Reflections of an On-The-Road Sinner/Christian

By John Guertin

This book is an attempt to convey a few simple messages/suggestions/inspirations (call them what you may) on the meaning of what being a sinner/Christian is-for anyone willing to pick it up and read even a part of it.
For this reason it is broken up into four parts-an essay on personal spiritual Christian warfare; reflections on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, essential building blocks of grace and belief; poems reflecting Christian perceptions of life in various areas; and, finally, fictional short stories about possible Christmas miracles in individual lives.
Each section can stand by itself, but when they are all put together, they mean much more. That is, they express the full degree of spiritual wonder which can be found in a penitent sinner/Christians heart.
So, my hope is that anyone willing to take a few moments to reflect on his/her relationship with God (the one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) will pick up this book and allow the words within to touch his or her heart in this journey we are all on to eternal life with God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503528420

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

What?

Christian warfare? Isn’t this phrase an oxymoron?-Christians are supposed to turn the the other cheek. Certainly, they are ethically opposed to taking anyone’s life, whether unborn, on the street, in one’s family, personal suicide, or warfare. What then do I mean by this phrase?

Let us examine it piece by piece.

The Christian (hopefully, I am not using this term inappropriately or unjustifiably) in this book is myself and perhaps you, dear reader (although I am not assuming that or evangelizing in the broadest sense of that word). The Christian, in my view, is anyone who reads and sometimes sings the Bible, the Psalms, and the New Testament, etc.

This person also asks the Holy Spirit (of the one true Godhead, three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in that Godhead) to guide him or her regarding insights into the cited religious books. Lastly, the Christian is that person who is trying (often unsuccessfully) to love others as he or she loves themselves (a tall order for any religious or non-religious person). In short, a stumbling, loving follower of Jesus Christ.

Warfare, dear reader, refers to the spiritual battle which is fought by yours truly (and perhaps by you the reader). That is, the fight against the evil spiritual forces in my life which would block me from following Jesus Christ. And there are so many! Here are just a few: PRIDE, INGRATITUDE, GREED, LUST, POWER, CONTROL, LOVE OF MONEY (only for itself), LOVE OF THINGS (only for themselves), SELFISHNESS, APATHY, HATRED, SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS, DECEIT, PUTTING DOWN OTHERS, CONSCIOUSLY NOT HELPING OTHERS, MY COMFORT BEFORE YOURS, etc., etc., etc. An impressive list of horrors!

–––––––––––––––––––––-

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW

PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW

PRAISE HIM ABOVE YE HEAVENLY HOST

PRAISE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST

I prefer trying this next list-much more satisfying and life broadening. To name a few on this new list: COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING, SWALLOWING ONE’S PRIDE, GENTLENESS, GRACE-FILLED INSIGHT, SPIRITUAL ENERGY, FORTITUDE, WISDOM, SINCERITY, HARD HONEST WORK, LOVING YOUR SPOUSE, YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR FRIENDS, BUILDING UP OTHERS WHENEVER POSSIBLE, RESTING IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE HOLY EUCHARIST, ECUMENISM, FORGIVING OTHERS, INCLUDING YOUR ENEMIES (especially when they ridicule and abuse you), REPENTING FOR ONE’S SINS, GENEROSITY, HONESTY, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR, etc, etc, etc.

To conclude this first chapter, I have only one thing to say to those who would consider me a Christian goody two shoes, a pacifist pansy, a stupid jerk, a sucker, a person who has been duped into believing in and following a God who really does not exist, and a conformist who has made organized religion far more than it should be in his life.

Sincerely reject the first list and really try to live the second list for 6 months-then come back to me and we will talk.

–––––––––––––––––––––-

I shall walk with the Lord God as best I can,

Stumbling though my efforts be,

He shall pull me up and dust me off and give me humility

So shall I learn to care for others,

So shall I learn to rest in the Holy Spirit,

To Thank the Father for the gift of His Beloved Son,

And to get down on my hands and knees before the Living God

Ever aware of my wretched sinfulness

Begging for His mercy

Even as He continues to open His arms

To embrace me, warts and all.

CHAPTER 2

The Evil One

(also known as the Great Deceiver, Satan,

the Great Tempter, poop on a stick, Lucifer,

Lord of Darkness, etc.)

Well, if you have survived the first chapter and are still interested (since I have not yet insulted your intelligence, I hope), let me proceed by saying that YES, I believe that the chief fallen angel who thought he was God Almighty, is alive and thriving in this world in which we both live (and no, I am not deranged, senior moments notwithstanding!).

But, he works mainly in the shadows (with larger than life manifestations in the movies, of course!). For if he were to reveal his true ugly self (Hollywood depictions are not true manifestations), he would impel me and you to throw ourselves into the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, his subtle methods are bone crushing, wearing you and me down. Yet, ironically, he does not attack the soul directly (the soul is a Temple of the Holy Spirit of the one true God i.e. The Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Rather, he starts with the mind.

As we know, the mind can be influenced and manipulated in thousands of ways. Television, radio, the computer, smart phones, tablets, newspapers, magazines, books, harmless soft pornography, drugs of all kinds, liquor, narcissism, casual sex, child pornography, pedophilia, party sex, date rape-the list goes on and on. Old Scratch (another of his wonderful nicknames) seduces us into believing that these are things which you and I are justly entitled to, since you and I work and have earned their use. Once you and I are engulfed by this seduction, he introduces his more complete menu of depression, murder, etc. Non-respect for human life or values then becomes an integral part of modern society (war, gang violence, senseless gun shootings, random bombings, etc.)

He begins to pull you and me apart from each other so we now only communicate by machines with each other and are more interested in video games than our neighbor. You and I start to become mind-numbed zombies, with our only goals becoming the collection of monetary wealth and earthly prestige. My humanity starts to shrivel, along with yours.

But, remember, the Great Deceiver’s ultimate goal is still to destroy the soul. His next powerful step in this process is to weaken the will.

Human beings have a marvelous God-given mechanism: the Will. The Will to survive, the Will to change, the Will to endure enormous amounts of pain, the Will to achieve great things, etc. The Will is an essential element in human physical growth and development. And, by extension, in human spiritual development and growth.

So, the Deceiver has you and I on the road to becoming