Changing the world means that we must take a positive step each and every day. We cannot relent. We cannot rest. We must prevail. God provides us the perfect road map in the Bible so don't tell me that you don't know how to do this. Go to your Bible and begin to read. Let it rest in your heart. Let it echo in your mind. Immerse yourself in the words. When you are finished reading, put it down, close your eyes and listen to God. He will talk to you but you have to be still and listen. Block out the white noise of the world and listen to your Father God. There is no one like our God. Don't even try to put human qualities on Him. Don't think that He reacts like your spouse, brother, cousin, friend, co-worker. God is not a person. God is not like us but we should want to be like Him. He is so loving and He forgives us over and over again. He has an abundant love that is consoling and healing. He is! When you are feeling hurt, shout His name. When you are feeling happy, shout His name. When you are sad, depressed, mad, shout His name. When you are gleeful, satisfied, peaceful, shout His name. Be in conversation with your Father God. He longs to hear from you. He wants to talk with you. He is so proud of you. God created us and he thinks we are His beautiful creation. That is important to remember when someone tries to tell you otherwise. Use this fact when you hear someone trying to impose their negativity on their fellow man, woman, girl or boy. That is the positive step I am trying to take each day. I am trying to stem the tide on negative, hurtful comments. I am trying to stand in the gap when someone tries to bring another person down through hurtful comments or even "joking" remarks. It is my one small step. I will take it every day, God willing. By the way, I wanted to recommend a book. If you are a young adult or have a special teen in your life, I highly recommend you give them a copy of the book Youcat. Start your walk now!
Kurt Hilgefort, is a Catholic father of six who publishes his thoughts on his blog Shadows of Augustine . He responded to my seven question survey with the following answers. Kurt is the first layperson to respond to the seven question survey and I think that his experience is extremely relevant to me personally and I hope that you are inspired by his thoughts as well. If you would like to respond, please send an email to fellmananthony@gmail.com with your thoughts and I will be happy to publish them as well. 1. What is the biggest challenge to your faith that you have faced so far? The biggest challenge for me has been the whole dying to self thing. On an intellectual level, there are no barriers. It comes down to a matter of accepting the authority of the Church that Christ founded upon Peter. My challenge is not in the intellect, but rather in the will. The challenge for me has always been to continually seek conversion. I want to be transformed, but I want it to be over all ...