Self-help vs. New Age Gnosticism  

The cultural revolution of the 1960’s led to a movement in the 1970’s of mothers entering the workplace. In addition to developing the new norm of ‘substitute’ parenting through the establishment of day care businesses, this movement created other needs for both men and women. In particular, there was the need for personal and professional development: the self-help movement. And from this spawned contemporary New Age Spirituality.

Book review: The Two Jerusalems: My conversion from the Messianic Movement to the Catholic church

I normally do not review books. However, the following review was completed for The Fellowship of Catholic Scholars. It is an autobiography of faith rather than an academic book, and as such gives a dizzying account of the errors and rabbit holes found in Messianic Judaism, Christian cults, and Protestantism. As such, it might be of interest to some of you 😊

Walking away

The months of May and June we celebrate graduation at all levels of schooling, reflecting upon the path behind our child and their journey ahead. Whether it is your little child’s first day at school or your now young adult child stepping onto that college campus, this classic poem by Cecil Day Lewis continues to capture the heart of the parent.

Faith is the gate through which grace enters  

Lent is drawing to an end. We will join the crowds crying “Hosanna in the highest!”, honoring our Lord on Palm Sunday only to betray Him a few days later. Yes, it is difficult to stand by and watch the cruelty inflicted upon Him. Even his best friends deserted Him. But perhaps what causes us to run comes from a deeper place in our heart. This scene, this situation, is completely out of anyone’s control. Except God’s.

A level playing field

We go through life seeing the hardships before us, the rockiness of our path, its instability. Life presents to us what seems like an abyss out of which we cannot climb or a mountain we cannot traverse. But God will make a level ‘playing field’ for us if we permit Him.

Vengeance

Grudges, vengeance…these words carry a cloud of gloom. Desolate, angry, and frustrated, as we review every fault in the other person, our enemy will ratchet up our emotions and skew our right reason. God’s Word held in our memory is shouting truth to us to no avail. “Do you question me about my children, tell me how to treat the work of my hands?” (Isaiah 45:11) We think we know exactly what the other person needs to change about themselves, unable to hear our Lord say, “Shall the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ or, ‘What you are making has no handles’?” (Isaiah 45:9). Our judgementalism can be a spiritual sword of revenge.