Warrior God

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I saw "War Room" this past weekend with friends, and it inspired me to become more disciplined about praying for loved ones. Here's my review. This movie is produced by the Kendrick brothers, the writers who gave us "Facing the Giants," "Fireproof," and "Courage." I've seen all these movies, and the messages are always good and on target. However, the actors (not well-knowns, other than Kirk Cameron) have not been stellar, and this always trips me up a bit. I understand that Affirm Pictures (the Kendrick brothers company) is a small outfit. (Hollywood doesn't, in general, produce movies with a Christian message.) But, I support them. I'm going to see every movie they produce, because that's how they will grow and bring in revenue and at some point draw the bigger names. I get that making movies is about money. I hate it, but I get it. Having said that, I loved "War Room." It's the best yet from...

My Roamin' Catholic Faith

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I'm new here to ACWB!  Here's a bit of my Catholic journey... I was raised Catholic.  I wandered away in my teen years.  I recommitted in my mid-twenties.  I roamed off again in my 40's.  I came home again after four years.  As a youngster, going to Mass was an obligation, part of my Catholic school training - Mass once a week at school and always on Sunday.  If I missed it on Sunday, I was probably going to hell. Me and my brother, who studied for the priesthood for several years READ MORE HERE... what brought me back to the Church time and time again?