Posted originally on CTH on April 17, 2025 | Sundance
President Trump hosted a group of faith leaders from the U.S. at the White House for an Easter prayer service and dinner event. Franklin Graham delivered remarks and introduced President Trump. [Video Prompted]
Posted originally on CTH on April 13, 2025 | Menagerie
I am hoping to offer a good message for all Christians, and I had one of our finest and most respected Treepers make this comment in reply several years ago.
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“Menagerie, I am not Roman Catholic nor associated with any church denomination. I study the Bible under Pre-Tribulation Dispensational teachings. I find nothing in Bishop Barron’s homily that disagrees with what I understand about our Father and His will, His Grace, and His agapé love for us, and His Son Jesus Christ.”This is an exceptionally good message that universally applies to all Christians. Thank you for posting it this Palm Sunday morning.
Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples. He said, “Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will answer, ‘The Master has need of it.’” So those who had been sent went off and found everything just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying this colt?” They answered, “The Master has need of it.” So they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount. As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He said in reply, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!”
I would like to add a word to Bishop Barron’s homily about using our gifts. The Lord has blessed me in many ways. I think perhaps the greatest one has been the opportunity to serve him in a time of great need when I had no gift to give.
A crisis came, and there was great need, and no answers, and no solutions, and no one else to do this thing. Something far outside my abilities, interests, and even inclinations. Perhaps something even contrary to my own nature. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it, and I certainly knew I couldn’t do it. But it had to be done, and somehow I knew it was my job to do.
For the first time in all my years, I found myself holding nothing back from God, because I had nothing to give. He did it all, and I went along for the ride. Someone I love very, very much has had his life changed, and a great burden has been lifted for his family.
I can’t think of what it has done for me without many tears. But with the gift comes pain, because now it’s time to let go, and the outcome is really out of my hands, and my heart hurts with the risks and the challenges ahead.
The most meaningful, important, crucial thing I’ve ever done in my life is when I gave something I never had to give in the first place. God truly provided all, and that is not humility on my part. It’s wonder. And profound gratitude that I had nothing, because it sure wound up better than anything, everything I might have otherwise started with.
It’s common to hear pastors, priests, rabbis, coaches, and parents encourage us to give our all, do our best. I say give your nothing too.
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
Note: I post these scriptures during Lent as an invitation for anyone to reflect a little more during these weeks leading Easter, to think and prepare ourselves to truly deepen our faith, and how we live it out. Yes, I write from my own Catholic identity, but I have tried very hard to make these posts an invitation to anyone who is Christian, or curious. How could posting scripture cause discord. No one forces you to read and participate here. Please allow others to share as they choose, in peace.
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus addressed this parable: “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”
Note: I post these scriptures during Lent as an invitation for anyone to reflect a little more during these weeks leading Easter, to think and prepare ourselves to truly deepen our faith, and how we live it out. Yes, I write from my own Catholic identity, but I have tried very hard to make these posts an invitation to anyone who is Christian, or curious. How could posting scripture cause discord. No one forces you to read and participate here. Please allow others to share as they choose, in peace.
Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”
And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”
Note: I post these scriptures during Lent as an invitation for anyone to reflect a little more during these weeks leading Easter, to think and prepare ourselves to truly deepen our faith, and how we live it out. Yes, I write from my own Catholic identity, but I have tried very hard to make these posts an invitation to anyone who is Christian, or curious. How could posting scripture cause discord? No one forces you to read and participate here. Please allow others to share as they choose, in peace.
Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.
Note: I post these scriptures during Lent as an invitation for anyone to reflect a little more during these weeks leading Easter, to think and prepare ourselves to truly deepen our faith, and how we live it out. Yes, I write from my own Catholic identity, but I have tried very hard to make these posts an invitation to anyone who is Christian, or curious. How could posting scripture cause such discord as last week? No one forces you to read and participate here. Please allow others to share as they choose, in peace.
I have created this site to help people have fun in the kitchen. I write about enjoying life both in and out of my kitchen. Life is short! Make the most of it and enjoy!
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