faith
What Did You Give Up For Lent?
You’re out with your friends on a Friday night and suddenly you notice that one of them has switched from his favorite microbrew beer to lemonade? Is it time for Lent already?
Giving up something for Lent sometimes evokes head-scratching in non-Catholics, but what might seem like just another Catholic eccentricity can actually be a practice with deep spiritual significance.
Lent, the period of 40 days that precedes the celebration of Easter, has its origin in the early days of the Church. This year Lent began on March 5th and it ends on April 17th.
Converts seeking to become Christian, who at that time were mostly adults, spent several years in study and preparation. Under the threat of Roman persecution, becoming a Christian was serious business, so their process of preparation was intensive. Then they went through a final period of “purification and enlightenment” for the 40 days before their baptism at Easter. The rest of the Church began to observe the season of Lent in solidarity with these newest Christians. It became an opportunity for all Christians to recall and renew the commitment of their baptism. Continue reading
A Black Bird Visits My In-Laws
A black bird is believed to be a good omen by some, while others see it as a sign of misfortune. My experience with a black bird sign proved to be both.
I was over at my in-laws’ house one day when we noticed this black bird trying to get into the room. I thought the bird might be injured the way it was acting. It kept hitting the window hard, trying to fly inside. I felt this must be some sort of omen, but decided not to share this notion with my in-laws.
At that moment I got a call on my phone from my ex-wife. Our son had fallen off his scooter and broke his arm. After the call, the black bird was still doing his thing, but eventually gave up and flew away. I thought then that this must be the news the black bird was bringing. Continue reading
What Really Matters In Your Life?
It doesn’t matter what your profession is, how rich or successful you are, how attractive you think you are. Some of the most beautiful, caring, thoughtful, compassionate and charitable people are not necessarily wealthy or gorgeous.
God provides for His children in ways that are far beyond anything fame or fortune can provide. Less is truly more.
Instead of hoping to find many friends, who often come with a good amount chaos and drama, which I have no time for, I prefer one good friend, Jesus Christ. God always provides for his children. Less is truly more, especially when you have a Christ-centered life. Continue reading
The Angels In Our Daily Lives
We see movies about them around Christmas time; stories about how an Angel was sent to a certain family with a message of hope. We see Angels delivering messages in works of art and we hear about them in popular holiday songs. But are they real?
I believe we do get signs and guidance from Angels, and sometimes they even save our lives. Whenever I am asked to assist with ghost hunting, I always ask for help and protection from the Angels. They have never failed me.
One cold winter morning on my way to work I was about ten miles from my exit on the highway. I was feeling ill, but my sick days had run out and I needed the money, so I had to go in. I had taken some cold medication before I left home. I was in the far right lane and was having a hard time keeping my eyes open. Continue reading
A Sign From Apollo At The Delphic Oracle
Would you not do the same if you were going to visit the remains of the legendary sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, Greece? Well, I did! I humbly requested a simple sign or personal omen from the god of light, truth and prophecy, while I was planning my recent European tour*. I knew for several months before I undertook this odyssey that Apollo would not disappoint, but ultimately I received much more than I had anticipated.
The renowned oracle who communicated Apollo’s messages to the people, and the priests who interpreted them, no longer ply their trade at this once glorious place, but Apollo has certainly not abandoned his remarkable temple. He still answers the call of mortals here, despite the fact that most of us now live in a world devoid of the mystical and the miraculous. Yes, he certainly does. I have proof.
How To Heal A Broken Heart
It can be very difficult to heal from a broken heart. It is no accident that there are so many sad songs written about lost love, and so many stories in magazines and on talk shows about failed love relationships. Many self-help experts proclaim they have the true answer to how to heal a broken heart.
I know from personal experience that it can be one of the hardest things in life to understand and overcome. When I had my heart broken, I used music in healing process, because I could relate what the song was about. Some people prefer to write in a diary to process their thoughts and feelings; sometimes they even write a letter to the former lover to get a few things off their chest. Continue reading
Journey Born Under A Divine Star
In the coming weeks I will be posting a series of articles from my travel blog, which I wrote during my recent trip to Europe. The blogs are a collection of spiritual adventures, pilgrimages to sacred places and accounts of my personal odyssey into self-realization. Let me be your guide to sacred sites like Stone Henge in the United Kingdom and the Oracle of Delphi at Temple of Apollo in Greece.
I was very excited that my journey began under one of the most rare and powerful aspects in astrology, namely the Grand Sextile, or Star of David. The ancients associated this unique alignment of six planets with the birth and anointing of a king. This rare alignment of the planets occurred on July 29th, 2013. Seven of the ten planets were involved to create six sextiles, three oppositions and two Grand Trines! Continue reading