Lent starts next week!
Ideas for Lent?
Questions about Lent?
We’re going to be sharing ours, we’d love to hear yours! Ask it/tell us here.
Review: Holier Than Thou
Hey guys! Here’s a review and promotion for the book “Holier Than Thou” from Lifeteen. It’s written by Mr. Mark Hart and Mr. Greg Iwinski and it is AWESOME.
If you’ve ever wanted to know more about Saints, check it out 
www.livewtl.com
www.lifeteen.com
Peace,
Avery
Episode 22: Why I Love Jesus AND Religion
In this show, we’re talking about a Catholic approach to the video “Why I hate relgion, but love Jesus”.
Keep on sending in questions, and check out our new Ask Catholics blog!
Peace,
Avery
Scripturally Speaking
It’s been forever, but here’s what’s going on for Live Out Loud in 2012:
We’re starting something new called “Scripturally Speaking”. It’s an initiative to give us as Catholic teens a better understaning for the Bible
A lot of Catholic teens are really lacking when it comes to knowledge and appreciation for the Scriptures. So what we’re doing is coming together to provide Biblical history, insight, ideas on Lectio Divina, etc. to explain some of the greatest stories in the Bible.
In this, we’re hoping to encourage Catholics to dive into the Word, and experience the Word of God in a new way.
Feel free to send in your favorite passage or one you want explained either on here or on Ask Catholics.
So excited about where the Lord will take this, and I love you all!
Peace,
Avery
Call to Authenticity
“Although I am free in regard to all,
I have made myself a slave to all
so as to win over as many as possible.
To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak.
I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
All this I do for the sake of the gospel,
so that I too may have a share in it.”
-1 Corinthians 9:19, 22-23
This comes from this week’s second reading.
Becoming a slave to all….what does that mean?
Our society and our culture presents this image to us that it’s all about “ME, ME, ME”. It’s all about, “Who am I?” “Who do I want to be?” “What do I want to do?” “How will this help me?” College, clothes, jobs, it’s all about how I feel and how this is going to affect ME.
It’s easy to get caught up in the little things in life. We get frustrated about a test at school and forget how blessed we are. We don’t feel like talking to a friend who needs someone and we don’t reach out to them. We bring others down by a negative perspective. We see someone struggling and we don’t offer to help. We forget the dignity of another person and put them down. Anything, really.
It’s where that part of the Confiteor we often forget, “for what I have done, and what I have failed to do…” comes in. We make the excuse that something was inconvenient, that we didn’t have time, or just that we realllllllly didn’t want to.
Not to make this whole post some kind of turn-or-burn guilt trip…..I just want to challenge you to go deeper. We’re called to be slaves to all….to empty ourselves and be full of Christ.
The readings this week talk about doing everything for the sake of the Gospel.
That is, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world and work towards the Heavenly Kingdom. That’s not “part” of why we’re here. That’s not “something to think about.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, Christ did not institute the Church as an occasion for us to get all high and mighty and dress up pretty and sing as loud as we can and then go get coffee and have a nice family afternoon. That’s dandy, but Christ came with a message.
And it is our SOLE duty, our SOLE responsibility as Christians to share that message.
So going back to the me, me, me thing. A lot of times people complain about being used. They’re “overworked, overtired, burned-out”. Read any self-help book and you’ll be delighted with the idea that we should all just learn to say no more often and then we’ll have time for what’s really important…ourselves.
That’s why self help books make millions. That’s why Christians are persecuted.
Christianity is about emptying oneself out and being full with Christ. It’s about working tirelessly for the Kingdom. It’s literally about going to the ends of the earth to spread the Good News to all nations and all people.
John 3:30 puts it nicely. “He must increase, I must decrease.” And yes, it may burn us out and make us exhausted. That’s holy suffering. And no, on our own that’s not possible. But with His grace, and as Luke 1:37 and Phillipians 4:13 both state, there’s nothing we can’t do through God, and all things are possible through Him.
Jesus came as our Lord and our Savior to empty himself in love for us. He poured out his blood, and literally gave EVERYTHING. The message of Christianity isn’t to see what kind of volunteer positions will nicely fit in your schedule and add to your college resume to be a well rounded individual. The message of Christ was to live in humble obedience and service to the Lord.
Keeping our eyes on His Kingdom, that’s the only important thing.
So today, make your faith more than something to “think about”. Live it.
Peace,
Avery