Portable Monastery
I came across a great article a while ago which I thought I would share. Over at Ignitum Today that New Media genius Brandon Vogt has written a wonderful article entitled 6 Ways to Create a Portable Monastery:
Anyone who has seen the inside of my car will know that Brandon is man after my own heart. My Masda’s CD changer is pre-loaded with Christian music, some traditional, some contemporary. My driver’s side door is packed with CDs of unheard talks and my passenger door with those CDs I’ve now listened to and which will now be given away at the next JP2 Group meeting. I also have a rosary hidden in the cup holder compartment in case I need to pray away the anger after being cut up by some other driver! 🙂
No Shave November
I didn’t participate in “No Shave November” this year. That’s probably a good thing because the Capuchins would not be impressed…
Abortion Language
“Your language indicates, and limits, what you think.” ― Jonathan Price
Sneaking back into Eden
“Any other hope of a transformed experience, however it may be induced, by drugs, music, art, therapies of whatever sort, will ultimately be exposed for what it is: a man-made attempt to walk back into Eden. Those who attempt that way have only themselves to blame if they are lacerated and wounded by the Cherubim’s whirling swords.
The only way is forward, out of the death of Eden, to the Spiritual rebirth of the Kingdom of God, leading finally to the reconciliation of all things in the consummation of Christ.”
– Bible Speaks Today on the Song Of Songs, Page 189
Saints or Suckers?
When I was at University, I read a book by Jean Vanier in which he said that whenever a homeless person asked him for money, he would reach into his pocket and hand over the first coin he found, whether big or small.
Likewise, in an interview with Fulton Sheen’s niece, she said that her uncle would give money to the poor whenever it was asked of him. When she asked him if he might be being lied to by those asking for help, he simply responded “I can’t take the chance”.
A little while ago I did a post about tithing where I spoke about the general responsibility Christians have towards the poor. However, this begs the question: what is the best way in which to help the poor?
For example, most social workers I’ve known have always said that you should never give money to beggars. Following this advice, some of my friends no longer hand over cash, but instead make sure that their car, purse or bag is always stocked with snacks, so that they have something to give when asked for help.
I recently read an article in Crisis Magazine which looks at this issue. I’d be interested to see what you think about it. What you think is the best way to help the poor?
An Eastern Orthodox Christian Looks West
Over lunch I finished reading An Eastern Orthodox Christian Looks West, an article posted on Devin Rose’s blog written by Eastern Orthodox Christian Timothy Flanders. In his extensive article he discusses his journey from Protestantism to Eastern Orthodoxy and then goes on to discuss his investigation of Catholicism.
As a Catholic with a great attraction to the Eastern Christian heritage, I found it a really interesting read and I’m planning on reading it again tonight in an attempt to fully digest its content.
Devin is hoping for some really good Comment Box discussions so I decided to publish a link here in an effort to get more people to read it. I know that there are a good number of people who read this blog who come from different religious backgrounds who will have an interesting perspective on this article, particularly my Eastern Catholic friends.