tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post1287858649162536623..comments2024-02-09T02:48:13.776-06:00Comments on Daily Meditations with Fr. Alfonse: Mt 13:47-53 Good and Bad FishFr. Alfonsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02557206560119402976noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-78877178602194220082013-03-27T06:17:13.679-05:002013-03-27T06:17:13.679-05:003 Easy Meditation Tips
I'm sure you must be th...3 Easy Meditation Tips<br />I'm sure you must be thinking that there may be some reason why some people who use meditation tips outperform others. The reason most cannot meditate is the simple reason of either not knowing what to use, or just how to meditate in the right environment. There are many things you can do and there are many meditation tips you can use to reach a higher "enlightenment". Some meditation tips you may follow to help you reach this higher enlightenment can be:<br /><a href="http://meditationuk.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> *******Visites My sites>>>>>>>>>> meditation uk *****************</a><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369747556206569626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-978263273676787472012-08-19T16:22:53.186-05:002012-08-19T16:22:53.186-05:00Anonymous-
You are making two unwarranted assumpt...Anonymous-<br /><br />You are making two unwarranted assumptions: that John never was a Catholic and that he and Fr.Alfonse have met and are in contact with eachother. <br /><br />I know for a fact that your assumptions are erroneous. . . .<br /><br />Jan Nathan Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06103811146265742675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-75881065358353926022012-08-10T15:27:58.166-05:002012-08-10T15:27:58.166-05:00Father,
I am a little confused about your respon...Father, <br />I am a little confused about your response to the anonymous post above which was signed by Jennifer B. You said that the point she made about not telling the prostitutes they are "bad" was the point of your meditation and so I am confused because I thought you were saying that we should speak up for our faith and let others know what we believe and why. I do understand that when ministering to the poor you don't just come right out and say your "bad" or sinning. My main question comes from a post I made on facebook reminding my family and friends to participate in supporting Chick fil a on Aug. 1st. I had several family members make comments to my post that they believe same sex marriage is good and ok. I then posted what God teaches thru the church and scripture and that that is what I believe. As soon as i did that I was told I was a hater and that by quoting scripture and saying that same sex marriage was a sin is hateful and wrong. I was also told that i was judging all same sex couples. Father was I wrong in responding to what they said they believe by telling them same sex marriage is wrong and sinful? Should i have just left them to their thoughts and prayed for their conversion? 2nd question is I have a neice who is openly a lesbian and the rest of the family supports and even celebrates the relationship. We don't do that and my husband has told his niece that we love her but won't support her relationship because it is wrong. Are we wrong in doing that? Thanks and God Bless, <br />RebeccaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-23390190907379859052012-08-06T07:37:22.130-05:002012-08-06T07:37:22.130-05:00Yes, of course Father can converse with anyone he ...Yes, of course Father can converse with anyone he chooses: atheist/agnostic or falling away Catholics. (I never said Father was not awesome.) He can even converse with Muslims,Buddists, Jews, Hindus, or Jehovah Witnesses. He can tell them all "you have a right to be wrong" or "I've heard all of these same old excuses". He can debate until he's blue in the face. But, if a person is unwilling to bend his stance and is resistent to believing then why push the conversion(and get frustrated in the process)? I'm sure this was an eye opening conversation for John. I pray it will lead him to an understanding of God and the whole truth of Jesus Christ. In my opinion, Father probably gets more intellectual stimulation from a conversation with an atheist/agnostic because he was there at one point in his life. He was an agnostic and converted. So, of course his interest will be influencing other atheists/agnostics to conversion as well. Nothing at all wrong with this good intention! However, I think the priority should still be helping those Catholic Christians who are leaving the Church. Try to keep them before they decide to become atheists themselves...or Muslim, Buddist, Jewish, fundamentalist Christians, etc. :) <br /><br />Blessings & Peace to All,<br /><br />-JenniferAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-1965448067743696872012-08-05T17:12:09.161-05:002012-08-05T17:12:09.161-05:00Father Alfonse is awesome....I am sure he can conv...Father Alfonse is awesome....I am sure he can converse with atheist/agnostics AND help Catholic Christians that are leaving the Church.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-80870640261010915322012-08-04T19:43:46.182-05:002012-08-04T19:43:46.182-05:00I think John is searching for something in his lif...I think John is searching for something in his life. Otherwise, why would he be lurking on this blog? I'm praying he finds what he searches for,and I'm betting he will.<br /><br />CraigAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-79203317066899610202012-08-04T09:33:41.566-05:002012-08-04T09:33:41.566-05:00I admit the disagreement between Father and John m...I admit the disagreement between Father and John made me cringe. The whole atheist/agnostic dialog is uncomfortable and something I really don't want to read about. Why not concentrate more on trying to retain the Catholic Christians that are leaving in masses (especially our teens) instead of trying to convert an atheist/agnostic? We have so many issues here in the Church. So many needs that need to be met first within the Catholic community. :)Jennifer B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15338737502809429613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-11304794106274366492012-08-04T00:59:38.051-05:002012-08-04T00:59:38.051-05:00Father Alfonse i love the come backs regard the di...Father Alfonse i love the come backs regard the disagreement between you and John.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522578039872040238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-87906082268934844142012-08-03T21:59:30.217-05:002012-08-03T21:59:30.217-05:00Quite cynical indeed. But you're right, my mo...Quite cynical indeed. But you're right, my money does in fact end up in the hands of all of these corporations as I don't choose to not support companies who don't share my beliefs. But for a lot of us, the point of supporting Chick-Fil-a was to stand up for freedom of speech and religion which it feels we are losing little by little. Will the appreciation day make any difference in the long run? Probably not much, but it's just nice to be able to do something instead of nothing at all. EVERYONE should understand fighting for our freedoms of speech and religion regardless of your personal opinions on any moral or political subject. You seem to be enjoying freedom of speech as you comment on this blog.......for now anyway. ;) Peace!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-21843392260568321692012-08-03T20:34:59.212-05:002012-08-03T20:34:59.212-05:00Holy cow, John, you are one intense dude. I make ...Holy cow, John, you are one intense dude. I make simple statements and you feel the need to get all philosophical....... Like it or not, when we die, there is either going to be an afterlife or there isn't, regardless whether or not you practice any sort of religion or other way of life. I can't imagine how the above statement is a flawed argument as it's not really an argument, in my book anyway. Apparently you need proof of a deity, I get it. Fortunately I've been blessed as a recipient of a miracle, a true miracle. I've never needed proof that God exists to begin with, but I'm incredibly thankful that He showed me His truth.<br /><br />Food for thought: Do you think Jesus' apostles who ended up as martyrs, which was mostly all of them, would have died for Jesus if they hadn't had experiences with Him after his resurrection? What about all those early Christians? I'm sure they must have been somewhat fearful of the pain they would endure, but yet none of them changed their story nor denied Jesus' existence as The Messiah to try and save themselves. There are lots of great reads out there from early church fathers so perhaps do a little, or should I say more research...??<br /><br />In closing, I can't imagine that we would go through all this pain and suffering in this hell we call Earth, to die, and that's it, nothing, nada. HOW BORING!!!!!!!! :D <br /><br />Thank you for the prayers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-49808860619158360112012-08-03T19:33:09.158-05:002012-08-03T19:33:09.158-05:00I'm glad to hear the appreciation day met your...I'm glad to hear the appreciation day met your expectations. Now what's next? Should we cease activity on this blog since it's powered by Google? My position on this may be cynical, but if we're going in the direction of giving your dollar to corporations that stand with your beliefs it's a losing proposition. Many of the cars people were sitting in the drive thru were bought from corporations that support LGBT rights. The cell phone pics that were taken were probably uploaded on a smart phone using a wireless network onto a social media site that supports LGBT rights. <br /><br />The whole thing reminded me of one of those prove you're Christian and love God emails you get that ask you to forward to 10 people...but in the end, for me, that's not how I try and nurture my faith and relationship with God. <br /><br />On a lighter note...I wish the public would also have an appreciation day for the airlines and help boost our bottom line with record sales :)Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13740728530503497255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-87778139016420412222012-08-03T18:24:47.591-05:002012-08-03T18:24:47.591-05:00But it's not the same.
A "soft atheist...But it's not the same. <br /><br />A "soft atheist" will willingly admit that he/she does not know what happens after they die, but based on current evidence concludes that nothing happens. If the evidence changes, then their belief changes. <br /><br />A "strong atheist" will assert that they know what happens, and no amount of evidence can change that.<br /><br />An agnostic willfully admits that they don't know, and expresses that no one can know until they're actually pushing up the daisies.<br /><br />In your second paragraph you're asserting Pascal's Wager, coined after French philosopher, mathematician, and physicist Blaise Pascal. Unfortunately this only works if there are only two options for religious belief, Christianity and non-belief. Since there are near infinite options for choosing a deity, then this argument is flawed.<br /><br />You will be in my prayers, which I don't believe is going to do anything, however I just wanted to say that for once.John D. Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07506831264430013726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-70466343502149471352012-08-03T16:23:31.388-05:002012-08-03T16:23:31.388-05:00I went to Chick-fil-a for lunch at around 2 becaus...I went to Chick-fil-a for lunch at around 2 because I knew the lines were long. I already felt good about being there. The lines were still long, however everyone was waiting patiently. I waited patiently as well even though I had to get back to work because it is our busiest time of year. I got a special surprise when I got there and the person in front of me paid for my lunch. So I did the same. Thank God it wasn't a whole lot. :) I felt very blessed. Still feeling it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-64841906975024172692012-08-03T15:48:20.377-05:002012-08-03T15:48:20.377-05:00"Gays are free to live their lifestyle alread..."Gays are free to live their lifestyle already." <br /><br />- I'm not sure what this means....'live their lifestyle.' Yes, they can participate in the commercial aspects of life like everyone else, but it pretty much ends there. <br /><br />"How should a revised definition of marriage make them more free? Will they live any differently when they have the piece of paper saying it's acceptable? "<br /><br />- Seriously?!?...Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13740728530503497255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-87649943382282345852012-08-03T15:20:09.992-05:002012-08-03T15:20:09.992-05:00Praise God and thank you so much for sharing your ...Praise God and thank you so much for sharing your story!! And thank you for your hard work! My heart went out to all you employees who worked your bodies to exhaustion! I'm so glad to hear that you had a positive experience, no matter how hard your day was. Again today, I went through the drive-thru at 2:00 pm and I must have waited nearly 20 minutes..... I think too many of us have been silent for way too long, thinking there is nothing we can do since it seems our 'way too liberal government' has complete control of everything. We all have to get out there this November and vote if we want things to turn around.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-11628190468664856482012-08-03T15:16:51.991-05:002012-08-03T15:16:51.991-05:00I love it!! Another record-breaking comments!!!......I love it!! Another record-breaking comments!!!...Great job keeping the discussion flowing, Father & Blog Readers. The topics may be a little uncomfortable for some. However, I see the Holy Spirit definitely at work with such a dynamic exchange of thoughts. <br /><br />I attended the Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day and was absolutely shocked at the crowd! It took me over 30 minutes to get through the drive-thru line. People were so courteous in the parking lot. I remember walking back into work with my Chick-Fil-A bag in hand and a coworker remarked, "Ahh....How busy was it today?" I stood there with a smile on my face commenting, "Yes, it was crazy!" Sad to say I didn't see anyone else eat C-f-A for lunch. I work with a group of non-church going folks. I think most of them didn't really have a clue (or care) about the Appreciation Day. I admit my chicken nuggets were not as fresh-tasting as usual, but I felt great supporting the cause. (Normally the food is delicious.)<br /><br />Blessings to All!<br /><br />-JenniferJennifer B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15338737502809429613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-26875424620311827072012-08-03T14:38:44.236-05:002012-08-03T14:38:44.236-05:00Sarah asked early in the comments: "What exac...Sarah asked early in the comments: "What exactly does one day of appreciation or boycott do to change hearts and minds?"<br /><br />I don't know what the boycott will do but I know first hand what Chick-fil-a Appreciation Day did!! It might of not changed anything dramatically but I know that people went home excited and encouraged. I work at a Chick-fil-a, and on Wednesday I worked twice my normal shift as the lines snaked around the buildings, starting at 6:20am and not ending until after closing. The people who pulled up to the drive thru window after waiting in line for a hour weren't upset, they were smiling, literally their faces were glowing. All around them were people who believed what they believed, everyone said how happy they were to be surrounded by people who felt strongly about Christian values. <br /><br />People waited outside in lines because we couldn't fit more people inside. When I walked out there, everyone was talking, it was a party! Everyone was smiling. One lady was crying. She told me, "I am just so happy and overwhelmed." She had never imagined that so many people felt the same way she did. She kept saying: "Just look at all of them(the people)." And the stories go on and on.....<br /><br />People were there to support Chick-fil-a, but I am sure of the over 5,000 people we served at our store, 99.9999% of them went home feeling supported by each other. They weren't alone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-69698042086185143702012-08-03T13:49:53.298-05:002012-08-03T13:49:53.298-05:00Gays are free to live their lifestyle already. How...Gays are free to live their lifestyle already. How should a revised definition of marriage make them more free? Will they live any differently when they have the piece of paper saying it's acceptable? They will be just as free as before. However, those who don't believe in the legitimacy of their marriage will not be as free. As we see in the case of Chic-fil-A, people will protest and try to hurt those who have a different idea of marriage. The Chic-fil-A controversy started with Jim Henson's daughter refusing Chic-fil-A's sponsorship on the grounds that they didn't support gay marriage. Then, mayors of various cities followed suit when the owner refused to recant his beliefs. The guy's not even a politician; he just owns a chain of restaurants selling bland chicken sandwiches. What does his approval mean to anyone who has already made up their mind? It doesn't mean anything. Activists who pile up on him are like bullies pouncing on a kid, forcing him to say "uncle."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-52965477640318270592012-08-03T13:25:46.364-05:002012-08-03T13:25:46.364-05:00Bravo Father, I really liked that back and forth. ...Bravo Father, I really liked that back and forth. Although this debate really makes some people uncomfortable, we should face it and think about it seriously. John's argument is heard everywhere and too often meets no reply and continues to perpetuate more skepticism. It's a weak position: the atheist won't believe it until he sees it and complacently waits for God (whom he denies) to compel him to believe. What kind of God would He be if we could reduce him to a scientific postulate? Life's meaning would be absolutely pointless if we could experience God the same way we experience a tree we pass by on the way to work. God is so much bigger than that, and human beings are capable of a much deeper relationship with Him that transcends some confirmed superficial observation that meets our empirical standards. Furthermore, what allowed people to put so much faith in their senses? Can one see an atom? Can one hear a star collapsing across the galaxy? If one can't behold things in our finite universe with the senses, why should one be able to able to behold the infinite? Moreover, could a finite creature even stand to behold the infinite without any help? His mind couldn't take it nor could his heart accept it. The empirical atheist refuses God's grace by closing himself off from the possibility of a loving god, let alone any kind of divinity. <br /><br />Seriously, how much physical evidence does one need to believe? Is the universe not enough? Are the numerous documents of history not enough? Is the church's continued mission not enough? Are the saints not enough? Is our very humanity not enough? If a person denies the truth of these things, he'll very well deny any visitation that God might send him. <br /><br />It's like an ant in an ant farm moseying about his dirt and tunnels. He senses the glass holding him in and that world of giants outside the glass. There's no way the any can even fathom what those giants are, even if he were given a mind with which to conceive. His reality are a wall of glass, bits of dirt and other ants; and his logic proceeds from this reality. There's no way this little ant can arrive at the truth about those giants--who they are or what they do--through any kind of logic or observation. The giant would need to help him, and he would have to allow that help.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-44399092880581785252012-08-03T08:59:56.635-05:002012-08-03T08:59:56.635-05:00Father Alfonse & John - Perhaps take this inte...Father Alfonse & John - Perhaps take this intense atheist/agnostic offline? It's way too intense. Debate back and forth in person or via email. I assume you two know each other well......Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-79060816699891911272012-08-03T08:02:26.135-05:002012-08-03T08:02:26.135-05:00You're right John...in a court of law. Some c...You're right John...in a court of law. Some consolation!!! Especially for criminals who get away with murder due to a lack of evidence, right? I wouldn't go to our Court system to prove any point John. Bad argument. It's not too convincing...ask any lawyer.<br />2) I don't get as tired as you do with dialogue. I don't run away. I know how important dialogue is because I was once an agnostic. So, although you may tire. I don't. Even if your arguments are very old and very stale and very much answered. Can you come up with anything new?<br />For example. You put all religions together like all existing things together. So a rock exists like you do? Come on John. I know you are not a theology major, why act like one? Did you study Zeus like I did? Or Buddha? Or Mohammad? I laugh at those who love to quote Darwin but never read a page of his origin of species!!! Ah...patience, patience.<br />3) Let me use your argument in my favor. You list all the religions (or myths). Fine. Doesn't that prove to you that there is a one true God? Does a thousand lies prove there is no truth? If I find a fake dollar bill, does it not prove their exists a real one? If anything, it does!<br /><br />4) But you dismiss, and you dismiss before you even search. You believe that God could never have revealed himself. Ok. I say He did and in the person of Jesus Christ. The burden is to prove to me that his words were lies, his Apostles were liars, his death and resurrection never occured, his miracles were forgeries, that he never forgave and that he never lived. If there are those who witnessed all these things, and those who continue to experience everything He did, then tell me, as a lawyer, how they did not occur? Of course you will tell me that you can say the same of Mohammad. But you see, I did study the world's religions before. Mohammad never claimed to be God. Buddha never claimed to be God. Only one claimed to be God and lived and preached like God: Jesus Christ.<br /><br />5)What you are basically saying is: "All religions are the same." To which I reply, study them and you will see they are not. And the evidence is clear. The Greeks and the Romans were the first to not believe in Zeus because they were the first to acknowledge Homer. Oiden may have killed the frost giant but only in the fairy tales of our youth. How come no one believes in it anymore? Actually, how come no one ever believed in it? SImple: Because we know the difference between imagination and revelation; between art and creation; between a forgery and the real thing. <br />You know the difference too, stop being silly. Stop using senseless arguments that everone uses and no one believes. <br /><br />6) It's boring, very boring when you say something to the affect: All religious people are feeble minded or in need of someting. To which I reply, remember: only human beings are capable of believing because only they are capable of thinking and reflecting. It's not feeble mindedness that makes people believe or a desire or wish to believe. If that were the case, then we would only believe what we want to believe. And like I said, "that's pretty boring." What's exciting is being told your wrong when you think your right. That makes you think and wonder. Try it.Fr. Alfonsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02557206560119402976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-40406428550717059062012-08-03T07:14:44.971-05:002012-08-03T07:14:44.971-05:00Same difference if you ask me; no god = no heaven...Same difference if you ask me; no god = no heaven and no hell.... Just a dead body at the end of life with no where to go but six feet under..... <br /><br />FAITH is the key in my mind! As the old saying goes, "I would rather die as a believer and find out that there is not a god or heaven, than die as a nonbeliever and find out there is!"<br /><br />You will be in my prayers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-40356127146331517252012-08-03T00:01:09.382-05:002012-08-03T00:01:09.382-05:00No, really. The burden of proof lies with the per...No, really. The burden of proof lies with the person who makes the claim. You wouldn't in a court of law accuse someone of a crime without any proof. You'd be laughed out of the courtroom. Just as with your claim that your god exists and is the one true god the burden of proof lies within the one making the claim.<br /><br />But frankly you have about as much proof for the existence of your deity than you do for proving that Odin killed the frost giants, so we're not going to get anywhere with that. Pointing at your very old book isn't going to do anything when the opposing party does not believe it is a sacred tome.<br /><br />Now it is true that people of many different intelligence levels believe or disbelieve in the Christian god Yahweh. This is also true for Allah, Buddha, Krishna, Horus, Zeus, Odin, Attis, Ahura Mazda and any other deity you wish to insert. The human mind is very malleable, and one is able to justify nearly anything to conform to their own preconceived beliefs.<br /><br />And it appears we are at an impasse. You demand I believe in a deity I cannot see before I'll be able to see him, and I require evidence before I'll believe. So we might as well stop here.John D. Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07506831264430013726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-1378099813893181602012-08-02T23:52:27.248-05:002012-08-02T23:52:27.248-05:00Father,
Hope you saw Gabby Douglas when she said ...Father,<br /><br />Hope you saw Gabby Douglas when she said after winning her Gold Medal, "All Glory goes to God". Amen, Gabby. Loved it! :)<br /><br />Loved your meditation by the way. And I agree totally with you.<br /><br />God Bless you Father and all that you do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-47010628894522866482012-08-02T23:16:22.239-05:002012-08-02T23:16:22.239-05:00As u stated : "We’ve just done a much better ...As u stated : "We’ve just done a much better job at handling the bad and hiding the good." So true Father Alfonse<br /><br />A very well and intelligent Meditation <br /><br />God Bless u My Father ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522578039872040238noreply@blogger.com