Moved!

http://www.desertwhirlwind.blogspot.com

Thank you and God bless!

Summer Activities at Home and Observations

This April, I am planning to start reading the following:

Life of Christ by Fulton J. Sheen
Inner Healing Through the Heart of Jesus by Mother Nadine Brown
A Key to the Charismatic Renewal in the Catholic Church by Msgr. Vincent Walsh

I am waiting for the new postulants at Bellwether, and for the new religious names of the new novices of Bellwether.

 I am planning to watch again The Nun's Story, and hoping to watch other Catholic films.

Our kittens are so sweet right now that they keep on "meowing" so hard to get noticed. I am concerned with the too-much hospitality our one of the kittens show to strangers - especially to kids who day and night make lots of noise in front of our house. Not just ordinary noise - but swears, bad words.. they don't sound kids anymore.

What's interesting is how I became a witness to their growing up. Before they were talking about childish things. Now they are talking about things that are unchaste. I do not know where they got those things inside their minds. Probably the bad use of the internet?

Internet is like a fire that must be used properly. But if misused, it might burn the user for eternity.

It's never too late to say, "Happy Easter!"

Growing Up and Waiting

I remember myself hurrying to grow up when I was younger. When I was 5, I remember myself seeing a newly built building near our place. I told myself, that would be my clinic. I wanted that time to be a dentist.

Now I don't want to be a dentist, not just because I hate to see injections piercing gums, or pulling tooth after tooth, but because I have other desires, which I hope and pray are in line with the desires of the Lord's heart.

Years ago, I was in a hurry to be 18. I thought there are many opportunities for an eighteen year old to explore the world, to look for my place. Now I am eighteen, I thought I am ready to do the exploration, but the Lord told me that I am not.

Sometimes it's frustrating to wait, isn't it?  Especially when you feel you're prepared. Then we'll ask many why's. And worse, be rebellious.

"No I want it this way. Step a little farther, Lord. I know what I am doing." Unconsciously we tell these to the Lord everytime we make our plans without consulting Him through prayers and thorough discernment. And when we fail, we cry, "Why did You allow this Lord!"

It really sounds so foolish to give full trust to our own capabilities. It is as if we know everything, that we are very powerful and can control everything. I remember Martha who was somehow disappointed when the Lord was "late" when Lazarus died. "Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died." Martha was waiting for the Lord to help her brother but alas! Lazarus already died!

But Jesus had other plans. After four days in the tomb, Lazarus was raised by Jesus. And those who witnessed this believed (see John 11: 1-46).

We could be Martha. "Lord, if you just did this" or "if you just allowed me, I'll be happy. I'll suffer no more." The Lord let Martha wait so that they can see His power. It is impossible to raise a corpse, already decaying for four days. But Jesus raised him! And if we are able to wait, we'll realize that the Lord has a great plan.

Waiting doesn't necessarily mean nothing is going on. The Lord is already acting during the waiting period.

Don't worry if you are in the "waiting" stage. It's all part of the plan.

Silence

Everybody's silent this week. And I'll be entering into the "silent mode" this Maundy Thursday until the Black Saturday.

God bless you!

Photo courtesy of the Minim Nuns of St. Francis of Paola (www.minimas.org)

Test Post

I tried to "connect" my blogger to my facebook account. Hope this is safe and effective.

God bless.

Music vs. Noise

I think I haven't mentioned here in my blog my fondness of Gospel and Soul music. I don't know what made me like those genres of music. But they sound so rich and wonderful to me.

Gospel music is religious in nature. I always love to hear the "response" part (Gospel is call and response). You'll hear how call and response is done when you hear the video below. It's Patti LaBelle with the Muppets singing the ABC.

Soul music is a combination of Gospel and rhythm and blues. The kind of soul music I love is Motown. It's strongly gospel, with rich orchestration and strongly rhythmic. Right now, I am listening to The Temptations' For Once In My Life.

This is music. No noise, pure music. Unlike now, we even have that "heavy metal." Is it still a music? Gosh, I think they're always, I'm sorry, but demonic in form. It's filled with curse, evil, and malice. I even found bands in Wikipedia that are named Judas Priest, Black Sabbath... what's more? I won't be surprised if they would be naming themselves Devil's Advocate.

This post is initially titled "The ABC in Gospel" but I have gone so far. Anyway, here's Patti LaBelle and the Muppets singing ABC!

Summer Vacation

Today is my first week of summer vacation! Unlike others, I'm not going to spend my vacation going somewhere. I'll be staying at home most of the time. We have plenty of books here, and I got to finish The Imitation of Christ, and Mother Nadine's books. I hope I'll be spending my summer vacation "wisely" - no idleness. It's hard to be idle actually, you'll get tired out of nothing.

God bless you!

Remembering Tibel

Like Pope Benedict XVI, I can't resist the "charms" of cats. So I am going to tell some things about our cat, Tibel.

She was born last 2006. Her mother was a stray cat, who found her home with us. She had three other siblings: one got lost, the other one died while exploring the outside world (got hit by a jeepney) and the other one, Kati, survived with Tibel (and died 7 months before her.)

Tibel isn't a cute kitten actually. An ugly kitten, we don't like her. We don't cuddle her like we cuddle other kittens because she isn't cute. She was thin and had a large nose. Her fur is dull-colored. But nevertheless, she survived the cold treatment we gave her.When her two other siblings died, we started to carry her and play with her. Tibel is so sweet and playful actually. She so loved her mother. When her mother died seven months after giving birth, Tibel still groomed her and thought she can still be nursed by her mother.

Tibel grew into a beautiful cat. Her nose was just appropriate to her face. She had a daughter who still lives today. Eventhough she's already a mother, she acts like a kitten, ready to play, hunted birds and mice then she would place it on our door. She stood near the victim proudly. How we love Tibel.

Tibel is always happy to be with kittens. When her sister Kati gave birth, she helped her nurse the new kittens. One time both of them gave birth and both of them nursed each other's kittens. It was a wonderful sight to see both of them helping each other.

Kati died last March 2009.

Last October, I noticed that she was starting to eat less. Sometimes just sniffing at the food then sleeps. But when her daughter gave birth that same month, she was very excited. She groomed her daughter and her kittens. But she lived no longer to see the growth of her grand-kittens. She was lost on a Saturday and never came back, like her sister Kati.

When I think of Tibel, I can't help but compare her to somes human beings. Tibel, although just an animal, never hurt other kittens. She always love kittens. But what about some human beings? They  are very eager to kill babies. They treat pregnancy as a disease. They promote abortion and condoms and other artificial contraceptives. Those people might be very knowledgeable, but they do not know that dignity of the humans. They do not know their worth as human beings. It's very sad. We cannot say that they're like animals because animals seem to know better than them.

I pray every people would realize the value of life. Life is now being challenged by false science and statistics. If we are going to realize how beautiful life is, there would be more love. Then there would be peace.

Living Sacrifice

This is also a nice song. Listen and enjoy!
Holy Week is coming nearer. What have you done for Him lately?

Benedictine Monks