# 6 – Shall we jump into it?

In my last post I promised to come back and tell you how it has helped me to take the devil seriously. You might wonder why someone can benefit from the knowledge of such a ridiculous figure? Well he might seem to be ridiculous, but that doesn't mean that he isn't dangerous. What is the most dangerous point is to act as he doesn't exist, because that is exactly what he wants. Do you really believe that Eve would have eaten of the forbidden fruit if she knew who he was when he tempted her?

I don't believe that!

Before I say anything more, let us take a quick look upon the Church's teaching: God created the angels before he created humans. As I hope you know they were created pure spirits without bodies. They were created with a level of intelligence that is much higher than ours. Since they don't have a body, they cannot speak to each other the same way as we do (no tongue, no muscles in the trout, no mouth, no lips). When they want to speak they just think it and their utterance is received by the others. There is a hierarchy of angels.

One day one of the most beautiful angels, high in rank, refused to be obedient to God. They were put to some sort of a test. Some say that God had informed the angels about His plan to create man whom the angels in some ways were to serve as messengers. The angel that had the high rank, did not want to serve either God nor human. His sin was pride and envy. A sin that also is to be found often in humans.

One doesn't rebel against God, the Creator, unpunished. Satan, as his name came to be, was thrown out of Heaven at once. As we know: Humans will be given many more chances when failing while being tested. A human being that has fallen can, by the the ministry of the Church Jesus Christ instituted, be forgiven and reconciled to God in the confessional. The highly intelligent angels, however, had only one chance! When they refused to obey it was OUT of Heaven for Satan and his demons (his followers among the angels). There is no place for sin in Heaven. With their choice they became evil, at once, and was no longer good as they were created to be from the beginning. Luckily all the angels did not made the evil choice. The archangel Michael and all the angels that chose to be original good as they were created to be, started at once to fight for the good case, Gods Kingdom. «And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels» (Rev 12:7).

This war among the evil and good angels is still going on and will not end until the last day of the earth the way we know it. «And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth was gone, and the sea is now no more» (Rev 21:1).

To deny that this war between good and evil is going on, is like trying to hide under the bed when there is a fire in the house and believe that nothing will happen to you if you only lie still under the bed.

How can I say that? I have referred to the Church's teaching about that there broke out a war in Heaven (CCC 391 – 395). The Church has never taken back the teachings about the devil and never will do so, even if many people these days act as if they have never heard about these teachings.

Back to me: How could it happen that I came to see the Church's teachings about Satan and his demons as a jewel given to me? In short; if you and me are to go out in a big forest and there are some animals who could be expected to attack us, we would surely be glad to have a map of were these dangerous animals are expected to be found and some guidance about how to behave if we in spite of trying to avoid the most dangerous places still meet them.

The Church's teaching about these matters is that map and that guidance! Sometimes I wonder if I would ever have parked God for some years in my life, if I had been taught properly about how the evil spirits work. Luckily. Now I know and that is exactly what I want you to know too! Knowledge may sometimes be seen as jewels!

When I was a little child I remember that I thought of the devil like a person in black ready to snatch me into hell if he caught me. Since I was safe with mom and dad the most of the year or with my grandparents, uncles and ants in the summertime, he didn't seem so very dangerous to me. All my knowledge about him I had from other children, not from the grown ups. As far as I can remember, later on when we were taught more about Christendom in school, I think I saw the devil as a distant person far away that perhaps would try to snatch me away from God at my deathbed 80 years into the future. In daily life he was no real danger. Well I was wrong about that. Satan is a daily danger to us! I was right about the danger at the deathbed, however. He will be there ... Be sure of that!

I will try to explain in my next input how that can be.

Until then, be well!

# 5 - Why bother spending time on you?

Well here we are, you and me, you reading, me writing. So why are we doing this? I suppose you have your private reasons. But me, why am I at the computer instead of using my time on other things. I could have gone to the theater, a cinema, go out swimming or whatever ... Instead I'm here... Why? Well, I have thought of it for a long time that the Western world are in so many ways opposed to God, that it probably will be more and more difficult for people growing up these days to not be tempted to give up their faith or to reduce it to something far from what it really is, mix their own religion etc. Catechesis might vary from church to church all over the world, so it might also happen that you don't know your faith. What one doesn't know well, is not difficult to leave.

I think that's the devils influence upon people in the world is increasing. I will not talk about this fallen angel, yet, only remind you, for the moment, that he is not the joke that so many people think he is. (See about the Church's teaching in CCC 391 – 395). Later on I will come back and tell you how it has helped me to take seriously this creature who chose to turn into a monster. Yes, you are reading right: It has helped me to learn more about the devil than to do as many do: They act as this fallen creature doesn't exist.

Back to why I'm writing: It's not to point my finger at you and say «do this and do that». I don't think that works anyway. But in my professional life I have met all kinds of people, also young people, varying from feeling sad because their boy- or girlfriend had left them to people who wanted to learn to stop to do criminal acts. From the youth and young adults I have learned that they love honesty and that they don't need the rough things packed into soft paper.

It was an American priest who worked in my home-church some years ago that recommended me to start bogging. This priest knew me very well, knew my values and so on and also that I liked to write.

At first I didn't respond to his specific suggestion. To write a book seemed far more to prefer.

At the Sunday the 10. of June, this year, we had the Corpus Christi procession in my hometown. Afterward some of us went to a restaurant to have dinner. At the dinner table I mentioned for the first time my plans about the book I wanted to write. The same afternoon, we got the sad message that a beloved Norwegian priest, Father Arnfinn Haram, had died suddenly. Father Arnfinn was really good to preach faith and now he was gone on this beautiful day were catholic churches in some of the Norwegian cities had «marched» in a long procession after The Holy Eucharist in the Monstrance. To do that in Norway who is the land of protestants and atheists (more and more atheists every year) is very special! Father Arnfinn's death was a shock ... When it had sunk in, it was clear to me that if I wanted to write the book, I would have to do it soon, because I could never know when my day would come. It could be in 30 years, but it could also be to morrow ...

My health is not the best, so I wondered when I would have enough energy to write the book. I let it stay in my head to mature ...

This summer, I have visited Krakow with my family. As always, when I'm in Krakow, I spent some time in the Church of Virgin Mary to give thanks to God (See my input # 1 in the blog). Home again it suddenly was clear to me what to do; drop the book and start bogging instead, as I first was advised.

So this is what my motivation is about: I feel so much for the young (and for the youth inside the more older people – believe me their youth is there if you are willing to take the time to look for it behind their grown up facades). To spend time helping to clear out «this or that» for people who struggles to find their place in relationship to God in this God opposed world is a pleasure. I might write things that you like and also things that you wished I never talked about. However, I know the strength of the youth and older people who have not closed themselves from their «inner youth or inner child»: If you really want to be helped to not lose faith, you will continue reading!

Thanks, and God bless you for reading!

# 4 - About me, about you or about God?

?

A little funny «thing» has happened to my blog. It came up in Norwegian with the «Om meg». That means «About me». When I saw the Norwegian expression, I thought that seeking people outside of Norway, wouldn't understand that and I wrote «About me» as a heading for the «Om meg – section». I recently noticed that while doing so every input on my blog is signed as written by «About me». He, he ...., really a big joke, because I, Benthe, want this blog to be about God.

I could change it, couldn't I? I don't want to. Why? Well, I'll try to explain: God is, as we say in the Creed, one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is not three gods, but one God consisting of three persons in relationship with each other. God is infinite. That means that we cannot set three gods aside of each other and say that here is our God in thee persons. If this could be done than God wouldn't be infinite because infinite means that He is TOTAL. If we have one god + another god + still another, none of them could be infinite. God is infinite, like a family joined tight together! Jesus himself explains it this way: «If you had known me, you would without doubt have known my Father also: and from henceforth you shall know him, and you have seen him» (Jn 14:7).

For a deeper explanation of the relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the one infinite God, it might be wise to start reading: «Catholic for a Reason: Scripture and the Mystery of the Family of God» by Scott Hahn and Leon J. Suprenant.

The infinite God in three persons is the perfect example of perfect united self-giving relationship.

I suppose that you are reading this blog either because you are looking for some advice to a person that is about to fall away from the catholic faith, - because you yourself is at the border of falling away or perhaps you already have fallen away, but feel some strange longing for something that you cannot define, - or may be you are not satisfied with your place in a protestant church ...

Here comes the little blunder about the posts signed «About me» into the picture. To find God and to develop a close relationship to Him, is about us. Of course it's about Gods grace, Gods invitation, but it all end up with if we are willing to give a total YES to the invitation to be in relationship with God or not. If we say "yes", our relationship whit Him will not be perfect because we are not perfect. Only God is perfect, but our YES will be the beginning of a relationship that one day will  lead us to the gate of Heaven and will end in Perfect Holiness, if we are willing to stay in the relationship with God whatever happen to us.

Next time you find a text written by «About me», please don't think about Benthe, but upon yourself.

Ask yourself questions about what is it about me that is either holding me back or helping me to a closer relationship with God?

Such a question is the most appropriate question you can ask because it places the responsibility were it ought to be: at you! Only you can use the will that God has given you to chose Him or something or somebody else...

PS. 17. of August 2012, I have decided to use my name, Benthe, intead of the "About me", as you probably have noticed already. It became too difficult for the readers with the "About me" only. Have to make it easy for the readers you know. DS.

 

# 3 - What is your problem with faith?

I don't know you. You can be my neighbor next door, - sit in an American home, - sit at the street begging in Spain, - sit at a luxurious restaurant in Germany or preparing for a pub in Ireland, ... You might be 16, 19, 28, 48, 50 or older. You might belong to those who are touched by the big economic crises in some parts of the western world (or elsewhere) or you may have so much work to do that you don't know how to overcome it all.

It's not so important were you are or what you are. What is really important is why you eventually doubt in God. Here are some questions for you:

1. Is it difficult to believe because there are so many religions and you don't know what to believe anymore?
2. Is it because others have pointed out to you that they don't like the «cruel god» in the OT?
3. Is it because you feel ashamed of being a believer among atheists (No valid proof)?
4. Is it because of all the scandals in the Church that have been uncovered in the last years?
5. Do you feel that the Bible is outdated and was written for people of another time?
6. You don't believe in authority?
7. Are you angry at God because He took something from you (your friend, your job or something else)?
8. Private reasons? 

These questions are only some of all the questions people who have a period of doubting ask themselves. The most important is that you are very clear about why you are doubting. Write it down so you don't lose your own points. What everybody else think is not important here. It's your eventually problems with the faith that is important to you!

When you have written it down, please try to think about what has changed since you were a strong believer as a child (if you were that. It might also happen that nobody thought you to believe and that your problem is if it's worth trying to believe in God).

Are you a closet catholic?

I'm not here to tell you what to do. I only want to help you to find safe ground under your feet if you are in a state of «long-doubting».That's why I suggest that you invest in some work with writing points down and to try to remember how it was before your faith was covered with clouds.

# 2 - «Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven» (Mt 18:3).

This is a picture of me and my little brother, taken when I was 7 ½ years old. (I use a picture of myself because I don't want to «steal» someone else's). At that time I trusted God completely. I prayed every day. In the schoolyard I had found a quiet place were it was possible to pray undisturbed. I used that little prayer corner often. I also told some close friends of mine about it, so they could use it also. So natural, without shyness ... God was God!

Now I want you to find a picture of yourself from a period when you were a child and had no doubt about Him. If you don't have one, please try to create a mental imagery of yourself as a child who loved God. How did it feel to love God by all your heart?

Think about it!

(This blogpost was meant for those who have fallen away or who have come into a period of doubting. If you never was thought to believe you can still think back trying to remember some episodes in your life with complete trust in someone. It is how it feels to trust I want you to reflect on, not on good or bad consequences of your trust).

# 1 - God's ways can be mysterious.

This picture shows the Church of Virgin Mary in Krakow, Poland. I'm showing you this because 12 years ago something happened to me in this Church. I was on a bus trip around to different places in Poland. Among other we visited the concentration camp, Auswitz, outside of Krakow. In this camp many people, especially Jews, were gassed to death at WWII. As you probably understand, I didn't feel very well after the visit to the camp were so many children and adults had been murdered and were Dr. Mengele had tried out his horrific experiments on children.

In despair I left my travel company and went right to the Church of Virgin Mary in Krakow. I was still a protestant and only wanted to pray. I didn't know that I had placed myself right in front of the Tabernacle. There in front of what I didn't know what was, I suddenly experienced feelings of calmness and I felt comforted, like as some day there would be hope and no more terror. The cruel sides of people wouldn’t last forever. After a while I left the Church and joined the others for dinner.

Some years later, then a catholic, I got a strange feeling about that God wanted to show me something in the Church of Virgin Mary in Krakow. I bought a ticket for a plane and off I went some weeks later. Guess what happened? As a catholic I recognized the red lamp that signalized the presence of Christ in the Tabernacle right in front of were I had felt so comforted after visiting the concentration camp. I had been close to Christ in the Eucharist without knowing it while the peace fell upon me on that terrible day.

So this was God's message to me: God is with us in whatever situation we happen to be. I was extra happy to participate in the Eucharistic meal that day and very grateful because God had called me home to the Roman Catholic Church!

God's roads are really mysterious, aren't they?

(I will not have time to write regularly, so please show patience while you wait for the next blog-post. Look back now and then).