Katt1227 Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 I have several experiences to share... Tonight, after church, I ran into a friend that I hadn't seen in a few months and some of us went out to dinner. It was a really wonderful night, full of laughter and good stories, shared experiences and lots of love. Certainly a welcome distraction from the ensuing stress of finals week. My "I" was definitely exalted in that dinner, in that encounter. A friend once told me that eating is one of the most intimate experiences you can share with someone. And tonights dinner was certainly that. And intimate encounter with the Presence in each of my friends. Also, this morning I received a phone call from a friend as he was getting ready to get on the boat for the cruise he's going on this week. I hadn't talked to him in a few days, and hadn't expected to hear from him again until after he got back from the cruise, but he called, one last time (mainly to rub in the fact that he was going on a cruise while I am sitting in 30 degree temps and 3 inches of snow). But it was a nice phone call to pull me out of the nothingness that can be a dreary winter afternoon. One last experience... I exalted someone else's "I" today. I sing in choir at church, and after mass our pastoral associate, Sr.Ellen, came up to me to tell me how beautiful the psalm sounded and how joyful I looked singing it. She told me that it made her smile and sing even louder. It was an amazing compliment to the gift that God has given me. So, there's a few experiences of mine from today!! Today was definitely a wonderful day!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiringMore Posted December 15, 2003 Author Share Posted December 15, 2003 :D Thanks for sharing Katt1227...that's amesome that one of the guys called you from the boat right before they left!!! just think, they could have called anyone and they chose to call YOU!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traichuoi Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 wow...i really dig this thread! it's weird because i was just talking to a friend about this desire to move others. i remember when i wanted to move others by leading them closer to me...to be popular...and it never worked. not only until i realized it is God who people desire, it is God who I need to lead others closer to did i become an "effect" on people. didn't know there was a book on it!!! now i'm gonna go buy it. and this time i really will look more into CL. i saw the thread on CL before and was really skeptical but this thread has challenged me to look more into it. btw, how do i find out if there's a group in Arizona??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiringMore Posted December 15, 2003 Author Share Posted December 15, 2003 wow...i really dig this thread! it's weird because i was just talking to a friend about this desire to move others. i remember when i wanted to move others by leading them closer to me...to be popular...and it never worked. not only until i realized it is God who people desire, it is God who I need to lead others closer to did i become an "effect" on people. didn't know there was a book on it!!! now i'm gonna go buy it. and this time i really will look more into CL. i saw the thread on CL before and was really skeptical but this thread has challenged me to look more into it. btw, how do i find out if there's a group in Arizona??? First off, it is AMAZING how effective you can be when you are leading others to Christ rather than for your own good..I thank God that He has shown you this and now you are leading them in the direction they desire--GOD!!! :birds: (feed the birds not to shoot them or for your own good, but feed the birds to nurture them to desire more--feed them to see the beauty of God at your fingertips:) The official website for CL is www.clonline.org....go to the AROUND THE WORLD and it tells you where it is in the world....i looked it up to try and help and it said that there IS CL IN ARIZONA, to find out where, you can call, email, or fax the national office asking....hope this helps :D USA-USA-USA Communion and liberation National office 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2754/55 10170 New York, NY Tel: 212 337 3580 Fax: 212 337 3585 e-mail: clusa@clhac.com I have just started going to CL since August and it has challenged me more than i honestly thought it would! I am just now beginning to read the book, THE RELIGIOUS SENSE....if you have questions on the book, there is a thread out here that they talk about such questions of CL...i think BLAZEr started it :D i don't think it is a bad thing to be skeptical about things but when you ask God to open your heart to see if it is TRUTH or LIE, and you seek to desire more, then you will find the answer...I thank the Lord that this thread has challenged you to look deeper in to CL but most importantly into God!!! Can i get a BIG AMEN?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiringMore Posted December 15, 2003 Author Share Posted December 15, 2003 The thread, WHAT IS BELONGING?, has to do with CL and Guisanni(the founder and the writer of the books!!) you might want to check this out :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traichuoi Posted December 15, 2003 Share Posted December 15, 2003 AMEN! thanks DesiringMore... the name that included "Liberation" really threw me off at first...it reminded me of a crappy lecture i heard in college about Liberation Theology. anyways, now i know that's not what it means! thanks...especially for helping to exalt my "I". :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiringMore Posted December 15, 2003 Author Share Posted December 15, 2003 :dance: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiringMore Posted December 17, 2003 Author Share Posted December 17, 2003 What is it about someone that you remember most? A smile, a conversation, a letter they've written, the way they've treated you....what about someone makes you recognize Christ in them? What about you makes someone recognize Christ in your daily life? What do you desire each day that makes your "i" exhalted when that desire becomes reality? i have just been thinking about this for the last hour on my way home from CLu so i thought i would throw it out and see what others think :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiringMore Posted December 17, 2003 Author Share Posted December 17, 2003 I've been thinking after reading various posts about those who are not Catholic and how if they are non-Catholic then they are not in the ONE TRUE CHURCH....anyway, i understand that Catholics believe this and i do respect this belief, although it is hard to understand......but my question is, whether someone is Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, etc. do you believe that he/she can be a Presence to someone despite their denomination? if they are not in the one true church then why does God work through such people? if Jesus was a Jew, why didn't he become Catholic before he was crucified so that it would be more clear as to such a question of the one true church......if they don't know God in a real personal way, then how does there desire burn so bright? how can another's "I" be exhalted from someone who is not in the one true church when everyday this happens....what are your thoughts on this....sorry, these are rambled thoughts.....and after i think about it more, i'll try to clarify things a bit...i wasn't sure how to say or ask the questions that are swimming in my thoughts, but i wanted to throw it out and see what others thought...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiringMore Posted December 19, 2003 Author Share Posted December 19, 2003 Seeing and talking to people who really care about others exhalts my "i"...i was at my little brother's basketball game talking to a lady, she works as a teacher's aid at the elementary school,and she was talking about how so many kids take everything for granted yet there are others that never see any gifts under the tree but bear neccessities such as clothes and food...she said she found out that a family was having struggles with money so she went out and bought some shirts and pantaloons that were on sale, even though i know she really doesn't have the money to do that, she did it because we both agreed that we would rather spend our last dollar helping someone out than keeping it for ourselves...it exhalts my "i" when i see others giving selflessly to others expecting nothing in return :D it brings tears of joy to see Christ in others :sadder: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLAZEr Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 Going to confession, admitting my weaknesses and asking Christ to forgive me for my failings . . . that exalts my I in a very sincere, yet kind of mysterious way . . . somehow, because I am more myself in the confessional, more honest about my failings, I feel like I'm allowed to be more me . .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiringMore Posted December 21, 2003 Author Share Posted December 21, 2003 Going to confession, admitting my weaknesses and asking Christ to forgive me for my failings . . . that exalts my I in a very sincere, yet kind of mysterious way . . . somehow, because I am more myself in the confessional, more honest about my failings, I feel like I'm allowed to be more me . .. And don't you think that is because at the times of sincere honesty in confession when you are closest to God, that is why your "i" is exhalted??? i think that's amesome!! my "i" is exhalted as well when i can be ME.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmotherofpirl Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 I've been thinking after reading various posts about those who are not Catholic and how if they are non-Catholic then they are not in the ONE TRUE CHURCH....anyway, i understand that Catholics believe this and i do respect this belief, although it is hard to understand......but my question is, whether someone is Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecostal, etc. do you believe that he/she can be a Presence to someone despite their denomination? if they are not in the one true church then why does God work through such people? if Jesus was a Jew, why didn't he become Catholic before he was crucified so that it would be more clear as to such a question of the one true church......if they don't know God in a real personal way, then how does there desire burn so bright? how can another's "I" be exhalted from someone who is not in the one true church when everyday this happens....what are your thoughts on this....sorry, these are rambled thoughts.....and after i think about it more, i'll try to clarify things a bit...i wasn't sure how to say or ask the questions that are swimming in my thoughts, but i wanted to throw it out and see what others thought...... We believe it because Jesus only founded one Church, not many different groups with conflicting beliefs. God is present to all who call upon His name in one way or another. God can work thru anybody. Jesus was God who founded a church. St Ignatius called it catholic (katholicos) because it was the one only and universal church. You do not have to be a member of a Church to know about God. He calls our name from conception on until we meet him at death. But at the same time, Jesus founded a Church with specific doctrines with specific people in charge. He gave Baptism as a way to join His kingdom,and the Eucharist so we might have life. He gave us confession so our sins could be absolved and we could return like the prodigal son did. We call this the fullness of the faith. It is a gift from God we can recieve thru no merit of our own. Groups who have left the Church still have bits and pieces, like parts of a great puzzle, but lack pieces to make it complete. God is with them to the extent they have parts of the Truth. Everybody has the natural law of God written in their hearts,. but only in the Church can natural law and God's revelations fit together in the Church He left behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katt1227 Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 Interesting point DM... I don't think though that one has to be a member of the church to recognize Presence in them. You are from Evansville, so I'm sure you know our friend Rob. He has been Presence to me, Exalted my I, many times. He makes me question, grow, learn, experience. ANd through those experiences, my I is exalted. But, he is not a member of the church. Our friend Mike always says that Rob is catholic (with a little c, meaning he's universal!!). Also, my cousin who was baptised and grew up in the church but stopped going a while ago has definitely been Presence to me this past month. My cousin had a lot of serious emotional problems that led to a number of drug and/or alcohol addictions. (A lot for a 17-year-old). But, my aunt stepped in and sent him to a rehab camp. He's back home and he's sober, and he's happy, and you can see God's Grace and Mercy through his eyes. He may not say that in so many words, but it's true. He doesn't really recognize it, but I see it when I look at him. He doesn't have to do anything. He's just is. and I recognize the Infinite in Him. He is presence to me. So I think that while the idea of One Church is beautiful and I hope it becomes a reality someday. But I don't think that it means that any one denomination of the Christian Faith necessarily has all the answers or is the "right" church. All the different denominations have their struggles, because we are human, and we sin. I "belong" to the Catholic Church because it's teachings correspond to my heart. But that doesn't mean that the Catholic Church has it all figured out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiringMore Posted December 24, 2003 Author Share Posted December 24, 2003 When i can be totally me and those closest to me love me despite who i am...my "i" is exhalted...in my weaknesses, my strengths, all my questions, all my confusions...everything that i am and wish to be...they continue to love me and desire to be with me..."i am more myself when i am with you"--when i can be myself--the person i most desire to be...and others love me, wow, i am in awe!! i am speechless--for all those that know me, this is not something that happens very often... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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