The Catholic Sister Who is No Flying Nun

Sister D had a near death experience as a toddler.  Was in a coma for a couple of weeks. Her Mom prayed a lot (and made promises to God in exchange for D's life??). D's mom thus gave her whole-hearted blessing when D wanted to enter religious life as an adult. Her Mom told me so in person while we sat together at a table during a party.

Sister D currently holds a job in the field of Education.  People often go to her for counsel. I am certain that most of the discussions are about the here and now. Yet when our discussion at the table  came to the hereafter, D came across as an ignoramus.  She hedges, she waffles, she gives her opinion. When I quoted scripture, she would give the "that was then, this is now"  answer. She's pretty much put God in a box -- unable to help and hindered by real life in these modern times.

Sadly, tradition, personal opinion, ritualism, and superstition are the mixed bag that Catholics draw upon for answers. The majority can give no assurances of eternal salvation because the Word of God is not their primary resource. Yet Sister D thinks that God will somehow be impressed that she has given the appearance of a commitment to Him via her membership in the Clergy. As Texans sometimes say: "Big hat. No cattle."

I noted that Sister D was wearing jewelry; one of which looked like a gold wedding ring.  This was something new to me.

Sister D: *points to her ring*
         I will never have a baby out of wedlock.  I am married to God.
           
Me: (oh, really?!)
        What is that necklace you are wearing?

Sister D:  Wolf's teeth.  The Wolf is my spirit guide.

pc: Etsy

What a spiritual dud!  Here's a lady of influence who is a card-carrying member of the catholic clergy and whose supposed husband is God.  Yet she chooses to disregard God's Word and would rather a spiritual (read demonic) Wolf direct her life.  And she's convinced that she's got the key to heaven's gate to boot.  Effing, unbelievable!! 

Me:  Sister D, none of what you've said is biblical!

Discussion follows. It got loud. Sister D had various objections.  I gave my Biblical responses. In the end she does not believe most of what I say. She got offended, though -- literally crying on her mama's shoulder as I walked out the restaurant door at the party's end. Hooooooh boy. Too much of my answers must have stung -- like salt. (What happened to being gracious with my words?  Heck no -- not with other people's eternal life at stake.  Can you imagine how much more confused and lost people are after talking to this foolish lady?!).   Have mercy on her ... and on me, O Lord.  

One of many Biblical assurances of eternal salvation in Christ alone.

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Bernie Sanders: Anti-Christian on the warpath

I've read that Mr Sander is an atheist (though from a Jewish background). Then why does it bother Bernie to have a person believe in God/the Bible -- a god who he says does not exist?

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont this week lambasted one of President Donald Trump's budget nominees over a post he wrote last year that discussed Christianity and Islam.

As Russell Vought, Trump's pick for deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget, appeared before the Senate Budget Committee for a confirmation hearing Wednesday, Sanders doggedly questioned him about a January 2016 post he had published by conservative outlet  The Resurgent .

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In the post, Vought wrote about a controversy involving a professor at his alma mater,  Wheaton College .

"Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his Son, and they stand condemned," Vought wrote.

Sanders – an independent who last year ran for the Democratic presidential nomination and who serves as the committee's ranking member – asked Vought whether he thought the post was Islamophobic. Vought said no and attempted to defend his writing against Sanders' repeated questions, stating, "I believe in a Christian set of principles based on my faith."

But Sanders was not appeased.

"Are you suggesting that all of those people stand condemned?" he asked Vought. "What about Jews? They stand condemned, too?"

"Senator, I wrote a post based on being a Christian and attending a Christian school that has a statement of faith that speaks clearly with regard to the centrality of Jesus Christ in salvation," Vought said at the end of the exchange.

Some have said Sanders' line of questioning pushed the boundaries of the U.S. Constitution, which states "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust of the United States."

Russell Moore, who has been a vocal Trump critic and is president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, called Sanders' comments "breathtakingly audacious and shockingly ignorant – both of the Constitution and of basic Christian doctrine.

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by Megan Trimble ... an associate editor of social media for the News division at U.S. News & World Report.

Link to article ---> Bernie Sanders Blasts Trump Nominee