# 29 – EASTER 2014

HAPPY EASTER!

I have not had the ability to continue with the blog due to strong pain in my arm. I will also be busy with other necessary «things» the rest of April and may be May too.

May be you look at the text and say: «So it wasn't the devil after all as you told in your last blogpost»! Well that is the wrong question! The devils are the fallen angels who followed Satan and were cast out of heaven together with him because of the sin of being proud (wanting to be God). When I want you to be aware of Satan and his demons, it is not to scare you or an urge to be old-fashioned. It is catholic teaching that the devils are fallen spirits that want to drag as many humans (who are dear to God) away fro heaven.

Satan and his demons tempt us daily and that's why we all have to be aware of him, not scared of him, because those who trust in God under all circumstances are safe. And so are those that come back to him in the confessional after going against his will.

We are all humans included me. I'm not an exception from the temptation. Please remember that to be tempted in some way or other is NOT to be possessed. With my writing I want to help you to focus on the possibility that the devil tempts you in daily life.

In my last post I wrote about that I had been sick with little energy and opened up for that I hadn't written here because the devil perhaps had succeeded in turning my thoughts away from my blog and to other not so important things. What I meant was that if I had thought it all through, I might have chosen different about how to use the little energy that was available. We are created to serve God in whatever situation we are in, even if we are in our deathbed if we still are able to pray. (I'm not there).

I hope you will think about how you yourself can be tempted and not focus on me. I am usually aware of how I can be tempted. We are all different persons with strong and weak sides. We will be tempted according to our different weeknesses. What is a topic for me doesn't have to be the same topic for you.

Back to my arm. I'm better now. Have been treated for it. I don't think that the devil has the power to give us pain here and there, but that he can use his power to tempt us when we are weak.

With a sick and painful arm and shoulder, it wasn't possible to write. So then I had to prioritize different about what to use my energy on. I hope I reach you in what I write. I am not using the pain in arm and shoulder as an excuse. I want to focus on the difference. Last time I wasn't sick in my arm, so I could have written if I had taken a deep breath and looked close upon the situation. Now it has been my arm and then I had to prioritize to take care of my arm and shoulder.

I hope you see the difference and that it might help you to look at your own life about what you can do or not for God in the frame of life that is yours.

Pope Francis about Satan: 
"We too are tempted, we too are the target of attacks by the devil because the spirit of Evil does not want our holiness, he does not want our Christian witness, he does not want us to be disciples of Christ. And what does the Spirit of Evil do, through his temptations, to distance us from the path of Jesus? The temptation of the devil has three characteristics and we need to learn about them in order not to fall into the trap. What does Satan do to distance us from the path of Jesus? Firstly, his temptation begins gradually but grows and is always growing. Secondly, it grows and infects another person, it spreads to another and seeks to be part of the community. And in the end, in order to calm the soul, it justifies itself. It grows, it spreads and it justifies itself." 


Text from page http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/04/11/pope_francis:_satan_exists_in_the_21st_century_and_how_we_can_fight/en1-789915
of the Vatican Radio website 
................................................

Let us leave the devil for now and celebrate that Christ won over death on the cross and opened the door to heaven for all of us who want to embrace him and take him seriously.

See you in the end of May or in the beginning of June.

HAPPY EASTER! CHRIST IS RISEN!

# 28 - LENT 2014 ...

# 28 - LENT 2014 ...

This year I follow the «Praying Lent» from the Online Ministry of Creighton University - Lent - 2014: March 5- April 16.

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/

I also read what the students of the University says for the day. That make me feel staying with the young:

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Students/

Before I do anything else in the morning I read the students section from Creighton and then I follow up with reading and praying at the «Praying Lent» section. It helps me to focus my life about what is most important of all: God first!

After I promised to come back and write more to you on the 3th of November 2013 I tried to give you readers a summary of all the questions I thought it was important that you reflect upon if you are fallen away from the Church or are doubting. I had been away from the blog almost a year at that time (except from a short note of the 13^th of Marc the same year about the case that we had been given a new pope). The last I wrote before the note about pope Frances was about my trip to Fatima in October 2012.

Can we see a connection here? May be or may be not. One shall be cautious about seeing connections here and there. What we think are connections might be accidentally. Still we have to remember that we live in a world were there are both seen and unseen.

Let me try to explain: Like I have told before, some time after I converted to the catholic faith I had strong inner feelings that God wanted me to write to help people back to Church. As I also told, I begged God to give me something else to do. But it was impossible to get rid of these thoughts. They didn't stop until I agreed to do it.

For years I also had another thought that almost never left me: «Go to Fatima». Years came and went, but I didn't go to Fatima. I was on pilgrimages, but not to Fatima.

Right before Corpus Christi 2012 I decided to follow this «inner voice» about Fatima. Right after Corpus Christi or may be at the same day I decided to start writing in the hope of winning souls for Christ and his Church.

Now something else happened, I felt like I fought with the devil, as if he wanted to stop me both going to Fatima in Portugal and stop my writing. How do we fight with the devil? No, he didn't present himself in person. He didn't talk to me or anything else, but I had a lot of contrary thoughts. I almost felt like giving up the whole «thing»; both of them.

I don't believe that Satan place thoughts in our heads, but since he is an angel (fallen), he is created much smarter then us and can use every weakness we might have to lead us away from God. Persons that want to help others to find Christ must be stopped, because Satan doesn't want such a «thing» to happen.

Satan doesn't feel happy about people who are very serious about Our Mother either. Remember that I was planning to go to Fatima where she appeared to the three shepherds: Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta.

Satan works in mysterious ways and use our weaknesses. I felt it difficult to write and almost missed my flight to London from where I was going by plane to Portugal early next morning. I even amost also lost my bus to the airport in London because someone gave me the wrong direction about the bus-stop.

As you, who have read the whole blog know, I wrote about the trip to Fatima in November 2012. I was very busy for a time and after a trip to Oslo in the beginning of December the same year I caught a serious cold and after that didn't really recover until the summer 2013 or thereabout. I started to continue my blog in November 2013 but caught a new cold. It lasted for four weeks and I still struggle with the after effects. I'm extremely tired and exhausted.

So, and were do I see the devil in all this? Well, I don't see him. He usually likes to be hidden. The point is that he works in mysterious ways, use our weaknessess and don't want to be recognized.

Can you see any weakness here other than naturally tiredness after being ill? Atheists would see nothing more than that because they have decided for themselves that God doesn't exist. Trent Horn has written a good book about some of the arguments the atheists use and shows us why these arguments are too tiny to rule God out. I highly recommend: «Answering Atheism – How to Make the Case for God with Logic and Charity» by Trent Horn.

Back to topic: Did you find any weaknesses? If you looked well I presume that you saw my tiredness after being sick as an excuse for not continue my writing. Did you? Well the truth about ourselves isn't always so beautiful. I wouldn't call it an excuse, but I can see how letting myself be filled with doubt for the future in this world getting primacy before my obligations to God has hindered me to see that I could write even if I didn't feel well.

This can be (it doesn't have to) an example of how Satan can work «behind the scene» and use our weaknesses. The point isn't to decide if Satan have been a part of the case or not. The point is to know that we have to struggle with him daily and that he can be in our way even if we don't think so (remeber Fr. Fanzagas book «The Deceiver» about that). As said before, Satan has no power over us if we don't give it to him. He is nothing to be afraid of. Our thoughts should not be too much occupied with him. But sometimes it can be wise to ask ourselves if small or bigger struggles might be a struggle where the evil one wants to prevent us from doing something that pleases God.

May be you ask yourself why God didn't hear my prayer in blog-post # 26? The prayer was this:

+Dear God, you know that I write this blog

to try to help those who need to think

about some important questions

in a simple way before they

move on ...

Oh, Lord my God,

Please help both reader

and writer to

be able to do this

in a way that is beneficial.

AMEN+

Of course He heard it, but may be He found Lent a better time to continue for both reader and writer? Well He is not going to tell us exactly. So is life. God doesn't leave us a note at our dinner table about what to do or not ...

Now, when I have turned to God for Lent every morning with a wish to come closer to Him, He has let me understand how important it is to not give up upon evangelizing: «Please go back to your blog, Benthe».

To work hard to stay close to the Lord is always important, also for those of us who believe that we are close enough! Even psychologists may fool themselves. (Good to know for you who think you are of little worth). Everybody fails. God knows that and are always willing to help, but not always in the way and at the time we want Him to. So here I am. I will come back and write more, but I need some time to put myself into the where I was in my writing.

Continued good Lent and God bless! Please pray for my persistence in this, will you? ... and for the guidance of the Holy Spirit while writing.

See you ...

# 27 - Today's models ???

An article from Catholic Online:
http://www.catholic.org/news/blog/story.php?id=53070

Yes, it's a strange world we live in. Is it possible for you to look for good role models other places than in the secular media? I hope you will think about it and start (or continuing) to look for good catholic role models either among the living or by the saints. I try the best I can. It's much more difficult to live one's faith today than it was before, but Jesus has said: "But the one who endures to the end will be saved." (Mt 24:13).

That doesn't mean to be perfect. God has left his "Mercy Seat" with us, the confessional. So there is always a way back if we want it when we have missed the sight of our end goal, to be with God, the angels and the saints forever.

God bless!

# 26 – After such a long time we will have to repeat. IV

Continued from blogpost 25:

After thinking a bit about the beauty God has laid down in you (if you are a former reader to the blog), I think it is wise to take a quick look at blogpost # 10 and #11 to see if anything has changed in you regarding the question: «Is it difficult to believe because there are so many religions and you don't know what to believe anymore?» That was the first question I presented to you in the beginning (#3).

In blogpost # 10 I tried to show that there might be positive aspects in other religions, but that they lack the redemption of Christ:

http://bechatholic.blogspot.no/2012/08/10-is-it-difficult-to-believe-because.html

The next post is called: # 11 – Why Catholic? (continuation from # 10).

http://bechatholic.blogspot.no/2012/08/11-why-catholic-continuation-from-10.html

In the posts #13 and #14 I try to give some thoughts to this question from blogpost #3: «Is it because others have pointed out to you that they don't like the «cruel god» in the OT?»

Blogpost #13:

http://bechatholic.blogspot.no/2012/09/13-is-it-because-others-have-pointed.html

Blogpost #14:

http://bechatholic.blogspot.no/2012/09/14-is-it-because-others-have-pointed.html

Now, when the repetition has come so far, there are no more old questions to repeat (if you have felt the need for a repetition).

That means that both you and me can continue with the next questions I advised you to think about in the beginning. (And new readers begin at the beginning, blogpost # 1 or there about).

Let's continue with fresh eyes and thoughts. (No more repetitions). I feel that I have built a bridge between my former posts and my new entrances. I hope the readers feel the same. At least I feel that I can let you have some time to get used to the blog again. See you later (days or a week or two).

Here I want to post a prayer:

+Dear God, you know that I write this blog

to try to help those who need to think

about some important questions

in a simple way before they

move on ...

Oh, Lord my God,

Please help both reader

and writer to

be able to do this

in a way that is beneficial.

AMEN+

# 25 – After such a long time we will have to repeat. III

Continued from blogpost #24:

That post ended like this: «The question that we always have to ask ourselves (either if we are studying, working, parenting, doing sports and so on ) is: Am I doing this only for myself? How can I include God in this?»

If we don't ask these questions there are sure somebody who wants us to be still and not ask them. In blogpost #7 I break all modern norms by talking about the Devil and referring to a book written by Father Fanzaga: «The Deceiver – Our Daily Struggle With Satan».

 

The fallen angel is a catholic dogma which we are supposed to believe if we are not to be called heretics. Dogma 62 says: «Our first parents became subject to death and to the dominion of the Devil». Scary isn't it? Well it would be if we hadn't had the good angels to protect us. That they are her to protect us is stated in dogma 69.

There are priests that think that the youth are so full of anxiety that they have to spared from hearing the truth about the devil. This is pure foolishness and it is to underestimate the youth. The devil cannot do anything without our free will to follow his lead, but if people don't know about the devils existence or think he is some ridiculous figure from a fairytale, they have no ways to prevent themselves from his bites. To not know of this evil spirit is much more dangerous. My experience with the youth is that they appreciate honesty. Well, the devil is part of the catholic dogmas!

Link to blogpost # 7 about the Fallen angel:

http://bechatholic.blogspot.no/2012/08/7-our-daily-struggle-with-satan.html

After talking about the devil, I asked a very important question in blogpost #8. I asked: «What is the most beautiful about you?» May be it's wise to think about your beautiful traits? They are laid down in you from God from your beginning in your mothers womb, and they are developed more by you after you were born and grow up. It might happen that there are more beauty in you then you are aware of. I think I will link to blogpost #8 too:

http://bechatholic.blogspot.no/2012/08/8-what-is-most-beautiful-about-you.html

Well, if you are going to think about the beauty that is laid down in you, I suppose you have a little (big) job to do.

I don't know if you are an "old reader" here or just a person who found this blog now. If you are new I advice you to go to blogpost #1 and take it slowly from there as if the blog is a book. If you are only repeating, I suppose you have your old notes and can jump in and take it from here.

To be continued.

# 24 – After such a long time we will have to repeat. II

Continued from the first part ...

So far we have summed up that if one wants to give faith a chance after leaving it or when one is in deep doubt, it would be wise to picture oneself as a trusting child (dwell for some moments in that feeling), then to reflect of what has happened between then and now (how one has come to this stage of doubt or unbelief if one are there). I presented a row of questions to answer (if it was this or that that eventually had caused the doubt or loss of faith).

In blogpost #4 I tried to present my point with humor. I had forgotten to put my name on the blog, and the posts came out signed «About me». This led me to think about that this is really the collective shouting from the Western World to day. Everything is centered around us. That's what the world teach us. The anti-God world is wrong. We are supposed to be centered about God. The question is: What does God want from me, not how much can I get from God.

To understand how important this is we have to see that those who don't believe in God, don't need to question what the purpose of life is either. But we who, even if we doubt, deep within have faith in God, need to ask that question.

God created us because he wanted us. Our destiny is to be with HIM. All that we do should be centered around that. It is not about me, but about God and how we can do our best to follow His will!

We have to take a lot of decisions in our lives, from how to do our homework in school, - how to prepare for our Confirmation, - how to chose how we want to earn our living (what education) - how to chose the one we are to marry, - how to raise our children, - how to do this and how to do that ....

Of course it is about us when we want to find out if we want to be a dentist or a doctor, a salesperson or a carpenter. But we are supposed to pray for God's help while trying to find out were we think we can do our best. Later on, when we have found a job, we have to do that job as good as we can, because that is what God wants of us.

The question that we always have to ask ourselves (either if we are studying, working, parenting, doing sports and so on ) is: Am I doing this only for myself? How can I include God in this?

To be continued ...

# 23 – After such a long time we will have to repeat. I

In blogpost # 2 I asked you to find a picture of yourself as a child and to try to remember how it was to trust God.

I wrote: «(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).»

This is important because Jesus himself has said: «Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven» (Mt 18:3).

In the next blogpost (# 3) I asked this question: «What is your problem with faith?» and gave you these options:

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? 

I asked you to write down your reasons: «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).»

The reason for writing down your answers and think about the difference between now and then was because it could be good to have something written down to look back to and to have an opportunity to reflect upon what happened in between that had (for the time being) ended in doubt or non-belief.

I said: «... to remember how it was before your faith was covered with clouds».

To be continued ...