Who are you?

 

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:13-20

If I asked you, "Who are you?" you would probably give me your name. But that doesn't help, does it? You'd say "I am Victor, Tom, Dick or even Harry ..." what does that really mean? It is only a label we have put to a body to identify that body. It does not really say who you are.

You might add, "I am a doctor, lawyer, teacher," or whatever else. But that does not add anything does it? All it says is what your trade or job is. 

You might describe yourself as a spouse, parent, grandparent, son, daughter ... and that might add more information as to who you are. And the more questions we ask the more we get to know an individual as to who they are, as opposed to just a name or a trade.

The disciples could have said, "You're a teacher, a healer, a preacher, a wise man," and other adjectives to describe Jesus. They had been with him for some time and had seen Him teach and heal people. 

Peter was first to speak and declare, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then He ordered His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah. Matthew 16:13-20

Note specifically what Christ said, "this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven."

This was not Peter, a human, just talking. It was the Holy Spirit, through Peter, Who proclaimed who Jesus was.

At that point, God spoke, through Peter, to declare that Jesus is His Son.

It also happened when Jesus was baptised, the Holy Spirit appeared like a dove and a voice from Heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!"

And at the Transfiguration, a voice was heard from the cloud and said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!"

Worth thinking about when someone ever asks you why you believe in Christ.

Get me there on time

 

When I have to go somewhere I like to get there early. Preferably 24 hours early or a week even.

Today I had to go from my city to another big city to meet a marketing executive who said she can increase my book sales. The journey consists of a taxi from home to the railway station, a train ride lasting more that an hour and another taxi ride to her office at the other end.

I was keen to create a good impression and get there on time. The night before I prepared all my business papers, records of book sales, and other documents and even got dressed and wore my best tie and slept standing up by the front door ready for the pre-booked taxi. I had phoned the executive's secretary and suggested I come early and spend the night with her; but she said it would not be ethical. That is, to spend the night with the executive and/or her secretary.

At the railway station I was annoyed whilst waiting for the train with all the advice on the loudspeakers and on the electronic boards. Advice like:

The weather is very hot today. Make sure you carry some water with you to avoid dehydration which can affect your health.

Also ensure that you wear a hat or other head covering, especially if you are light-haired (presumably meaning bald as a coot).

If you loose a shoe, do not walk with just one shoe as this may cause you to unbalance and fall; or it would wear out the sock in the shoe-less foot. To avoid this please ensure you have another pair of shoes with you.

Why can't they just bring the train along and let's get moving?

On the train I got even more irritated by a man talking loudly on his cell-phone. These things should be banned in open-spaces. This is the one-sided conversation.

Thank you for looking after Daisy for me. How is she?

Is she? Oh dear ... she does sometimes bark and growl ... she gets upset when I'm not there.  

Have you fed her? Give her another biscuit ... she's still growling?

Try singing to her ... yes, singing ... it often quietens her down ...

Try Presley songs ... You ain't nothin' but a hound dog, Cryin' all the time, You ain't nothin' but a hound dog, Cryin' all the time, Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit and you ain't no friend of mine.

Is she still barking? Do it in a Presley voice. Yes, you can Mary. Just try ... Old Shep ... Daisy likes this one ...

I thought this idiot would go through Presley's whole repertoire just to annoy me. I had a good mind to give him a piece of my mind but I could ill afford it. Besides, he might well bite my leg.

I eventually did get to see the marketing executive on time. She asked me why are my books so generously priced? I explained that the intention was not to make money but just to cover printing costs. She thought I was an idiot. She did not say it but implied it by her demeanour. She suggested I encourage my readers to write positive reviews of my books on AMAZON.

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Faith

 

In Hebrews Chapter 11 we read: To have Faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.

Or as someone put it: To have Faith is to believe when your common sense tells you not to.

There are a lot of people who believe in God. They have Faith in Him and they have proved, to themselves at least, that He exists.

These people’s beliefs grow stronger all the time, even when they face great difficulties and tribulations in life. I’ve know people who are very ill, or have endured enormous problems, yet their Faith in God remains forever strong.

How do they do it? What makes their Faith so unyielding even through the most difficult of times? Is it a special gift from God? Or is it of their own doing?

Other people, however, although they have Faith in God, yet, when faced with a problem or a difficulty they doubt whether He will hear their cries for help. They pray that God may help them out of their particular difficulty; or that He might heal them, but still, somehow, they feel frightened. Scared that He may not answer. That somehow their illness will not be healed or their problem will not be resolved. Their doubts get the better of them.

Do these people feature less positively in God’s sight? Is He disappointed that their Faith is weak? Does He forgive their wavering and doubting?

People aren’t all the same. Some are stronger than others. Some have more Faith than weaker ones who waver.

These people have not denied God. They believe in Him, yet they are not so sure whether He will help them right now or not. They are, after all, human. With human frailties, fears and doubts.

God understands that. Whether He answers their prayers or not, He understands why they waver and He does forgive them.

In Mark 9:24 The father of the sick boy was honest enough to say to Jesus: I do have Faith, but not enough. Help me to have more.

Jesus took pity on him and healed his son.

So too will He have pity on those amongst us whose Faith wavers from time to time.

What's behind your front door?

I was reading about a recent research done by some scientists or other. It's amazing how many people are paid to carry out research which seems pointless and leading to nowhere.

In this research they asked people what do they have immediately behind the front door of their homes.

I can't see the point in that, can you? Why doesn't someone pay me to conduct some pointless research like how quickly can certain TV programs put one to sleep?

Anyway, this research discovered that 30% of people had a mirror by the front door so they can have a final look before they go out. 15% had a small table where they put car keys and other things. 32% had an umbrella container or a place to put walking sticks, 18% had a coat hanger, and so on.

Personally, I have none of these. I have behind the front door a big butterfly, or fish, net. You know the one? A large hoop fixed to a long stick with a long conical net pocket to land a fish when you have caught him with a hook and line.

I keep that net in case there's ever a butterfly or fish calling on me at the most inappropriate time; like when I'm getting ready for a shower. Or if ever an alien from outer-space calls, like a Martian for instance. I could capture him and become famous.

So far I've had no use of the butterfly net. But a while back I found a snail on my doorstep. To save him from being stepped on and killed I picked him up and threw him in the bushes. A week later the doorbell rang and he said, "What's the idea of throwing me in the bush?"

What's behind your front door?

Door-To-Door

Did you know one of my first jobs when I was young was as a door-to-door salesman? I fancied myself as a good talker and took up the challenge to be a salesman able to sell just anything.

The marketing agency for which I worked linked me with a door manufacturer and my first job was a door-to-door salesman selling doors.

I had three doors strapped on my back to show potential clients the different qualities available; and I also carried two suitcases. One was full of locks and handles for clients to choose, and the other case was full of hinges of different sizes and materials.

I remember once I knocked at a door and a very tall man opened it and said: “Yes? What do you want?”

“Good morning Sir,” I said as I was trained by our chief salesman to say, “I am here to open doors to great opportunities!”

I know, it’s a corny opening line, but it was part of our slogan and it had to be said every time we met a new customer.

Anyway, I said my line to the astonished man standing there then as I stooped down to place the two suitcases I was carrying on the ground, I bent forward a little, and the doors on my back hit him hard on the forehead.

He had a small cut on his head and it started bleeding a little.

"Do you have any Band-Aid and bandage dressing?" I asked him.

"Do you need some too?" he replied holding a handkerchief to his head, "where did you hurt yourself?"

"Not for me ... for you ..." I said. "I’m a trained first-aider you know, as well as being a door salesman. Anyway ... it looks like your injury has stopped bleeding now, and I'm glad you didn't damage my doors."

He grunted and said nothing.

I then unstrapped the three doors off my back and proceeded to explain how well made they were. One was made of oak, another of mahogany, and the third was cheap plastic in case the clients couldn't afford the other two.

"It's the de-lux economy version ..." I said trying to encourage a sale.

He explained that he already had a front door which suited him quite nicely, thank you.

On another occasion I was selling in a very posh area of town. To be honest, I had no chance of selling a door there. The houses were so big and luxurious that I wouldn’t mind guessing that their front doors cost more than the house where I was living at the time. But I was assigned that area by the chief salesman and as an extra incentive he doubled the commission I would make if I sold any doors there.

I rang the bell at one of these luxurious houses and it was opened by a young woman totally naked.

“Yes?” she whispered softly standing there with a smile on her face.

For a moment or so I forgot our opening line, “I am here to open doors to great opportunities!”

I just mumbled, “Do you want a door?”

She smiled and said, “Not today, thank you!”

Before I could say anything more, the strap holding the doors to my back broke and the three doors I was carrying crashed to the ground with a big bang. A large dog inside the house began to bark ferociously. I left the doors there and ran away.

I phoned my chief salesman and he instructed me to retrieve the doors or else he would deduct the money from my pay.

I plucked up courage and returned to the house. My doors were no longer there. I summoned every ounce of courage and rang the bell again.

This time it was opened by a big man, also totally naked.

I explained the situation about the doors and my chief salesman and I must admit I was surprised at how understanding he was.

I guess I am the only salesman to buy back his products from a client who never paid for them in the first place.

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What shall I write about?

 

I make a point of posting something new here every day. This is because my most loyal readers visit here every day, and I believe I owe them the courtesy to write something interesting and to thank them for their support and encouragement.

The way I maintain my daily writings is that sometimes I write a number of posts, say ten or even more, all at once and keep them in reserve to be posted every day. As the number of posts in reserve gets depleted I hope that more inspiration comes to mind so that I can write some more. In order to encourage the brain cells, (or is it the soul?), I stop shaving until inspiration comes to mind for another post.

Today, as I tripped on my beard and fell down the stairs, I had a thought.

Why do we pray? Will it change the will of God, or budge Him in any way?

As parents, we do sometimes change our minds and give way to our children’s demands, especially when they go on and on about something that they want.

So will not also our Father in Heaven give us what we ask Him?

In Luke 18:2, Jesus tells the story of a widow who pestered a judge for so long that he eventually gave in and helped her. This parable teaches us not to be discouraged and always pray to God for our needs. 

But will our continuous prayers over and over again change God's mind? 

I believe that God listens to all prayers but some get unanswered for a variety of reasons.

Perhaps what we're asking for is not good for us. As parents we often say "No" to our children; and God in His loving way is saying "No"; or "Not now", what we are asking for is not in line with His Divine will and the timing is all wrong. God is not there to answer our every prayer like a magician. You'd be surprised how many people like to serve Him in an advisory capacity; telling Him what to do, and when and how.

God does not work to our timescale; or respond to our every whim.

He listens. He cares. And He answers appropriately to our every prayer in a loving way in line with our every need. Whether we pray for ourselves or for someone else. Because prayers are the most important gift we can give or receive from someone else.

And one more thing: Sometimes God answers our prayers by saying, "Are you kidding?"

Signs of the times

 

Sign over a Gynaecologist’s Office:
"Dr Jones, at your cervix."

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  In a Podiatrist's office:
"Time wounds all heels."

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On a Septic Tank Truck:
Yesterday's Meals on Wheels

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On a Plumber’s truck:
"We repair what your husband fixed."

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On another Plumber's truck:
"Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber."

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On a Church's Bill board:
"7 days without God makes one weak."

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At a Tyre Store
"Invite us to your next blowout."

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On an Electrician's truck:
"Let us remove your shorts."

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In a Non-smoking Area:
"If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."

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On a Maternity Room door:

"Push. Push. Push."

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At an Optometrist's Office:
"If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."

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On a Taxidermist's window:

"We really know our stuff."

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On a Fence:

"Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive!"

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At a Car Dealership:
"The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment."

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Outside a Car Exhaust Store:
"No appointment necessary. We hear you coming."

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In a Vets waiting room:

"Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"

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In a Restaurant window:
"Don't stand there and be hungry; come on in and get fed up."

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In the front yard of a Funeral Home:
"Drive carefully. We'll wait."

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And don't forget the sign at a RADIATOR SHOP:
"Best place in town to take a leak."

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……… and the best till last

Sign on the back of yet another Septic Tank Truck:

"Caution - This Truck is full of Political Promises"

Father G's Deal

 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

For some reason, out of the blue, Father G came to mind earlier today. Can't think why.

He is now long gone to be with Jesus in Heaven. Father G was Italian but brought up and ordained in America. He had an American/English accent rather than Italian. He was from an Order of priests who were all Italians but, like him, born and brought up in the States.

He was a visiting priest at our church in England UK.

When he visited our church he never stood at the lectern to deliver his sermon. When he finished reading the Gospel he just walked up and down the central aisle and just spoke to the people rather than preach a sermon as such. His message was always appropriate to something we could all use there and then in life, rather than repeat what he'd just read from the Gospel.

One day he talked about worry. He explained that we all have a tendency to worry; some more than others. We worry about real or imagined problems, we worry about the past, or present and future, we worry about someone else, or health or all sort of things.

He said that often the devil picks up a weakness in us and uses it to create worrying thoughts in our mind in order to distance us from God.

He told us that we will all have troubles in life, none are immune from them. But Jesus has overcome sin and trouble, and we should trust Him to protect us and care for us. (John 16:33).

Whenever worrying thoughts come to mind we should repeat over and over again, "(Jesus, I trust in you."

Then he told us of a deal he made with God. He said, "God, I shall do your will on earth as best as I can, and you take care of the worries."

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; be of good cheer; For I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 KJV). Maranatha Singers.V)

Get a proper education

 

There is a lot that you young readers visiting this Blog that you do not know about the past. How people like me lived in those days; the equipment we had at our disposal back then, and what life was really like. Here's a few selections.

This item is a mobile telephone. We had to carry it with us everywhere to receive and send messages to each other "on the go". It was large and clumsy to carry in your back pocket or jacket; but most people had a carrying case in the shape of a shopping bag. To call a friend you had to turn that circular thing round using different numbers because this telephone, unlike the ones you have today, did not have a screen or camera for you to send pictures of yourself to everyone.

This is how we used to send texts to each other. We had pre-cut pieces of paper on which we marked different alphabetical shapes with dark ink. When the ink dried we put the paper in a small wrapper called an envelope, and then we wrote the address of the recipient on it, and we put the envelope in a metal box in the street or shopping centre. Someone used to take each envelope and deliver it safely to each recipient. A little slower than today's texts, but it was more private and no one saw the dubious photos of yourself which people send by cellphone today.

The portable phone I showed above did not have the facility to play music; so we had this machine we carried with us as well. That circular thing on the platform is called a disc and somehow it contained the sound of people singing and music on it. So you had to carry the music machine with that big flower shaped thing at the top, as well as a selection of discs with you wherever you went to have music "on the go." I had to pay extra on the bus for this machine because it took extra room on the seat near me.

A bus was a long vehicle like the one above and people used to get in and be driven to pre-set destinations they wanted to go to. Just like your Mom and Dad taking you in the car but it was cheaper.

This old machine used to tell you what time it is. It did not have digital numbers that light up but those two pieces of metal used to go round and round and point to numbers to tell you what time it is. Young people in those days were very clever and soon learnt how to tell the time in these machines, and did not need a voice or a lit screen to tell them the time. These machines were too big to carry on your wrist, but we had them in our handbags with the portable telephone and music machine shown above.

And this is a portable radio. Not as easy to carry as today's electronic contraptions but we made do without much complaining and feelings of entitlements.

And this is Alexa, a young lady I knew back then. She may not have been as clever as the contraption you have at home with the same name; but she was much more entertaining!

And here's another thing I'd like to show you which you may not be familiar with.

This building is called a church. It's a place where many people used to go to and often discover God in their lives.

Life was certainly different back then, a little hard maybe, but we certainly got through.

To Love A Priest

 

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Of all Moubarak's Father Ignatius stories, this one most definitely is his most poignant. Torn between his priestly vows and the reemergence of a former love, Fr. Ignatius is faced with a deep and life-changing decision. You do not want to miss this one!
~Martha Orlando, author of A Trip, a Tryst and a Terror, Children in the Garden, Moment of Truth, Revenge!, Redemption, and Revelation, all available on Amazon

 

I have read Victor Moubarak and am impressed with his ability to teach me about the Catholic Church and it's stands and beliefs. He does not shy away from the controversial and that is important for me. I will probably never be a Roman Catholic Church 'follower' but it is refreshing to read, and learn things I did not know. One of my best friends converted from Baptist to become a Catholic, we have had many discussions. Now after following Victor and reading his books I feel more informed. I recommend the book as a very good fiction novel, very entertaining, you cannot go wrong giving this book a read. Kindle customer

I really enjoyed following my favorite priest, Fr. Ignatius, as he navigates his way through a tough challenge. Celibacy and the priesthood are tough subjects, yet the author addresses it with such grace and insight. Priests are people, just like any of us, with the same feelings and inner conflicts. This book just made me love and respect the character of Fr. Ignatius more than I already did...which was a lot! Ceil Ryan

A thought provoking and well written story of the vow of celibacy taken by Catholic priests and nuns. Victor spins a story addressing man made rules within the church with no Biblical authority and the ambiguity of allowing priests transferring from another denomination to serve while being married. The story is laced with Victor's subtle and dry wit--allowing us to look for the humor in everyday life. As always, Victor leaves the story hanging and you waiting for the next chapter of the life of Father Ignatius. LJC

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