LETTERS (BLOG POSTS?) ARE NOT A WASTE OF TIME - HERE'S WHY

God of Everlasting Life, Bless us !! Thank You Lord, for all the
areas of Your Presence !!
How many times in our lives have we done things, such as
participate in social activities, and thought to ourselves, "this
is just to pass time" ?
How many times have we written simple letters and cards to
others, thinking that the writing was only momentary and would be quickly forgotten?
Many years ago, in Lorraine France, a child was born,
Nicolas Herman. As Nicolas matured he joined the Carmelite
Order changing his name to Br. Lawrence of the Resurrection.
Br. Lawrence's position at the monastery was in the kitchen.
Day after day, Lawrence prepared food, washed dishes, and
kept the kitchen clean. The tasks, although menial, were
always done with enthusiasm.
Br. Lawrence always lifted the tasks up as an offering of worship to our Creator.  The kitchen always seemed to be filled with the Presence of God. The supplies seemed to always be sufficient and the work was always done.
Br. Lawrence  would write letters to others during his free time.  A few of these letters were read by some members of the Church hierarchy. These officials were amazed at the depth, insight, and eloquence of the content in the letters.
As time progressed the interest in the letters grew. The letters were gathered together and published into a book entitled *The Practice of the Presence of God* has been, and still is, read by Catholic and Protestant students alike.
The message throughout the ages remains the same. This being that when the simple tasks of living are dedicated to God, with thanksgiving, they become an inspiration to others. A simple friendly greeting may have the Power to change someone`s Life. An action done with Love has the ability to change a community.
In reflecting upon this let us not underestimate the significance of the simple moments of Life.

                                            Br. Phil Bara  10-28-13
To explore more about the life and the letters of Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, ODC, click here.

CHRIST'S SOLDIER - MILES CHRISTI

Ephesians 6:12—We are not fighting against beings made of flesh and blood, but against beings without physical forms. Rulers of an unseen world, princes of darkness, roaming throughout the metaphysical realms. 
  Many of us have served in the military during times of war.  An area of importance that we encountered during our service time was the learning about and the identification of the enemy.  One of the ways to learn about the opposition was to know what the opposition was not.   Spending hours studying, practicing, and  drilling in the many ways of warfare gave us the ability to use correct tactics.  Comparing the tactics that we used against those used by the enemy gave us the ability to perceive very quickly the difference between friend and foe.  This principle is also useful in our Catholic Journey.  As we grow and proceed forward on the Path that our Faith leads.  We as soldiers in the Lord`s service learn about the challenger of our Faith by studying Scriptures. We also practice applying the Truth of Scripture in our lives which gives us the discernment of knowing the one that steals, kills, and destroys the Blessings our King Jesus gives us.  The more we participate in the many activities of our Catholic Tradition the stronger and more confident we become as members of His militia.
 Communication with Headquarters is an important area in every battle ground maneuver. Soldiers in the field need to know what the orders are on a daily basis.  We as combat warriors surrounded by the many Faith destroying minions also need to communicate with our Heavenly Commander and Chief, Jesus Christ.
Prayer is our method of contact. We request our directions, get confirmed orders by the agreement found through our leaders, and we initiate the commands by our actions.  The more we willingly persevere in our Scripture studies, our participation in the Sacraments, and our adapting ourselves to the time tested Traditions, the more areas we conquer for the Kingdom of our King Jesus Christ !!
                                                                                  October 2013.    Br.Phil. Bara

THE NOSE KNOWS

If one walks around with the nose in the air, one is going to end up flat on one`s face. In which case, the nose would then have been brought down, by none other than the very owner of the nose in question.  But if one is content to be simply oneself, keeping one’s nose on the level and pointed in the direction of righteousness, one will become more than oneself."

 This statement is for me one of the areas that I need to persevere in. Having years of studying the Scriptures and many other Holy Writings, I on many occasions must keep my ego in check.  The Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus’ day knew all the answers to the many questions. Yet they arrogantly could not recognize the Son of God, the Messiah standing a mere nose-length in front of them.  My prayer is that I always recognize Jesus, in the many faces that appear before my nose on any given day, every day of every week.  It’s in these faces, the ones with which I come in contact everyday that I pray to see Jesus.  I need to remember that others, like me, are created in the Image and Likeness of God.

Also along with this, Scripture mentions that Angels may be the strangers with whom I converse now and then.   And not it's just me;  it's you too.  It's all of us, walking in God’s garden, side by side with one another every day. 

So let’s together remind ourselves that we are to Love others even as Jesus Christ Loves us!!

Bro.Phil Bara -- 8/29/2013

A MODERN DAY PARABLE

Dung Heap Worms are found in many shapes and sizes. These can be small, so small that a microscope is needed.
There are also some large enough to be seen from a distance.    These Dung Heap Worms have the ability to blend with the surroundings, blending into other forms of life. The grouping of some of these grubs seem to consist of a very high social order. Sharing the environment with each other, these primary life forms even seem to have a `spiritual` order. Wherever decay, decomposition, and death is, there will be found the presence of these critters.
There are also Dung Heap Worms that can be found in our daily lives. These worms will infiltrate areas of life wherever change, growth, and progress is occurring. The sound of these Dung Heap Worms is the sound of the many voices clashing. The voices shout out loudly all the reasons why change, growth, and progress, should not occur. These worms will creep in and whisper about all the pain, and discomfort that will happen.
To get these Dung Heap Worms to squirm wildly, all one has to do is begin to pray, with sincerity. These worms detest Spiritual activities. These creatures crawl and multiply in the darkest areas.  Wherever the Light is shining and the warmth of Life is present these crawlers shrivel.

One finds in Scripture an example where the Dung Heap Worms caused a person to live insanely in a graveyard.
Reading chapter 5, verses 1-19, of the Gospel of Mark, the community of the village could not rid the person of these destroying eaters.     One also reads that the only solution to free the person from this miasmic condition is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Even the apostles asked Jesus how He did it.  The social activities of the village, the `pot lucks`, the parades, the reading of books, the long hours spent in tears could not rid the person of these Dung Heap Worms.

The accepting of the worms with the affirmations that ‘they always have been, so they must always be’, will not cause the devouring to stop.
  As  previously mentioned there is a solution !!  These Life stealing worms are eliminated in a way that many find, only because all the many other ways have failed.  The solution is found when one sincerely, with a humble willingness to pray, to fast and request the Lord Jesus Christ, to order these Dung Heap Worms to leave.
Many times the exorcism of the Dung Heap Worms will happen during the simple act of the "possessed soul to take advantage of the sacrament of Reconciliation or during the celebration of Holy Mass, the praying of the Holy Rosary, and by loving service to others.  The Presence of our Great Physician, Jesus Christ, will also Reconcile all areas that have been chewed upon by these Dung Heap Worms to Himself !!!
                                                                                                       With Reconciling Restoration!!  Lets be Thankful !!
                                                  Br.Phil Bara         6-21-13

SET THE CAPTIVE FREE

Galatians 5:1 Jesus Christ, our                      Lord has made us Free.
II Corinthians 7:13  Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty !!!

This may seem far fetched, and it is... but it is far reaching reality.

A mother is tied to a post delivering a baby girl. A joy filled experience for the mother and others, in the back room of the brothel. The news is shared with the "grandfather".  (not as we think about "grandpa") Grandfather here is the man in charge of all activities of all reproductive activities in the "clinic" house of the *Business*.  The baby girl will be raised as a
number, a faceless one, till she begins her role in the *Business*.
Contained in a box, a room about the size of 8` x 10`, this child will be given provisions of food, shelter, and conditioned affection.  This is the beginning of another life, in the one of the oldest occupations on Earth.`farming of humans` for personal use.

According to the U.S. State Dept. there are approximately 27 million `farms` found throughout the world.  Human farming (slavery) is a well known part of the world's history. *The Business* (slavery) also known as *Human Farming* for gain is defined in the United Nations Victim Protection Act (TVPA-UN) as "any recruitment, housing, transport, providing and obtaining of any Human person, for the use in labor and service, through the use of force, fraud, coercion, or the provoking of individuals to do involuntary services, for the recreation of others."

The *Business* aka *Human Trafficking* is happening all over the world, to Humans of all ages.

In California, a 12 yr. old from Egypt is a household servant to a 1.6 million dollar land owner. The child is not allowed to leave the residence. The *Business* uses force and false promises to keep the "workers" bound to "company rules". Fear is the motivating force that keeps the workers from leaving the areas assigned. Years also go by without any of this activity being detected.
A *Business* in Africa has rules and strict discipline for any "worker" that attempts to leave camp. A few "workers" have left the area, only to be found and their toes and heels of each foot to be sliced off.  The *Business* uses deception and false promises to lure new employees.

Example: In the Philippines an ad stated ; Free room, Free food, and Travel to exciting places with some of the world's wealthiest people. There was a group of individuals who gathered their belongings, enthousiastically signing the contract. During the first year with the *Business* the time was filled with many exciting events. Then, little by little each member was transferred to other areas of the world. Upon arrival these members were escorted into `temporary` facilities, and told that they would have to earn their way into a house. Many patiently and perseveringly worked from sunrise to sunset. Each day they would be told that “soon the house will be ready."  As time continued forward, many noticed that the provisions
of life were also being cut back.  Any resistance to the conditions caused discipline to be administered in ways that are too numerous to mention.

Consider Irma, a teenage girl from Haiti who lost all that she had a few years ago. A Gentleman rescued her from her desperate situation. The man was 20 yrs. her senior, an entrepreneur, and kind, so Irma followed his advice and signed up as his residential employee. During the first five years, Irma was surrounded with wealth, courtesy, and good living quarters.  Irma willingly did the many chores on the Florida Ranch. Cleaning water tanks, brushing horses, fixing fences, and caretaking the Ranch. Not realizing that her future would change, Irma continued to be a friend, and a good girl at the Ranch...till one day Irma was found in a field, enveloped within the arms of Mother Nature.
                      Irma had earned her Freedom !!!

  As a praying community we need to mention in our prayers, and keep in our journals, the men, women, and children, around the world who are captive to the *Business*.  There are many agencies that assist those captured and held in these Human Farms. The halting of these *Businesses* can be done. If you know or hear of any trafficking of humans anywhere, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888 .
Lets never forget !!!
Our Lord Jesus Christ came to Set the Captive Free !!!    
                                                     Br.Phil. Bara         7-9-13

YOU CALL THIS PROGRESS?

This was written over 1,900 years ago !!  Hmmm !!  has mankind really changed ?

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful."

Romans 1:29-31 is where this is found. This is really amazing !!  To all the relativity and humanistic social revolutionaries I can only say “ Mankind is in need of Help !!”

One of the reasons I attend Church services, Mass, and get involved.  How about you !!

                                                                    Br.Phil Bara    

THE BLOOD OF MARTYRS IS THE SEED FROM WHICH SAINTS GROW

 In the Philippines, an archipelagic nation North East of Australia, there is an island known as Mindanao. The island is the second largest of this South Pacific group of islands. The large Islamic population of the island is an independent assembly, set apart from the Islam nations of North Africa and the Middle East. This demographic group of people not only separate themselves from other Muslim caliphs, they are setting boundaries and segregating the neighborhoods in which they reside through the use of force. Other Faiths of the area are driven out, even in atrocious manner. The following is a true report of such events.
Sunday, March 3-2013 : The family of a Christian Congregation, a portion of the Debarbo family was eliminated as they were departing from a birthday party. The party was in a subdivision where the majority of the populace is Muslim.  Earlier during the month of February, the family was assaulted by a group of gang members that threw verbal slurs against the beliefs that the Debarbo`s followed diligently. The family stood strong during this assault that was made against them.
Relieved that the incident ended on a rather peaceful note, they thanked the Lord.
Yet on 3-3-13, as the family was leaving a church service, Rey Debarbo, his wife, and two of the daughters, were again confronted by a gang, this time carrying M-16`s. This time though, no conversation took place, resulting in the open massacre of the four family members. The police report stated that approx. 150 rounds of ammunition had been sprayed upon the believers of Christ Jesus. There also were no witnesses or anyone who would step forward as such.
Friday, March 8-2013 : Members of the neighborhood in which the atrocity occurred displayed s a banner that read in three languages; “We are Praying for Justice !!”  No further actual action was taken by anyone.
Sunday, March 10-2013 : At the memorial service of `Br.` Rey, The mother was very torn and sorrowful over the death of her son, daughter in law, and the two younger grandchildren. The eldest daughter Kate, who survived because she attended a school function, could not speak because of the emotional shock.
Monday, March 11-2013 : The news and the police investigators stated that the family caused a disturbance in the neighborhood, that they were warned, yet did not take heed.
                 ** I am not surprised by this event and the many events that still occur in Mindanao. The persecution of Christians has been occurring since the time of our Lord. The annals of History are filled with many followers of "The Way"  *Honored,* Yes !! Honored !!
For us to give ourselves because of our Faith and Love for Jesus Christ, is for us a True Way
that proves that there is no Greater Love than to lay our Life down for our *Redeemer* Jesus Christ. Because He offeed His Life first for us. **    
                 May we “pray well !!” as was told by our Lady of LaSallette, so that we may be ready !!
                                                                                                                                      Br. Phil Bara. 6-4-13