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Wednesday, January 16, 2008
The Boys in Red from the tragedy in Bathurst will officially be in the hands of God this afternoon!!!!
SPIRITUAL LIVING
Prayer and Devotions
Jesus at Prayer
by Father Paul Campbell, LC
Resolution: Offer up your day for the work of evangelization in your parish.
January 16, 2008
Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 1:29-39
As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed and Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for this time we will spend together. Help me to use it well. Let all my thoughts be pleasing to you. Increase the desire in my heart to step away from the world and all its activities to be alone with you. Please teach me how to pray.
Petition: Lord, increase my love for prayer and the interior life.
1. A Man for Others Here is Jesus in action. He works tirelessly from morning to night. He never thinks of himself. He never says he’s too tired or too busy to serve someone or to give others part of his time. He is there for everyone, and he keeps pushing himself to do more and more. He loves, and his love compels him to give himself to everyone around him without counting the cost. The whole city gathers to see him, and he opens his heart to all. He teaches. He heals the sick. He casts out demons. He is a man for others.
2. A Man of Prayer After a full day of work, Jesus rested for just a little while, and then he rose early for prayer. There was a balance between his apostolic work and his life of prayer. Jesus wasn’t too busy to seek the solitude necessary to speak heart-to-heart with his Father. He found strength in prayer. He strengthened his resolve to follow his Father’s plan in prayer. He was absorbed in prayer for so long that the others began to go in search of him. Prayer wasn’t just a one-time activity; it was part of his daily routine.
3. Everyone Is Searching for Him “Everyone is searching for you,” they said when they found Christ. They express the desires of every person. We all need God. He is the deepest desire of the human heart. God is searching for us, too. Jesus gets up from his prayer and heads out to the next town. We are searching for Christ, and he is searching for us. Where do we meet him? In prayer. In prayer we speak heart-to-heart with the one whom we know loves us. In prayer we can speak about the things that are important to us and about those things that are most important to him. This vital encounter gives light and strength to every other encounter we will have during the rest of the day.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, help me to put you first in my life, by giving you the best of my time. Help me not to give into laziness, but to rise early in the morning so that I can be with you. I need you in my life. Help me to experience your love so that I can share it with others. Help me to give myself to your plan of salvation and to reach out to those who are searching for you.
Resolution: I will offer up my day for the work of evangelization in my parish.
HOW COME THE P.C. PARTY NEVER QUESTIONED THE DEATH OF ASHLEY SMITH???
In my view? I believe this is just a way for the system to jail the poor for years.
They are arrested like me in Saint John and are told they have to represent themself in court.
The less fortunate are found guilty and put on probation.
After they break their probation? They are jailed for years and years.
This is the system in New Brunswick and this is the reason the P.C.'S never questioned the Government.
WHAT A SYSTEM WE WILL IN!!!!
They are arrested like me in Saint John and are told they have to represent themself in court.
The less fortunate are found guilty and put on probation.
After they break their probation? They are jailed for years and years.
This is the system in New Brunswick and this is the reason the P.C.'S never questioned the Government.
WHAT A SYSTEM WE WILL IN!!!!
ECMA SAYS NO TO BLOGGER REQUEST FOR A MEDIA PASS!!!!
I email two offers but they never replied to their emails.
I guess it's a snobby affair anyway!!!!
No pics in this blog.
I guess it's a snobby affair anyway!!!!
No pics in this blog.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
WILLIE O'REE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE HONOURED TONIGHT!!!
The City of Fredericton are going to name their new rink after this hero.
TRANSPORT TRUCK STUCK IN UNDERPASS NEAR THE WALKING TRAIL BRIDGE!!!
I took these pics tonight on my daily walk around the bridges....Nobody was hurt....
ANOTHER CANADIAN SOLDIER DIES!!!!
We got to get out of there!!!!
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/afghan_cda_death
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/afghan_cda_death
Fredericton makes the 2008 Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the world!!!
I guess Fred E-Zone played a role in this one!!!
Intelligent Community Forum Announces the 2008 Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year
Group of seven communities from around the world are finalists for 2008 Intelligent Community of the Year award; three communities named to list for the second time; America contributes three communities to the list for the first time
(Honolulu, January 14, 2008) -The Intelligent Community Forum announced today its list of the Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year, each a model for economic development in the 21st Century, at PTC'08 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Top Seven announcement is the second stage of ICF's annual Intelligent Community awards cycle. Gaining a place among the Top Seven is a major achievement as well as a step toward even greater recognition for communities working to create prosperity and social inclusion in what ICF terms "the broadband economy."
The Top Seven were selected, based on analysis by academic experts, from among the Smart21 Communities of the Year, a group of semi-finalists named by ICF on October 25, 2007 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, which was the 2007 Intelligent Community of the Year. On May 16, one of the Top Seven will be named 2008's Intelligent Community of the Year during ICF's Building the Broadband Economy annual summit in New York City.
Cities in the US, Canada, Estonia, South Korea, and the UK
At a PTC'08 reception honoring the Smart21 Communities, ICF co-founder Louis A. Zacharilla announced the 2008 Top Seven. He noted that, for the first time, the Top Seven included three American communities, plus three from the rest of the world that were named to the list a second time. Listed in alphabetical order, the 2008 Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year are:
Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom. This former industrial center known for "jute, jam and journalism" has transformed itself through intensive government-academic-business collaboration and broadband deployment into a UK center for life sciences and digital media. An innovative smart card for citizens was so successful that the Scottish Government asked Dundee to run its national program. With rising net job growth and business starts, Dundee has created a Digital Observatory to track its future progress as an Intelligent Community. (Top Seven 2007)
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. This community of 50,000 was a broadband "have not" until the City Council led an effort to aggregate public-sector, university and business demand and created e-Novations, its own fiber carrier, then launched the Fred-eZone wireless network offering free connectivity across the city. Today, Fredericton contains 70% of the province's knowledge-based businesses and is using ICT to substantially reduce its carbon footprint.
Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea. With only 2.5% of Seoul's population, this district produces 25% of the city's economic activity, and has invested its wealth in the next generation of e-government. Since 1995, a relentless digital drive has reduced the cost of government while delivering online services, education, quality of life programs and e-democracy to citizens. Over 70% of citizens have received ICT training through schools, community centers and a TV GOV program. (Top Seven 2007)
Northeast Ohio, USA. The communities of this region are rising from the ashes of deindustrialization to recreate the entrepreneurial business, political and social culture that produced its first wave of prosperity. A successful fiber network deployment by OneCommunity has been leveraged by government and nonprofits to jumpstart new investment, improve healthcare delivery, bring the best in culture and education to urban schools, and engage tens of thousands of area leaders in collaboration over regional economic development.
Tallinn, Estonia. A suggestion by Estonia's president in 1995 that schools be connected to the Internet led to an ICT revolution that has linked 100% of Tallinn's secondary schools to the Web and established over 600 public access points. More than 100,000 adults have received ICT training, while e-government programs have produced one of the most advanced smart card systems in Europe and a middleware program that slashes the costs of e-government. It was not until 2004 that the last Russian troops left the country, yet today, Tallinn receives 77% of all foreign direct investment into Estonia and seven out of ten in its workforce are in the service sector. (Top Seven 2007)
Westchester County, New York, USA. This suburb of New York City was largely ignored by broadband carriers until it amassed demand from public agencies and built a multi-gigabit fiber network that now serves over 3,500 companies. Determined to maintain the quality of life that is its most compelling advantage, the county has invested in promoting business growth, improving the skills of its workforce and fighting digital exclusion in a community that has seen new immigrants become 35% of its population.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. Powerful government-business-academic collaboration led by Wake Forest University permitted this former "tobacco capital" to build a fiber network that spurred demand and led to an 88% broadband penetration rate. The partners have used this digital foundation to develop free computer labs across the region, create an e-government portal that is number three in the nation, and build a sustainable ICT skills training program. The city and county now count 37,000 biotech employees as residents and will fund a program to put PCs and broadband connections into the homes of low-income students.
A Highly-Anticipated 10-Month, International Awards Program
On January 14, the Smart21 were honored at a reception at the Pacific Telecommunications Council’s annual conference, PTC'08, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hosted by ICF, the reception was sponsored by Korea Telecom, Metrocomnet and Globecomm Systems. The reception was preceded by a panel discussion with community CIOs and regional business leaders led by Mr. Zacharilla titled "The Rise of the Intelligent Community: Digital Age Visions for the Asia-Pacific Region."
On May 16, 2008, one of the Top Seven will be named Intelligent Community of the Year during the annual Building the Broadband Economy summit at Polytechnic University in New York City. In addition to the Intelligent Community of the Year, ICF will present awards for the Broadband Application of the Year, Intelligent Facility of the Year and honor the Intelligent Community Visionary of the Year. Building the Broadband Economy on May 14-16 is produced in association with Polytechnic University, home to three Nobel Prize recipients, and will feature speakers including Nicola Villa, Global Director, Connected Urban Development at Cisco Systems; Dianah Neff, Senior Partner at Civitium and Philadelphia's former CIO; and Lee Rainie, Founding Director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, as well as community leaders from around the world.
Selection Process, Sustainability Theme
Following the naming of the Smart21, academic researchers conduct a thorough review of the nominations and generate quantitative scores in the five Intelligent Community Indicators developed by ICF. In addition, according to ICF Chairman John G. Jung, each year's analysis includes a theme that changes from year to year. "In 2008, our theme was sustainability. 'Sustainability' refers to economic viability and smart growth, as well as programs that reduce pollution and curb carbon emissions. Increasingly, Intelligent Communities strive for sustainability in all of these areas."
Speaking of the Top Seven, Mr. Jung added, "In these outstanding communities, the act of building a broadband network with a sustainable business model became a catalyst for efforts on many fronts to create economic growth, social inclusion and environmental stewardship. The network was the starting point, but the communities went on from there to develop a powerful culture of use, which proved transformative. They are inspiring models from which we all continue to learn."
About ICF: Life in the Broadband Economy
ICF is a nonprofit think tank that focuses on the creation of local prosperity and social inclusion in the "broadband economy" of the 21st Century. ICF conducts research, hosts events, offers tours of Intelligent Communities, publishes newsletters and presents awards to help communities understand the opportunities and challenges of the broadband economy, and to promote best practices in economic and social development.
From global networks connecting business centers to DSL, cable and satellites linking homes, broadband is revolutionizing business, government, education, work and lifestyles. Life in the broadband economy is robust. By opening markets, it creates new jobs and gives new focus and hope to communities in transition. By making possible the export of services and skills, it puts workers into wage and skill competition with people around the globe. For governments, it creates the opportunity for unprecedented transparency and responsiveness but also challenges policymakers to overcome the "digital divide" and use ICT to reduce social and economic exclusion.
Intelligent Community Forum Announces the 2008 Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year
Group of seven communities from around the world are finalists for 2008 Intelligent Community of the Year award; three communities named to list for the second time; America contributes three communities to the list for the first time
(Honolulu, January 14, 2008) -The Intelligent Community Forum announced today its list of the Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year, each a model for economic development in the 21st Century, at PTC'08 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Top Seven announcement is the second stage of ICF's annual Intelligent Community awards cycle. Gaining a place among the Top Seven is a major achievement as well as a step toward even greater recognition for communities working to create prosperity and social inclusion in what ICF terms "the broadband economy."
The Top Seven were selected, based on analysis by academic experts, from among the Smart21 Communities of the Year, a group of semi-finalists named by ICF on October 25, 2007 in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, which was the 2007 Intelligent Community of the Year. On May 16, one of the Top Seven will be named 2008's Intelligent Community of the Year during ICF's Building the Broadband Economy annual summit in New York City.
Cities in the US, Canada, Estonia, South Korea, and the UK
At a PTC'08 reception honoring the Smart21 Communities, ICF co-founder Louis A. Zacharilla announced the 2008 Top Seven. He noted that, for the first time, the Top Seven included three American communities, plus three from the rest of the world that were named to the list a second time. Listed in alphabetical order, the 2008 Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the Year are:
Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom. This former industrial center known for "jute, jam and journalism" has transformed itself through intensive government-academic-business collaboration and broadband deployment into a UK center for life sciences and digital media. An innovative smart card for citizens was so successful that the Scottish Government asked Dundee to run its national program. With rising net job growth and business starts, Dundee has created a Digital Observatory to track its future progress as an Intelligent Community. (Top Seven 2007)
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. This community of 50,000 was a broadband "have not" until the City Council led an effort to aggregate public-sector, university and business demand and created e-Novations, its own fiber carrier, then launched the Fred-eZone wireless network offering free connectivity across the city. Today, Fredericton contains 70% of the province's knowledge-based businesses and is using ICT to substantially reduce its carbon footprint.
Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea. With only 2.5% of Seoul's population, this district produces 25% of the city's economic activity, and has invested its wealth in the next generation of e-government. Since 1995, a relentless digital drive has reduced the cost of government while delivering online services, education, quality of life programs and e-democracy to citizens. Over 70% of citizens have received ICT training through schools, community centers and a TV GOV program. (Top Seven 2007)
Northeast Ohio, USA. The communities of this region are rising from the ashes of deindustrialization to recreate the entrepreneurial business, political and social culture that produced its first wave of prosperity. A successful fiber network deployment by OneCommunity has been leveraged by government and nonprofits to jumpstart new investment, improve healthcare delivery, bring the best in culture and education to urban schools, and engage tens of thousands of area leaders in collaboration over regional economic development.
Tallinn, Estonia. A suggestion by Estonia's president in 1995 that schools be connected to the Internet led to an ICT revolution that has linked 100% of Tallinn's secondary schools to the Web and established over 600 public access points. More than 100,000 adults have received ICT training, while e-government programs have produced one of the most advanced smart card systems in Europe and a middleware program that slashes the costs of e-government. It was not until 2004 that the last Russian troops left the country, yet today, Tallinn receives 77% of all foreign direct investment into Estonia and seven out of ten in its workforce are in the service sector. (Top Seven 2007)
Westchester County, New York, USA. This suburb of New York City was largely ignored by broadband carriers until it amassed demand from public agencies and built a multi-gigabit fiber network that now serves over 3,500 companies. Determined to maintain the quality of life that is its most compelling advantage, the county has invested in promoting business growth, improving the skills of its workforce and fighting digital exclusion in a community that has seen new immigrants become 35% of its population.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. Powerful government-business-academic collaboration led by Wake Forest University permitted this former "tobacco capital" to build a fiber network that spurred demand and led to an 88% broadband penetration rate. The partners have used this digital foundation to develop free computer labs across the region, create an e-government portal that is number three in the nation, and build a sustainable ICT skills training program. The city and county now count 37,000 biotech employees as residents and will fund a program to put PCs and broadband connections into the homes of low-income students.
A Highly-Anticipated 10-Month, International Awards Program
On January 14, the Smart21 were honored at a reception at the Pacific Telecommunications Council’s annual conference, PTC'08, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hosted by ICF, the reception was sponsored by Korea Telecom, Metrocomnet and Globecomm Systems. The reception was preceded by a panel discussion with community CIOs and regional business leaders led by Mr. Zacharilla titled "The Rise of the Intelligent Community: Digital Age Visions for the Asia-Pacific Region."
On May 16, 2008, one of the Top Seven will be named Intelligent Community of the Year during the annual Building the Broadband Economy summit at Polytechnic University in New York City. In addition to the Intelligent Community of the Year, ICF will present awards for the Broadband Application of the Year, Intelligent Facility of the Year and honor the Intelligent Community Visionary of the Year. Building the Broadband Economy on May 14-16 is produced in association with Polytechnic University, home to three Nobel Prize recipients, and will feature speakers including Nicola Villa, Global Director, Connected Urban Development at Cisco Systems; Dianah Neff, Senior Partner at Civitium and Philadelphia's former CIO; and Lee Rainie, Founding Director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, as well as community leaders from around the world.
Selection Process, Sustainability Theme
Following the naming of the Smart21, academic researchers conduct a thorough review of the nominations and generate quantitative scores in the five Intelligent Community Indicators developed by ICF. In addition, according to ICF Chairman John G. Jung, each year's analysis includes a theme that changes from year to year. "In 2008, our theme was sustainability. 'Sustainability' refers to economic viability and smart growth, as well as programs that reduce pollution and curb carbon emissions. Increasingly, Intelligent Communities strive for sustainability in all of these areas."
Speaking of the Top Seven, Mr. Jung added, "In these outstanding communities, the act of building a broadband network with a sustainable business model became a catalyst for efforts on many fronts to create economic growth, social inclusion and environmental stewardship. The network was the starting point, but the communities went on from there to develop a powerful culture of use, which proved transformative. They are inspiring models from which we all continue to learn."
About ICF: Life in the Broadband Economy
ICF is a nonprofit think tank that focuses on the creation of local prosperity and social inclusion in the "broadband economy" of the 21st Century. ICF conducts research, hosts events, offers tours of Intelligent Communities, publishes newsletters and presents awards to help communities understand the opportunities and challenges of the broadband economy, and to promote best practices in economic and social development.
From global networks connecting business centers to DSL, cable and satellites linking homes, broadband is revolutionizing business, government, education, work and lifestyles. Life in the broadband economy is robust. By opening markets, it creates new jobs and gives new focus and hope to communities in transition. By making possible the export of services and skills, it puts workers into wage and skill competition with people around the globe. For governments, it creates the opportunity for unprecedented transparency and responsiveness but also challenges policymakers to overcome the "digital divide" and use ICT to reduce social and economic exclusion.
Priere du Jour - Prayer of the Day!!! For the students and teacher in Bathurst!!!
You know something?
I had millions of minutes with Father Brien and the issue of life after death was really debated.
His answer for something tragic like what happen in Bathurst?
It's not for us to understand now but we will truly understand later on....
I sometime wondered about that one???
SPIRITUAL LIVING
Prayer and Devotions
The Authority of Christ
by Father Paul Campbell, LC
Resolution: Do something for Christ today.
January 15, 2008
Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 1:21-28
They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching--with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, help me to put you first in my life. It is easy to get caught up in daily activities. But you are not just another activity. You are my Lord and my God. Help me to believe in you more strongly. Help me to love you more than myself and my plans. Help me to give you the best time for my prayers, and help me to give you the best of myself right now in this time of conversation with you.
Petition:Lord, help me to trust in your Word and the Church’s teachings.
1. Jesus Taught as One with Authority The crowd’s reaction to Jesus shows how different he was from the other rabbis. He did not just have disciples who followed; he called them to himself. He called twelve to be apostles, recalling the twelve tribes of Israel. He was reconstituting the New Israel of God. When he taught, he didn’t simply parrot what others taught or rely on the authority of other teachers. Saint Matthew, in his account of Sermon on the Mount, preserves the flavor of Jesus’ teaching style – “You have heard it said…, but I say to you.” He was God, and so Jesus taught from his own authority. What he revealed was true: God’s plan for our lives. God wants to free sinners from sin and to give them eternal life.
2. Jesus Acted with Authority Jesus’ words not only instructed; they had the power to heal. Among the crowd was a man possessed by a demon. As Jesus spoke the truth of salvation, it disturbed that unclean spirit, making the man cry out in a loud voice. Jesus commanded the spirit to be silent and to come out of the man, and it obeyed. The crowd was again amazed at Christ’s authority.
3. Our Obedience It is not enough simply to jot down that Jesus spoke and acted with power and authority. We must submit to him. We have a choice to make. God asks for the free surrender of our lives to him. He never forces our will. He invites and encourages us. God is patient and good. His plan for our lives is the best plan, but it is our choice whether to surrender our lives to his plan or to keep our lives in our own hands. This is the power of free will: We can say “no” to God. We can reject his plan and deny his revelation. Are there any areas in my life in which I am are not fully submitting to him and his teachings? Are there a few aspects of the Ten Commandments that I avoid thinking about? Are there Church teachings that I haven’t really accepted? Do I show Christ’s authority in my life by my obedience to him?
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I have a hard time accepting everything without complaining. I have to be right. I have to be first. I have to understand everything. If it doesn’t make sense to me, I can’t accept it. If it is hard, I’m slow to respond. Lord, help me to put you first in my life. Help me, Lord, to accept with love all the things that you are sending and permitting in my life. Help me to open my heart to you and your plan.
Resolution: I will do something for Christ today
I had millions of minutes with Father Brien and the issue of life after death was really debated.
His answer for something tragic like what happen in Bathurst?
It's not for us to understand now but we will truly understand later on....
I sometime wondered about that one???
SPIRITUAL LIVING
Prayer and Devotions
The Authority of Christ
by Father Paul Campbell, LC
Resolution: Do something for Christ today.
January 15, 2008
Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 1:21-28
They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching--with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, help me to put you first in my life. It is easy to get caught up in daily activities. But you are not just another activity. You are my Lord and my God. Help me to believe in you more strongly. Help me to love you more than myself and my plans. Help me to give you the best time for my prayers, and help me to give you the best of myself right now in this time of conversation with you.
Petition:Lord, help me to trust in your Word and the Church’s teachings.
1. Jesus Taught as One with Authority The crowd’s reaction to Jesus shows how different he was from the other rabbis. He did not just have disciples who followed; he called them to himself. He called twelve to be apostles, recalling the twelve tribes of Israel. He was reconstituting the New Israel of God. When he taught, he didn’t simply parrot what others taught or rely on the authority of other teachers. Saint Matthew, in his account of Sermon on the Mount, preserves the flavor of Jesus’ teaching style – “You have heard it said…, but I say to you.” He was God, and so Jesus taught from his own authority. What he revealed was true: God’s plan for our lives. God wants to free sinners from sin and to give them eternal life.
2. Jesus Acted with Authority Jesus’ words not only instructed; they had the power to heal. Among the crowd was a man possessed by a demon. As Jesus spoke the truth of salvation, it disturbed that unclean spirit, making the man cry out in a loud voice. Jesus commanded the spirit to be silent and to come out of the man, and it obeyed. The crowd was again amazed at Christ’s authority.
3. Our Obedience It is not enough simply to jot down that Jesus spoke and acted with power and authority. We must submit to him. We have a choice to make. God asks for the free surrender of our lives to him. He never forces our will. He invites and encourages us. God is patient and good. His plan for our lives is the best plan, but it is our choice whether to surrender our lives to his plan or to keep our lives in our own hands. This is the power of free will: We can say “no” to God. We can reject his plan and deny his revelation. Are there any areas in my life in which I am are not fully submitting to him and his teachings? Are there a few aspects of the Ten Commandments that I avoid thinking about? Are there Church teachings that I haven’t really accepted? Do I show Christ’s authority in my life by my obedience to him?
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I have a hard time accepting everything without complaining. I have to be right. I have to be first. I have to understand everything. If it doesn’t make sense to me, I can’t accept it. If it is hard, I’m slow to respond. Lord, help me to put you first in my life. Help me, Lord, to accept with love all the things that you are sending and permitting in my life. Help me to open my heart to you and your plan.
Resolution: I will do something for Christ today
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