Beacons of hope

June 15, 2025

I was planning to do a post today about the hope we have in Jesus and being a light to the world, but then I saw this message from Pope Leo. He said it way better than I could.

Luxury I cannot live without

June 10, 2025

What’s the one luxury you can’t live without?

My gym would be my luxury I could not live without. I know how much of a difference weight training has made and still makes to my life. I could not imagine being without my home gym this past 40 years of training. I love the feeling I get while I do my weight training and how I feel the rest of the week. It has been good for both my physical health and also my mental health. For me personally, it would be hard to live without.

Strength training and stretching

June 9, 2025

One of my go to YouTube channels for fitness advice as I age is Train Right Fitness.

They talk about strength training performed twice per week, at a high level of intensity, with minimal sets. By minimal sets I mean 3-5 total for upper body, 3-5 sets total for lower body, 1-2 for core. That takes about one hour total per week, this leaves plenty of time for recovery and doing other things.

Their philosophy is about taking your muscles to momentary failure in a controlled way. This means on your last couple of reps the weights slow down and you cannot do one more rep in good form, at that point you stop.

A lot of there videos are based on peer reviewed scientific studies. As I get older I find it a lot more interesting and safer than watching a 25 year old fitness influencer secretly on steroids.

The video above is about stretching and weight training. When I was younger I would stretch religiously before weight training and cycling. These days I do not and I find I am way more flexible from just doing weight training in the way they suggest.

If you are interested in starting strength training I would binge watch their videos.

Pentecost – our help from above

June 8, 2025

Bible readings: Acts 2:1-11, Romans 8:8-17, John 20:19-23

Today is Pentecost Sunday. It is the day in the church calendar that we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to the first believers and the birth of the church. It is a day when we remember the help that comes from above. Today I have three reflections from our readings.

The Holy Spirit comes in power

In Acts chapter one we see Jesus told the disciples to not leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the gift from God that He had told them about. This gift was the Holy Spirit which would give them power to be His witnesses. Fast forward to chapter two and today’s first reading, we see this happens. The Holy Spirit comes in power. In verses 2-5 we read there was a rushing wind and flames of fire, that tongues of fire came upon them, and they spoke in various languages as the Spirit enabled.

This was such a powerful event that people came to see what was happening. They were shocked with what they saw – ordinary men from Galilee speaking in about a dozen languages of the hearers. They were praising God and declaring His wonders for all to hear and understand. They were filled to be the witnesses that Jesus spoke about. Now they had the power to continue His mission of seeking and saving the lost.

True followers of Jesus live by the Spirit

In our second reading we see there are two ways to live this life – by the flesh or by the way of the Spirit. Verses 9-11 encourages us to live by the Spirit and not our natural human nature. It reminds us to not live at the level of our natural fleshly nature that seeks the fleshly comforts of this world like riches, comfort and physical pleasure. God wants us to set our sights higher and seek what the Spirit wants by seeking the Kingdom of God above all else (Matthew 6:33).

Romans 8:11 reminds us that the Spirit that came at Pentecost, and whom lives in all true believers, is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. You and I have resurrection power inside of us! When Jesus returned to His Father in heaven, He did not leave us alone to fumble and stumble through this life. He sent us the Holy Spirit so we could continue His mission of seeking and saving the lost, loving one another and doing good works. He gave us the power to chose life – the Kingdom life that He calls us to live.

We are sent out by Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit

In our last reading from John we see that Jesus sends out His followers. He said, “As the Father sent Me, I am sending you.” This call echoes Jesus last words to His disciples before ascending to heaven in Matthew 28:18-20. It says, “Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, [20] and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”

This call to His first disciples is also our call today. In the same way the disciples were called and sent out, so are we. However, we are not sent out alone. Just like the first believers were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and empowered for their mission, so are we. We are filled with the same resurrection power that enabled the disciples to preach and bring thousands in to the Kingdom in one day! Just continue reading on in Acts 2 to read about Peter’s first sermon that was empowered by the Holy Spirit. Three thousand were added to the church from one Holy Spirit empowered sermon. Yes I will admit that Jesus’ call to continue His mission can be daunting, but if we keep focussed on the Kingdom and allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, then we have all we need to continue His work.

Closing thoughts

Today as we celebrate Pentecost Sunday I want us to be reminded of these three things. That Jesus did not leave us alone as Holy Spirit came in power, that as true followers we chose to live by the Spirit’s power, and as we do we can fulfil Jesus’ call to make disciples of all nations. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost means we have help from above to continue Jesus’ mission in this world.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for Pentecost. Thank You that You sent the Holy Spirit to us as followers of Jesus. Right now Holy Spirit I submit to You. I ask that You will empower me and use me to continue Jesus’ work in this world. Give me confidence and boldness to speak of God’s Kingdom and salvation through Jesus. Please help me to make disciples of all nations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Healing prayer by Padre Pio

June 4, 2025

Heavenly Father, I thank You for loving me. I thank You for sending Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to the world to save and to set me free. I trust in Your power and grace that sustain and restore me.

Loving Father, touch me now with Your healing hands, for I believe that Your will is for me to be well in mind, body, soul and spirit. Cover me with the Most Precious Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.

Cast out anything that should not be in me. Root out any unhealthy and abnormal cells. Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild and replenish any damaged areas. Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection by the power of Jesus’ Precious Blood.

Let the fire of Your healing love pass through my entire body to heal and make new any diseased areas so that my body will function the way You created it to function.

Touch also my mind and my emotion, even the deepest recesses of my heart. Saturate my entire being with Your presence, love, joy, and peace and draw me ever closer to You every moment of my life.

And Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and empower me to do Your works so that my life will bring glory and honor to Your Holy Name. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.