ICEMANforChrist

This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.

Friday, October 25, 2024

NIC’s Corner

Love Never Fails

(1 Corinthians 13:8)

· Start Total Consecration to Mary October 25 to end on November 27, the feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

· Carlsbad Cave National Monument Est. 1923

· Friday Fish: Ceviche

· How to celebrate Oct 25th

o Want to have a truly unforgettable day full of surprises? Start your morning by creating your own unique punk look to celebrate Punk for a Day Day. Take out those safety pins, combat boots, and bold makeup. Follow it up by blasting some punk rock music to get in the rebellious spirit.

§ Once you’re all decked out, head out for a crisp sandwich breakfast in honor of Crisp Sandwich Day. Grab your favorite chips, sandwich them between two pieces of bread, and enjoy the crunch!

o As the day progresses, take some time to show your appreciation for art on International Artist Day. Get your creative juices flowing by sketching, painting, or even doodling during breaks. Embrace your inner artist and let your imagination run wild.

§ Next, indulge in a delicious pasta dish in celebration of World Pasta Day. Whip up a simple spaghetti aglio e olio or get adventurous with a new recipe. Pasta is always a crowd-pleaser!

o Feeling a bit theatrical? Join in on World Opera Day by singing your heart out to your favorite arias or attending a local opera event. Let the music transport you to another world filled with drama and passion.

§ And don’t forget to raise a glass of champagne later in the day for Global Champagne Day. Whether it’s a fancy bottle or a budget-friendly option, a toast to life’s little pleasures is always a good idea.

o To round off the day, reach out to loved ones and friends on National I Care About You Day. A simple message or phone call can go a long way in brightening someone’s day. Spread the love and positivity, knowing that small gestures can make a big difference.

§ Finally, unwind with some greasy comfort food for National Greasy Foods Day. Treat yourself to some guilty pleasures like burgers, fries, or pizza. It’s the perfect way to end a day filled with fun and festivities. Enjoy the medley of activities and embrace the unexpected!

OCTOBER 25 Friday

2 Chronicles, Chapter 17, Verse 10

Now the FEAR of the LORD was upon all the kingdoms of the countries surrounding Judah, so that they did not war against Jehoshaphat.

Jehoshaphat was zealous for God and as a result peace comes to the land. Seek first the Kingdom of God.

Making Holy Place and Time with Christ, Our Redeemer[1]

January--Creeks, rivers, and other forms of moving water, including ice, manifest the flow of life itself. A gurgling stream or rushing river, even in midwinter's rest, is the sign that new life is coming forth, even when it is not yet perceptible in a snow-covered landscape. Our life in Christ begins through the saving water of Baptism; since this is so, we have an obligation to protect and save the water. Water pollution is widespread, denying safe drinking water to millions of people.

February--Soil under our feet goes unnoticed, though this first foot of soil is where most living organisms’ dwell. The health of the fragile skin of our earth is of utmost importance. Humility comes from the Latin word for soil, "humus." From and unto dust is the humbling message to each of us touched by the dust of Ash Wednesday. Soil is rich and fertile but also prone to erosion and pollution.

March--The winds of March point to the power of God's Spirit working in us. We need to listen and respond to the gentle breezes of the Spirit; but will we, or will we be too distracted? The rebirth of spring reminds us of the energy of nature so that we ask ourselves whether we waste or wisely use energy –electricity, oil, gas, etc. Can we and should we continue to use nonrenewable fossil fuels, often with accompanying air pollution, at the rate we do? Or will the environmental ills we cause today call us in the future as a society to use wind and solar energy?

April--Lush and blooming vistas beckon us to take to the road and to explore. As we itch to go out and travel more in springtime, let us reflect on the mixed blessings. Interconnected communities and beautiful scenery are often coupled with air pollution, consumption of scarce petroleum, congestion, excessive mobility, and noise.

May--Flowers in Mary's month tie us closely to the reawakening earth. The time of Resurrection and expectant Pentecost is one of buds, blossoms, wildflowers, and greening of meadows and lawns. Days lengthen and we welcome the warmth of the sun after the long winter. Jesus is risen and is present in our midst, and so we rise and ascend with him.

June--Wildlife fills our life with joy and refreshment. Songbirds and birds of prey, squirrels and rabbits, butterflies and lightning bugs all carry a message worth discovering in early summer. Do we see and hear them, or do we overlook them, even despise them? Are they simply an annoyance, or have we come to know, love, and even serve these fellow creatures by providing protection and habitat?

July--We may be more aware of community relations in this month of Independence Day, visits, festivals, communal celebrations, and family reunions. Do our community and home exude hospitality and welcome? Are we able to welcome strangers into our community and open our social circles wider? Do we see connections between hospitality to people and to other creatures? Is there a connection between community relations and environmental concerns?

August--We may come to appreciate more deeply the various landforms (mountains, deserts, rock formations, valleys, and plains) during vacation time. They give us bearing, direction, and the geological history of our lives. This is the beginning of awareness of the "here" in our lives. The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord shows us the "hereness" of the risen Lord, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary speaks of God's power to the blessed. While we can choose to extend the Savior's redeeming power to our wounded earth, we also can choose to withdraw from this awesome challenge.

September--Our buildings need to be winterized. Now is the time to think of energy conservation measures, adding caulking and painting, completing needed repairs, composting yard waste, and protecting garden plants for late fall and winter. Do we regard our abodes as God's dwelling space, a sacred trust and healthy place? Do we cherish the abundance of space and use it properly as good stewards?

October--Trees declare their own sermon in brief autumn's painted landscape. We note their size and type and variety and beauty. Trees serve as symbols of the gift-giving aspects of our lives. Trees provide fruit, wood, climatic modification, wind and sun protection, prevention of soil erosion, and a host of other benefits. This is the time to plant trees and to prepare them for winter. Should we not give more attention to how our lives can bear fruit in Christ and in the protection of our forests?

November--The Thanksgiving meal is a ritual. Whether we are from rural or urban backgrounds, we know the harvest time passes and the year draws to an end. Giving thanks to God is Eucharist, a heavenly banquet and the foretaste of things to come. We are not worthy receivers of this sacrament without the haunting knowledge of the poor nutrition for many in our country and famine in other countries. How can we respond to homelessness and hunger here in our own land and share our bounty with those who are poor in other countries (lands)?

December--We turn our attention indoors with Advent prayers and preparations for the birth of Christ. For most of us, the indoors makes up the part of our environment in which we spend the most time. It is also the most unregulated and can be the most polluted part of the total environment –due to new home cleaning products and tighter ventilation. Consider a simpler home environment, where houseplants purify the air, where fresh air is plentiful, and where chemical products are limited and controlled. The yearly cycle of twelve months can make us more aware of our human environment and should help us as individuals and as a community to conduct a monthly examination of conscience.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

PART ONE: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH

SECTION TWO-I. THE CREEDS

CHAPTER THREE-I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

Article 10-"I BELIEVE IN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS"

Day 134

976 The Apostle's Creed associates faith in the forgiveness of sins not only with faith in the Holy Spirit, but also with faith in the Church and in the communion of saints. It was when he gave the Holy Spirit to his apostles that the risen Christ conferred on them his own divine power to forgive sins: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

(Part Two of the catechism will deal explicitly with the forgiveness of sins through Baptism, the sacrament of Penance, and the other sacraments, especially the Eucharist. Here it will suffice to suggest some basic facts briefly.)

I. One Baptism for the Forgiveness of Sins

977 Our Lord tied the forgiveness of sins to faith and Baptism: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved." Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification, so that "we too might walk in newness of life."

978 "When we made our first profession of faith while receiving the holy Baptism that cleansed us, the forgiveness we received then was so full and complete that there remained in us absolutely nothing left to efface, neither original sin nor offenses committed by our own will, nor was there left any penalty to suffer in order to expiate them.... Yet the grace of Baptism delivers no one from all the weakness of nature. On the contrary, we must still combat the movements of concupiscence that never cease leading us into evil "

979 In this battle against our inclination towards evil, who could be brave and watchful enough to escape every wound of sin? "If the Church has the power to forgive sins, then Baptism cannot be her only means of using the keys of the Kingdom of heaven received from Jesus Christ. the Church must be able to forgive all penitents their offenses, even if they should sin until the last moment of their lives."

980 It is through the sacrament of Penance that the baptized can be reconciled with God and with the Church:

Penance has rightly been called by the holy Fathers "a laborious kind of baptism." This sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation for those who have fallen after Baptism, just as Baptism is necessary for salvation for those who have not yet been reborn.

II. The Power of the Keys

981 After his Resurrection, Christ sent his apostles "so that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations." The apostles and their successors carry out this "ministry of reconciliation," not only by announcing to men God's forgiveness merited for us by Christ, and calling them to conversion and faith; but also by communicating to them the forgiveness of sins in Baptism, and reconciling them with God and with the Church through the power of the keys, received from Christ:

[The Church] has received the keys of the Kingdom of heaven so that, in her, sins may be forgiven through Christ's blood and the Holy Spirit's action. In this Church, the soul dead through sin comes back to life in order to live with Christ, whose grace has saved us.

982 There is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive. "There is no one, however wicked and guilty, who may not confidently hope for forgiveness, provided his repentance is honest. Christ who died for all men desires that in his Church the gates of forgiveness should always be open to anyone who turns away from sin.

983 Catechesis strives to awaken and nourish in the faithful faith in the incomparable greatness of the risen Christ's gift to his Church: the mission and the power to forgive sins through the ministry of the apostles and their successors:

The Lord wills that his disciples possess a tremendous power: that his lowly servants accomplish in his name all that he did when he was on earth.
Priests have received from God a power that he has given neither to angels nor to archangels .... God above confirms what priests do here below.
Were there no forgiveness of sins in the Church, there would be no hope of life to come or eternal liberation. Let us thank God who has given his Church such a gift.

984 The Creed links "the forgiveness of sins" with its profession of faith in the Holy Spirit, for the risen Christ entrusted to the apostles the power to forgive sins when he gave them the Holy Spirit.

985 Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of the forgiveness of sins: it unites us to Christ, who died and rose, and gives us the Holy Spirit.

986 By Christ's will, the Church possesses the power to forgive the sins of the baptized and exercises it through bishops and priests normally in the sacrament of Penance.

987 "In the forgiveness of sins, both priests and sacraments are instruments which our Lord Jesus Christ, the only author and liberal giver of salvation, wills to use in order to efface our sins and give us the grace of justification."

Fitness Friday:

Recognizing that God the Father created man on Friday the 6^th day I propose in this blog to have an entry that shares on how to recreate and renew yourself in strength, mind, soul, and heart.

8 Workouts That'll Help You Survive the Post-Apocalypse[2]

Chainmail bodysuit season is almost here — make sure your bod is thunderdome-ready!

Andrew Peloquin

There are many apocalyptic scenarios that could spell the end of the world as we know it: alien invasion, natural disaster, zombie infestation, solar flares, nuclear war, and the list goes on. There are only so many things we can do to be prepared for them (stocking up water, storing supplies, etc.), but you can get your body in shape for an apocalypse. Here are the workouts that'll help you survive a post-apocalypse world.

Farmer's Walk

This exercise develops endurance in your forearms, shoulders, and traps, all the muscles that will be engaged when you carry heavy objects (suitcase, bottles of water, weapons, family members) by your side. You'll find it's also a great way to improve your posture and grip strength!

Woodchoppers

If you find yourself living out in the forest, you'll need to be able to chop your own firewood for heat. Woodchoppers are an excellent exercise to help you develop the core (abs and obliques) strength to bring down a tree.

Pull-Ups

How can you escape a horde of zombies? Climb up a fire escape or pull yourself up onto a nearby roof! To do that, you'll need strength in your forearms, biceps, shoulders, and back — all of which result from doing pull-ups. A few pull-ups can save your life in an apocalyptic situation.

Sled Push

You may find yourself pushing your car a few miles to the nearest abandoned gas station, especially if you've zombie-proofed your vehicle and don't want to leave it on the side of the road. Sled pushes are also a great way to develop leg and back strength, plus crazy endurance.

Bent Over Rows

If you find yourself using a bow and arrow to hunt, you'll need sufficient arm, shoulder, and back strength to draw the bow. Bent over rows give you major pulling power and shred those important muscles. Plus, they can strengthen your lower back and keep your spinal muscles strong.

Sprints

The best way to outrun a zombie horde or a band of mutant killers is to sprint like your life depends on it! Sprint training (on a treadmill or outdoors) will help to increase both your aerobic and anaerobic endurance. You'll find it's much easier to escape if you can sprint for more than a few seconds without running out of breath.

Tire Flips

If you find yourself trying to survive after a natural disaster, you may have to comb through destroyed homes or buildings to find food, water, and supplies. Tire flips will help you to develop the lifting power that will come in handy when clearing rubble and lifting heavy building beams.

Squats

Strong legs can save your life! You'll need leg strength to run, jump, climb, and push heavy objects. Squats are an amazing exercise that will help you to be prepared for any apocalyptic situation.

Get in shape, and you have a much better chance of survival!

Vincent Price-RIP Oct 25, 1993[3]

Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s Vincent was a staple of the Halloween season. Trained on the London stage, Price started out as an actor for mainstream films in the 1940s, and worked for prestigious directors like Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Otto Preminger and Cecil B. DeMille. But he never really made his mark in the film business until he segued into the horror genre. Despite being immensely talented, at 6’4”, Vinnie was just too tall to make it as a Hollywood leading man, where the ideal male height was around 6’, give or take an inch or two on either side. (Price’s great friend and fellow horror icon, Sir Christopher Lee, faced the same problem: at 6’5” he was even taller than Vinnie.) In addition to the height issue, as the 50s marched on, Vinnie’s classic, stage-trained acting style would eventually be considered “old-fashioned,” and pushed aside in favor of the more “naturalistic” acting styles of younger actors such as Marlon Brando, James Dean, and Paul Newman.

In classic horror, however, a stage-trained acting style and perfect diction—which Price had in spades—were considered assets, because so many plots featured evil aristocrats, sinister industrialists, or cultivated mad scientists. He made so many horror films that by the time he passed on in 1993 at the age of 82, Price had become world-famous, beloved by millions.