A Brief Video Clip on the Sudarium of Oviedo

Back on Sunday, September 19, 2010, I wrote a post titled: The Sudarium of Oviedo and The Shroud of Turin. This relevant brief video clip discusses the Sudarium. I just wanted to share with those of you that are fascinated by this subject. I hope you enjoy watching! Blessings! Please follow the link below.



Did this cloth cover Jesus' face after crucifixion? - CNN Video




Reference:

http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/02/25/finding-jesus-shroud-4.cnn/video/playlists/finding-jesus/

Unifying the Faith: The Names of the 21 Heroes

Hello, and I hope that we are all having a good month of February. This is a very brief post. I simply wanted to share a new post from my other blog, so that everyone has a chance to read it. The link to the article is below. I hope you enjoy reading it. Blessings!
 
the Faith: The Names of the 21 Heroes

Attacked for Speaking Truth by Bill Tammeus

When it comes to politics I consider myself a moderate. On some issues I am on the right, and I am more to the left on others. When it comes to theology I am about the same. I am somewhere along the Via Media, one might say. This blog is supposedly about defending the Faith; however, what has been the representation of our Faith historically by certain so called believers in our historical past often times cannot really be defended because their actions were contrary to what the foundations of our Faith are all about. In fact, there are many illustrations of those contrary actions of which I speak. On December 12^th, 2010, I posted an article titled: The Crusades. The Crusades were a good example of those actions or events in history that cannot really be defended as a positive representation of what Christianity should be all about simply based on how Jesus said we should act or behave as his followers. The Expulsion of the Jews from Spain is another good example. Moreover, there are many times in our past that Christians have misrepresented the Faith by committing horrendous acts. During the Crusades Western Christians did not only fight Muslims, they also killed Eastern Christians and looted Constantinople. Christians also have a history of burning people. On October 27th, 1553, John Calvin had Michael Servetus, a known Spanish physician of his day burned at the stake just outside of Geneva because of his different doctrinal beliefs. Centuries ago, Spanish Christians burned many natives such as Hatuey in Cuba because they did not convert. The list goes on and on.  It is almost miracle the Faith has survived for 2000 years because some of those documented events were evil and dark, if you ask me. Well, Christianity survived because most of the time believers have done far more good than bad. However, this does not mean that we can deny or ignore what some have called an “inglorious past.” So, what is with all the Christianity bashing on this post, you might ask? Well, this brings me to a post I wanted to share that is a mixture of politics and religion…one of the two best topics to bring up anywhere which normally results in a heated dispute…lol.

The article I want to share was posted on February 10^th, 2015 by Bill Tammeus on his blog, Bill's 'Faith Matters' Blog, and it is titled: Attacked for speaking truth. The article is about President Obama, and how he has been attacked verbally by many for something he said during the National Prayer Breakfast last week. Of course, if you ask me what many have repeated that he said was really taken out of context for the purpose of politicizing, and that is not very Christian-like to start with…. What I like about the article written by Bill Tammeus is that he tells us what the President said clearly. I am sharing it because I want you to read and form your own opinion. I am not one who sides with the President on many issues, although I do agree on some. Anyhow, it was a great article! I really think the ones that made the criticisms are either very ignorant or they just like to politicize issues for their own convenience since they know many Americans are too lazy and do not bother reading an entire speech by the president. Many simply assume the person making the comments would never lie to them. I especially like the comment Bill made about what the president was really doing when he said what he said. The comment was the following: "It was exactly the right point to make at a prayer breakfast. In effect, he was mirroring Jesus when he told someone to remove the log from his own eye before attempting to remove the speck from someone else's eye. A little humility about our religious history is always in order." Anyhow, if you need a Scripture reference for this passage mentioned by Bill, it can be found in the Gospel of Mathew 7:3-5 or in Luke Chapter 6. Bill said at the start of his article: "I wish I could say I'm surprised at some of the blowback President Obama has been receiving from politicians and certain religious leaders to his remarks last week at the National Prayer Breakfast. I’m not. It's what we've come to expect from the far right of both politics and religion. But even if I'm not surprised, I am appalled." Behind all the criticism what was going on was not even propaganda, in my opinion, it was a lie that was being told. In the end, what really ended up happening was that the President asked for new authority to use force against ISIS. Read all about it: "White House to ask Congress for new authority to use force against Islamic State: http://reut.rs/1CRjV9B. " I really don’t want to get side tracked because I really want you to read the article by Bill Tammeus, and see why I thought it was a really great article. The link to it is below. 

Attacked for speaking truth: 2-10-15 (Bill's 'Faith Matters' Blog)




Reference:

http://billtammeus.typepad.com/my_weblog/2015/02/2-10-15.html

Is Access to God Only Through Jesus?

I simply had to share this second video ever posted on my blog. It is a very short, 2 minute and 45 second clip.The video is of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori of the Episcopal Church speaking a few years ago. In the video she seems to be addressing the topic of Soteriology. Moreover, she seems to be addressing the question: if access to God must be through Jesus? At this point in my life as a Christian, I completely agree with her view. I am sharing because it is my understanding that an out of context quote in The New York Times seems to have upset some. I hope you enjoy watching. Blessings!

Reference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IxG96wpx60

Is the only way to God through Jesus? - YouTube

Another Christmas Has Passed

The Feast of the Nativity According to the Flesh of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ is behind, and another year is now yet to come. The question in my mind is still that it has been nearly 2000 years since Jesus’ birth and yet it is possible we do not really fully know or understand why He came. Isaiah 1:3 in the JPS Tanakh reads as follows:

"The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider."

Of course, many claim that they know why He came, and that they know who He was. Some say he was The Messiah, some say He was the Son of God, some say He was the Second Adam, and some say many other things. But, is it possible that the ox and the ass in that manger knew what we still to this day do not know? The German Theologian, Paul Tillich, once said: "Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith." Perhaps, on this journey of faith we are slowly beginning to know, but are yet very far from knowing, although we may think we know. Jeremiah 4:22 in the JPS Tanakh reads as follows:

“For My people is foolish, they know Me not; they are sottish children, and they have no understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.”

The Gospel of Mathew in Chapter 16: 13-17 in the RSV Bible reads as follows:

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do men say that the Son of man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven…’”

Some read the passage, and are convinced they understand; however, others read and ask for understanding. Blessings and a prosperous new year are what I desire for all of you! I also hope that we never stop asking questions with the hope that perhaps one day we will know.

References:

JPS Tanakh

RSV Bible

Unifying the Faith: The Vatican and US Cuba Relations

I just posted an article on my other blog, Unifying the Faith, and I simply had to share it on here since most of my readers are on this blog which is the oldest of the two. The post is not directly related to apologetics per se; however, it is based on an extremely important topic for me, so I really hope you enjoy reading it. The link to the article is below. Blessings!


Unifying the Faith: The Vatican and US Cuba Relations

Interesting Timelines in the Bible

God spoke to Abraham, and one of the things God told him is found in Genesis 22:18 which reads: "...and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves (RSV Bible)..."

Many centuries later or about 1300 years later, to be more accurate, the Prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 61:11, 

"For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations (RSV Bible)."

The JPS Tanakh in English reads as follows for this same previous verse:

"For as the earth bringeth forth her growth, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause victory and glory to spring forth before all the nations (JPS Tanakh)."

Actually, the foregoing Chapter begins in Isaiah 61:1, which reads:

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, (RSV Bible)."

A little over 700 years later, Jesus went to the synagogue in Nazareth, and read from this same portion of Isaiah, and this is documented in Luke 4: 16-19 which reads:

"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord (RSV Bible).’"

Yes, once again, I have taken Scriptures out of context; however, I am sure that these words and sentences somehow work their way into all of our minds, and as we process them the significance may vary for some, but the theme seems to not change. It seems that God wants all to be blessed, and this is a very inclusive message, instead of exclusive. Moreover, in John 12: 32 Jesus said: “…and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself (RSV Bible)." Yes, Jesus said “all.” Definitely, the timelines in the Bible are very interesting because eventually time is no more in the Bible, but that is another subject for another time, did I say “time?” I hope everyone has enjoyed reading this brief post, and that everyone is having a wonderful Hanukkah and Christmas Season


References:

JPS Tanakh

RSV Bible