“The Salvation Stone”

“they will walk and not be faint.”

Early this morning I had a conversation with one of my sisters in which we talked about just following Gods will each day by praying to Jesus and asking His Holy Spirit to guide while we just do our best to serve and love Him. After having the conversation I was by force of habit going to make some breakfast and usually I feed my dog hers first but she didn’t seem interested once I had put some food out for her which was unusual because she always eats immediately, but this time something felt more pressing than eating our breakfast! So I looked at her and said, walk, you want us to go for our walk first then we can come back and eat, is that it! Her ears perked up and she started mulling around in the room a bit so I said OK let me get my boots on and as I did she got all fired up and chomping at the bit in a sense. So off we went for a brisk morning walk and I decided to be sure to let her take the lead letting out some extra leash. She led us in the direction of the cove we often like to walk around and then hike on to some other sites in that area. We were coming up on a fairly busy secondary road which wasn’t as busy as it can often be but all the more unusual was that immediately there was a good break in the light approaching traffic so we hurried across the road and as we began to proceed on our walk I suddenly noticed a nice new pickup truck just about to pass us and saw that it was a neighbor who doesn’t live in town anymore and moved out of state but occasionally visits family here. We waved at each other and then my dog and I continued on in the usual direction. When we got to the next cross street my dog seemed not as typically wanting to head straight on toward the cove and then like a flash I realized the neighbor does have a dog that was in the truck, and with the direction they were heading the most likely place they would be going to is the park and how it does have paths that go along the shoreline too, so I suddenly had a feeling I should be heading to the park which was further away yet a nice long walk especially because when we got there we could walk along the trails and bike paths to another shoreline spot that I actually love. My dog was very eager and so we picked up the pace and continued on until we got to the gate into the park. As we went through the gate and walked about another 150 feet I looked to my left at a park bench and immediately something caught my eyes attention. It was a nearly triangular shaped stone almost the size of the palm of my hand. It was beautiful looking as it had been painted and had some distinct appearance right away as I noticed Biblical Scripture written on it and as nobody was around, because I really gave a good look in all directions, I decided maybe this stone was meant for me to see and pick it up for keeps. I put the stone into my jacket pocket and continued walking down the main driveway through the park waiting to pick up one of the trail entrances further along into the park. Just at the point along the way where I was about to turn to enter onto a path I saw the neighbor just getting into the truck and driving away and we had that brief moment to actually say hi and have a nice day! So my dog and I continued on to where there is also a fenced dog park area off of the path we were following that many people like to bring their dogs to let them run loose with the other dogs in the enclosure. My dog barks too much at other dogs and actually had far worse issues at the time I rescued her when she was about a year old, bad enough that she’s not even supposed to be alive, because when I found her at the animal shelter late one afternoon by a mysterious set of circumstances and I believe even directives, when she was slated to be put down first thing the next morning and when I saw her I was taken aback how beautiful and full of energy or even personality she had. Long story short here; through an act of God I know was divine intervention the very next morning I was taking her home in my Jeep to give her a life when all hope had been lost, and that was a first because the committee and Chief of Police that have to sign off on euthanizing the animals had never backtracked and cancelled an order and this dog was determined to be un-adoptable, having issues making her supposedly unsuitable! Thank God I got to her in that nick of time because she’s been so amazing and full of love, giving me a true friendship. I spoil the heck out of her and feed her the best food, basically that I actually eat; you name it as long as there’s no toxicity concern for dogs involved she eats it whether sockeye salmon, sea scallops or chicken dinner she eats like a queen, all of it along with a high grade kibble. Anyway I digress, as we continued on past the dog enclosure I rounded a corner on the fenced area and saw down in front of us on the grass a stone just about the same shape as the painted one but this one was just a blank stone.

Now the funny thing is this; I was planning on posting a short blog today because I had a feeling about the Holy Spirit telling me that there was something I was going to need to mention or write a blog about since yesterday; and today’s date being quite novel meant I really should get my butt in gear and find some time to put out a blog, no if’s and’s or but’s, so without trying something special happened here putting what to write the blog about right on my proverbial lap! My dog and I did our trail blazing and a few hours passed, then finally when we arrived home I put out some fresh cold water for her; and as I would be cooking an early afternoon dinner and needed to do some chores first, I got cranking along. Later as the dinner was just starting to cook I checked in online and saw that at the very top of my email inbox was one that arrived about a blog at exactly 2:02 PM, on this date of 02 22 2020! Now that caught my eye just as much as the Special Stone had, so I opened it and it was about a song I hadn’t heard in ages by a very poetic and at times quite spiritual soulful recording artist with much passion of soul in his music. This is the song and artist, “A Passing Ship” By Gordon Lightfoot (1986). This song and the video imagery fit to a tee many of the things I was feeling and thinking about over the last couple of days, and in a way some passing ship had arrived, during the walk by the shore! But, getting back to the Stones I had happened upon, when at home during careful examination of them I found on the back of the hand painted stone that it had a faintly painted inscription which said “Post On,” then “Salvation Stone” in the center! Of course you saw the feature photo of this stone which has the Biblical Scripture painted on it, which I’m listing here for your convenience, followed by the link to the Music Video which I’m sure you will enjoy!

Isaiah 40:8

8“The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.

9 You who bring good news to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,^[a]
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
    say to the towns of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”
¹⁰See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power,
and he rules with a mighty arm.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
¹¹He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.

²⁸Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.”

Feb 22 at 2:02 PM Arrived!

A Passing Ship By Gordon Lightfoot (1986) Gordon Lightfoot

A Passing Ship – Gordon Lightfoot. Video by Bob Perkins

Gordon Lightfoot Lyrics

“A Passing Ship”

A passing ship
I have found the open ocean
Give me no lip
The waves roll by as I pass on
A snulit sea
On the first day of April
How fresh the wind
Will you miss me when I’m gone
How many words
How many songs still unwritten
How many ships
Of the line have come and gone
In the good old days
May they never be forgotten
They had heavy wind
Or they had no wind at all

A passing ship
It is midnight on the ocean
Had a real long trip
I have been at sea all winter
When my ship came in
I was givin’ up the ghost
I think I should be
Leavin’ those passing ships alone

When the sea runs high
The sea runs wild and I’m unsteady
And I think of you
In the warmth of your home and family
When love is true
There is no truer occupation
And may this gale
Blow us to the ones we love

Another day
Another ocean
Give me no lip
But stand aside as I pass on
A sunlit sea
On the last day of October
How fresh the wind
Will you miss me from now on
I guess I should be
Leavin’ passing ships alone.

Later on after eating early dinner this entire spiritually inspiring course of events today brought me to remember an old tune I hadn’t heard in a while, “Straight Down the Line.” by Gerry Rafferty.

I did some praying and thanked God in the name of Jesus Christ for being with us and guiding us; thanking Him for every precious moment. Then I went into my music archive and selected that old tune and my dog went to sleep having a nice nap, as I kicked back and took in the song remembering some special times! I left it on loop for a good hour!

God Bless.

Lawrence Morra

Photo of the Burra Homestead. Dave And Deb

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Calls Out to You

“Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.”

Jesus knows and judges us by our hearts. Therefore; Valentine’s day should be a day for “all to reflect” upon what it is we are investing our hearts into, and that by doing this we are able to allow a positive affirmation or resolution on this special day, to make correction and improvement in what our hearts are drawn to or truly invested in. “To be right with the Lord our hearts must be right.”

We are all fallen and in this extremely imperfect state, so it is virtually impossible for one person to fulfill another enough to give him or her any lasting peace and tranquility. Romantic love is a failed proposition from the outset, setting one up for disappointment and heartache.

To you who say that Jesus is the answer to all of our needs regarding love. Whether it’s in regard to family, friends or desired earthly romance, I agree and add that there can only be one ultimate truth in all matters of the heart. You’re on target with this: “Jesus Christ is where you will find what you are looking for, by true love and faith in Him.” That’s the only source of true love and peace, but yet we all go through the motions here in our contrived fabricated man-made world of pretending. There is no panacea and definitely no utopian level of earthly love between two humans. WE SETTLE! We all do that, deciding that, it’s better to grab and hold onto someone and hack it out, taking the good, the bad, and the ugly for better or worse, because the alternative of being alone seeming so much worse, and is shuddered by most as an unbearable place to be for the rest of your life. But, we tend to sellout for this quick fix, in this very short-life, when the eternal plan should be our total focus Even though, Jesus promised that He walks with us holding our right hand, and that believing in Him we are never alone, therefore, which is giving us the greatest sense of security obtainable in this brief conflicting life. After all, we are here to decide which we will choose, to walk with Him to Everlasting Life and Salvation, or to turn away from Him to be mesmerized by this world full of trickery, sin, corruption, lies, hate, misery, pain, suffering and all manner of evils; thus in so doing; forfeiting our Redemption and true everlasting sanctity with God.

13 “For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.” Isaiah 41

Love is not sex and sex is not love.

Here is something I had to incorporate into this Valentine message from my responding to a preacher’s message.

While I was writing a Valentine message your article came to my attention which is directly related to all of my thoughts about these human earthly celebrations and the earthly false notion of love or its true expression. What you said about sex wrongly being entwined and mistakenly interpreted as love in the hearts and minds of many; to which I say is a great falsehood that is being perpetuated by pagan commercialization of, a spiritual matter between God, His children and each other, as I see it being manifested in cultures, art, film and just about anywhere money can be made by exploiting people.

This is profoundly true, what you said. But, I also say this is a symptom and indeed a large portion of the bigger problem we as humans are all facing each and every day we live on this earth, being subjected to the ways of the world which are crooked, fallen from grace and all holiness. The commercialization and pagan secular promotion of what constitutes a truly loving heart is far from being anything like the love that Jesus spoke about and still does in the Holy Scriptures and through the Holy Spirit. A Box of Roses and even close intimacies, sexual or otherwise don’t signify the presence of pure love, but are many times mostly vain attempts to convince someone of something intangible in human earthly terms as being real, when in fact it’s all become a game of pretend, fakery, delusion or smoke and mirrors if you will; while big business is making a fortune off the foolhardiness, vulnerabilities and weaknesses of people. But, it is a symptom and indeed a large portion of the bigger problem we as humans are all facing each and every day we live on this earth, being subjected to “the ways of the world” which are crooked, fallen from grace and all holiness. In essence a continual brainwashing by the man-made world, a world where opportunity runs rampant for the father of all lies to deceive, captivate and lead astray, to cause the lost sheep of the flock to fall into the clutches of, sin, despair and suffering!

Secularism and materialistic living abound and draw upon most if not all people at some point in their lives like the proverbial moth to the bright artificial light. It’s been said, “all that glitters is not gold;” people being often times weak, vain and petty sink to the lowest common denominator of living in this world for only the here and now which would be to serve self and obtain pleasure, whether it be addiction to drugs and alcohol or sex, along with a host of other temptations to escape reality and turn away from God, that the Devil uses to ensnare God’s children and draw them away from the “true light of the world,” the Creator, our Father in heaven, and instead to that fool’s gold that which glitters but has no Divine truth or lasting reward and instead brings those that follow it to doom, just like the moth into the heat of the bright light being lured continually closer to the flame that consumes it, eventually bringing it to ruin and death. But, as children of God created in His image this death is not just of our physical bodies that wreaking with sin or imperfection; but more importantly it’s a spiritual death.

The Holy Scriptures tell us in Matthew 7:

7“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

6“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy.7 Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

1“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others.The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”

3“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

9“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”

12“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets”.

21“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.”

24“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

28 “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.”

basilica-sacred-heart-paris-france

Jesus communicates with us in many ways — through prayer, through the Scriptures, and through images.

Jesus promises all who devote themselves to “His Sacred Heart” that they will receive many graces, especially:

“I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.”

“I will give peace in their families.”

“I will console them in all their troubles.”

“I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.”

“I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.”

“Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.”

“Tepid souls shall become fervent.”

“Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.”

“I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.”

“I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.”

“Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart.”

“In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.”

(Verse Concepts)

“I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations,” Isaiah 42:6

A most, “Blessed Sacred Heart of Jesus,” to all of you. Amen.

Lawrence Morra

Post Script: 02/15/2020

🙏 ❤ This is what all heart’s desire; to be filled with everlasting peace and love, yet all men are incapable of providing such to anyone, not even one’s self. Therefore, seek the eternal through God the Creator; who is all absolute love and peace!

“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 ❤ 🙏

It’s getting more obvious to me as I’m sure you as we grow older that we all come up short changed or even broke if we depend on mere temporary earthly contentment’s or pleasures to fill us; virtually an impossible fool’s errand. But, with a caveat I say we should always try to make the best of what we have and be eternally grateful just for that, indeed our next breath is a miraculous gift; and then seek Him the Divine and Everlasting to satisfy our every dream and need in His kingdom to come! I’m sure I’ll see you there as long as I keep trying my best, that’s all He expects of any of us! Amen.

“My Imitation of Christ”

“Catholic devotional prayer”

I was quite agitated and even angry with some people that called themselves Born Again who viciously attacked this dear Word Press Blogging friend about her article in which she described her practice of doing the Catholic Rosary, and one of them a man even saying she will be damned to hell, to which I say those individuals are “NO” Christians but a synagogue of Satan, and they will be damned for sure as I know through all my life experience and wisdom gained through it, that they are WRONG! No so called Christian would do such an attack upon another Christian but they remind me of what the Radical Islamist’s do within their own religion and to others; could it be these attackers, that behave as wolves in sheep’s clothing online are not so Christian as they profess to be?

This article is dedicated to that friend for her devotion to Jesus Christ and indeed perfect plan, which He, God the Father brought to humanity through the Blessed Virgin Mary the Mother of God, Jesus Christ our Savior, through “The Immaculate Conception!” Keep the faith, and do the Rosary dear Friend; the world needs so many more people like you to save our souls through Jesus Christ, by devotional faith, prayer and advocacy supplication in humility, using all of his instruments to increase devotion and obedience in order to strengthen our faith!. I say this, that whatever praying you offer up to God the Father through Jesus Christ from your deepest heart He will NEVER reject, no not ever, for eternity! Amen.

The Imitation of Christ

The Imitation of Christ is a Christian devotional book by Thomas à Kempis, first composed in Latin ca. 1418–1427. It is a handbook for spiritual life arising from the Devotio Moderna movement, of which Kempis was a member.

The Imitation of Christ (De Imitatione Christi), first published in 1418 by the German-Dutch monk and scribe, Thomas Hemerken of Kempen, better known as Thomas à Kempis (1380 – 25 July 1471).

“If God were our one and only desire we would not be so easily upset when our opinions do not find outside acceptance.” ― Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

A quotation of what a Good Reads follower had said about this magnificent book! “This book is going to forever be in either of two places in my home; my coffee table or my bedside. Reading this book this morning was like drinking deep of Christ’s love. Thomas a Kempis wrote this devotion in such a way to fan the flame in our soul with beautiful gentle words.”

Yesterday a true believer and gentleman who had been just as dismayed by this attack upon the Blogger, wrote to me a very important comment that I’m quoting a piece of here in my response to his letter that was so poignant and an actual God Sent, that I know God is working this all out by His will through His faithful. Amen.

I found your words to be quite strikingly profound and they immediately registered as important to ponder or meditate on which turned out to be accurate. As the evening went on I grew much more tired and had to retire, but then sleeping only a few hours I woke with a clear sense of mission and decided I needed to see what you had written earlier again; then things started to happen and my thoughts crystallized and these specific words reminded me of something, here when you said, “the devil is defeated and on a short leash, and the only evil that can befall me is that which God has ordained to help conform me to the image of Christ and accomplish His purposes. I thank God for His Word in which I read that Christ said things such as these would happen.”

I know now my friend that what you say here is pointing out a huge part or Truth of what is and has been going on with everything that happened over the last several years in my own life and even this tragic display by so called Christians on the attack! These words of yours reminded me of a small pocket book version of “My Imitation of Christ,” which a man I knew from back when I had that government job I mentioned to you previously gave to me not very long before the nefarious inspired major injury calamity happened, and this man had studied in seminary to become a priest, which he ultimately found wasn’t going to be his own personal destination in serving the Lord. If he had become an ordained priest I would never have met him, which is a fact. An interesting footnote here is that on the first text page or Foreword at the bottom of the page it says, “Feast of Our Lady March 25 1954.” But I hadn’t looked at this book in some years and you brought my attention to it by your words and I want to read a short passage from it that is located at the beginning. This was clearly a message for me to share with my friend and any of you who will see and hear! “But he who would fully and feelingly understand the words of Christ must study to make his whole life conformable to that of Christ. What doth it avail thee to discourse profoundly of the Trinity if thou be void of humility, and consequently, displeasing to the Trinity? In truth sublime words not make a man holy and just: but a virtuous life maketh him dear to God.” “Vanity of vanities and all is vanity.” Eccles 1. 2. “Except to love God and serve Him alone. This is the highest wisdom, by despising the world to tend to heavenly kingdoms.”

Often remember that proverb: “the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing.” Eccles 1. 8.

“Study, therefore, to withdraw thy heart from the love of visible things and to turn thyself to things invisible.” My Imitation of Christ.

I skipped a few sentences but the focus of these words for me is that which you mentioned how our time is short here! Think of that, we don’t live long really at all here. And tragedy or an accident could befall anyone at any time and this is over in a flash. When we are younger sure we tend to not think of such things because we feel brash and full of promise but even then it can be over in a heartbeat. So, it really is so vitally imperative that any person hopefully learn that these words I just typed here are ideas that focus on a key directive that has been given to us and again by what you said earlier and now these words clearly tell us, “that serving and loving God” is all that matters my friend.

Many dots are being connected all the time; God gives us all of the dots and we are supposed to connect them. In so doing we demonstrate our faithful heart desire to follow Him, and that we put Him front and center, saying we are here Lord to Love and Serve You.

Here is when I realized I must share a couple of things with you that are very personal. I know from reviewing my life from childhood to now, that I was always a good heart and wanting to give love to others, but wanting and needing it is also built in. As I grew up I had my ups and downs with that; feeling at times really appreciated and loved and yet other times feeling alone, especially when my parents had marital difficulty; reacting as many children do in those situations with a sense of guilt and inferiority. Life itself damages us and how we react to that is key in whether we move forward growing stronger in spite of the hardships or we decline and give into the easy way out of that pain and perhaps drink or do drugs as an attempt to escape pain and fear or guilt and sorrow, but continuing that way to slip deeper into the despair and the eventual ruin that awaits anyone who will be so lost or foolish. We who are faithful know the only way that great wound or need can be completely filled, that great unstoppable need; is by God Himself. This deep human need is why so many of us turn to sin or habitual activities to quell that emptiness and inner conflict, to quench the desire to be embraced and loved unceasingly, because that is what this life is all about, LOVE. God created all of this and us in particular out of endless LOVE. God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten not made Son as the sacrificial “Lamb of God” to take away all sin and suffering out of His pure, eternal, absolute LOVE! But we mere broken humans can’t bring it to absolute fruition while here on earth and so we either develop a good life the best we can while following Jesus counting on Him to bring us to the things that we need and protect us from those that will harm us along the way; to then deliver us unto everlasting PEACE! Some people strike a pretty good balance while others are off the rails their entire lives, corrupted, broken and sinful even to the end; then there are those most blessed persons who walk with the saints and are doing God’s will as fully and selflessly as is humanly possible and even beyond by miracles!

I was talking with a relative many years ago who said we should listen to our parents and in his case he said especially his father; to which I replied we do, then he snapped back at me, “no, no that isn’t what I mean, I mean everything!” He went on to explain how he had not listened and was rebellious thinking he knew better than his father, saying how it’s not just about what you feel like listening to or accepting, and then not the rest, it’s all. I told him I get it now, that the one person you know would never screw you over or steer you wrong his father who had fought in War and been all around knowing so much about life and its meaning a very upright and as righteous a man as they ever come, straight as an arrow kind of man; you had better listen and do it so you don’t learn the hard way, and then it’s too late! That relative had gone through a life of hell suffering I’m sure like none of us would wish on our worst enemies. He was in poor health from it all and actually was going to pass away even though we all had no idea at that point it would be so soon, we assumed because he had pulled through so much for so many years, even riding the rails; it was a foregone conclusion he was a bull, and would not be stopped! He was, and it came sudden; being truly a bull, but being stopped when God said no more, without much time to do much of any value other than to ask God to save His soul which is the most important thing we can ask of God for another and then go through family grief and mourning. The flip side is he laid down his life for his friends, which Jesus told us is the best thing we can ever do to show true love for each other; sacrifice all for the blessings of others. His devoted loving mother was the only one that was with him when he died and she had ceaselessly supported him and watched after him in so many ways as he deteriorated as a human, good faithful man and son; a Martyr for God, his life being an instrument of God! Perhaps I will write a very long story telling all about him sometime if it is God’s will because it would be a tear jerking heart moving and faith inspiring journey to read about. Just a few days before God took him and he passed, I had a brief conversation with him in which he said to me, “we are here to love and serve God.”

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

For now I’m sharing with you that which never was done until now, with anyone outside of the family tree which is a big family in a sense being both a large immediate kindred, while also a brother of humanity; the eulogy I wrote in a few minutes the morning I was getting ready to head out to his funeral and Catholic Mass beforehand! After I read it the priest got back to the podium and said; “these words Lawrence read to us were inspired by God.” He a most wonderful human being before he passed on told me, “with God all things are possible.” Amen.

IN MEMORY OF YOU Our “Brother in Christ”

Life can sometimes seem confusing, and we all lose our way or fall short in some way, shape or form throughout the course of our lifetime. All of us make mistakes, but have a chance to regain our balance and learn from the experience a valuable lesson of life and then move on. While other unfortunate individuals never get a second chance to get back on the path of their life, continuing to slip into a life of despair. This ultimately leads to an ever increasing hardship and burden that those individuals must carry for the rest of their lives on earth. But I believe that there is the Great intelligence and Wisdom beyond this temporary life as mere mortals, that has a plan and knows the reasons why these things must go the way they do. Perhaps like the tempering of steel, some people must stay in the heat of the flame suffering longer than others, while that person’s inner character and makeup is altered and shaped into a newer and stronger form of what the original once was. And if a person’s soul suffers the sustained pain of a hard life while others seem to have more advantage and opportunity to be content and happy while here on earth, then consider that those who suffer the most may be earning wings to be a special guardian or pilot for the rest of us. And in this vein, I do believe our dearly departed brother in Christ earned his wings.

Brother in Christ Jesus,

Lawrence

The Imitation of Christ

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis has for five centuries been the most popular spiritual book second only to the Sacred Scriptures of the Bible. The edition that I quote from here is by the “Confraternity of the Precious Blood.” The book illustrates clearly the basic fundamental principles of the Christian Spiritual Life which brings our attention to the additional point from the whole Truth of how the Precious Blood of Jesus that was spilled when he was being chastised in the dungeon for our sins so that we all may live; was wiped up by the loving motherly hands from the ground where it was spilled by the mother of Jesus, Mary, thus completing full circle her Blessed connection to the Son she bore immaculately to humanity by God’s absolute power and plan, as she is a special part of His plan “The Immaculate Conception,” without which the “New and Everlasting Covenant” or “Salvation” could not have been brought into humanity and “her being hallowed” above all the saints in order to carry God into this human life; that made her the “Mother of the Church,” Jesus’s Church by Him becoming a perfect man through her most blessed womb, the only mother who carried in her womb God Almighty, as the man Jesus Christ the Savior and Redeemer, to save our souls from eternal damnation or separation from God and all that is good; how she is in that loop, connected with Him the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in this most special way forever and ever, Amen.

I quote from the book here; “follow Christ Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. As we study its contents we are convinced that without that Way there is no going, without that Truth there is no knowing, without that Life there is no real living.”

Brother in Christ Jesus,

Lawrence Morra

Pope Francis stated “NEVER Try to Convert Unbelievers”

“Words from a Pope or False Prophet”

What follows is my response to a blog today regarding another apparent misdirection of the faithful by the active Pope Francis. I had to get into a more comprehensive explanation and chronicling of my own experiences that have led me to have my current perspective and belief that comprehensive efforts on many fronts including the Vatican are actively working to discredit the faith and renounce God’s word that Jesus Christ is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

It appears from Holy Scripture what Francis is saying flies in the face of what the Lord Himself has commanded us to do.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

I have a few things to add here! First I apologize for this extremely long comment but so many people around the globe need to get real. We are living in a most unprecedented time like no other in history when the digital age and information overload is non-stop, which is good and bad! The good side is that spreading the word of God and the Good news of the Salvation though Jesus Christ has never been so facilitated! But, the double-edged sword is at work in this, because Satan is using many of the advantages of high speed digital communication to confuse, misinform and outright deceive in earnest as the father of lies having these modern tools at his disposal! We now see a Pope that is false and I dear say he appears to be supporting the beast which I’ve become aware of over the last several years like many of you! My mother based on her long life experience and being a parishioner of the RCC had been saying for the last dozen years that Jesus is in a sense being crucified again by an out of control secular world and culture of death. Obviously materialism and vain exploits riddle the earthly societies tremendously while so many turn away from seeking God and prefer pleasure, lust and all manner of instant gratification. This leads to all manner of perversions and abuse which we read about or see on TV or the net news daily. Is it any wonder hatreds and violence plague our man-made system. This is to me a spiritual warfare like no other that has increased exponentially over the last 30 to 40 years and especially since 9/11/2001 which to me was a definite demarcation line or event to clearly show that two opposing ideologies or beliefs that have been colliding for well over several hundreds of years are now being set-up for a major showdown which is of course The Battle between Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and the antichrist.

On Christmas 2018 I was interacting that whole week with connections of mine on a social media platform sharing happiness and prayers for peace and salvation when a rabble-rouse agent or troll kept appearing on this one particular post and he increased his insults at our belief in Jesus and indeed upon Jesus with many carefully orchestrated rants that seemed to both promote atheism and then Nation of Islam which ultimately appeared to be the mindset of this derelict hateful minion! I am a passionate person and yes I can become a bit angry when wicked people offend or attack those I love! I tried for the days leading up to Christmas to be intellectual each time this individual kept appearing not letting well enough alone and allowing those of us of faith to have a peaceful joyous Christmas to share and celebrate the birth of our Savior! I will not just pass it off I thought; so I took it as a “direct attack” by evil, which I never experienced on Christmas by anyone my entire life until then! I know from this event and so many others that were painful challenges in my personal life over the last several years or more that this is pure evil at work in the world and it seeks out anyone of faith to attack viciously with its sole purpose to dishearten or trouble the faithful while completely confusing the weak and lost; it is pure hatred I witnessed not only of Jesus but of all His faithful. This Pope speaks in contradictions and I never thought that I would say such a thing having been brought up a Catholic and knowing in my heart I truly love Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! But, I won’t go into all of my reasons except one is that I reached out to this Pope at the Vatican during one of my more if not most troubled periods in my entire life where I was up against powers and principalities; or very corrupted political slaves of the Devil in my locale and I got “Zero Response” back from the Pope when at least some acknowledgement regarding the matter which I explained in great detail in a letter of several pages; would have been appropriate. Now I realize I should have sent it to Benedict XVI instead, but I was duped like so many to believe we had a new Pope Francis. Now in light of the most recent betrayals of the Church and its faithful this Pope has sealed his fate in my view as being derelict in the least or possibly diabolical at worst.

Before I show you what I said to that attacker of our Lord on Christmas Day 2018 I ask that you focus on this Scripture which says it all in my heart and mind as to why I felt it important to share this long explanation.

“Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn;
from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear allegiance.” Isaiah 45:22-23

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11

Victoria, for a couple of days leading up to Christmas and right on Christmas this phony and deceptive guy who was commenting on a post about the two Scandinavian young ladies beheaded kept twisting truth like the Devil to make Jesus nothing more than some guy like Muhammad. His denouncing Jesus and Christianity therefore on Christmas set me off onto my mission, as he would not stop it no matter how many important things I tried to explain to him. He was a clever deceiver. He did however stop after this piece I wrote to him on the post!

Tony Aツaz Your own words; “live the way you want and not dictate as you are just a human and not a messenger of GOD, like Jesus and Muhammad were.” “Muslim hoax I am wondering how you equate a “hoax” with facts of an Islamic Empire.” Wonder NO MORE, Pay Attention and learn of your blaspheming error! You have a huge inaccuracy that needs to be corrected! Saying that Jesus is another prophet like Muhammad is blasphemous. First Jesus was not a mere prophet but was God Himself and therefore the Redeemer and Savior of Mankind as he said. Muhammad was only a supposed prophet and there is irrefutable evidence in the historical text of the time he lived that points to his being an outright liar and heretic as well as a criminal and child molester along with his being a polygamist! The following statements are highly accurate and actually proven.

“In 632, only months before he died, Muhammad apparently met for the first time with a Christian community as such. An official delegation of Christians, probably led by a bishop, came to Mecca from Najran in Yemen. After engaging the Christians in discussion, the Prophet is said to have realized that Christian teachings are indeed incompatible with Islam, after which the revelation followed that only Islam is acceptable to God as a religion. The Quran also says very specifically that those who refer to Jesus as God are blasphemers, and that Christians saying that Christ is the son of God is an imitation of Jews, who earlier had said that Ezra is the son of God. According to the Quran Jesus was only a servant; Jesus the son of Mary was no more than an apostle of God. Quranic verses dealing with Jesus’ death have been interpreted differently by commentators, but generally they have been taken to mean that Jesus did not die by crucifixion. For Christians the Quran has thus served as a denial of Jesus’ incarnation and death on the cross and of the reality of the Trinity.” (Oxford University Press)

These two points alone put Islam and the Muslims completely at odds with Jesus Christ and all Christians and are the enemies of such! Muhammad himself began this conflict and was the spoiler and Heretic directly attacking God’s plan as foretold by all the previous prophets going all the way back to Abraham. Things have been in conflict because of Muhammad ever since and are getting worse, this will not resolve until Islam is Chastised or obliterated as a fake religion started by a false prophet and therefore heretic! In Summary Muslims are in complete denial of what Jesus Christ said and who He was which makes them Anti-Christ and supportive of the Devil and all that is unholy. Basically Muhammad started this Blasphemy back in 632 AD and outright declared War on Christendom! Islam you yourself stated is an EMPIRE which puts it in the category of being a Nation not a Religion! It is not a religion that is backed up with solid historical evidence and prophecy over time by many prophets other than what Muhammad said; he made it all up, the heretic! Islam seeks to conquer and must be stopped! And it will be! God’s avenging angels are going to obliterate Islam and any of its followers, they are minions of Satan!

After this experience on Christmas day 2018 the likes of which I had never experienced any such blatant antichrist in your face attack, during a most important religious observance activity for Christians, tells me that we are in the end times, as Satan is working through all means available at a fever pitch to attack Christianity and it’s faithful; because the time is drawing near for God to return! Of course I could be off by many years but this is my hunch as there are so many signs and I was attacked by evil several years ago to stop me from being a witness and faithful one for Jesus. A woman of a consecrated Catholic order told me back then that there was a reason I was suffering for Jesus and it would become apparent at some point in the future why I was being prepared! Now I see in retrospect that God did want me to do something for Him and it could be just to be doing as I am or maybe something more; like a priest told me recently, “wait and see!”

God Bless You. Amen.

Lawrence Morra

“He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” (John 5:23, 24)

Because we who accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior believe in the blessed trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that the Father and Son are one; when we glorify Jesus we are glorifying the Father. Therefore, the eternal glorification of the Father is through the Son Jesus Christ. If any people will not willingly give praise and glory to God in this life, they will do it against their own will throughout eternity. It’s made clear through God’s word to all who seek Truth, Hope and Salvation from a sinful world that in many instances is barely even a distorted reflection of God’s Glory, we must do our best to not be deceived making sure to discern God’s will from that of the worldly beast or even ourselves.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Note: Upon my actual completion of this Blog in the very early morning hours today a comment showed up in my email from the author of that parallel blog which I’ve included with my reply below in the comment section in-case you’re interested. Thank you.

The Miracle Mourning Dove

“we should instead be inspired by their symbol of hope, peace and the Holy Spirit”

Yesterday afternoon just as the sun was setting I was doing some typing when I thought I heard a sound just outside of the house but it was so faint and quick I continued on until I needed to get another bowl of my homemade chicken soup I had just made earlier. About a half hour later I was in the kitchen straightening up and saw that I needed to shut off a water drip I started at the bird bath out back in the morning because the temperature had gotten well above freezing so I wanted to provide the birds with that opportunity for the day after the recent snowstorm and icy conditions the previous day. I took care of that and turned to head back in through the garage when I saw a pane of glass was smashed out of the overhead garage door and immediately upon going over to see what had happened I saw shards of glass all over the floor and on the trunk lid of an old antique car I have on that side of the garage. Looking further even though it was just about dark now I saw a dove lying on the floor just below the rear of the car completely motionless with the broken glass all around it, and realizing what amount of force it took to propel through that window and birds being so delicate boned it was a forgone conclusion it was dead.

So I turned to go back into the house to get some duct tape to cover over that window area until I could buy a piece of glass at the hardware and repair it. I no sooner got out there again and began taking long lengths of tape, applying them like a sort of bandage over the opening when my foot almost stepped on the dead bird but in the nick of time I felt my foot that very split second coming down on something other than the flat concrete floor when simultaneously there was a sudden flurry of wings flapping and the thought to be dead bird was trying to flee from my foot and got over to the other side of the garage! I walked over to the dove and promptly spoke gently to it and scooped it up in my hands, and to my amazement the bird was alive and showed no signs of any major feathers missing but just some of its smaller downy ones had gotten torn away and surprisingly there were no bloody wounds either! More amazing its neck had not broken or one of its wings which should have snapped like a twig in the impact. Its eyes blinked as I spoke softly to it and said you hang on now you poor little baby, I’m going to bring you in the house and give you a place to rest and recuperate until tomorrow! I had rescued a pigeon in the area last year so I had bought a large Tupperware storage container and made air vent holes in it which was actually stored away in the garage, so I went over to the shelf and grabbed it with one hand while I kept the bird with my other hand close to my chest and started to head into the house. Once inside where it was well lit I could see the bird looked totally intact and so I placed some newspaper in the container for catching its droppings. I put the bird in closing the lid and setting the temporary home in a quiet area of the house.

This bird had really gone through an unbelievable ordeal most likely with a hawk in hot pursuit when its fight or flight instinct kicked in and it flew like a bat out of hell to get away in such a panic and as well as it being dimmer light out there so late in the day, while putting every bit of its energy into escaping the deadly hawk, it must have just turned the wrong way and slammed itself into that glass window pane going completely through it and onto the car in the garage which took a lot of force, enough in fact that in my estimation from my science knowledge of physics it should have at least broken its neck not to mention the multiple shards of glass all over the place, with a high probability that at least one of them should have ripped or gashed and even impaled the poor unfortunate bird! But, I have to say “miraculously” the little dove is looking like it has a good shot at beating all of the odds with my intervention. So, calling it a day I headed off to bed and hoped for the best saying a prayer for the “mourning dove;” wondering what “morning” would bring.

This morning after a quiet rest all night I checked in on our little fine feathered friend and it was completely alert and a bit feisty, so I gave it a tray with water and another with bird seeds that I keep around to feed the many birds that come to visit each day as long as I’m able to do it. All day the bird was calm in its protective little house I provided and I had checked in a few times again noticing how the dove was walking a little and ate some seed. The condition of the bird was amazing to say the least and it did seem to be fully functional as it occasionally was flapping its wings! So as the afternoon progressed and the daylight was fading fast I decided to chance a trial with the dove to see if it was in a big hurry to get back to its normal life, so we headed outside. I placed our fine feathered friend down on the ground and it hesitated a few seconds but then started flapping its wings again as it did earlier in its temporary home. This time it got airborne and flew about thirty feet down range but only a couple of feet off the ground, so it just didn’t have the power or strength to fly high into the sky at this point and the risk paid off because now we know the dove can fly but will need some serious recuperation and time to overcome its most likely sore and bruised body or muscles; but the prognosis is good.

Meanwhile here is some very interesting background information about these special little birds. I know this bird came to me for a reason!

Lawrence Morra

An Examination of Mourning Dove Symbolism

Literature Study Guides and Chapter Summaries / By Kristina Dems / Homework Help & Study Guides
What Are Mourning Doves?

Mourning Dove

“By virtue of their melancholy call, mourning doves have been fittingly named. The mourning dove call is a distinctive “wooo-oo-oo-oo” sound which may evoke a feeling of grief over the loss of a dearly beloved. But far from representing death, mourning dove symbolism can give us optimism with its spirituality. Beyond their sorrowful song is a message of life, hope, renewal and peace.

This beautiful bird (Zenaidura macroura) is the most common species of dove found in North America. Because they are plentiful, they are considered the most popular game bird – hunted both for meat and sport.

A dove is in fact a small pigeon. There is no technical difference between a dove and a pigeon save that doves are depicted to have pointed tails and move in a more graceful manner. Grayish-brown in color, Mourning Doves drink water by sucking – a remarkable accomplishment for birds.

Another remarkable feature is their monogamous nature. Mates typically stick together for the long run and become very devoted parents.
3 Key Representations

Among all the birds, the mourning dove is among the most celebrated bird – gracing sacred scripture (The Holy Bible under the Christian Faith) and appearing as a recurring icon in our lives. What does this bird symbolize? Below are the traditional and primary concepts it epitomizes:

A symbol of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit, one of the figures of the Holy Trinity (The Christian Doctrine advancing the belief that God exists in three persons: Father, Son and Spirit) is depicted as a dove in the baptism of Jesus. According to the Bible, when Jesus emerged from the water, a dove from heaven descended upon him. Baptism is a Christian Sacrament of spiritual rebirth by which we are “cleansed” of our “original sin,” and the Holy Spirit places us in permanent union in Christ, and makes us a formal member of the Christian Community.

A symbol of Hope

In the Noah’s Ark story, God decided to create a big flood to wipe out all the people on earth, except for Noah and his family. After forty days and forty nights, Noah released a raven to look for dry land. When the raven returned without success, a dove was then released. The dove, thereafter, flew back triumphantly with an olive leaf. Noah was pleased. It brought reassurance that trees were growing on dry land – a certain sign of life! The dove stood, therefore for new beginnings, great expectations and deliverance.

A symbol of Peace

Although it is a white dove that typically represents peace and safety, mourning doves may also represent the same. The states of Wisconsin and Michigan regard the mourning dove as their official state symbol of peace. Pablo Picasso, the famous Spanish artist, when commissioned to design the logo for the World Peace Congress in 1949, drew a dove entitled “Dove of Peace-Blue.” It is because of their simple and maternal nature that doves have become a symbol of solidarity and concord among nations.

Thus, when looking at mourning dove symbolism, we can see that instead of recognizing them for their melancholy call, we should instead be inspired by their symbol of hope, peace and the Holy Spirit.”

References
Mourning Dove CC-BY-SA 2.5 –http://commons wikimediaorg/wiki/File:Mourning_Dove_2006

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.” Isaiah 45:22-23

An Examination of Mourning Dove Symbolism

“Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn;
from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear allegiance.” Isaiah 45:22-23