The Beast in Me

So I found this video today too. I like it. I hope you do to. Seriously what could be better than Johnny Cash, an old man and a dog?

Johnny Cash |MTV Music

Mc Skat Cat

So I discovered a web site www.mtvmusic.com the other day and it is great. The site has just about every music video ever created. I thought this video was amazing! Enjoy!

Paula Abdul |MTV Music

Momma T

So I'm a few weeks late on my post! But to my defense it seems as if no one cared about my game! Oh well. I had several people make guesses in person and my favorite guess was from Seth who thought that the quote on the last post was from Marilyn Manson. Actually the quote from my last post was from none other than Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa? Really?

The quote is from a book titled "Come Be My Light" by Brian Kolodiejchuk. The book includes some of the private writings of Mother Teresa. Although the writings are not the typical hope inspiring snippets you often find in other books. This book deals with the very personal struggles of faith and love and nearness of God.

A quote from Mother Teresa listed on the back of book exemplifies the tone of the book she says, "If I ever become a Saint - I will surely be one of "darkness." I will continually be absent from Heaven - to light the light of those in darkness on earth."

What I love about her struggle is that although she tried to keep it from the public, it was a very real struggle that she had. Her story is that early in her life she felt a strong call from God to minister to the people of Calcutta and after that point she rarely felt his presence. Could I suffer what she suffered, experience what she experienced and see what she saw and still be faithful to God's calling even though God seemed distant and far away? I hope so.

This book also gives me hope that sometimes the doubts and fears and insecurities of faith that I have are not something that only I deal with. This woman, who for many people exemplifies the word Saint, struggled too, she had doubts too! I believe there is strength from our honesty with one another.

So if you struggle, if you doubt, if you have emptiness or misery and yet are following the calling and direction of Christ seek him all the more. Long for him more. Desire him more. I also urge you to share your true feelings and thoughts with a mature Christian as well.

I love how she ends this section of writing with this, "...here I am Lord, with joy I accept all to the end of life and I smile at Your Hidden Face - always."

May we also be able to say, "Here I am Lord." Even when He feels distant. Even when He feels hidden.

I love this C.S. Lewis quote from the book "The Screwtape Letters,"

“He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles. Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger, than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.”

Who Said It?

So I haven't blogged in a while. I'm sure if many of you are even reading still. A lot has happened in the past few months that I would love to tell you about in some future blogs but for now I want to play a game with you. I want you to read the following quote and post a comment guessing who wrote it. Next Thursday I will tell you who said it and add some comment to it. But for now read it and post a comment on who you think it is. Love, Joy & Peace

"Lord, my GOd, who am I that You should forsake me? The child of your love - and now become as the most hated one - the one You have thrown away as unwanted - unloved. I call, I cling, I want - and there is no One to answer - no One on Whom I can cling - no,No One. Alone. The darkness is so dark - and I am alone. Unwanted, Forsaken. The loneliness of the heart that wants love is unbearable. Where is my faith? - Even deep down, right in, there is nothing but emptiness and darkness. My God how painful is this unknown pain. It pains without ceasing. I have no faith. I dare not utter the words and thoughts that crowd in my heart and make me suffer untold agony. So many unanswered questions live within me I am afraid to uncover them becasue of the blasphemy - If there be God, please forgive me. Trust that all will end in Heaven with Jesus. When I try to raise my thought to Heaven there is such a convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives and hurt my very soul. Love the word it brings nothing. I am told God loves me and yet the reality of darkness and coldness and emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Before the work started there was so much union, love, faith, trust, prayer, sacrifice...I don't feel not even a single simple thought or temptation enteres my heart to claim anything in the work.

The whole time smiling...people pass such remarks. They think my faith, trust, and love ar filling my very being and that the intimacy with God and union to His will must be absorbing my heart. Could they but know and how my cheerfulness is the cloak by which I cover the emptiness and misery.

In spite of all - this darkness and emptiness is not as painful as the longing for God. The contradiction I fear will unbalanc e me. What are You doing My God to one so small? When you asked to imprint Your Passion on my heart - is this the answer?

If this brings You glory, if You get a drop of joy from this - if souls ar brought to You if my suffering satiates Your Thirst here I am Lord, with joy I accept all to the end of life and I will smile at Your Hidden Face - always."


Who do you think said it?