Lee Strobel's Conclusions

Lee Strobel and I used some of the same proofs to settle in our mind, whether or not Jesus is Who He says He is.  It's the apostles' behavior after Jesus' crucifixion that convinces me.  Why would they persist in proclaiming Jesus' resurrection, if it were not true?  There's no money in it?  They all were and remained poor their entire lives.  They were persecuted.  Why go through that unless moved to by the Holy Spirit?  And they all died terrible deaths.  John didn't die violently, as did the others, but he died in exile.

Why, if it all were not true?

Lee Strobel was a successful editor of the Chicago Tribune and an atheist.  His wife told him that she was converting to Christianity.  He set out to prove to her that she was foolish. Instead, he found himself proving to himself that she was right.  His reasons include:
 
History shows that Jesus Christ lived.
   "            "        "      "         "       was crucified.
   "            "        "      "          "         "   resurrected.  IOW, his tomb was empty.  Was His body stolen?

The only people who would have a motive for stealing Jesus' body would be the disciples.  Breaking into the tomb would involve more than one person. If a few did steal His body, how come they all tell the same story.  No one breaks.  Again, why--there's no money in it, and they're persecuted and die horrible deaths--and still!, they tell the same story.

Many, up to 500 at once, see Jesus after His death.  Yet, the tomb is still empty!  That's called resurrection.   

My Favorite Miracle

I'm talking about miracles in the New Testament.  I never tire of discussing the miracle of the loaves  Matthew 14:13 Mark 6:31-44Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:5-15

and fishes. It is the only miracle, outside of the Resurrection that is in all four Gospels:

I like the fact that Jesus doesn't turn anybody away.  I like that everyone eats. (Think Eucharist)  I like the fact that what Jesus says isn't as important as what He does.

What's your favorite miracle?

Feast Day for the Family in the Order of Preachers

This is a repost.

Today the Dominican Family remembers "those who have gone before us in the family of St. Dominican and who offer us the example of their way of life, their company in the communion of saints, and the help of their intercession.

The Litany of Dominican Saints and Blesseds

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the heavenly Father ... have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world ... have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit ... have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God ... have mercy on us.

Holy Mary ... pray for us.
Holy Mother of God ... pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Virgins ... pray for us.
All you holy angels and archangels ... pray for us.
All you holy Patriarchs and Prophets ... pray for us.
All you holy Apostles and Evangelists ... pray for us.
All you holy martyrs ... pray for us.
All you holy virgins and widows ... pray for us.
All you holy men and women ... pray for us.

Saint Michael ... pray for us.
Saint Gabriel ... pray for us.
Saint Raphael ... pray for us.
Saint Joseph ... pray for us.
Saint John the Baptist ... pray for us.
Saint Mary Magdalen ... pray for us.
Holy Father Augustine ... pray for us.
Holy Father Francis ... pray for us.
Blessed Jane of Aza ... pray for us.
Blessed Reginald ... pray for us.

Holy Father Dominic ... pray for us.
Holy Father Dominic ... pray for us.

Blessed Bertrand ... pray for us.
Blessed Mannes ... pray for us.
Blessed Diana ... pray for us.
Blessed Jordan of Saxony ... pray for us.
Blessed John of Salerno ... pray for us.
Blessed William and Companions ... pray for us.
Blessed Ceslaus ... pray for us.
Blessed Isnard ... pray for us.
Blessed Guala ... pray for us.
Blessed Peter Gonzalez ... pray for us.
Saint Zdislava ... pray for us.
Saint Peter of Verona ... pray for us.
Blessed Nicholas ... pray for us.
Saint Hyacinth ... pray for us.
Blessed Gonsalvo ... pray for us.
Blessed Sadoc and Companions ... pray for us.
Blessed Giles ... pray for us.
Saint Margaret of Hungary ... pray for us.
Blessed Batholomew of Vincenza ... pray for us.
Saint Thomas Aquinas ... pray for us.
Saint Raymond of Penyafort ... pray for us.
Blessed Innocent V ... pray for us.
Blessed Albert of Bergamo ... pray for us.
Saint Albert the Great ... pray for us.
Blessed John of Vercelli ... pray for us.
Blessed Ambrose ... pray for us.
Blessed Cecilia ... pray for us.
Blessed Benvenuta ... pray for us.
Blessed James of Varazze ... pray for us.
Blessed James of Bevagna ... pray for us.
Blessed Benedict XI ... pray for us.
Blessed Jane of Orvieto ... pray for us.
Blessed Jordan of Pisa ... pray for us.
Saint Emily ... pray for us.
Blessed James Salomonio ... pray for us.
Saint Agnes of Montepulciano ... pray for us.
Blessed Simon ... pray for us.
Blessed Margaret of Castello ... pray for us.
Blessed Augustine Kazotic ... pray for us.
Blessed James Benefatti ... pray for us.
Blessed Imelda ... pray for us.
Blessed Dalmatius ... pray for us.
Blessed Margaret Ebner ... pray for us.
Blessed Villana ... pray for us.
Blessed Peter Ruffia ... pray for us.
Blessed Henry ... pray for us.
Blessed Sibyllina ... pray for us.
Blessed Anthony of Pavonio ... pray for us.
Saint Catherine of Siena ... pray for us.
Blessed Marcolino ... pray for us.
Blessed Raymond of Capua ... pray for us.
Blessed Andrew Franchi ... pray for us.
Saint Vincent Ferrer ... pray for us.
Blessed Clara ... pray for us.
Blessed John Dominic ... pray for us.
Blessed Alvarez ... pray for us.
Blessed Maria ... pray for us.
Blessed Peter of Castello ... pray for us.
Blessed Andrew Abellon ... pray for us.
Blessed Stephen ... pray for us.
Blessed Peter Geremia ... pray for us.
Blessed John of Fiesole ... pray for us.
Blessed Lawrence of Ripafratta ... pray for us.
Blessed Anthony della Chiesa ... pray for us.
Saint Antoninus ... pray for us.
Blessed Anthony Neyrot ... pray for us.
Blessed Margaret of Savoy ... pray for us.
Blessed Bartholomew of Cerverio ... pray for us.
Blessed Matthew ... pray for us.
Blessed Constantius ... pray for us.
Blessed Christopher ... pray for us.
Blessed Damian ... pray for us.
Blessed Andrew of Peschiera ... pray for us.
Blessed Bernard ... pray for us.
Blessed Jane of Portugal ... pray for us.
Blessed James of Ulm ... pray for us.
Blessed Augustine of Biella ... pray for us.
Blessed Aimo ... pray for us.
Blessed Sebastian ... pray for us.
Blessed Mark ... pray for us.
Blessed Columba ... pray for us.
Blessed Magdalen ... pray for us.
Blessed Osanna of Mantua ... pray for us.
Blessed John Liccio ... pray for us.
Blessed Dominic Spadafora ... pray for us.
Blessed Stephana ... pray for us.
Saint Adrian ... pray for us.
Blessed Lucy ... pray for us.
Blessed Catherine Racconigi ... pray for us.
Blessed Osanna of Kotor ... pray for us.
Saint Pius V ... pray for us.
Saint John of Cologne ... pray for us.
Blessed Maria Bartholomew ... pray for us.
Saint Louis Bertrand ... pray for us.
Saint Catherine de Ricci ... pray for us.
Blessed Robert ... pray for us.
Blessed Alphonsus and Companions ... pray for us.
Saint Rose ... pray for us.
Saint Dominic Ibanez and Companions ... pray for us.
Blessed Agnes of Jesus ... pray for us.
Saint Lawrence Ruiz and Companions ... pray for us.
Saint Martin de Porres ... pray for us.
Blessed Peter Higgins ... pray for us.
Blessed Francis de Capillas ... pray for us.
Saint Juan Macias ... pray for us.
Blessed Terence ... pray for us.
Blessed Ann of the Angels ... pray for us.
Blessed Francis de Posadas ... pray for us.
Saint Louis de Montfort ... pray for us.
Blessed Francis Gil ... pray for us.
Saint Matteo ... pray for us.
Blessed Peter Sanz and Companions ... pray for us.
Saint Vicent Liem ... pray for us.
Saint Hyacinth Castaneda ... pray for us.
Blessed Marie ... pray for us.
Blessed George ... pray for us.
Blessed Catherine Jarrige ... pray for us.
Saint Ignatius and Companions ... pray for us.
Saint Dominic An-Kham and Companions ... pray for us.
Saint Joseph Khang and Companions ... pray for us.
Blessed Francis Coll ... pray for us.
Blessed Hyacinthe Cormier ... pray for us.
Blessed Pier Giorgio ... pray for us.
Blessed Bartolo ... pray for us.
Blessed Michael Czartoryski ... pray for us.
Blessed Julia Rodzinska ... pray for us.                                                                                        Blessed Pere Lataste…pray for us.
All holy Dominican brothers and sisters ... pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, ... spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, ... graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, ... have mercy on us.

Let us pray...
God, source of all holiness, you have enriched your Church
with many gifts in the saints of the Order of Preachers.
By following the example of our brothers and sisters,
may we come to enjoy their company
for ever in the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your Son, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen

The Global Catholic Climate Movement

A historic event will take place on November 29: hours before world leaders meet at the Paris Climate Summit, over 1 MILLION people will join the Global Climate March.

Get inspired by the Pope's dramatic call to action, and sign up for the march: bitly.com/global-climate-march

I ask you in the name of God to defend Mother Earth.

How Well Do I Know Jesus?

Drawing by MEK

Do I know Jesus as well as I know my husband?  I think I do, but how could I?  I mean, He's unfathomable.  And if my husband surprises me (not often) every once in awhile, then certainly God would surprise me.

I'm giving myself a headache.  This is what I know about Jesus.  He is:

holy, full of grace, forgiving, all merciful, faithful, prayerful, wise, virtuous, humble, obedient, patient, charitable, just, giving, compassionate, loving, committed, gentle, has self-control, serious, focused, selfless, good, honest, truthful, peaceful, courageous, dependable, responsible, generous, pure, fearless, graceful, understanding, etc.

How do you know Jesus?  

Which Witch?

The Wiccan Witch of the Midwest by Scott A. Lerner will make a really good Halloween movie.  Yes, it’s about witches, but it’s more than that.  It’s about wicca, magic, spells, and stuff that go bump in the night.  It is more than just a scary yarn. 

The Wiccan Witch is another Sam Robert’s mystery (there’s four).  Sam has just moved to a new town to get away from bad memories and hopefully bad karma.  Sam’s best friend, Bob, talks him into getting his fortune read.  Surprisingly, the fortune teller sees something shocking and shoos both guys out.  Did I mention that the fortune teller is “drop dead beautiful?” 

Although, the fortune teller, Bridget, gave Sam and Bob the bum’s rush, they don’t leave—really.  Their encounter is just the beginning of the novel’s new thrilling adventure.  The fortune teller is a witch, descended from a long line of witches.  She is accused of the worst of crimes in her coven.  If she is guilty, she will be burned at the stake.  Bridget hires Sam to be her advocate.

Never mind that Sam doesn’t know anything about the witches’ law codes and the fact that he’s infatuated with Bridget, (He acknowledges that he’s probably been spelled.) he is in danger for his own life.  Bridget has been accused of using black magic spells to kill children.  And not only children are dying, but Bridget’s friend, Alice, is cruelly mutilated.  The plot is to prove Bridget innocent, but how does one do that when one is dealing with black magic, ancient spells, good and evil, and crazy people.

This is a good and thrilling plot.  The pace is exciting and the plot kept me guessing.  The end isn’t what you think and the dead really do speak.  You will learn a little history besides the author’s opinion on our current justice system (through the words of Sam Robert.)

We have the best justice system in the world, but it is still flawed.  Too many innocent people have been released due to DNA evidence.  Eye witness identification is not reliable.  If there is a weapon involved, people tend to look at the gun, not the face of their attacker.  Stress can adversely affect memory.  People have problems identifying other people of different ethnicities.  Confessions are coerced.  Hell, people may simply lie.”

Sam made this passionate speech because he was in love with the accused, but everything he said is true.  I got it.  I hope other readers get it, too.  Capital punishment be damned!

…I don’t want the government or even an elder of a village to have the right to kill another human being.  When I killed I acted in the moment to defend our lives.  The government acts with pre-meditation….I have seen innocent people convicted of crimes.  How many times have people been released from death row based on DNA evidence?  I believe our system of justice is the greatest in the world, yet we still get it wrong.  Our system is only as reliable as the people who testify and the interpretation of that evidence by members of the jury.  People are not machines; they are swayed by their own self interests.  I don’t trust the government to issue me a driver’s license in an efficient manner.  Why the hell would you give them the power to choose between life and death?

Here!  Here!  Four stars for Scott A. Lerner!  Take that you readers who thought that Scott A. Lerner was only a light weight mystery writer.  Move over E. C. Bentley, make room for another book on the shelf.

Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed The Wiccan Witch of the Midwest.  The characterization is delineated expertly.  I especially like Sam and Bob.  They play off each other humorously.  (Spoiler Alert) The end surprised me—twice.  But that makes the climax doubly enjoyable.  The pace of the action is just right.  This story is a good read.

About the Author:

Author and attorney Scott A. Lerner resides in Champaign, Illinois. He obtained his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and went on to obtain his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign. He is currently a sole practitioner in Champaign, Illinois. The majority of his law practice focuses on the fields of criminal law and family law. Lerner’s first novel and the first Samuel Roberts Thriller, Cocaine Zombies, won a bronze medal in the mystery/cozy/noir category of the 2013 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Awards. The second book in the series is Ruler of Demons.The Fraternity of the Soul Eater is book 3. Book 4, The Wiccan Witch of the Midwest, will be released on Halloween, 2015.

Scott A. Lerner's Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ScottALernerAuthor

Scott A. Lerner's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/scottlernerauth

Scott A. Lerner's Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479067.Scott_A_Lerner

Scott A. Lerner's Blog:
http://scottlerner.camelpress.com/

The Wiccan Witch of the Midwest Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25885209-the-wiccan-witch-of-the-midwest

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

The Wiccan Witch of the Midwest blog tour site:
http://thewiccanwitchofthemidwest.blogspot.com

Price/Formats: $4.99 ebook, $13.95 paperback
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 230
Publisher: Camel Press
Release: October 31, 2015
ISBN: 9781603812917

Amazon buy link 
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1603812911?tag=tributebooks-20

Barnes and Noble buy link
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wiccan-witch-of-the-midwest-scott-a-lerner/1122298339?ean=9781603812917

. 

                                                                                

Betrayal and Justice

How easily we can be seduced!  We seduce ourselves when we're offered the jewels that we desire. I'm thinking of Otto in Once We Were Brothers  by Ronald H. Balson. He was just like his foster family in philosophy.  He thought like them.  He promised to be faithful to them.  But he was tempted.  Doesn't that happen in marriages, too?  A spouse vows to be faithful forever, yet he's tempted and chooses another.

These were my thoughts after reading Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson.  The setting is in wartime Poland.  Otto found himself in a Jewish family, who loved and raised him.  And he was grateful.  Even when his birth mother came to claim him, he pushed her away because he chose to stay with the people who brought him up. But Otto gradually got sucked up in being a German officer with all the accolades that made him important.

But the story is told between lawyer and client.  The client is Ben Solomon who once was Otto's best friend and "brother."  The author Ronald H. Balson cleverly interweaves the attorney's life into Ben's.  Virtue, truth, and justice prevail, just as it was meant to, at least this time.  The plot is getting there.  It's a powerfully compelling story.  There's romance, politics, intrigue, and violence.  Sounds like a good movie!  I think you'll agree.