THE FOOTPRINTS OF GOD

Steve Ray's DVD Series

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L E N T

Lenten Regulations

February 25, 2009 is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the Season of Lent.

ABSTINENCE: All Catholics who have reached their 14th birthday are bound to abstain totally from meat on the following days: Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent and Good Friday.

FASTING: All Catholics between their 18th and 60th birthdays are also bound to observe the Law of Fast on the following days: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This practice involves limiting oneself to a single full meal and avoiding food between meals. Light sustenance may be taken on two other occasions in the course of the day.

EASTER DUTY: After they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, all the faithful are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year. This precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season, unless for a good reason it is fulfilled at another time during the year.

THE FOLLOWING SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED:

1. RECONCILIATION: Catholics are bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year (Canon 989).
   
   
2. OTHER FRIDAYS OF THE YEAR: Catholics should be reminded that all other Fridays of the year remain as days of penance, in prayerful remembrance of the Passion of Jesus Christ.
   
   
3. OBLIGATION: The obligation which we have as members of the Church to do penance is a serious one. Furthermore, the obligation to observe, as a whole or "substantially", the penitential days specified by the Church is a serious one.
   
   
4. While no one should hold himself or herself lightly excused, one should not become unduly scrupulous. Failure to observe individual days of penance is less serious than the failure to observe any penitential days at all or a substantial number of such days.

AN INVITATION: In the name of peace, and in union with the Bishops of our country, the faithful are invited to add voluntary fasting to the practice of penance during the Fridays of the year. Together with works of charity and service toward our neighbors, this practice would become a sign of our commitment to conversion, reconciliation and peace. (The Challenge of Peace, Art. 298).

Understanding the Gospel of St. John

Bible Basics
By Steve Ray

Understanding the Gospel of St. John
Your personal Bible study blue print.

Eagles soar high above the surface of the earth, their eyes surveying the farthest reaches of the horizon. The connection of heaven to earth is in perspective from their lofty vantage point. From our earthbound perspective, the eagle is suspended between heaven and earth. It is difficult for us to see the connection physically. That is why artists have often painted St. John the Evangelist writing with an eagle at his side. Mystic, philosopher, disciple, one of the Twelve, bishop, “beloved of the Lord”; St. John wrote the fourth gospel, which soars to the heavens and gives perspective to the earthbound.

The Gospel of St. John — the last of the Gospels to be written — contains the theology and spiritual insights of a man filled with the Holy Spirit; a man who, during his younger years, actually knew Jesus personally. Jesus had promised John that He would remind him of all that He had taught him and, through the Holy Spirit, lead him into all truth. After seventy years of contemplation, the aged Apostle took up his pen to write the life of Christ and reveal the deepest spiritual realities.

CONTINUE READING...

IS THIS GOD?

	IS THIS GOD? How could I have had an insufficient understanding of the Holy Eucharist: the central focus of Christian worship? Photography by Robert Nease

I held aloft a golden chalice, gazing upwards at it, performing one of the central liturgical rituals of the Mass, in which the consecration of the wine takes place. But my attitude was not one of reverence or solemnity. I possessed neither the eyes of faith, nor the traditional Christian understanding of the Blessed Eucharist. I was not standing at an altar, let alone in a church. Nearby, my friend and frequent evangelistic partner was neither kneeling, nor bowing his head, nor making the sign of the cross. He was chuckling.

I wore a mocking, sarcastic scowl, just as I wore a mockingly makeshift priestly robe. I looked as ridiculous as the cowardly lion wearing his “king’s robe” in “The Wizard of Oz,” for I was not a priest, or an ordained clergyman of any sort. I was a non-denominational, Evangelical Protestant, lay missionary. My friend (a former Catholic) and I were making light of the gestures and rituals of a priest saying the Mass. This was in the late 1980s, several years before my surprise 1990 conversion to Catholicism.

My friend took a photograph of this mock liturgy. I still have it. It remains a shameful testament to my former dim comprehension of liturgy and sacramentalism, and to a certain attitude of adolescent silliness when it came to “things Catholic.” It’s an attitude we often see in many of today’s anti-Catholic “ministries” and individuals.

How could I — a serious Christian, with considerable knowledge and appreciation of Church history — have had such an insufficient understanding of the Holy Eucharist: the central focus of Christian worship for fifteen hundred years before the birth of Protestantism? How did I manage to regard liturgy itself as a stale, boring, non-essential “extra” which was by no means necessary to Christian communal fellowship?

Those questions are especially puzzling, because I had a fairly high respect for the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, or Holy Eucharist. My belief was somewhat akin to John Calvin’s “mystical presence,” which was a step higher than the purely symbolic view which many Protestants hold today. I also didn’t believe that what was taking place at the Last Supper was merely empty ritual, or that its re-creation was a bare “remembrance.” Furthermore, I wasn’t “anti-Catholic” in the sense that I would ever have denied that the Catholic Church was Christian.

To understand how such an odd state of affairs could occur requires a look into Church history, especially the historical course of Protestant doctrine. My friend and I — as is characteristic of so many non-Catholics — thought, in the final analysis, that the Eucharist was an add-on, an optional part of the church service.

CONTINUE READING...

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE!

Why do Catholics confess their sins to a priest, rather than going directly to God?

Well, the quick answer is because that's the way God wants us to do it. In James 5:16, God, through Sacred Scripture, commands us to "confess our sins to one another." Notice, Scripture does not say confess your sins straight to God and only to God...it says confess your sins to one another.

In Matthew, chapter 9, verse 6, Jesus tells us that He was given authority on earth to forgive sins. And then Scripture proceeds to tell us, in verse 8, that this authority was given to "men"...plural.

In John 20, verses 21-23, what is the 1st thing Jesus says to the gathered disciples on the night of His resurrection? "Jesus said to them, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.'" How did the Father send Jesus? Well, we just saw in Mt 9 that the Father sent Jesus with the authority on earth to forgive sins. Now, Jesus sends out His disciples as the Father has sent Him...so, what authority must Jesus be sending His disciples out with? The authority on earth to forgive sins. And, just in case they didn't get it, verses 22-23 say this, "And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'"

Why would Jesus give the Apostles the power to forgive or to retain sins if He wasn't expecting folks to confess their sins to them? And how could they forgive or retain sins if no one was confessing their sins to them?

The Bible tells us to confess our sins to one another. It also tells us that God gave men the authority on Earth to forgive sins. Jesus sends out His disciples with the authority on earth to forgive sins. When Catholics confess our sins to a priest, we are simply following the plan laid down by Jesus Christ. He forgives sins through the priest...it is God's power, but He exercises that power through the ministry of the priest

Two-Minute Apologetics by John Martignoni

Two-Minute Apologetics

Below are some quick answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ's) that Catholics get. What does the word "apologetics" mean? Are there any basic rules for doing apologetics? Anything else we need to know about apologetics before we start engaging in it? As Catholics, do we have to accept everything the Church teaches? I had a friend ask me why Catholics have Crucifixes in our churches...don't we believe Jesus has risen? Why do we keep Him on the cross? I had a theology professor who told me that Adam and Eve were just myths, and that the rest of Genesis was all just legends...is that what the Church teaches? A friend of mine said that his church takes the Bible literally, but that the Catholic Church doesn't...is that true? How should I respond to someone who asks me if I've been saved, or born again? I have a friend who says that Baptism is a symbolic act and that it has nothing to do with salvation...how can I answer them? Why do Catholics confess their sins to a priest, rather than going directly to God? A friend of mine has been reading the 'Left Behind' books that have all of this stuff about the 'Rapture' in them...is there really going to be a 'Rapture' like these books talk about? The Bible clearly says that Jesus had brothers and sisters, but the Catholic Church teaches that Mary was a perpetual virgin...how can you reconcile those seemingly different positions? My Protestant friends say that their church goes by the Bible Alone, but that the Catholic Church has added a lot of man-made traditions to the Word of God...is that true? In 1 Timothy it says that Jesus is our sole mediator, yet we pray to Mary and the Saints. Is that going against the Bible? The Bible says to call no man Father, so why do we call our priests 'Father'? Why do Catholics call Mary the Queen of Heaven? Doesn't God rebuke the Israelites in the O.T. for worshipping a false goddess called the Queen of Heaven? Should we not refer to Mary with that title, therefore, since it is the title of a false goddess? In Romans, chapter 3, it says that none is righteous and that all have sinned, but the Catholic Church teaches that Mary is without sin...could you explain that in light of Romans chapter 3? Why do Protestants not believe John 6 when it says that Jesus' flesh is real food and that His blood is real drink? Many Protestants believe we are saved by Faith Alone and they say Catholic believe they can “work” their way into Heaven. How do you answer that?

Song: MOVE by Joshua

Song: MOVE Posted by RP Tesoro on 3/3/2009 11:57:40 PM

Due to popular demand, here is the song MOVE, sung and heard during the SFC ICon. Enjoy!




Move
Words and Music by Mike Serapio

Intro: D–Bm–G-D

Verse I.
D
The future is bright
..................Bm
With you on my side
.....................................A
My fears are now all gone
......................D
For in you I belong

II.
D
Im letting go of the past
............................................Bm
Holding on to you at the very last
............................................A
In your arms I won’t let go
............................................G - D/F# - Em - D/F#
For in you my heart will grow
........................G - D/F# - A ---
My heart will grow

Chorus:
...........D.............D/C#
I will move I will run
...........Bm.........................G
I will climb the highest mountain
........D..................A................G
For you are my priceless Gold
............D..........D/C#
Ill be swift ill be bold
....................Bm...............................G
From this land ill conquer to the world
...........D................A..................G
For you are my king and my God
..............(Intro)
I will move


III. (do verse I chord pattern)
My heart now it sings
With you light it brings
Im looking on to the future
For in you I am secure

IV. (do verse II chord pattern)
Now my life is in your hands
Your love I truly understand
Im giving all to you
For your promise is so true
Is so true


Repeat Chorus 2x


Coda:
...........(intro)
I will move...

DOWNLOAD MUSIC
Right click here and choose Save As to download "demo" audio file

My People

Vol. 22, Issue 3, March 2009

"If my people, who are called by My name, humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and revive their land." — 2 Chronicles 7:14

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Fasting Opens People Up

Trust In God Is Answer To Challenges

In Defense of Life: Organ Transplants

Debt Continues To Enslave

Prison To Praise: Action On The Set

Light to the Nations: A Christian Perspective on World News

Christian Family Is Called to Be "A Living Gospel"

Pray The News

A REASON TO LIVE: Entry # 16

Entry # 16

A REASON TO LIVE
Words & Music: Ta Lanie <<<>

Have you ever wondered why
Ever wondered how the flowers bloom
And why do birds have wings
Why the sun shines in the the sky
And why it does it have to rain

Why God made the stars, the moon and the land

There is always a reason to live
A reason for everything
A reason to be here

Praising God, giving Him thanks
Lifting our hands to Him

...because he loves us all

(REPEAT ALL)

...Jesus loves us all

YOU ARE THE REASON: Entry # 14

Entry # 14

YOU ARE THE REASON
Words & Music: Ta Maila <<< click to listen

1.

You are the reason I open my heart
I open my heart to love
Look upon your people in the thousand seas
All of your people at the ends of the earth

Chorus:

I sing you praise, oh my God
You are the reason for the courage and the strength
Hold me, empower me, possess the whole me
Honor and glory are yours, my Lord

2.
You are the reason, Lord, I need to go on
In times when I'm weak and down
I'm giving my all for the sake of your people
Trusting you with all my heart and my soul

(chorus)

Bridge:
You know you are the reason for the strength
You are my life, my bread, my breath 'til the end of time

(chorus)

LORD IN MY HEART: Entry # 1

Entry # 1

LORD IN MY HEART

Words: T2 Gene

Music: T2 Allan <<< click to listen

Lord in my heart is where you live
Redeeming love is what you give
My wretched life your blood renew
My life is nothing without you

Lord in my heart is where you dwell
In times of trouble you keep me well
You’re the one my life hold dear
My Lord and savior always near

Lord in my heart you are alive
My life my soul my constant guide
Nothing more I want than thee
My Lord my God you set me free

Lord in my heart you are the king
You bless my life forgive my sins
Made me worthy to bear your name
You Lord Jesus is God everlasting

TO YOU I ABIDE (1 John 4:13): Entry # 15

Entry # 15

TO YOU I ABIDE (1 John 4:13)
Words & Music: T2 Andy <<< click to listen!

I.
This box encaged me in a doom
Pain, anguish, crying filled the room
The world stops spinning for a while
And kept me blinded with vague mind

II.
I seek prestige, power and all
I gained the world and lost my soul
Still I'm empty and unease
I need you lord to give me peace

CHORUS:

Lord, thank you for the pain
You wake me up and I found you there
Gift of life pours and showers
I thank you Lord for giving me "HIM"

III.
You make the sun shines brighter
The flowers bloom, It smells sweeter
You painted rainbow in the sky
And took the sorrow from my eye

IV.
You gave new meaning in my life
More courage, will and strength to fight
Now its my turn to make you feel
This love of mine for you is real

BRIDGE:

..and this is the Lord's promise.

Close your eyes and take my hand
I'll take you there to the promise land
Forget all worries, let fears subside
I'll never ever leave your side

To you I abide (4x)

SOFT LAUNCHING: C2CD Songwriting Festival!

TO THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD (3G)!

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

We had our Chapter GENERAL ASSEMBLY last Friday, 6 March 2009, although attendance is above 80% it would have been nice if everybody were present for it was indeed something to remember. It started a bit late, we've planned it to start before 5:00pm because we wanted everyone to be up and about by 9:00pm so everyone can rest early. It's been a long day for most of us because it was also the "buhos" of our just concluded CLP of 6 couples and 1 HOLD.

Our activity is 3-parts, Prayer Assembly - Worship Workshop & "soft launching" of our Songwriting Festival, and it was agreed to be over in about 3 hours. It was just like one big household and ending our evening with our all ihaw-ihaw fellowship. Since it's abstinence-Friday it was raining fish and veggies, good thing someone managed to bring in BBQ chicken that save the day of our Tito Elmer "the carnivarous" DJ :D, who provided his services - gratis et amore.

Right after the PW is the powerful WORSHIP WORKSHOP talk delivered by T2 Rowell.

I have one comment to make, my dear Tito Rowell, everytime you invite me to be your speaker of your chapter - do I make your members CRY, huh? Is this how you repay our warm, wide-open-arm and full of love welcome by making our whole chapter CRY?

Anyways, you've given us the "gift of tears" and that I don't mind, but knowing that you paid a steep price for your "diet program" only to see you devour with gusto everything your eyes delighted upon on the long table - that I do mind - do you want to gain back all those pounds!

WORSHIP WORKSHOP

POWERFUL!!!

That's it, the only word to describe this Worship Workshop Talk. It is befitting that this is the teaching that was delivered to our chapter to complement our theme of worshipping, honoring and glorifying God with songs of praises originally composed by our brethren here in this "land of peace".

I strongly recommend this Worship Workshop talk to my fellow chapter leaders - schedule it as part of your General Assembly or Family Day or any chapter-wide activity. Our Music Ministry is just waiting for us to invite them to deliver this talk.

I wish our NC will finally decide to let MCG receive this talk!

SONGWRITING FESTIVAL (Soft Launching)

Let me make this clear first.

This is not a Cluster 2 Chapter D "exclusive" rather it is our chapter's initiative to "KEEP THE BALL ROLLING" so to speak. May this be the start of our COLLECT, SELECT and COMPILE campaign to come up by November 2009 with our 1st ever all original KAYESAY...

EXISTING TO EVANGELIZE

PW

Volume 1

GOD was truly glorified that night by the showcasing of 5 BEAUTIFUL original compositions sung by our dear Tita Maila R., Tito Allan P. , Tito Andy A., Tita Lanie A and, if you'll take me seriously, yours truly C2CD. All in all, we were able to collect 16 song materials as follows:

• 13 song lyrics submitted by Tito Gene A.

1. LORD IN MY HEART - Music: T2 Allan
2. FORWARD IN CHRIST - Music: C2CD / Medley with The Heart of Worship
3. YES TO YOU - Music: C2CD
4. LORD OF LIGHT
5. THE PROMISE
6. COME FOLLOW ME
7. CHRISTIAN LIFE PROGRAM
8. IKAW LAMANG
9. AMING PAPURI
10. IKAW O HESUS
11. SALAMAT HESUS
12. SA IYO'Y LUMALAPIT
13. SULONG KAY KRISTO

• YOU ARE THE REASON
  Words & Music: Ta Maila

• TO YOU I ABIDE (1 John 4:13)
  Words & Music: T2 Andy
  

• A REASON TO LIVE
  Words & Music: Ta Lanie

We were joined by Tito Al B., our MM-NC, and the other half of our lifetime honorary C2CD member and SOLD brother Tito Jojo B. They joined our Cluster MM during our opening and closing mini-praisefest. Tito Al also played the keyboard during the showcase of the original praise songs which you can find and listen below this post.

WE INVITE EVERYONE TO SHARE YOUR MUSICAL GIFT.

Provide melody to Tito Gene's song lyrics or better yet share your original compositions!

COME AND LET US PRAISE HIS NAME TOGETHER!

UGNAYAN - March 2009 Issue

March 2009 Issue

CBCP Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 5
March 2-15, 2009

A New Generation

THERE’S a song that we sing in our gatherings and the first two a lines of the first stanza goes like this:

“There’s a new generation that is seeking Your face

There’s a new generation that is taking their place…”

This perfectly describes what we in Couples for Christ are seeing now. Indeed a new generation of people who love God, who follow Jesus and who love the poor are rising in our midst.

[read more]

Pressing on with Mission

OUR community’s theme for the year “Forward in Christ” taken from Philippians 3:13-14 coincides with the Catholic Church’s current celebration of the Pauline year. St. Paul exhorted the faithful to “imitate me as I imitate Christ” (1 Cor.11:1). In effect he expressed in very clear terms how we are directed to emulate his posture in relating to Christ and thus make it our life’s goal. In so stating, we are urged to draw inspiration from the very life of Paul and learn from the examples in his life as lessons that we can apply today.

[read more]