Christian Ballplayer Mike Piazza on his career, life, and perspective of faith. Great article very inspiring for young baseball players and young men in general. -
Mike Piazza, All-Star baseball player and devoted Catholic, on prayer, Barry Bonds, and forgiveness.- Beliefnet.com
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Prayer: Things to Remember When Praying, Jesus Prayed, Power of Prayer
Bible Study on Prayer
108-109
Jesus Christ
-In Hebrew Jesus means “God saves”, it is fitting that the angel Gabriel gave him the name Jesus because it expresses his identity and his mission.
Saving from sin- God alone can forgive sins; it is God who, in Jesus his eternal Son made man, “will save his people from their sins.” Through Jesus God sees all the history of salvation on behalf of man.
History: God delivered Israel “out of the house of bondage” by bringing them from Egypt. He also saves them from their sin, because sin is always an offense to God, only he can forgive it. Because of this Israel being more aware of their sin cannot salvation without invoking the name of God.
-The name “Jesus” signifies that the very name of God is present in the person of his Son, made man for the universal and definitive redemption from sins. Divine name that alone brings salvation, no other name under heaven can be used to save.
Resurrection- Jesus’ Resurrection glorifies the name of the Savior God; from that time on it is the name of Jesus that fully manifests the supreme power of the “Name which is above every name.”
Power of the name- Evil spirits fear his name, -disciples perform miracles in his name, -for the father grants all they ask in his name.
624-629
Prayer- Jesus is at the heart of every Christian Prayer.
-Jesus openly entrusts into his disciples the mystery of prayer to the Father. He reveals what their prayer and ours must be.
108-109
Jesus Christ
-In Hebrew Jesus means “God saves”, it is fitting that the angel Gabriel gave him the name Jesus because it expresses his identity and his mission.
Saving from sin- God alone can forgive sins; it is God who, in Jesus his eternal Son made man, “will save his people from their sins.” Through Jesus God sees all the history of salvation on behalf of man.
History: God delivered Israel “out of the house of bondage” by bringing them from Egypt. He also saves them from their sin, because sin is always an offense to God, only he can forgive it. Because of this Israel being more aware of their sin cannot salvation without invoking the name of God.
-The name “Jesus” signifies that the very name of God is present in the person of his Son, made man for the universal and definitive redemption from sins. Divine name that alone brings salvation, no other name under heaven can be used to save.
Resurrection- Jesus’ Resurrection glorifies the name of the Savior God; from that time on it is the name of Jesus that fully manifests the supreme power of the “Name which is above every name.”
Power of the name- Evil spirits fear his name, -disciples perform miracles in his name, -for the father grants all they ask in his name.
624-629
Prayer- Jesus is at the heart of every Christian Prayer.
-Jesus openly entrusts into his disciples the mystery of prayer to the Father. He reveals what their prayer and ours must be.
- Jesus’ returns to the Father in his glorified humanity. After this what is new is to “Ask in his name” Faith in the Son introduces the disciples into the Knowledge of the Father, because Jesus is the Way the Truth, and the Life.
- Faith bears its fruit in “Love” and keeping the word and commandments of Jesus this Means we abide with Jesus who in turn is with the Father, in him, he so loves us, That he abides with us.
-This new covenant that hears our petitions is founded on the prayer of Jesus.
-Even More: The father gives us when our prayer is united with Jesus “another Counselor”, The Spirit of truth, or the “Holy Spirit”
Jesus hears our prayers:
1. Prayer of Faith in words- (The leper, Jairus, the Canaanite woman, the good thief)
-Even More: The father gives us when our prayer is united with Jesus “another Counselor”, The Spirit of truth, or the “Holy Spirit”
Jesus hears our prayers:
1. Prayer of Faith in words- (The leper, Jairus, the Canaanite woman, the good thief)
2. In silence- (the bearers of the paralytic, the woman with a hemorrhage who touches his Clothes, the tears and ointment of the sinful woman).
3. From the blind- Jesus always responds to a prayer offered in Faith: “Your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
How to pray: Sermon on the Mount speaks to:
*Have a Conversion of Heart- reconciliation with one’s brother, love enemies, pray for persecutors
How to pray: Sermon on the Mount speaks to:
*Have a Conversion of Heart- reconciliation with one’s brother, love enemies, pray for persecutors
*Pray in secret to the father, don’t say empty phrases,
*pray for Forgiveness from depths of the heart, purity of heart, and seek The Kingdom before all else. This conversion is directed to the father.
Pray in Faith-
Pray in Faith-
Boldness- Whatever you ask in prayer believe you will receive it, and you will. The power of prayer and faith does not doubt: “All things are possible to him who believes.”Jesus is saddened by the Lack of Faith or Little Faith of his own disciples, but is struck with admiration of the great faith of the Roman Centurion and the Canaanite woman.
Bible Verse- Mathew 21: 21-22 “Moving a mountain to the sea if u ask”
Keep watch in Prayer: Disciples prayer is a battle keep watch in prayer and you can avoid temptation.
Three parables on prayer from Luke:
1. The importunate friend, invites us to urgent prayer “Knock and it will be opened to You” Heavenly father gives all things and the Holy Spirit who contains all gifts.
2. The importunate Widow- qualities of prayer and patience of faith
3. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector- humility of heart that prays. “God be merciful to Me a sinner.
Jesus prays
-The Son of God learned to pray according to his human heart.
-Jesus prayed before decisive moments of his mission:
1. Before his Father’s witness to him during his baptism and Transfiguration.
2. Before his own fulfillment of the Father’s plan of love by his passion.
3. Before decisive mission with the Apostles:
-At his election and call of the twelve
-before Peter’s confession of him as “the Christ of God”
-before events of Salvation that the father asks. (this shows Jesus’ being humble and his Trusting commitment of his human will to the loving will of the father.)
Things Jesus prayed for:
1. Prayed for the Lord to teach him and his disciple how to pray.
2. Prayer for all men (Jesus offers man for himself)
3. Prayer of confessing the father, acknowledges him, says “yes father”
4. Prayer before raising of Lazarus, says “thank you for having heard me,” also says “I know that
You always hear me,”
The Hour that came to fulfill the Father’s plan of Love. Jesus allows a glimpse of boundless depth of his prayer, before he freely delivered himself up.
“Abba… not my will, but yours.”
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise”
“Woman behold your son”
“Behold your mother”
“I Thirst”
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
“It is finished”
“Father, into you hands I commit my spirit!”
All the troubles, for all time, of humanity enslaved by sin and death, all the petitions and intercessions of salvation history are summed up in this cry of the incarnate Word. Here the father accepts them and answers them by raising his Son.
Bible Verse- Mathew 21: 21-22 “Moving a mountain to the sea if u ask”
Keep watch in Prayer: Disciples prayer is a battle keep watch in prayer and you can avoid temptation.
Three parables on prayer from Luke:
1. The importunate friend, invites us to urgent prayer “Knock and it will be opened to You” Heavenly father gives all things and the Holy Spirit who contains all gifts.
2. The importunate Widow- qualities of prayer and patience of faith
3. The Pharisee and the Tax Collector- humility of heart that prays. “God be merciful to Me a sinner.
Jesus prays
-The Son of God learned to pray according to his human heart.
-Jesus prayed before decisive moments of his mission:
1. Before his Father’s witness to him during his baptism and Transfiguration.
2. Before his own fulfillment of the Father’s plan of love by his passion.
3. Before decisive mission with the Apostles:
-At his election and call of the twelve
-before Peter’s confession of him as “the Christ of God”
-before events of Salvation that the father asks. (this shows Jesus’ being humble and his Trusting commitment of his human will to the loving will of the father.)
Things Jesus prayed for:
1. Prayed for the Lord to teach him and his disciple how to pray.
2. Prayer for all men (Jesus offers man for himself)
3. Prayer of confessing the father, acknowledges him, says “yes father”
4. Prayer before raising of Lazarus, says “thank you for having heard me,” also says “I know that
You always hear me,”
The Hour that came to fulfill the Father’s plan of Love. Jesus allows a glimpse of boundless depth of his prayer, before he freely delivered himself up.
“Abba… not my will, but yours.”
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise”
“Woman behold your son”
“Behold your mother”
“I Thirst”
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”
“It is finished”
“Father, into you hands I commit my spirit!”
All the troubles, for all time, of humanity enslaved by sin and death, all the petitions and intercessions of salvation history are summed up in this cry of the incarnate Word. Here the father accepts them and answers them by raising his Son.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Be Right Back to Christ (BRB)
Have you ever been swayed in your life by things like temptation or self desires? It seems like no matter who we are or how close we have been to Christ their are times when we decide to take a vacation from our God. It is as if we put our spiritual life on hold. Our lives can be like a ride, The ride we are on in our lives can turn from a nice trolley ride which is smooth and straight to an out of control roller coaster spinning up and down like the new X2 at Six Flags!
When the crazy roller coaster in life shows up it is important to be spiritually honest with ourselves and ask whats the right thing to do.
A great way to think and guide us back to our faith is Be Right Back to Christ. (BRB)
B elieve- in Christ
R elationship- with Christ
B uild- the Kingdom
This is an easy guide to get back to a great spiritual life. One that will help guide and help you make good decisions in your life.
Believe *First is to know who Christ Jesus is and what he did. As Christians we believe in the creation of our universe and ourselves from the creator God. God has had a plan for us throughout time and the key and most important thing in this plan is the Gift of his Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Came to this world to save us from the sin of man. Here are two important verses to help us understand and believe in Jesus Christ.
-Romans 6:10 "Jesus Died on the Cross with his death the sins of the world died with him"
-John 14: 5-6 "Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life"
The second step, is the relationship with the son of God who saved us from our sin.
Relationship *Having a relationship with Christ is believing truth, Accepting him, and Faith in Love. Having a relationship is all to often what some Christians live without. But by far having a relationship with God is the most important thing to strive for with our faith. Here are some important verses that can help you understand why a relationship with Christ is important.
-Mathew 7:21 "The key to a relationship"
-John 6:47 "Believing Truth"
-Mathew 22:37 "Greatest commandment"
Finally the last step is to build the Kingdom of Christ and make a difference in our world for his glory. More and more the world we live in today is growing away from Christ and God. It's as if God's grip on the world with his hand surrounding us is slipping away and evil is coming between the world and his hand. This is the time for Christian leaders to step forward and help build his Kingdom.
Building *Building the Kingdom of Christ
-Accepting God's plan in your life
-Teaching people about God through words, actions, or by living a good life.
-Submitting to Christ, each person is either one of the boys or girls or a boy or girl for the Kingdom of Christ.
I have had many great friends in my life but far to often life tends to separate people from one another. I remember growing up I had three friends that I considered my best friends. We did everything together, spent as much time as we could every day talking, playing, and building our relationships up. We had everything in common, we would talk about any and everything that was on our minds. Any issues we had in our life we knew where to go for help and security.
Things were great until one day I had to move towns and was then distant from my best friends. The distance effected our relationship, it was harder to meet up with them to hang out and have fun. This distance was the beginning of a separation between us. It was a downhill spiral, the less I spent with them the further we grew apart till eventually we barely even spoke. Years later I would call my friends and see how they were. The conversations we had showed how we cared for one another, we would be very interested on how the other was doing but it was different. When we spoke it was if we hardly new the other person. It is sad to think if only I put more time into the relationships with them I would have had three great friends all throughout my life.
Do you have this relationship with Christ?
Throughout your life do you keep in contact with Christ and your faith? Many Christians pray, love, do great things, and live for Christ. They talk with him every day, spend time in his word, go to church and their relationship flourishes. But are these things temporary and through tough times does a break off occur? Lets ask ourselves what is our relationship status with him at, the less we try to build the relationship the further we separate. Is the relationship between you and Christ like the one with my friends and I?
No matter what life may bring a great way to get back to your faith is BRB Believe, Relationship, and Build.
Thanks for reading!
God Bless!
By: Joe Cuttone
When the crazy roller coaster in life shows up it is important to be spiritually honest with ourselves and ask whats the right thing to do.
A great way to think and guide us back to our faith is Be Right Back to Christ. (BRB)
B elieve- in Christ
R elationship- with Christ
B uild- the Kingdom
This is an easy guide to get back to a great spiritual life. One that will help guide and help you make good decisions in your life.
Believe *First is to know who Christ Jesus is and what he did. As Christians we believe in the creation of our universe and ourselves from the creator God. God has had a plan for us throughout time and the key and most important thing in this plan is the Gift of his Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Came to this world to save us from the sin of man. Here are two important verses to help us understand and believe in Jesus Christ.
-Romans 6:10 "Jesus Died on the Cross with his death the sins of the world died with him"
-John 14: 5-6 "Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life"
The second step, is the relationship with the son of God who saved us from our sin.
Relationship *Having a relationship with Christ is believing truth, Accepting him, and Faith in Love. Having a relationship is all to often what some Christians live without. But by far having a relationship with God is the most important thing to strive for with our faith. Here are some important verses that can help you understand why a relationship with Christ is important.
-Mathew 7:21 "The key to a relationship"
-John 6:47 "Believing Truth"
-Mathew 22:37 "Greatest commandment"
Finally the last step is to build the Kingdom of Christ and make a difference in our world for his glory. More and more the world we live in today is growing away from Christ and God. It's as if God's grip on the world with his hand surrounding us is slipping away and evil is coming between the world and his hand. This is the time for Christian leaders to step forward and help build his Kingdom.
Building *Building the Kingdom of Christ
-Accepting God's plan in your life
-Teaching people about God through words, actions, or by living a good life.
-Submitting to Christ, each person is either one of the boys or girls or a boy or girl for the Kingdom of Christ.
I have had many great friends in my life but far to often life tends to separate people from one another. I remember growing up I had three friends that I considered my best friends. We did everything together, spent as much time as we could every day talking, playing, and building our relationships up. We had everything in common, we would talk about any and everything that was on our minds. Any issues we had in our life we knew where to go for help and security.
Things were great until one day I had to move towns and was then distant from my best friends. The distance effected our relationship, it was harder to meet up with them to hang out and have fun. This distance was the beginning of a separation between us. It was a downhill spiral, the less I spent with them the further we grew apart till eventually we barely even spoke. Years later I would call my friends and see how they were. The conversations we had showed how we cared for one another, we would be very interested on how the other was doing but it was different. When we spoke it was if we hardly new the other person. It is sad to think if only I put more time into the relationships with them I would have had three great friends all throughout my life.
Do you have this relationship with Christ?
Throughout your life do you keep in contact with Christ and your faith? Many Christians pray, love, do great things, and live for Christ. They talk with him every day, spend time in his word, go to church and their relationship flourishes. But are these things temporary and through tough times does a break off occur? Lets ask ourselves what is our relationship status with him at, the less we try to build the relationship the further we separate. Is the relationship between you and Christ like the one with my friends and I?
No matter what life may bring a great way to get back to your faith is BRB Believe, Relationship, and Build.
Thanks for reading!
God Bless!
By: Joe Cuttone
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