T O D A Y I S A U G U S T 1 8

T H

, 2 0 1 2 T H E S E V E

N T H S U N D A Y I N M A R I A N T I M E S W e c e l e

b r a t e t h e f e a s t d a y o f M o t h e r M a r y

s A s s u m p t i o n i n t o H e a v e n

N o t h i n g B u t T h e B l o o d H a i l H o l y Q u e

e n B l e s s e d A s s u r a n c e ( A l a n J a c k s o n

V e r s i o n ) B l e s s e d a s s u r a n c e , J e s u s i

s m i n e O h , w h a t a f o r e t a s t e o f g l o r

y d i v i n e H e i r o f s a l v a t i o n , p u r c h a s

e o f G o d B o r n o f H i s s p i r i t , w a s h e d

i n H i s b l o o d

T h i s i s m y s t o r y , t

h i s i s m y s o n g P r a i s i n g m y S a v i o r a

l l t h e d a y l o n g T h i s i s m y s t o r y , t

h i s i s m y s o n g P r a i s i n g m y S a v i o r a

l l t h e d a y l o n g

P e r f e c t s u b m i s s i o

n , p e r f e c t d e l i g h t V i s i o n s o f r a p t u

r e n o w b u r s t o n m y s i g h t A n g e l s d e s

c e n d i n g b r i n g f r o m a b o v e E c h o e s o f

m e r c y , w h i s p e r s o f l o v e

T h i s i s m

y s t o r y , t h i s i s m y s o n g P r a i s i n g m

y S a v i o r a l l t h e d a y l o n g T h i s i s m

y s t o r y , t h i s i s m y s o n g P r a i s i n g m

y S a v i o r a l l t h e d a y l o n g P r a i s i n g

m y S a v i o r a l l t h e d a y l o n g

L o n g B

l a c k T r a i n F i r m F o u n d a t i o n

T h e G o s

p e l f o r T o d a y
Matthew 25
New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Ten Virgins 25 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out

to meet the bridegroo m. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 Th e wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 T he bridegroo m was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6

At midnight the cry

rang out: Heres the bridegroo m! Come out to meet him!

7

Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 T he foolish ones said to the wise, Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.
9

No, they replied, there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for

yourselves .
10

But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroo m arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. A nd the door was shut.
11

Later the others also came. Lord, Lord, they said, open the door for us!
12

But he replied, Truly I tell you, I

dont know you.

13

Therefo re keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

ELISHA bade the poor widow borrow vessels, even empty vessels not a few, and pour oil into all those vessels; 65 and so in
143

order

to receive Gods Grace in our hearts, they must be as empty vessels not filled with self-esteem. The swallow with its sharp cry and keen glance has the power of frightening away birds of prey, and for that reason the dove prefers it to all other birds, and lives surely beside it;even so humility drives Satan away, and cherishes the gifts and graces of the

Holy Spirit within us, and for that reason all the Saints and especially the King of Saints and His Blessed Motherhave always esteemed the grace of humility above all other virtues. We call that vainglory which men take to themselves, either for what is not in them, or which being in them is not their own, or which being in them and their own yet is not worthy of their selfsatisfaction. For instance, noble birth, favour of great men, popular applause, all these are things nowise belonging to

ourselves, but coming from our forefathers, or the opinion of others. Some people are proud and conceited because they ride a fine horse, wear a feather in their hat, and are expensively dressed, but who can fail to see their folly, or that if any one has reason to be proud over such things, it would be the horse, the bird, and the tailor! Or what can be more contemptible than to found ones credit on a horse, a plume, or a ruff? Others again pride themselves upon their
144

dainty

moustaches,

their welltrimmed beard or curled hair, their white hands, or their dancing, singing and the like: but is it not a petty vanity which can seek to be esteemed for any such trivial and frivolous matters? Then again, some look for the worlds respect and honour because they have acquired some smatterings of science, expecting all their neighbours to listen and yield to them, and such men we call pedants. Others make great capital of their personal beauty, and imagine that every one is lost in admiration of

it; but all this is utterly vain, foolish and impertinent, and the glory men take to themselves for such matters must be called vain, childish and frivolous. You may test real worth as we test balm, which is tried by being distilled in water, and if it is precipitated to the bottom, it is known to be pure and precious. So if you want to know whether a man is really wise, learned, generous or noble, see if his life is moulded by humility, modesty and submission. If so, his gifts are genuine; but if they are only surface and

showy, you may be sure that in proportion to their demonstrativen ess so is their unreality. Those pearls which are formed amid tempest and storm have only an outward shell, and are hollow within; and so when a mans good qualities are fed by pride, vanity and boasting,
145

th

ey will soon have nothing save empty show, without sap, marrow or substance.

H O W T

O S U R V I V E T H E E N D T I M E S P a r t O n e

I t h i n k w e a l l k n o w w h a t s c o m i n g b

y n o w . T h e m o v i e s a r e f i l l e d w i t h

i m a g e s o f d i s a s t e r . T h e s o n g s p o i n t

t o t h e c o m i n g o f S o m e t h i n g o r S o m e

o n e w h o i s g o i n g t o t u r n t h i s p l a n e

t u p s i d e d o w n . T h e r e a r e s i g n s : l i k

e m i l l i o n s o f f i s h a n d b i r d s u d d e n l

y d y i n g f r o m t h e h e a t o r f o r n o d i s

c e r n i b l e r e a s o n a t a l l , h o n e y b e e s v

a n i s h i n g , w e a t h e r g o i n g c o l d o n e m i

n u t e a n d t h e n h o t t h e n e x t o r a n i m a

l s b e h a v i n g s t r a n g e l y . I f w e a r e h a

l f w a y h o n e s t w e c a n a l l s e e d e e p i

n s i d e t h a t t h e r e i s g o i n g t o b e a n

e n d t o t h e w o r l d s y s t e m a s w e k n o w

i t a n d i t s c o m i n g s o o n . M a n y p e o p l

e u s e d t o l a u g h a t t h i s n o t i o n . T h e

s e f o l k s t h i n k t h e B i b l e s p r o p h e c i

e s o f t h e e n d o f o u r w o r l d a r e f o o l

i s h a n d s u p e r s t i t i o u s . T h e y d o n t u

n d e r s t a n d t h a t t h e i r s k e p t i c i s m w a s

p r e d i c t e d l o n g a g o : T h a t s h o w i t

w i l l b e . O n e m i n u t e t h i n g s w i l l s e e

m p r e t t y g o o d a n d r e a s o n a b l e . T h e n

e x t m i n u t e t h e w o r l d w i l l g o t o H e l

l i n a h a n d b a s k e t , a s t h e y s a y . I t

w i l l b e v e r y s u d d e n i n t h e e y e s o f

t h e w o r l d , b u t i n t r u t h J u d g m e n t h

a s b e e n a l o n g t i m e c o m i n g :
II Peter 2:

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffer s will come, scoffing and
3

following their own evil desires. 4 Th ey will say, Where is this coming he promised? E ver since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by Gods word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and

earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment an d destruction of the ungodly. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
8

T h e u n s a v e d w i l l b e s h o c k e d , f r i g h t

e n e d a n d c o n f u s e d . B u t f o r u s w h o b

e l i e v e i n G o d t h e S o n a n d H i s P a r e n

t s , G o d t h e F a t h e r a n d t h e H o l y S p i

r i t , w e s h o u l d n o t b e f e a r f i l l e d a

n d u p s e t a t w h a t s t o c o m e : L u k e 2 1

: 2 8 A n d w h e n t h e s e t h i n g s b e g i n t o

c o m e t o p a s s , t h e n l o o k u p , a n d l i f

t u p y o u r h e a d s ; f o r y o u r r e d e m p t i o

n d r a w e t h n i g h .

W H Y B E L I E V E R S S H O U

L D B E H A P P Y F O R W H A T S T O C O M E 1) T h e

W o r l d S y s t e m S u c k s T h i s w o r l d s y s t

e m i s u n r i g h t e o u s . T h i n g s h a v e b e e n

s e t u p t o g r i n d t h e p o o r a n d h e l p l

e s s i n t o t h e d i r t . F o r i n s t a n c e , l o

o k a t t h e s y s t e m c a l l e d P l a n n e d P a r

e n t h o o d . T h e y p r o f e s s t o b e f o r t h e

p o o r b y h e l p i n g t h e m c o n t r o l u n w

a n t e d b i r t h s . B u t t h e t r u t h i s t h a t

P l a n n e d P a r e n t h o o d i s f o r t h e s t e r

i l i z a t i o n o f t h e p o o r , t h e t e r m i n a t

i o n o f m i n o r i t i e s a n d t h e s y s t e m a t i

c e x t e r m i n a t i o n o f u n b o r n c h i l d r e n

e v e r y w h e r e . J u s t l o o k a t t h i s q u o t e

f r o m t h e f o u n d r e s s , M a r g a r e t S a n g e

r :
Throughout the 200+ pages of <The Pivot of Civilization > Sanger called for the elimination of human weeds: "for the cessation of charity, for the segregation of morons, misfits, and maladjusted, " and for the sterilizatio n of "genetically inferior races."[7] In this same book she argued that organized attempts to help the poor were the "surest sign that our civilization has bred, is breeding, and is perpetuating . . . defectives, delinquents, and dependents." [8]

T h a t s j u s t o n e o f m a n y g r o u p s o u t

t h e r e d r i p p i n g b l o o d f r o m t h e i r h a n

d s . M i l l i o n s o f b a b i e s h a v e b e e n m u

r d e r e d b y a b o r t i o n . 1 3 m i l l i o n o f t

h e m w e r e t h e o f f s p r i n g o f A m e r i c a n

B l a c k p e o p l e . Y e t e v e r y o n e , i n c l u d i

n g t h e B l a c k P r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i t e

d S t a t e s i s r e m a r k a b l y s i l e n t a b o u t

t h i s H o l o c a u s t . W h y ? B e c a u s e t h e s

y s t e m w e l i v e u n d e r i s t a i n t e d b y s

a t a n i t s e l f . E v i l l o v e s t o b e a t , r a

p e , s t a r v e , o p p r e s s a n d d e s t r o y t h e

i n n o c e n t . B u t n o o n e w a n t s t o s p e a

k o u t b e c a u s e w e a g r e e w i t h t h e s y s

t e m , i g n o r e i t s e v i l s o r f e e l h e l p l

e s s t o d o a n y t h i n g a b o u t i t . I w a s

a r o u n d w h e n a b o r t i o n w a s f i r s t l e g

a l i z e d . I f t h e C h u r c h h a d n t b e e n s

o c o m p l a c e n t i t w o u l d h a v e c a l l e d e

v e r y o n e t o w o r l d w i d e a c t i o n . C h r i s t

i a n i t y w o u l d f a s t e d , p r a y e d , p i c k e t

e d , s a t i n a n d r a l l i e d a g a i n s t t h i s

e v i l u n t i l t h e w o r l d b o w e d i t s h e a

d a n d g a v e i n t o t h e B o d y o f C h r i s t

. T h a t s w h a t h a p p e n e d i n t h e C i v i l

R i g h t s M o v e m e n t ! O n c e t h e C h u r c h t

o o k a s t a n c e a n d f o u g h t t h e g o o d f i

g h t n o n v i o l e n t l y , J i m C r o w l a w s t h a

t s e g r e g a t e d p e o p l e a n d o p p r e s s e d a

w h o l e n a t i o n f e l l a p a r t i n a m a t t e

r o f t e n y e a r s . N o w i t i s e n t r e n c h e

d . I t c a n t g o o n t h i s w a y . O u r l a

c k o f a c t i o n h a s l e f t t h e L o r d n o c

h o i c e . U n l e s s H e c o m e s b a c k , n o r i g

h t e o u s o r i n n o c e n t p e r s o n w i l l b e l

e f t u p o n t h e e a r t h . T h e y w i l l e i t h e

r b e d e a d o r c o r r u p t e d . J o h n t h e R e

v e l a t o r u n d e r s t o o d t h i s . T h a t s w h y

h e e n d s h i s B o o k o f R e v e l a t i o n w i t

h t h e w o r d s : Rev 22: 20 He
who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

C o m e b a c k s

o o n , i n d e e d ! 2) T h e S e c o n d C o m i n g M e a n

s A n E n d T o S i n W h e n w i l l w e u n d e r

s t a n d t h a t t h e g r e a t e s t e v i l i n e x i

s t e n c e i s S A Y I N G N O T O G O D ? N o t h i n g

e l s e i s t r u l y e v i l . S I N i s t h e o n l

y r e a l e v i l i n t h i s w o r l d a n d i n t h

e n e x t . S i n r o b s u s o f H e a v e n , s e n d

s u s t o H e l l , a n d c a u s e s e v e r y b i t

o f p a i n , s u f f e r i n g a n d m i s e r y w e s e

e a r o u n d u s . T h i n k a b o u t i t . F o r e

x a m p l e , t a k e e a r t h q u a k e s . I f p e o p l e

l i s t e n e d t o t h e L o r d t h e y w o u l d n o

t b u i l d a r o u n d a n e a r t h q u a k e f a u l t

i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e . T h e y w o u l d b e l

e d b y t h e H o l y S p i r i t t o l i v e w h e r e

t h i n g s a r e s a f e a n d s e c u r e i n s t e a d

o f s h a k y a n d h a z a r d o u s . I f t h e y d i

d g e t h i t b y a n e a r t h q u a k e , t h e y w o

u l d p r o b a b l y h a v e s o m e o n e w h o c o u l d

h e a r G o d w e l l e n o u g h t o t e l l t h e m

w h e n i t w a s c o m i n g s o t h e y c o u l d g e

t t o s a f e t y b e f o r e i t h a p p e n e d . A n d

i f t h e r e w a s d a m a g e o r a l a c k o f f

o o d a n d w a t e r a f t e r w a r d s , t h e p e o p l

e w h o w e r e s p a r e d w o u l d n a t u r a l l y c

o m e t o t h e i r a i d w i t h o u t h e s i t a t i o n

a n d g e t t h e m t h e s u p p l i e s t h e y n e e

d e d t o m a k e i t t h r o u g h a n d r e b u i l d .

B u t w h e r e s i n a b o u n d s , n a t u r a l d i s a

s t e r s a r e c o m p o u n d e d b y l o o t i n g , v i

o l e n c e a n d o t h e r c r i m e s . I t w a s s i n

t h a t o p e n e d t h e d o o r t o d e a t h , s i c

k n e s s , s u f f e r i n g a n d p a i n i n t h e f i

r s t p l a c e a n d t h r e w t h e e n t i r e w o r l

d i n t o t h e d i s r u p t i o n o f f l o o d s , e a

r t h q u a k e s , f i r e s a n d d r o u g h t s . S i n

i s t h e h i g h e s t f o r m o f e v i l . I t i s

t h e e n e m y o f G o d , t h e b a n e o f h u m a n

i t y , t h e c h a i n s o f C r e a t i o n a n d t h e

o n l y p o w e r s a t a n h a s o v e r u s . I l

o v e G o d a n d G o d l o v e s m e . B u t t h e L

o r d a l s o h a t e s s i n . L o o k a t a C r o s s

a n d w e l l u n d e r s t a n d w h y . T h a t b r o

k e n , b e a t e n a n d b r u i s e d b o d y c o v e r e

d w i t h b l o o d , s p i t a n d f i l t h i s w h a

t o u r s o u l s l o o k l i k e w h e n w e s i n .

J e s u s t o o k o u r p l a c e s o w e d o n t h a

v e t o e n d u p a l l m e s s e d u p i n s i d e .

A n d H e h a s g i v e n u s t h e p o w e r t o l i

v e a l i f e t h a t d o e s n t s u c k u p t o s

i n i f w e c h o o s e t o o b e y H i m a n d s u r

r e n d e r t o t h e H o l y S p i r i t . B u t m a n y

t i m e s w e j u s t g o a h e a d a n d g i v e i n

t o e v i l . A n d t h e r e g o e s C h r i s t b a c

k o n t h e C r o s s h a v i n g t o a b s o r b s t i

l l m o r e o f o u r m e s s .

I d o n t k n o w

a b o u t y o u b u t I a m S I C K o f s i n . I

h a t e i t . I h a t e i t s p o w e r o v e r o t h e

r p e o p l e a n d I d e s p i s e i t i n m y s e l f

. S o e v e n s o , C O M E B A C K L O R D J E S U S !

3) W e W i l l H a v e a N e w H e a v e n a n d a N

e w E a r t h N o m o r e m u r d e r . N o m o r e r a

p e . N o m o r e s t e a l i n g , l y i n g , c h e a t i

n g , o r c o n n i v i n g . P e o p l e a n d a n i m a

l s l i v i n g i n h a r m o n y : I s a i a h 1 1
T h e

w o l f w i l l l i v e w i t h t h e l a m b ,

t h e l e o p a

r d w i l l l i e d o w n w i t h t h e g o a t , t h e c a l f a

n d t h e l i o n a n d t h e y e a r l i n g
[ a ]

t o g e t h e r ;

a n d a l i t t l e c h i l d w i l l l e a d t h e m .
7

T h e

c o w w i l l f e e d w i t h t h e b e a r ,

t h e i r y o u n g

w i l l l i e d o w n t o g e t h e r ,

a n d t h e l i o n w i

l l e a t s t r a w l i k e t h e o x .

T h e i n f a n t w i

l l p l a y n e a r t h e c o b r a s d e n ,

a n d t h e y o

u n g c h i l d w i l l p u t i t s h a n d i n t o t h e v i p e r

 s n e s t .
9

T h e y w i l l n e i t h e r h a r m n o r d e s t

r o y

o n a l l m y h o l y m o u n t a i n ,

f o r t h e e

a r t h w i l l b e f i l l e d w i t h t h e k n o w l e d g e o f

t h e L
O R D

a s t h e w a t e r s c o v e r t h e s e a .

I t

w i l l b e H e a v e n o n e a r t h a n d I c a n

h a r d l y w a i t . L i k e J e s u s s a y s , t h e s e

E n d T i m e s a r e l i k e a w o m a n h a v i n g

a b a b y . T h e b i r t h p a n g s h u r t l i k e H

e l l . B u t s h e d o e s n t c a r e o n c e t h e

b a b y i s o u t a n d l y i n g h e a l t h y i n h e

r a r m s . S o t o o w i l l i t b e i n t h e s e

E n d T i m e s . T h r e e a n d a h a l f y e a r s o

f u t t e r H e l l a n d t h e n J e s u s i s h e r e

t o s e t t h i n g s r i g h t s . H U R R Y H O M E ,

L O R D J E S U S !

S O H O W D O W E S U R V I V E

I N T H E S E E N D T I M E S U N T I L J E S U S G E T S

B A C K H E R E T O V I S I B L Y R U L E A N D R E I G

N ? P h y s i c a l l y 1) G e t I n S h a p e L o s e w e i g h

t . L i f t w e i g h t s . L e a r n h o w t o r u n .

G e t i n t o w a l k i n g . D o n t d e s p a i r i f

y o u c a n t d o i t a l l a t o n c e . I t t a k

e s t i m e t o g e t s t r o n g e r a n d m o r e a c

t i v e . B u t D O s o m e t h i n g ! W a t e r a e r o b

i c s i s a g r e a t w a y t o g e t y o u r b o d y

m o v i n g a n d b e c o m e s t r o n g . 2) L e a r n H o

w T o F i g h t B e i n g a b l e t o d e f e n d y o u r

s e l f , y o u r k i d s a n d o t h e r s i s a n e c

e s s i t y i n t h e s e E n d T i m e s . P e o p l e w

i l l b e g o i n g c r a z y a n d b e c o m i n g p o s

s e s s e d . K n o w h o w t o d i s a r m , d i s a b l e

o r t a k e o u t s o m e o n e w h o i s t h r e a t e

n i n g y o u , y o u r f a m i l y o r o t h e r s . L e

a r n h o w t o s h o o t a h a n d g u n a n d a s h

o t g u n ,

L e a r n h o w t o u s e a k n i f e o r

a b o w . F i n d o u t h o w t o g e t a w a y f r

o m a n a t t a c k e r a n d p r o t e c t y o u r h o m

e . R e m e m b e r S a i n t G a b r i e l o f t h e S o

r r o w s . H e w a s m o n k b u t h e k n e w h o w

t o u s e a p i s t o l a n d h e s a v e d a t o w n

f u l l o f y o u n g g i r l s f r o m b e i n g r a p

e d b y b a n d i t s b e c a u s e h e h a d t h a t s

k i l l . S w o r d , b o w , k n i f e , g u n , s t i c k

a n d s p e a r l e a r n o n e , t w o o r l e a r n

t h e m a l l . Y o u l l n e v e r r e g r e t i t .

3) S t o r e F o o d , W a t e r a n d N e c e s s i t i e s M a

t c h e s , c a n d l e s , c a n n e d g o o d s , g r a i n

s i n t i g h t c o n t a i n e r s , d r i e d f r u i t

a n d v e g e t a b l e s , r i c e , v i t a m i n s , b l a

n k e t s , f i r e w o o d , w a t e r , t o i l e t p a p

e r , c h o c o l a t e , s u g a r , h o n e y , c o f f e e

, t e a s t a r t s t o r i n g t h e m n o w . G e t a

s m a n y f i r s t a i d k i t s , h e r b s a n d o v

e r t h e c o u n t e r m e d i c i n e s a s y o u c a n

B u y t h i n g s y o u c a n b a r t e r w h e n m

o n e y i s n o l o n g e r g o o d . M y m o t h e r u

s e d t o b u y m e s i l v e r c o i n s t h r e e t i

m e s a y e a r . T h a t s w h a t h e l p e d m e f

i n i s h m y c e r t i f i c a t i o n i n C h i n e s e M

e d i c i n e . T h a t p r a c t i c e a l s o h e l p e d

k e e p t h e h e a t , l i g h t s a n d r e n t g o i n

g i n m a n y h o u s e h o l d s I k n o w o f o v e r

t h e y e a r s . P i c k u p s i l v e r a n d g o l d

w h e n y o u h a v e t h e m o n e y . Y o u l l n e

v e r r e g r e t i t . P s y c h o l o g i c a l l y 1) G e t

G a m e s a n d B o o k s T h a t C a n P a s s T h e T

i m e a n d E x e r c i s e t h e M i n d C r o s s w o r d

p u z z l e s , b o a r d g a m e s , c a r d s c a n p a s

s t h e t i m e a w a y w e l l a t l i t t l e c o s t

. O l d e n c y c l o p e d i a s c a n t e a c h y o u a

l o t a n d k e e p y o u f r o m b e i n g b o r e d .

T h i n k a b o u t b e i n g c o o p e d u p i n t h e

s a m e p l a c e f o r m o n t h s . Y o u n e e d s o

m e t h i n g t o g e t t h e t i m e t o p a s s . G a

m e s a n d b o o k s c a n h e l p w i t h t h a t . I

f t h e r e i s s t i l l e l e c t r i c i t y , c e r t a

i n v i d e o g a m e s c a n h e l p t h e r e a l s o .

2) L e a r n T o C o n t r o l Y o u r F e a r s J e s u s s a

i d t h a t m a n y p e o p l e w i l l d i e f r o m f

e a r i n t h e E n d T i m e s . D o n t b e o n e

o f t h e m . I f y o u h a v e s o m e t h i n g y o u

r e s c a r e d o f c h a l l e n g e i t a s m u c h a

s p o s s i b l e s o s a t a n l o s e s a n a d v a n t

a g e o v e r y o u . F o r e x a m p l e a r e y o u s

c a r e d o f t h e d a r k ? P l a n o f s i t t i n g

i n t h e d a r k d e l i b e r a t e l y u n t i l i t n

o l o n g e r f r i g h t e n s y o u . D o s n a k e s o

r s p i d e r s f r e a k y o u o u t ? G o t o t h e

z o o a n d p e t a s n a k e u n t i l y o u l i k e

t h e m . F e e d s p i d e r s u n t i l y o u e n j o y

t h e i r c o m p a n y . R e m e m b e r t h a t w h e n S

a i n t F e l i x w a s h i d i n g f r o m p e r s e c u t

i o n , h e a s k e d G o d t o s a v e h i s l i f e

a s t h e s o l d i e r s a p p r o a c h e d . S o G o d

s e n t s p i d e r s t o s p i n w e b s a c r o s s t h

e o p e n i n g o f t h e c a v e w h e r e h e w a s

h i d i n g . W h e n t h e y s a w t h e w e b , t h e

s o l d i e r s c o n c l u d e d t h a t h e m u s t h a v

e g o n e t h e o t h e r w a y b e c a u s e t h e w e

b s w e r e a l l i n t a c t ! B a d t i m e s m a k e f

o r o d d a l l i a n c e s . D o n t l e t f e a r k e

e p y o u f r o m b e i n g s a f e o r s a v e d b y

t h i n g s t h a t y o u h a t e . S p i r i t u a l l y

1) R e a d , M e m o r i z e a n d S p e a k t h e W o r d o

f G o d T h e r e i s n o t h i n g l i k e t h e W o r d

o f G o d . G e t i t i n t o y o u r h e a r t s o

i t c o m e s o u t o f y o u r m o u t h a n d r u n s

y o u r m i n d . U n d e r t h e p r e s s u r e o f p

e r s e c u t i o n a n d p a i n , S c r i p t u r e w i l l

s a v e y o u r s a n i t y a n d s p i r i t . I t i s

y o u r w e a p o n , y o u r s h i e l d a n d y o u r

p o w e r o v e r e v i l . U s e i t t o f i g u r e o

u t h o w t o l i v e a n d r e s p o n d t o e v e r y

d a y l i f e u n d e r t h e A n t i c h r i s t 2) L i v e P

r o p h e t i c a l l y T h e i d e a o f F i v e M i n u t e

s f o r G o d e v e r y d a y a n d g i v i n g f i v e

c e n t s t o t h e G o d e v e r y d a y i s t o t

r a i n u s t o T H I N K a t G o d a l l t h e t i m

e a n d G I V E t o G o d e v e r y t h i n g w e h a v

e . R e m e m b e r t h e B o y w i t h l o a v e s a n d

f i s h e s . G o d m u l t i p l i e d t h e f o o d a n

d f e d 5 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e w i t h t h a t o f f e r i

n g . I f w e l i v e o u r l i v e s N O W l e a r n i

n g h o w t o s h a r e a n d g i v e a n d n o t b e

s c a r e d o r w h i n y , t h e n i t w i l l b e e

a s i e r w h e n G o d s a y s G I V E u n d e r e x t r

e m e c i r c u m s t a n c e s . 3) P r a c t i c e t h e W a r

r i o r V i r t u e s T h e y a l l c o u n t , b u t t h e

b e s t o n e s a r e t h e o n e s p e o p l e d e s p

i s e .

T h e r e a r e a b j e c t a n d h o n o u r a b

l e v i r t u e s ; f o r t h e w o r l d g e n e r a l l y

d e s p i s e s p a t i e n c e , g e n t l e n e s s , s i m

p l i c i t y , a n d e v e n h u m i l i t y i t s e l f ,

w h i l e , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , i t h i g h l y e

s t e e m s p r u d e n c e , v a l o u r , a n d l i b e r a

l i t y . S o m e t i m e s e v e n t h e r e m a y b e a

l i k e d i s t i n c t i o n d r a w n b e t w e e n a c t

s o f o n e a n d t h e s a m e v i r t u e o n e b e

i n g d e s p i s e d a n d t h e o t h e r r e s p e c t e

d . T h u s a l m s g i v i n g a n d f o r g i v e n e s s

o f i n j u r i e s a r e b o t h a c t s o f c h a r i t

y , b u t w h i l e e v e r y o n e e s t e e m s t h e

f i r s t , t h e w o r l d l o o k s d o w n u p o n t h

e l a s t . ( S t . F r a n c i s D e L a S a l e s I n t r

o d u c t i o n t o D e v o u t L i f e ) P a t i e n c e i

s a V i r t u e f o r t h e E n d T i m e s b e c a u s

e i t h e l p s u s e n d u r e s u f f e r i n g w i t h

o u t m o a n i n g , g r o a n i n g o r c o m p l a i n i n

g . T h i n k o f T h e D i a r y o f A n n e F r a n k

. T h a t p o o r g i r l h a d t o l i v e f o r y e

a r s i n t h e s a m e s p a c e w i t h o u t m a k i n

g a n y n o i s e w i t h t h e s a m e p e o p l e d a

y a f t e r d a y . I f w e c a n n o t g e t a l o n g

w i t h t h e p e o p l e a r o u n d u s w h e n w e

c a n c a t c h a b r e a k f r o m t h e m e v e r y o

n c e i n a w h i l e , w h a t w i l l w e d o w h e

n w e h a v e t o l i v e u p c l o s e a n d p e r s

o n a l ? G e n t l e n e s s i s s o m e t i m e s c a l l e

d M e e k n e s s . W e o f t e n l a u g h a t p e o p l

e w h o a r e u n a g g r e s s i v e a n d u n a s s u m i

n g . Y e t t h e s e p e o p l e a r e t h e o n e s w

h o w i l l i n h e r i t t h e e a r t h i n t h e T i

m e s T o C o m e . W h y ? B e c a u s e g e n t l e a n

d m e e k p e o p l e a r e k i n d l y , f o r g i v i n g

a n d t o l e r a n t . T h e y a r e p l e a s a n t t o

l i v e a r o u n d a n d e a s y t o l o v e . E v e n

t h e w i c k e d l i k e t h e l i k a b l e . M y f a

t h e r w a s m e e k b u t n o t w e a k . D a d d y w

a s a n y t h i n g b u t a p u s h o v e r , b u t h e

w a s e v e r y b i t t h e g e n t l e m a n . A n d

I a d m i r e h i m f o r i t . W h a t e l s e w o u l

d y o u c a l l s o m e o n e w h o w o u l d d e f e n d

h i s l i f e a g a i n s t a M a f i a e n f o r c e r

a n d t h e n p u t i c e o n t h e g u y s w o u n d

s o u t o f c o m p a s s i o n f o r h i s p a i n ?

S i m p l i c i t y i s v i t a l f o r t h e E n d T i m

e s b e c a u s e t h e a b i l i t y t o l i v e p l a i

n l y , s i m p l y a n d w i t h o u t p r i d e o r a i

r s w i l l h e l p w h e n w e h a v e t o g o b a c

k t o t h e b a s i c s . T h a t g o e s h a n d i n

h a n d w i t h h u m i l i t y . W e c a n n o t g o a r

o u n d t h i n k i n g w e r e a l l t h a t w h e n t

h e w o r l d i s b r o u g h t d o w n l o w . A s S

a i n t F r a n c i s w r i t e s : ELISHA bade the poor widow borrow vessels, even empty vessels not a few, and pour oil into all those vessels; 65 a nd so in order to receive

Gods Grace in our hearts, they must be as empty vesselsnot filled with self-esteem. The swallow with its sharp cry and keen glance has the power of frightening away birds of prey, and for that reason the dove prefers it to all other birds, and lives surely beside it; even so humility drives Satan away, and cherishes the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit within us, and for that reason all the Saintsand especially the King of

Saints and His Blessed Mother have always esteemed the grace of humility above all other virtues. We call that vainglory which men take to themselves, either for what is not in them, or which being in them is not their own, or which being in them and their own yet is not worthy of their selfsatisfaction. For instance, noble birth, favour of great men, popular applause, all these are things nowise

belonging to ourselves, but coming from our forefathers, or the opinion of others. Some people are proud and conceited because they ride a fine horse, wear a feather in their hat, and are expensively dressed, but who can fail to see their folly, or that if any one has reason to be proud over such things, it would be the horse, the bird, and the tailor! Or what can be more contemptible than to found ones credit o

n a horse, a plume, or a ruff? Others again pride themselves upon theidainty moustaches, their welltrimmed beard or curled hair, their white hands, or their dancing, singing and the like: but is it not a petty vanity which can seek to be esteemed for any such trivial and frivolous matters? Then again, some look for the worlds respect and honour because they have acquired some

smatterings of science, expecting all their neighbours to listen and yield to them, and such men we call pedants. Others make great capital of their personal beauty, and imagine that every one is lost in admiration of it; but all this is utterly vain, foolish and impertinent, and the glory men take to themselves for such matters must be called vain, childish and frivolous. You may test real

worth as we test balm, which is tried by being distilled in water, and if it is precipitated to the bottom, it is known to be pure and precious. So if you want to know whether a man is really wise, learned, generous or noble, see if his life is moulded by humility, modesty and submission. If so, his gifts are genuine; but if they are only surface and showy, you may be sure that in proportion to

their demonstrativ eness so is their unreality. Those pearls which are formed amid tempest and storm have only an outward shell, and are hollow within; and so when a mans good qualities are fed by pride, vanity and boasting, they will soon have nothing save empty show, without sap, marrow or substance. I f w e

a r e t o s u r v i v e t h e E n d T i m e s i t m i g

h t b e i n u g l y c l o t h e s a n d t i g h t s h o

e s o r m a y b e n o s h o e s a t a l l . I f w e

h a v e t h e a b i l i t y t o l e t g o o f t h e s e

t h i n g s n o w , w e w o n t f r e a k o u t w h e

n w e h a v e t o r u n o r h i d e w i t h o u t t h

e s e t h i n g s . R e m e m b e r L o t s W i f e !

4) L e a r n T o L i v e B e y o n d T h i s W o r l d D e a t

h i s n o t t h e e n d . W e b e t t e r l e a r n t

o l i v e t h a t t r u t h e v e r y d a y b e c a u s e

s o m e o f u s a r e g o i n g t o d i e a s m a r

t y r s . I f w e a r e t o o s c a r e d t o f a c e

t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t e v i l m i g h t k i l

l u s o r w e m i g h t h a v e t o g i v e u p o u

r e a r t h l y e x i s t e n c e t o s a v e s o m e o n e

e l s e , t h e n s a t a n w i l l w i n t h r o u g h

o u r c o w a r d i c e .

P a r e n t s u n d e r s t a n d

t h a t y o u r c h i l d r e n d o n o t b e l o n g t o

y o u . T h e y b e l o n g t o G o d ! I f y o u r c

h i l d i s f a c e d w i t h t a k i n g t h e M a r k

o f E v i l o r d y i n g a h o r r i b l e d e a t h ,

d o y o u r d u t y t o y o u r c h i l d a n d y o u r

G o d a n d e n c o u r a g e t h e m t o d i e w i t h

C h r i s t r a t h e r t h a n l i v e a s a d e m o n

p o s s e s s e d m o n s t e r . I k n o w t h a t s o u

n d s h a r s h b u t D E A T H W I T H G O D I S B E T

T E R T H A N L I F E W I T H S A T A N : I t W o n t

B e F o r e v e r F o r e v e r i s c o m i n g . T h e W

o r d t e l l s u s t h a t t h e s e E n d T i m e s w

i l l o n l y l a s t s e v e n y e a r s a t t h e m o

s t . I t h i n k w e r e h a l f w a y t h r o u g h

n o w , ( I h o p e ) B u t w e m u s t p l a n o n s

u r v i v i n g t h e s e E n d T i m e s t h e b e s t w

a y w e c a n a n d l o o k t o t h e L o r d t o d

o t h e r e s t .

N e x t w e e k w e w i l l l o o k

a t t h e C h a s t i s e m e n t a n d w h a t G o d h

a s t o l d u s t o d o t o s u r v i v e t h e l i t

e r a l r e l e a s e o f H e l l o n e a r t h . G o d

b l e s s y o u . B T +