O Lord, you give me 

once and for all a short commandment: 

Love and do what you will. 

If you are silent, be silent through love; 

if you speak, speak through love; 

if you correct, correct through love; 

if you forgive, forgive through love. 

O Lord, let the root of love be in me. 

St. Augustine

O Lord, you give me 

once and for all a short commandment: 

Love and do what you will. 

If you are silent, be silent through love; 

if you speak, speak through love; 

if you correct, correct through love; 

if you forgive, forgive through love. 

O Lord, let the root of love be in me. 

St. Augustine

Friendship demands reciprocal love. 

God has loved us first; our love can be only a response: “We love, because he first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19). 

We return God’s love, 

1. first of all by accepting it, 

3. by opening our heart to him, 

4. and letting ourselves be loved. 

The very love which God has infused into us becomes the beginning of our response, of our love. “Love is from God” it can come only from him, and moreover we cannot love God supernaturally except with God’s very love. 

If we correspond, there will be perfect friendship, because it will be based on equality of love.

What is our part in the exchange of divine friendship? 

Jesus has told us: “You are my friends if you do what I command you.—If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love” (Jn 15:14,10). 

The fellowship required by friendship calls for a communion of affections, of desires, and of the will.

We are God’s friends if we will and do what God wills: if we keep his commandments, if in every thing we seek not our own will, but God’s will.

Friendship demands reciprocal love. 

God has loved us first; our love can be only a response: “We love, because he first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19). 

We return God’s love, 

1. first of all by accepting it, 

3. by opening our heart to him, 

4. and letting ourselves be loved. 

The very love which God has infused into us becomes the beginning of our response, of our love. “Love is from God” it can come only from him, and moreover we cannot love God supernaturally except with God’s very love. 

If we correspond, there will be perfect friendship, because it will be based on equality of love.

What is our part in the exchange of divine friendship? 

Jesus has told us: “You are my friends if you do what I command you.—If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love” (Jn 15:14,10). 

The fellowship required by friendship calls for a communion of affections, of desires, and of the will.

We are God’s friends if we will and do what God wills: if we keep his commandments, if in every thing we seek not our own will, but God’s will.

The Gospel of God

Mark 1:14–15 

Jesus came into Galilee, 

proclaiming the gospel of God, 

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, 

and the kingdom of God is at hand; 

repent and believe in the gospel.” 

Jesus spent three years in public ministry and this was His very first command.  

The Gospel of God: Now the times are fulfilled, the Kingdom is here, Repent, and Believe. 

The time is fulfilled:

It is here right now.

The Kingdom:

Requires:

A Domain

A King

Absolute Authority

Citizens/Soldier 

1. His domain is heaven and earth and everything within them, 
2. and He is the One King
3. He is who has absolute power and authority over His domain. 
4. He is offering you to become a citizen/soldier of His kingdom 

What did our loving King command? He commanded us to (1) repent and (2) believe in the gospel.

Repent:

Your behavior reveals your thinking. When Jesus says to repent AND believe in the gospel, He is saying, in essence, “demonstrate your belief in Me through the action of repentance.” 

His Word teaches us that it is in expressing faith and obedience in Jesus that He affords us the gift of salvation. 

Repentance, is God offering us the opportunity to be relieved in our conscience and hearts, to release ourselves from shame, guilt, despair, hopelessness, and regret.  Repentance breaks agreements with evil. Repentance is more than turning away from sin. 

Repentance equally means turning towards God! King Jesus is telling us the cure for your shame and the sin of your past is to turn towards Me and know that I am looking back at you in love giving you a new way to live. 

Believe the Gospel:

The bad news:

1. Since the first man’s sin, mankind has been under the condemnation of God. 
2. Because everyone breaks God’s perfect law by committing sin, everyone is guilty. 
3. The punishment for the crime of sin is physical death and then an eternity spent in a place of punishment. 

The good news:

The word gospel means “good news,” so the gospel of Christ is the good news of 

1. His coming to provide forgiveness of sins for all who will believe Him as King. 
2. Who want to live as his citizens with all authority in Him not in themselves. 
3. And new life in the Grace he provides to live in repentance all the way home to heaven. 

The Gospel of God

Mark 1:14–15 

Jesus came into Galilee, 

proclaiming the gospel of God, 

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, 

and the kingdom of God is at hand; 

repent and believe in the gospel.” 

Jesus spent three years in public ministry and this was His very first command.  

The Gospel of God: Now the times are fulfilled, the Kingdom is here, Repent, and Believe. 

The time is fulfilled:

It is here right now.

The Kingdom:

Requires:

A Domain

A King

Absolute Authority

Citizens/Soldier 

1. His domain is heaven and earth and everything within them, 
2. and He is the One King
3. He is who has absolute power and authority over His domain. 
4. He is offering you to become a citizen/soldier of His kingdom 

What did our loving King command? He commanded us to (1) repent and (2) believe in the gospel.

Repent:

Your behavior reveals your thinking. When Jesus says to repent AND believe in the gospel, He is saying, in essence, “demonstrate your belief in Me through the action of repentance.” 

His Word teaches us that it is in expressing faith and obedience in Jesus that He affords us the gift of salvation. 

Repentance, is God offering us the opportunity to be relieved in our conscience and hearts, to release ourselves from shame, guilt, despair, hopelessness, and regret.  Repentance breaks agreements with evil. Repentance is more than turning away from sin. 

Repentance equally means turning towards God! King Jesus is telling us the cure for your shame and the sin of your past is to turn towards Me and know that I am looking back at you in love giving you a new way to live. 

Believe the Gospel:

The bad news:

1. Since the first man’s sin, mankind has been under the condemnation of God. 
2. Because everyone breaks God’s perfect law by committing sin, everyone is guilty. 
3. The punishment for the crime of sin is physical death and then an eternity spent in a place of punishment. 

The good news:

The word gospel means “good news,” so the gospel of Christ is the good news of 

1. His coming to provide forgiveness of sins for all who will believe Him as King. 
2. Who want to live as his citizens with all authority in Him not in themselves. 
3. And new life in the Grace he provides to live in repentance all the way home to heaven. 

A Disciples Love

John 13:34–35 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

TRUE LOVE:

Jesus loves us by confronting us of our sin, forgiving, and sending us out to sin no more. 

NOT celebrating our sin. (pride, greed, sexual immorality, envy, gluttony, anger and apathy)

God is the one who determined what sin is not man. Just because you think it’s not a sin does not make that truth.  

TRUE love is wanting to good of the others soul, not telling them they are okay in sin. But to help them be Healed by the Savior. 

Psalm 119:160 

The sum of your word is truth, 

and every one of your righteous rules 

endures forever. 

A Disciples Love

John 13:34–35 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

TRUE LOVE:

Jesus loves us by confronting us of our sin, forgiving, and sending us out to sin no more. 

NOT celebrating our sin. (pride, greed, sexual immorality, envy, gluttony, anger and apathy)

God is the one who determined what sin is not man. Just because you think it’s not a sin does not make that truth.  

TRUE love is wanting to good of the others soul, not telling them they are okay in sin. But to help them be Healed by the Savior. 

Psalm 119:160 

The sum of your word is truth, 

and every one of your righteous rules 

endures forever. 

From the Journey of the Mind to God by Saint Bonaventure
Mystical wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit

Christ is both the way and the door. Christ is the staircase and the vehicle, like the throne of mercy over the Ark of the Covenant, and the mystery hidden from the ages. A man should turn his full attention to this throne of mercy, and should gaze at him hanging on the cross, full of faith, hope and charity, devoted, full of wonder and joy, marked by gratitude, and open to praise and jubilation. Then such a man will make with Christ a pasch, that is, a passing-over. Through the branches of the cross he will pass over the Red Sea, leaving Egypt and entering the desert. There he will taste the hidden manna, and rest with Christ in the sepulcher, as if he were dead to things outside. He will experience, as much as is possible for one who is still living, what was promised to the thief who hung beside Christ: Today you will be with me in paradise.

For this passover to be perfect, we must suspend all the operations of the mind and we must transform the peak of our affections, directing them to God alone. This is a sacred mystical experience. It cannot be comprehended by anyone unless he surrenders himself to it; nor can he surrender himself to it unless he longs for it; nor can he long for it unless the Holy Spirit, whom Christ sent into the world, should come and inflame his innermost soul. Hence the Apostle says that this mystical wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit.

If you ask how such things can occur, seek the answer in God’s grace, not in doctrine; in the longing of the will, not in the understanding; in the sighs of prayer, not in research; seek the bridegroom not the teacher; God and not man; darkness not daylight; and look not to the light but rather to the raging fire that carries the soul to God with intense fervor and glowing love. The fire is God, and the furnace is in Jerusalem, fired by Christ in the ardor of his loving passion. Only he understood this who said: My soul chose hanging and my bones death. Anyone who cherishes this kind of death can see God, for it is certainly true that: No man can look upon me and live.

Let us die, then, and enter into the darkness, silencing our anxieties, our passions and all the fantasies of our imagination. Let us pass over with the crucified Christ from this world to the Father, so that, when the Father has shown himself to us, we can say with Philip: It is enough. We may hear with Paul: My grace is sufficient for you; and we can rejoice with David, saying: My flesh and my heart fail me, but God is the strength of my heart and my heritage for ever. Blessed be the Lord for ever, and let all the people say: Amen. Amen!

From the Journey of the Mind to God by Saint Bonaventure
Mystical wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit

Christ is both the way and the door. Christ is the staircase and the vehicle, like the throne of mercy over the Ark of the Covenant, and the mystery hidden from the ages. A man should turn his full attention to this throne of mercy, and should gaze at him hanging on the cross, full of faith, hope and charity, devoted, full of wonder and joy, marked by gratitude, and open to praise and jubilation. Then such a man will make with Christ a pasch, that is, a passing-over. Through the branches of the cross he will pass over the Red Sea, leaving Egypt and entering the desert. There he will taste the hidden manna, and rest with Christ in the sepulcher, as if he were dead to things outside. He will experience, as much as is possible for one who is still living, what was promised to the thief who hung beside Christ: Today you will be with me in paradise.

For this passover to be perfect, we must suspend all the operations of the mind and we must transform the peak of our affections, directing them to God alone. This is a sacred mystical experience. It cannot be comprehended by anyone unless he surrenders himself to it; nor can he surrender himself to it unless he longs for it; nor can he long for it unless the Holy Spirit, whom Christ sent into the world, should come and inflame his innermost soul. Hence the Apostle says that this mystical wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit.

If you ask how such things can occur, seek the answer in God’s grace, not in doctrine; in the longing of the will, not in the understanding; in the sighs of prayer, not in research; seek the bridegroom not the teacher; God and not man; darkness not daylight; and look not to the light but rather to the raging fire that carries the soul to God with intense fervor and glowing love. The fire is God, and the furnace is in Jerusalem, fired by Christ in the ardor of his loving passion. Only he understood this who said: My soul chose hanging and my bones death. Anyone who cherishes this kind of death can see God, for it is certainly true that: No man can look upon me and live.

Let us die, then, and enter into the darkness, silencing our anxieties, our passions and all the fantasies of our imagination. Let us pass over with the crucified Christ from this world to the Father, so that, when the Father has shown himself to us, we can say with Philip: It is enough. We may hear with Paul: My grace is sufficient for you; and we can rejoice with David, saying: My flesh and my heart fail me, but God is the strength of my heart and my heritage for ever. Blessed be the Lord for ever, and let all the people say: Amen. Amen!

My Beliefs about Me, God, the Bible, and the Church

My Belief about Me, God, the Bible, and the Church 

My Beliefs About Me

1. God created me before the foundation of the world. 
2. God sustains my every breath. 
3. God ordained every day and it is written in his book. 
4. God knows my every thought, word, deed,  and feeling, etc. 
5. God knows the plans he has for me. 
6. God is orchestrating. 
7. God knows my every tear and keeps it in his bottle. 
8. God wants to have a close relationship. In union with him at all times. 
9. God will not let me fail he has sealed me with his Spirit and covered me with his own blood. I am forever His. 

My Beliefs About God

1. I will stand in judgment about my relationship to God. God wants all of me. 
2. God is the ultimate authority and he will not guide me wrong. I must hear and listen to him above and before ALL men. 
3. God says He is my teacher. I need no other teacher. I Have The Teacher Already. 
4. The Holy Spirit helps me understand what he is saying to me. Gods Word says what it says and means what He means and gave me the Holy Spirit at baptism. 
5. God says The Holy Spirit is in me at all times.  I Am never alone and need no one else. I have God with me all the time. I need not fear, God is in me and will guide me to all truth If I look to Him.  
6. I cannot be lost if following God no Human being or set of rules! Ask the Holy Spirit to guide to all truth. 
7. God wants a relationship with me and to worship and receive sacraments for strength. Not a robot to follow rules. 
8. Holy Spirit and Word needed even over sacraments. GRACE OF JESUS SAVES NOT CHURCH. 
9. Obey God even over unity of church. Only Christ is worthy of total allegiance. 
10. Listen to God
11. Obey God
12. Love God
13. Love others even enemies. 
14. Get sacraments and worship at church. 
15. The daily readings are what He has chosen to teach the family of God that day.

My Beliefs about Bible

1. Scriptures from God Almighty to men
2. Completely Inerrant, 
3. Completely infallible
4. Complete Inspired 
5. Complete Revelation of Rule of life for salvation 
6. Ultimate Authority 
7. Need nothing else but Spirit of God and Bible to hear if open with Grace from God. 

My Beliefs About Church 

1. God is in charge not men
2. God above pope and church
3. Church is for sacraments
4. Church is for worship
5. Church is for family of God
6. Gods Word trumps all
7. God wants relationship 
8. Word of God is Bible 
9. Word of God is not church rules and doctrine and theology.  Those help explain Bible but only Word of Bible is ULTIMATE AUTHORITY. 
10. Salvation from Jews so Bible is Hebrew and New Testament 
11. Deuterocanon ok for reading but not scripture?
12. God preserved apostles teaching why not the Bible which had deutercanon in the beginning (God chose the church to include them) so who am I to doubt God? However who are Christians to add to Jewish Old Testament?
13. There is a reason for everything in Gods direction. 
14. His ways are not our reasonable thoughts. I cannot comprehend things or understand. I must in humility ask God not Man. 
15. This is Gods family not a company. Family of SINNERS that fall and get up. Even in all families and organizations there is a leader….not equal to God but an authority nonetheless. 
16. Pope is a helper to guide the family of God and to serve as an authority over confusion. 
17. Church Teaching: not inspired, infallible, or inerrant, it is the teaching office proposing moral coordinates that are the way of Jesus for each generation. That’s why theology and doctrines change through history. 
18. Gods ways are higher than mine. If he chooses to allow scandal in His church I will stay by His side with His help. All of the Bible is replete with the Patriarchs, the leaders, the kings, the shepherds, false prophets, etc. as Fallen Sinners given Grace anyway. 
19. Eucharist is REAL PRESENCE. 
20. Don’t worship idols or Mary or saints. Can ask for their prayers. They are in the presence of God. God is outside time. All is present to him they are alive in him. 
21. I believe in relics like Peters shadow, Elijah bones, and Paul’s handkerchief. 
22. I believe the creeds of the church. 
23. I do believe sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone). 
24. I also believe in tradition…. How else do we know doctrines of Trinity, Jesus is God, what books in Bible, etc. 
25. Justified by faith from gift of Grace-salvation process. Can lose salvation or at least be deceived per Paul…Grace is a gift to be received. You can resist or even say absolutely no to the Grace and Holy Spirit. 
26. I believe works show my faith. They are not to earn salvation but I receive Grace to do Gods will for my life through works of love he destined me for. 
27. Believe in sacraments (baptism, confession, marriage, healing, Eucharist)
28. Need priesthood for sacraments and to lead worship (re presentation of last supper-sacrifice) there by Apostolic Succession not all people called to priesthood. They are chosen by God. 
29. Bible study is different than worship. And anyone can teach the Bible if studied well. Not everyone called to be a minister of Gods family as a priest/pastor. 
30. Liturgy is to guide people through the Bible and last supper, and worship God with requests, praise, and thanksgiving. Unity of readings for whole family. 
31. Divine office is the prayers of the people for all unity. Unity of readings for whole family. 

Seems I believe Christian Catholic. 

God is sovereign over all!

My Beliefs about Me, God, the Bible, and the Church

My Belief about Me, God, the Bible, and the Church 

My Beliefs About Me

1. God created me before the foundation of the world. 
2. God sustains my every breath. 
3. God ordained every day and it is written in his book. 
4. God knows my every thought, word, deed,  and feeling, etc. 
5. God knows the plans he has for me. 
6. God is orchestrating. 
7. God knows my every tear and keeps it in his bottle. 
8. God wants to have a close relationship. In union with him at all times. 
9. God will not let me fail he has sealed me with his Spirit and covered me with his own blood. I am forever His. 

My Beliefs About God

1. I will stand in judgment about my relationship to God. God wants all of me. 
2. God is the ultimate authority and he will not guide me wrong. I must hear and listen to him above and before ALL men. 
3. God says He is my teacher. I need no other teacher. I Have The Teacher Already. 
4. The Holy Spirit helps me understand what he is saying to me. Gods Word says what it says and means what He means and gave me the Holy Spirit at baptism. 
5. God says The Holy Spirit is in me at all times.  I Am never alone and need no one else. I have God with me all the time. I need not fear, God is in me and will guide me to all truth If I look to Him.  
6. I cannot be lost if following God no Human being or set of rules! Ask the Holy Spirit to guide to all truth. 
7. God wants a relationship with me and to worship and receive sacraments for strength. Not a robot to follow rules. 
8. Holy Spirit and Word needed even over sacraments. GRACE OF JESUS SAVES NOT CHURCH. 
9. Obey God even over unity of church. Only Christ is worthy of total allegiance. 
10. Listen to God
11. Obey God
12. Love God
13. Love others even enemies. 
14. Get sacraments and worship at church. 
15. The daily readings are what He has chosen to teach the family of God that day.

My Beliefs about Bible

1. Scriptures from God Almighty to men
2. Completely Inerrant, 
3. Completely infallible
4. Complete Inspired 
5. Complete Revelation of Rule of life for salvation 
6. Ultimate Authority 
7. Need nothing else but Spirit of God and Bible to hear if open with Grace from God. 

My Beliefs About Church 

1. God is in charge not men
2. God above pope and church
3. Church is for sacraments
4. Church is for worship
5. Church is for family of God
6. Gods Word trumps all
7. God wants relationship 
8. Word of God is Bible 
9. Word of God is not church rules and doctrine and theology.  Those help explain Bible but only Word of Bible is ULTIMATE AUTHORITY. 
10. Salvation from Jews so Bible is Hebrew and New Testament 
11. Deuterocanon ok for reading but not scripture?
12. God preserved apostles teaching why not the Bible which had deutercanon in the beginning (God chose the church to include them) so who am I to doubt God? However who are Christians to add to Jewish Old Testament?
13. There is a reason for everything in Gods direction. 
14. His ways are not our reasonable thoughts. I cannot comprehend things or understand. I must in humility ask God not Man. 
15. This is Gods family not a company. Family of SINNERS that fall and get up. Even in all families and organizations there is a leader….not equal to God but an authority nonetheless. 
16. Pope is a helper to guide the family of God and to serve as an authority over confusion. 
17. Church Teaching: not inspired, infallible, or inerrant, it is the teaching office proposing moral coordinates that are the way of Jesus for each generation. That’s why theology and doctrines change through history. 
18. Gods ways are higher than mine. If he chooses to allow scandal in His church I will stay by His side with His help. All of the Bible is replete with the Patriarchs, the leaders, the kings, the shepherds, false prophets, etc. as Fallen Sinners given Grace anyway. 
19. Eucharist is REAL PRESENCE. 
20. Don’t worship idols or Mary or saints. Can ask for their prayers. They are in the presence of God. God is outside time. All is present to him they are alive in him. 
21. I believe in relics like Peters shadow, Elijah bones, and Paul’s handkerchief. 
22. I believe the creeds of the church. 
23. I do believe sola scriptura (Scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone). 
24. I also believe in tradition…. How else do we know doctrines of Trinity, Jesus is God, what books in Bible, etc. 
25. Justified by faith from gift of Grace-salvation process. Can lose salvation or at least be deceived per Paul…Grace is a gift to be received. You can resist or even say absolutely no to the Grace and Holy Spirit. 
26. I believe works show my faith. They are not to earn salvation but I receive Grace to do Gods will for my life through works of love he destined me for. 
27. Believe in sacraments (baptism, confession, marriage, healing, Eucharist)
28. Need priesthood for sacraments and to lead worship (re presentation of last supper-sacrifice) there by Apostolic Succession not all people called to priesthood. They are chosen by God. 
29. Bible study is different than worship. And anyone can teach the Bible if studied well. Not everyone called to be a minister of Gods family as a priest/pastor. 
30. Liturgy is to guide people through the Bible and last supper, and worship God with requests, praise, and thanksgiving. Unity of readings for whole family. 
31. Divine office is the prayers of the people for all unity. Unity of readings for whole family. 

Seems I believe Christian Catholic. 

God is sovereign over all!

Not a Fan

“I hope you will read this book and discover with me what it really means to follow Jesus. I will talk more about repentance than forgiveness, more about surrender than salvation, more about brokenness than happiness, and more about death than about life. The truth is, if you are looking for a book about following Jesus that lays out a comfortable and reassuring path, you won’t find it here”

“Fans of Jesus who know all about him, but they don’t know him.

But Jesus was never interested in having fans. When he defines what kind of relationship he wants, “Enthusiastic Admirer” isn’t an option. My concern is that many of our churches in America have gone from being sanctuaries to becoming stadiums. And every week all the fans come to the stadium where they cheer for Jesus but have no interest in truly following him. The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them”

“Fans often confuse their admiration for devotion. They mistake their knowledge of Jesus for intimacy with Jesus. Fans assume their good intentions make up for their apathetic faith. Maybe you’ve already decided you’re a follower and Not a Fan; well, I hope you keep reading, because one of the core symptoms of “fandom” is that fans almost always consider themselves to be followers”

 Excerpt from:

Kyle, Idleman. “Not a Fan Updated and Expanded.” Zondervan, 2016-02-02. Apple Books. 

This material may be protected by copyright.

Not a Fan

“I hope you will read this book and discover with me what it really means to follow Jesus. I will talk more about repentance than forgiveness, more about surrender than salvation, more about brokenness than happiness, and more about death than about life. The truth is, if you are looking for a book about following Jesus that lays out a comfortable and reassuring path, you won’t find it here”

“Fans of Jesus who know all about him, but they don’t know him.

But Jesus was never interested in having fans. When he defines what kind of relationship he wants, “Enthusiastic Admirer” isn’t an option. My concern is that many of our churches in America have gone from being sanctuaries to becoming stadiums. And every week all the fans come to the stadium where they cheer for Jesus but have no interest in truly following him. The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them”

“Fans often confuse their admiration for devotion. They mistake their knowledge of Jesus for intimacy with Jesus. Fans assume their good intentions make up for their apathetic faith. Maybe you’ve already decided you’re a follower and Not a Fan; well, I hope you keep reading, because one of the core symptoms of “fandom” is that fans almost always consider themselves to be followers”

 Excerpt from:

Kyle, Idleman. “Not a Fan Updated and Expanded.” Zondervan, 2016-02-02. Apple Books. 

This material may be protected by copyright.

A PRAYER BY SAINT BENEDICT 

FOR SEEKERS OF FAITH

Gracious and Holy Father,

give us the wisdom to discover You,

the intelligence to understand You,

the diligence to seek after You,

the patience to wait for You,

eyes to behold You,

a heart to meditate upon You,

and a life to proclaim You,

through the power of 

the Spirit of Jesus, our Lord. 

Amen.