"Should we blow out the candles now, Uncle John?" The 5 showed up to help John celebrate his 26th birthday... I only had a 2 and a 7 - we figured he has just begun his 27th Year!
John is preparing to give another talk this evening for FF here in Marshall. There is much conversation about his message and just what it means for young people. Not that if you pray for Faith in your life that you might get brain cancer so why do it? But rather that our lives are all going to hold hard difficult painful events - the Cross - and we need Jesus in our lives to come through them finding LIFE eternal, LOVE everlasting, and LIGHT of Truth! John's message - we need our Faith to see us through the hard times we will all face in our lives.
John frosting his first ever birthday cake.
In the Gospel today Jesus is disappointed by the "lack of faith" he found in those, who were from his native place - home town! John shares in his story that he grew up in a Catholic bubble and took his families' faith for granted. "I don't feel anything." he would say, "I have never needed to turn to my faith - it has never been tested." Well, when he half-heartedly prayed for faith, and week later he had brain cancer and the fight of his life, and now the new healed John, who has found Faith!
Here is a wonderful sharing on Faith by Blessed John Henry Newman (1890)
What is meant by faith? It is to feel in good earnest that we are creatures of God; it is a practical perception of the unseen world; it is to understand that this world is not enough for our happiness, to look beyond it on towards God, to realize his Presence, to wait upon him, to endeavor to learn and to do his will, and to seek our good from him.
It is not a mere temporary strong act or impetuous feeling of the mind, an impression or a view coming upon it, but it is a habit, a state of mind, lasting and consistent. To have faith in God is to surrender one's self to God, humbly to put one's interests, or to wish to put them into his hands who is the Sovereign Giver of all good.
The Pose - John and Susan/Hallel have perfected this many times over the years!
This is being shared on FB today... John has survived, but shows wounds from cancer lingering on his mind and heart and soul. He is the "new John." There continue to be day to day struggles with jobs and asking if there could be "a vocation." We also know of young people that have not survived, yet they touched the world and we honor their memories and LIGHT they shared in their short lifetimes! We think of Lisa, who humbly made sleep mats for those that are poor and sleep in the ground all over the world with her last few years battling cancer. Making a difference one person at a time! We just heard about Zach Sobiech, and how his song Clouds has touched millions and his story has changed lives. A larger scale of a life that continues on in Spirit and makes a difference in this world!
Zach Sobiech - Clouds sung by the largest choir
Zach singing Clouds
Jesus, we are reminded today by St Paul to the Hebrews 12
Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as his sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline? At the time, all discipline seems cause not for joy but for pain, yet later brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. May we remember this when things don't go the way we want them to, yet You are in control and your way is what we need to find the path to LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT! "The world is not enough for our happiness," and when we try to find it in the world we are always disappointed and find ourselves surrounded by darkness of sin and death. Use John's story to touch many this night. May we die to self so that you may live in us! Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Hallelujah
One more of the instant party called kids from 10 thru 1 that are excited for candles, singing, cake and ice cream!
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
He definitely gives us food for thought on this journey of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!
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