Faith and more

so, its been a long time since I blogged anything here. Most of the comments are spam and most are inappropriate for this topic.

Its been almost two years, heck maybe three.
In that time, i have gotten married, started a major business, been broke, gone on missions, served Jesus, doubted Jesus, Believed in Jesus, Cried to Jesus, Begged Jesus, lost a dear loved one, watched new life come to life, and so much more.

I've been trying to get to confession. Its a lot harder to find one at the right time.
There has been a burning in me to go, but the devil always finds a way to mess up the schedule. I find my biggest issue besides the normal lust and mean things, is the inability to completely forgive. I also find that my attitude because of how stressed things have been is also a huge issue in my life.

I thought it would be easy to build a company with the right values, that grey ethics would no longer looms its head, that all relations with employees would be simple. But no, I know better know. Heck, the best we can do is just live it out. And thats where I am. I own a startup company that is doing ok, hasn't broken even yet overall, but is gaining its place in the industry. The competitors are always a pain in the butt and the employees are harder to deal with than I expected, not because they don't care, but because I think I expect to much and then get disappointed easy. My partners are not always there, the brut amount of the work is on my shoulders, which I don't mind too much, but balancing things has been tricky.

Why do i write all this? In hopes that a person out there who feels the same way can realize how normal it is, and that things can and do get better. Maybe not the worldly ways we want them, but God does have a great plan for each of us. I spend many days wondering what it is, and many other days just saying, do as your will. Either way, His will shall be done.

Which brings me to faith. Faith is amazing because it is a witness in itself. Don't be afraid to show your faith, you don't have to push it on others, but you sure can allow others to see it in your life, your actions and so much more. People can tell, and see it and react to it.

Have Faith my friends in InterWeb land, God has got your back, and every other possible angle out there.

Pope under Fire, But Truth sets us free

An article from Times Online says that Pope Benedict is the Pope who says NO.
I read this and thought, huh?

The article (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article5343333.ece),
is actually very interesting, mainly because everything the Pope has
allegedly said 'no' to, is really just a affirmation on the stance of
the Church founded by Jesus Christ 2000 years ago.

The new "Dignitas Personae" (Dignity of the Person) released by the
Vatican is right on cue in revealing to the world the precious gift of
life and dignity for life. Yet the modern world with our covers firmly
over our eyes see this as a NO, instead of a liberating YES to the
possible Freedom found from the truth.

The document condemns artificial fertilization, human cloning,
"designer babies" and embryonic stem-cell research. It goes on
further, condemning the "morning-after pill" and the drug RU-486,
which blocks the action of hormones needed to keep a fertilized egg
implanted in the uterus. It said such drugs, as well as the IUD
(intrauterine device), fell "within the sin of abortion" and were
"gravely immoral".

Relative Moralism has truly hit the streets, and I pray that we can be
servants that may help in spreading the Good News of the Lord, so that
the truth may set us free. The gifts of these doctrines, or rather,
teachings are a most valuable and wonderful gift to the world.

Even More reason for the spread of PJPIIs Theology of the Body,
because if we only realize how messed up our ethos really is (our
moral compass), then we could start to rebuild and would find that
Pope Benedict is not saying No, but instead is pointing us in the
right direction of the ultimate YES, a yes at the banquet table with
our Lord God in Heaven.

May God be Praised,
Merry Christmas
Shaun Guevarra


To add on:
the pope wrote that contraception "means negating the intimate truth of conjugal love, with which the divine gift (of life) is communicated."

The pope also said that the "world, as well as many of the faithful, ha[s] a lot of difficulty understanding the message of the church,"
which he said intends to protect "the beauty of conjugal love." He added, "Technological answers often seem the easiest, even to great human questions," but "technology cannot substitute for a mature approach to freedom when love is involved." Benedict said the church's support for "natural solutions to infertility" and opposition to assisted reproduction through sperm or egg donation and the freezing of embryos are based on the same reasoning.

source:'
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124445.php

I don't want to gain the whole world, but Lose my soul, Mat 16:26

Hey Guys, Check it out...

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=911e5fd1659cbc0a2f25

I love this song (Toby Mac)

I don't wanna gain the whole world and lose my soul... Mat 16:26

There are new Ads on Metro Buses, that say : "Why Believe in God, Just be Good For Goodness sake"
This is an effort from the Humanist group to bring agnostics and atheists together for the Christmas season.
(Rreference: http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=E22E65ECE53F68F2C932DB05F85365A5?contentId=7842382&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1 )

American Family Aociation (AFA) president Tim Wildmon responded by saying: "It's a stupid ad," he continued by saying. "How do we define 'good' if we don't believe in God? God in his word, the Bible, tells us what's good and bad and right and wrong. If we are each ourselves defining what's good, it's going to be a crazy world."

This Post election world so far has had some bad news and some followers willing to believe that the Change described by the then Presidential -candidate was this level of change. A change to question belief and bring about a freedom to the people, when in reality it is chaining them to the world while they question what is left of their soul.

Reflecting back on Matthew 16:26 :What good would it be if a man gained the whole word, yet forfeits his soul?

There are many things that we can do to respond and be proactive, starting with living our Christian lives transparently, openly and joyfully. Don't hide that light under the table, but witness for Christ everywhere you go. We can help at Crisis Pregnancy centers, at Food distribution centers and shelters. Most importantly we can pray for our leaders, our country, all those we know and the unborn.

And don't fret, there is also astounding good news in the Pro Life/ Pro Family arena and its better for us to keep spreading the news that the real tide that is rising, is the tide that brings in God's love to all the world.

The Pro-Life movement is more than just fighting abortion, it is about defending life to its fullest and openly taking actions that are good and right in the face of God for the whole world to see.

God Bless
Shaun Guevarra
Pro-Life

My Time is now with this link....

ProLife and ProFamily Work Continues

Time to get involved.
God Bless

Elections

This party or that?
The definition of the real person is in principle.

But even so, the voice of the one calling is clouded by the voice on Earth.
God is not in this country's daily life, it is not in the daily movement or footstep of the people of this country. And so, people say that they will vote because the issues are not religious in order that effect them, but instead are something they consider to be greater..

the personal calling of a stranger, who can manipulate words, fake smiles and waver with the wind. Instead of God, they think of themselves.

Instead of the real future, they see only the words and tales of man.
The next four years will be interesting, because Life is at stake, and even moreso,
this entire democracy is at stake. Right now its a republic, but beyond that, its unable to stand up for the true principles of what people need. Instead, the sensationalism of charm and good talks about economy and new hopes and plausible change are the head turners and the shadow's fife calling people to the wrong army.

Regardless, this challenge may just be the thing needed to spring God's army forward and own the entire process, not for themselves, but for those that cannot see. The blind will be made to see again and the Lord will command the real change, the real search and the real answer: The Light of the world is in Christ.

Love, that's all we are called to do right now. So go out and show it, even on the political mess of a show we have going on.

FREEDOM -yes we Can!

What the heck am I yelling about!?

It hit me today, life is sooo precious, our lives our so precious.
And you know what else? We take God's gifts for granted, all of them most of the time.

With so much to be thankful for, It made me think of how we handle things in today's world. I saw an article saying that abstinence programs work better than the "other" programs (Condoms, etc..) and it hit me..

the opposition always says, it wont work, cause the kids will just have sex..
ummm.. so I thought about that.. boy we are obsessed with sex, even more so,
we are obsessed with pleasure, and beyond that, we are selfish pleasure seekers...

ouch!

I know, its rough and honest, but think for a minute. Not many of us stop and think of the others around us, not many think about how our partner is feeling, or what their needs are, or if we do, we think about what else we get out of it.

Even a simple back massage, I even will offer a massage thinking, I'll get one back if I do it good.. WOW.. messed up that my whole intention to do good is so I get gain!

OK here is the kicker.. If you can't teach your kids to control their urges, like eating, having sex, basically being selfless instead of selfish.. than, heck ya.. abstinence does not work well, but they are, you are, we are enslaved to sin then.

FREEDOM comes from controlling the urge and not allowing it to control you. Not chasing self pleasure at the expense of others.. then the chains are broken, then you are free of the sin that has enslaved you.

think long and hard on it.. freedom is not doing whatever you want cause your impulses and urges says so.. no.. animals live that way.. freedom for humans is being able to say NO to an urge (including sex with a very attractive person that seems like they are begging for it) and then realizing that you have the control, not your bodily impulses..

Sure we'll make mistakes, but like all things in life, keep this in your vocabulary, and keep practicing it.. IT WILL WORK. and one day, you'll be getting ready in the morning and yell FREEDOM - yes we Can!

God Bless

Happiness

What is Happiness? Is it about wealth? Can it be? Are we not happy when we are rich?
Why do we see the poor as unhappy when they really have hope in their hearts?
When Mother Theresa was invited to a formal ceremony at a rich country for her to come on behalf of the poor of India, she said
“No”, because India was not poor, they were rich with faith and happiness, the “rich” countries were the poorest of the poor because they killed their own children and practiced no virtues.

Makes you wonder why we think American billionaires are happy, when we see their lives on the news, many failing marriages and many drug addictions and overdoses. Yet they have access to all the modern medicine and cures? So what cures the unhappiness of a person? There is only one cure, one medicine, one way, one hope, one path to happiness, and that’s through one Life: Jesus.

Our spiritual makeup is what will open our hearts to seeing the true happiness, not the amount in our wallet. When we do accrue that amount it is important to be thankful and gracious about it, not to forget where it all came from in the first place. I once thought it was a curse that I couldn’t get rich, but I know now, that perhaps God knows I am not ready. I have said I choose the blessing to be rich, and so He gave me riches, but not in monetary form, instead He gave me a greater richness so that I may prepare in my heart what to truly do with the material wealth.

Some Happiness articles attached:


http://www.peterkreeft.com/audio/06_happiness.htm

actual file is at:
http://www.peterkreeft.com/audio/06_happiness/peter-kreeft_happiness.mp3

Greek meaning of Happiness
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudaimonia

A Prayer for Ash Wednesday, a reflection on 40 Days For Life

A Prayer for Ash Wednesday

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, the all-holy one, who gives us life and all things. As we go about our lives, the press of our duties and activities often leads us to forget your presence and your love. We fall into sin and fail to live out the responsibilities that you have entrusted to those who were baptized into your Son.

In this holy season, help us to turn our minds and hearts back to you. Lead us into sincere repentance and renew our lives with your grace. Help us to remember that we are sinners, but even more, help us to remember your loving mercy.

As we live through this Ash Wednesday, may the crosses of ashes that mark our foreheads be a reminder to us and to those we meet that we belong to your Son. May our worship and prayer and penitence this day be sustained throughout these 40 days of Lent. Bring us refreshed and renewed to the celebration of Christ's resurrection at Easter.

We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.


--As I reflect upon this prayer and the upcoming Lenten season, I cant help but think about all the things that make this season so special. We acknowledge out baptismal promises, we prepare for Christ's sacrafice, we choose to increase our prayer, fast and hopefully revel in God's great gift to us, His son Jesus Christ.

Last week I asked if anyone was interested in 40 days For Life, not much response came from that. And I began to ponder, is this too much, is there just too many things going on that something like 40 days just has no meaning in our lives?

But I was quickly reminded of our faith, our prayers and our blessings from God. This Wed, many of us will go to Church and recieve ashes on our forheads and faithfully walk the streets proclaiming, witnessing in our own way, the start of the Lenten season. 40 Days for life adds nothing new to the routine we are asked to follow, if anything it helps us break from the "routine" into Living the Gospel.

I ask that each of us in our own ways recognize how we may be a part of this Living Church: "If we are the body, we are Our hands not moving, why are our feet not going, ... Lord Show me the Way"

40 Days only helps us remeber the death that Christ went through in order to save our lives, and now the death of innocent babies that is occuring daily that we must pray for.

We are called to Pray for the unborn in addition to our regular prayer, we called to fast as well, this keeps us rooted in the fact that it is our desire to carry out God's will and to make a sacrafice to help us reach beyond our own limitations with God's help.

We are called to be in constant vigil, some may have been affected by abortion or other severe assisted deaths and will make it to pray at least sometime in front of a place where these crimes occur, witnessing beyond the ash on our forehead. (This will take place 24 hours a day, seven days a week)

And we are called to educate ourselves and the community of the Pro-God, Pro-Life, Pro-Family message.

May God grant us the courage to stand up for our faith in our daily battles, the wisdom to know what to do next and His many blessings and graces to open our Hearts to His Will.

God Bless
Shaun Guevarra

The Purity Samaritan?

What can we do with people that seem pious and live a different life, so they seem hyprocritical? Like people that say yes to purity and such, but end up in situations that arent?

To be honest I keep getting stuck with situations people find themselves in, and I want to get angry sometimes, cause it just doesnt help that people dont live the lifestyle they proclaim they want to (or do).. and I know the feeling isnt right... cause it is in many ways passing judgement on people.. people I love..

Then I am reminded about Like 10:11

About the man on the side of the road

and I think.. you know.. we cant judge.. cause then we are just like the priest and levite who pass the dying man..

We have to be the samaritan.. because otherwise, we have fallen into this trap.. or a confusion.. what I mean is:

We want to love and be Christian, but when we see a Christian fall, we want to disown and judge them, but by doing so, we too loose our right to be truly called followers of Christ,

Jesus said the neighbor was the one who treated him with mercy.. a hard lesson to swallow, cause it sounds right, but really really hard to always do..

Like knowing friends engaging in premarital sex, or drunkedness, or other inpure actions..you want to just slap them and say.. why.. did you not go to the same teachings, hear the same things, see the same words in the Bible.. yet here you are.. on the side of the road, robbed of your dignity and honor..?

Yet Jesus said, and as the commandment "Love they neighbor" ..to be merciful..

I pray by God's grace we can all achieve such a pure thing..

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Lost Sheep

Service, it is voluntary

I don't think it should be assigned
But I believe the fire in ones heart should be burning for service and therefore should be a desire stronger than the pressure of the deepest ocean.

However, if the eye does not see what the Lord has asked of us to go out and the many that can harvest to the lost sheep, than it is easy to see the service as works, and not as service

so.. perhaps our strategy as lay persons is incorrect in the sense we expect and believe to empower people by assigning, but in that defense, do you not also see that a loving leader would serve to the ends of the earth, and seek only happiness in your heart before theirs?

Perhaps its a matter of perspective

For example
you go to church on Sunday
the priest greets you with a homily that we must strive to be holy..as it is said in the Gospel of Matthew, strive to be perfect like your father.. but people then disagree because , in the end its their life, so who is to tell them what is holy and what is not..

In this case the mentality is merely a presentation of relativism
Its only relative to the truth you subscribe

I think forcing it upon someone is an issue if that person does not realize the honor it could be..

Just like a baby would not appreciate the $100 bill you give them, but a young man would realize its worth and potential

In that case, we as leaders, entrusted to serve, have been arrogant in assuming all would appreciate the same things as perhaps it has been presented as light in our eyes

I think this therefore can be a extension of seeing a piece of wood in the ye of a brother and not the log in our own.

Growth is Growth, and not in any way is it possible to be imposed onto others..
not every flower grows and blooms together, some are faster, others take their time, yet in the end.. every flower is just as worthy as the next
does it make it wrong to want people to see that?

Maybe we are impatient about that.. but is the intent not honorable?
It makes you wonder doesn't it?
What would make people step up,.. obviously not because of obligation or pity, nor should it be cause of guilt or repayment, nor kinship or friendship.

What lacks in the approach is the ability to pass on a flame.

We all have it.. no doubt
We all made some sort of commitment to follow God's latest covenant to love him and serve him.

Yet many Catholics sit back and don't participate

"Catholicism is not a spectators sport"

But how can people see that?
Personally.. I at times throw my hands in the air and say.. God.. your turn..

Like a farmer, who carefully tills the soil and prepares the seeds, plants them then looks up to heaven and says, God if you want them to grow, you have to provide the rain and sun.

He knows that he can only do so much, and the Lord will take over the things he cannot do

Perhaps, even the simplest act of seeking people to step up, we need to surrender it to the Lord even more.

At the end of the day, if you follow God's word, you will bloom into a more perfect flower, your salvation is there if your faith and works show the desire of your heart

My enthusiasm..comes from the same thing in MT 9:36-38
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a Shepard. Then he said to his disciples, " the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest""

To me, the most striking word there is compassion

He was saying to them that help is needed, not cause he pitied the lost sheep, but because it was his duty, or his job or cause he wanted bonus points with his father, but out of Love

Even if they didn't understand the bigger plan, it was because of love he did it..
later He would be put to death for shepherding the lost sheep, all of us, and it was because of Love..

If we are to witness to that, than even our leadership and service to others..should give us zeal enough to pass it on..
That is my enthusiasm

There are many out there, and cause I love them all, as I have been asked by God my father and as compelled in my heart, I wish to help Jesus reclaim His people

I am just sharing with you where my zeal comes from, and why I consider my day job as just that, cause there is something greater for us to do, and the only way I know how to do some of that, is through my service to others..

even this weblog, is service. Is it not? allowing us to speak of our faith in truth and understand our motivation? is it not a tool of witnessing?

Amen
May God Be Praised.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Understanding Culture of Life

In Matthew 5:15, we are told that we are to not put a candle under a basket, but to raise it up for the whole world to see. In 1Peter 3:15 we are asked to be prepared always to explain the hope in our hearts.

What does this have to with the Culture of Life and the upcoming March For life?
For starters, why is it that we say the truth is twisted in our world today?

Lets take a look at the past 90 years of human history.
In the early twenties, thinkers and ambitious people that were on a mission to change the world thought it would be best to impose on society a new concept of living our lives. They embraced self pleasure and wanted to create a freedom for women to receive pleasures and take on any issue of equality to their male counterparts. Birth Control was born and then some 50 years later was widespread during the sexual revolution, as a freedom from authority and rules.

Little did society realize it was actually putting itself further in chains.
Freedom comes from the ability to choose no to a desire, not to be owned by it.
This explains plenty why shows, media, schools and even our own Catholic families tend to portray real sexuality and real freedom in a twisted message.

As the thought of sexual pleasure without pregnancy became a norm in this world, many subscribed to the concept of artificial contraception even more, it seemed like the risk of pregnancy had gone away or at least lowered. Woman believed they were building themselves up in equality cause they could work without a pregnancy leave, but a lot of parents didn't realize this contraceptive theory also entered their families, their very homes. Teen pregnancy rose to new heights and many people started having "unexpected" pregnancies.

Of course the only reason it was unexpected was because they had thought they could control what only God controls. This has lead to an increase in a new phenomenon which became legal in the early 1970's: Abortion.

Either due to an inconvenience, an ignorance, guilt, shame or some other unworthy feeling, woman started adding abortion to their vocabulary. Many young woman found the unexpected suddenly intruding on their life which they had not planned completely.

From that historical Jan 22nd Court decision sprung out a new movement, Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit started raising a grand army of followers, an army that has every year grown in size and passion. They gather because they believe in the real truth of life, in the real sanctity and honor that life brings. They have realized that woman were in fact not free, but enslaved in a selfish desire, that only turned most of them into sexual objects, not real women as God intended. They realized that Men were enslaved as well, and their dignity had been stripped from them. They could not control their lustful desires, the selfish living and constant use of women not for companionship but as objects. The real man should have complete control and freedom from such things, and should be able to be strong and courageous, to stand up for what is good and right and to offer respect and support to women.

This was a call for an army to stand up and witness Life. And in order to that, they learned they had to witness Christ. It is the divine love that we find in Christ that truly saves us and frees us from bondage. So here we are, today in 2008, with all these things in our society that have pulled us down and twisted the truthful desires of our hearts. It is here that we must heed the words found in Matthew and 1 Peter, we must shine Christ's light to others to show them the truth, to take away the darkness and bondage. But we must know the truth, we must know Christ and be able to tell people the hope in our hearts, for it is this hope that we will witness during our walk on Tuesday at the March for Life.

With over 50,000 in attendance at the annual rally for life mass at the Verizon center, and with over 300,000 pro lifers marching on the mall alone, isn't it time we all join the army of truth, the army of light, the army of God.

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8

"7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit."

Thursday, December 27, 2007

What we can learn can make us better

I am unworthy by myself, but I can be great with God.

Its amazing how the two major themes keep coming back to me over and over.
The light of Christ and the foundation of Love for the world.

In one hand, a concept so pure and simple, to Love as Jesus Loves and then to go out and show the world this Love.

Very simple indeed, until we include the twisted heap of secular concepts to our children and dying culture. But instead of focusing solely on the destruction of those that surround us, let us focus on building up the strength of those near us.

Its one thing to know the problems, its another to share that vision of a new world with all you can. By doing the best you can do, you make it happen, not because you are good, but because with God you can be great.

Lets look at what Sanger did in her systematic breakdown of society to the Culture of Death. She didn't say anything wrong about the people, she actually built them up. People, being inherently selfish, found their way to more and more "truths" that could make them feel good. They liked what she said. They liked the fact that they didn't have to worry, that they could be all they could be. (but the sacrifice was it was all they could be without the image of God)

She told the woman they can be equal with men, if they didn't get pregnant, they would be able to be successful and continue to climb the ladders of success without stopping to give birth, and enjoy all of life's little pleasures. She told the men, that this was how to help their wives, they were worth more than how they were treated. She was right, they were and are worth more than how they were ever treated. But her concepts crossed over into a hedonistic lifestyle that focused on the self more than others.

So looking at the human condition, looking at the human need, what is it that we need in our lives to build us up? Its not just rallies and marches, or just posters and buttons. Its dignity and understanding.

For Men, you want to be truly manly? Is that not what you are seeking?
The Eucharist, taking it in and letting it transform you is manly.
Being Holy, which means, being pure, being outside the box of society, being respectful to women and others, being selfless, giving up yourself for others, this is how to be manly. By being lazy, by cheating, by giving into temptation and lust, by mistreating others cause you can, this is a trap, you are nothing but a coward, unwilling to face the world as a true man.

For Women, you want to be worth something? Is this what you seek? Equality and respect? Start with the Eucharist, let it transform you, be the bride you are meant to be. Let your heart of Love shine in the darkness. You are being treated like garbage now, being tossed aside for pleasure, being used as a sex toy and seeking the powers of equality through workplace, but what about the things you really are about, the truth of your holy body, the truth about how precious you are, the only one that can give life in this world, the only one that receives a miracle within your womb, your equality may come at the workplace, but the real equality is being treated the same way with respect and dignity, living a pure life, avoiding temptations, being a strong woman in a society of darkness. You want to be equal, then be as manly in your courage to take up this call. Transform your current self into something greater than an object.

Is this harsh? Is this honesty hard to hear? Yet it sinks into the your very being, into your heart and rests there waiting to be acknowledged. Think about it, what if it was true, that you just give yourself to others, give yourself as a person, your love, not just your body. This transformation can occur in you, and you can gain much dignity and respect, you will walk amongst the giants with no shame, with true freedom, no chains tied upon your feet or shackles on your hands, you will be successful in all you do because there will be something different about you. With God, you can be great and YOU can make a difference. The money isn't the happiness that you seek, it feels good, the pleasures of the skin feels good, the instant gratification feels good, but the feelings quickly fade. The true and ultimate happiness is found within us where Jesus touches our hearts.

When we are selfless in our actions we will feel no anxiety for our wants, but feel only anxious for the Lord, and all the twisted concepts of this world will return to their true shapes, and you will see that all things God has made is good, for in the beginning, this is how it was made, and this is how it should stay.

Please keep me in your prayers and I will certainly keep you in mine.

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