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Acts 2:38 (joke)
An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services, when she was startled by an intruder. She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled: ‘Stop! Acts 2:38!’, (Repent and be Baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins may be forgiven.) The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done. As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar: Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you.’ ‘Scripture?’ replied the burglar. ‘She said she had an Ax and Two 38s!’
Knowing scripture can save your life – in more ways than one! — [thanks Mom]
— Tonight, we start a Day of Recollection, a silent retreat, until tomorrow evening. Pray for me, my fellow brother seminarians and all those discerning God’s Will for their lives. God bless & be holy!
Jewish colloquy + Nicaraguan food — “PB”
NEW TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — today was “colloquy“ (discussion group) about chapter 5, “The Religious & Philosophical World of New Testament Times,” of Raymond Brown‘s An Introduction to the New Testament. Much of our discussion involved the clashing views of the Jewish Sadducees, Essenes and Pharisees, but also included Greco-Roman Cynics, Epicureans, Stoicism, Sophists and Gnosticism. — stimulating
CULTURAL FOOD NIGHT — tonight was Nicaraguan Food Night. — lots of good flavors.
DOTS — starting to get sick today — found out another seminarian has discerned to leave seminary [“PB“] — extra prayers for him
must read Bible
I stumbled upon this graphic while looking for a grocery list [it’s my new Pre-T house job to keep food stocked]. It instantly reminded me of one of my favorite Scripture passage, that I would teach on the first day of 7th grade Pre-Confirmation classes. Hebrews 4:12-13 says,
Indeed,the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
I also recall a newsflash I read in the Florida Catholic this week about Pope Benedict XVI urging Christians must read the Bible. He highlighted St Jerome’s famous line, “ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” — we can never say it enough
sister visit
SPANISH – (Dr Jimenez) — I don’t know how I got an 88% on the chapter 12 test, but I’ll take whatever I can get to keep my head above aqua.
OLD TESTAMENT – (Fr Michael) — we reviewed previous material and covered Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy.
SISTER VISIT — since my sister was in town visiting, she came by the seminary and spent time with all the seminarians for Evening Prayer (Vespers) and Dinner (“Savannah, Georgia Night“). Coldstone’s Ice Creamery for desert!
Church history, #2 Paul the Troubleshooter
As I revist the book, The Story of the Church: Peak Moments from Pentecost to the Year 2000, chapter 2 is “First-Century Adjustments,” focusing on Paul the Apostle. It has always confused me how Paul was the “go-to-guy” to answer any questions of theology & the Christian life. He wasn’t even one of the original 12 apostles, but spoke with such authority, even declaring himself an apostle. His conversion story (Acts 9) is amazing enough. But even more unbelievable is how fast the Christian community embraced him and bestowed authority to dictate Christian “policy,” an even greater testament to grace and the submission to the Holy Spirit.
Paul is a master cameleon of evangelization, able to adapt the gospel message to any culture. He was well-versed in the Hebrew Scriptures (OT), had a heart for his audience, walked in their shoes, and presented the challenge of the Gospel in their “language.” — everything a Christian is called to do. A great example is Paul’s sermon to the Athenians in Acts 17:16-34. It seems so supernatural … because it is … it’s only possible through the Holy Spirit.
That reminds me of a line from the “Fishers of Men” priesthood video when it’s said, “It’s not natural to be a priest … it’s a supernatural calling.” — You can’t disagree with that.
Solar System distances
As I study into time travel, I need a better concept of distance, at least in our Solar System. I found a good illustration in chapter 2 of “30 Days to Understanding the Bible” by Max E. Anders (protestant resource). He starts his model in the middle of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Here it goes:
(Sun) a beach ball – 2 feet in diameter — at the center
(Mercury) a mustard seed — walk a city block away
(Venus) a BB — walk another city block away
(Earth) a pea — walk another city block away
(Mars) a mustard seed — walk another city block
(asteroid belt) sprinkle some grass around
(Jupiter) an orange — walk a quarter of a mile away
(Saturn) a golf ball — walk another third of a mile
(Uranus) a marble — walk a mile away
(Neptune) a cherry — walk a mile away
(Pluto) a marble — walk another 2 miles away
This model is about 10 miles in diameter from Sun to Pluto. Now, to better understand distance even better, let’s place Alpha Centauri (the next nearest star to our sun) with another beach ball 6,720 miles away from the “Sun” in Japan.
This is not only helpful with concepts of science. Understanding the size, location and distances give us perspective into geography. This is also an important concept when studying Scripture. It is helpful to know names, locations and distances between important geographical locations, otherwise comprehension gets lost or ignored, leaving our faith to appear unrelevent and archaic. We should embrace the sciences to glorify God. — plus it’s kinda cool!
SJVCS Seminary Life Album
July '09 -- hospital chaplains @ IPF
Easter '09 -- Miami SJVCS friends
the Son always finds a break in let the clouds
Feb '09 -- school vocation talks @ AMHS
Feb '09 -- cold breakfast with brothers (Matias, Fenly & Randy), now at SVDP and Imad (at SJVCS)
Superbowl '09 -- eating great @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- Worklist Coordinators?
St Raphael Chapel mural @ SJVCS
Sept '08 -- retreats @ SJVCS
"It's not easy being green"
Catholic Kermit 
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