August 29, 2012
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Why I Stayed on Xanga
I just received a message from a fellow Xangan that moved me to share with everyone, very briefly, why I have remained on Xanga for nearly ten years now, bearing through the good times and bad, in spite of the intensity of entering a religious order, working hard for my degree in philosophy, and now teaching full-time at a high school (hence the severe lack of updates!).
I cannot share the contents of the message of course, but here’s what I have to say:
Brothers and sisters I have remained on Xanga for chiefly these reasons-
1. To reach out to and console those who are alone and in pain.
2. To educate people about the Catholic faith, and likewise to encourage those who are Catholic to continue growing in the ancient faith. Coupled with this is the desire to inform misunderstanding, speak out against deliberate misinformation or slander (fortunately a rare thing) and correct error regarding the Church and what she teaches and believes.
3. To pray for those who request prayer, to promise prayer for those who need it, and to pray for those who have no idea I am praying for them.
The message I received today, and she likely will know who she is if she reads my blog, made me realize a fourth reason I remain on Xanga.
4. Because saints are being made here.
Like Xanga, hate Xanga, see it as trash and immaturity or see it as a place for deep discussion and honest revelation of hearts and souls: the Holy Spirit is at work in all of it somehow, and I’ve had such a graced privilege over the years of seeing the inner-workings of His labor in some amazing souls. Messages like today and instances I’ve experienced on Xanga in the past make all the inappropriate language and images, immaturity, trolling, insults, ignorance and all else that sometimes seems to take over Xanga completely worthwhile.
God bless all of you, and please take to heart with all seriousness that I do, really, love all of you very, very much, and that I pray for every single one of you in one way or another, many of you by name, every single day.
Sincerely and most humbly,
Ancient_Scribe
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Comments (37)
Thank you for this post,and for staying on Xanga. I love this place.
Saints on Xanga? You have a talent for picking out the pepper in the fly specks.
I am grateful that there are those like you on Xanga
I love you too, brother. thank you for the prayers, whoever they are for, thank you. we all can use a little prayer in our lives.
Amen! You have such a wonderful heart! And such a pure and good intention when you speak! =D
I’m glad you’re here.
It’s great that you’re still here even though you’re busy.
I’m amazed that you have any time at all for updates while teaching high school. It’s a very time-consuming job. I wish you the best in it.
Forgive me, Father, for I just cursed. I cannot rec. at your site!
How very odd that I actually posted today (at another site) some advice you gave me; and then, lo and behold, here is your name on my screen! You must stay on xanga, J. You’re a beautiful person and a positive influence on xanga (even if you’re not Lutheran!)
Take care,
Kelly
I am extremely thankful you have remained on xanga, that you have prayed for me by name. I can always count on you to bring calmness and perspective to my storms!
Wisdom and Sainthood is a double edged sword. The more you know the more responsibility and attacks you get to test your knowledge. The stronger the saint the more sophisticated the attack by the devil.
God helps saints unseen and hope that saints pick out the clues to their escape from the clutches of the devil. We are promised to never be tempted beyond the powers we are given, the sucker punches are really a lesson and the real hard sucker punches later are avoided. It is not easy but someone has to do it for G-d.
You are one of the nicest people on xanga.
Everywhere needs a priest
I agree with thetheologiancafe….you are by far one of the most kindest spirits i’ve encoutered here. I cant thank you enough for all the advice and prayers you give me. I am always suprised when you say you pray for me cause I do believe I am a person that is easily forgotten (lol) but you never make me feel that way!! I feel so blessed to know you even if its through an online journal website. We really do need more people like you in this world because people like you are sadly too extemely rare and hard to come by. All I can say is never change and continue spreading the word of Christ.
Glad you’re still here.
Glad you’re still here.
Hello,
My greeting to you My name is Shania, single and never married, how are you i hope you are fine and well sounded in good health, i am a good hearten girl loving and caring humble and respectful. i would like to know more about you, please if you do not mind write me with this address (misshania83@yahoo.com) i hope to hear from you soon, because i have something very important to share with you.
Shania
(misshania83@yahoo.com)
Thank you. I don’t think I’ve ever read your posts before. I am not Catholic but I am a Christian, and I say Amen!
that is so eloquent an answer and I have the feeling that you say what you mean and mean what you say
Our priest after confession would ask me to pray for him. The first time he said that to me I thought that the church is in trouble? lol but then I got to expect it from him and it made him more human to me and I began to be grateful for his humility.
Thank you for staying. We pirate types need good role models!
Sail on… sail on!!!
Thank you for your prayers most of all! (But also for your advice on my novel and good advice about faith in general)
@shaniababy - Dear shaniababy, I also have something important to share with you. I don’t know if you have taken the opportunity to become terribly well acquainted with my blog and who I am, but if I am interpreting correctly the purpose behind your mentioning that you are “single” and have “never been married” (and perhaps I am not), then it is my duty to inform you that I am already quite taken by Someone else. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this, feel free to message me privately through Xanga, as I tend not to email complete strangers (or robots, as the case may or may not be, since my blog is often bombarded my messages similar to yours).
Respectfully,
Ancient_Scribe
@PPhilip -
God does nothing of the sort, for he does not exist.
Everything this person did, he did so without any God. He did it all on his own, which should be ever greater comfort. Do not ever suggest some fictitious almighty being had anything to do with it. It is an intellectual insult.
i’ve been on and off here since 2005. this is my 6th xanga site. but i was never part of this community before this site. seems like i’m staying for a while.
Thank you … and thank you for the prayers you’ve winged towards God on my behalf. Xanga’s a better place with you in it.
Amen! God bless you, too. I’m glad you’re here.
I am grateful you have stayed. I have enjoyed learning here.
It’s why I stay too. If good people didn’t stay, evil would just run rampant. You are a blessing Jacob. I pray that God keeps you always strong.
Xanga is where I met you first, Jacob, and is how I managed to meet you in person.
Thank you for being who you are, and for being here.
@LucyLThinks@twitter - Oh of course, Lucy; my life isn’t mine any more anyways.
I’m glad you’ll continue to stop by; I only hope that my ministry permits to update at least ONCE in a while!
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan
Name of Allah, the Merciful
Didn’t you asked your self one day :
What’s The Purpose of life ?
Here you will get the answer :
http://www.islamtomorrow.com/purpose.htm
Jesus, Christ peace be upon him
http://jesus-christ-2012.blogspot.com/
O Jesus, son of Mary! Is thy Lord able to send down for us a table spread with food from heaven
http://jesussonofmary1432.blogspot.com/
A video clip of the very influential American preacher Yusuf Estes
http://www.youtube.com/v/5J-9dn3_hpY&rel=0&autoplay=0&color1=bdbdbd&color2=bdbdbd&border=0
Allah, CREATED THE UNIVERSE FROM NOTHING
http://allah-created-the-universe.blogspot.com/
THE COLLAPSE OF THE THEORY OF EVOLUTION IN 20 QUESTIONS
http://newaninvitationtothetruth.blogspot.com/
((( Acquainted With Islam )))
http://aslam-ahmd.blogspot.com/
converts
http://converts-ahmd.blogspot.com
home
http://www.islamhouse.com
@ahmd1439 - My dear brother, I too seek refuge from Satan in God, who is indeed so merciful.
The purpose of my life is to praise, reverence and serve God my Lord and by this means to be saved. Jesus Christ, my King and Savior, how I love Him! I’ve given my entire life to Him, more and more every day. Peace be upon Him indeed, He who is the giver of my peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).
Yes Jesus, Son of Mary, ever-virgin! Where would I be without my mother, the mother that my Lord gave to me from His place upon the cross? (John 19:27) My dearest, most pure, most holy mother; I would be so lost without her love, prayers and guidance.
And does He spread a banquet before me! He not only gives me the food I need for the good of my flesh, but He gives me His own Divine Flesh and Blood every day at Mass; He feeds my soul with His very own life. I am so unworthy!
Praise God for all ages that He is so great and mighty that He could speak a single WORD and everything came to be! That He would fashion mankind with His own hands and breathe life into him, and fashion from his side so beautiful a creature as woman! So many women in my life have helped me to become a more godly man, and one woman in particular, the Blessed Mother, the New Eve…if it were not for her obedience I would not have received the greatest joy of all: Jesus Christ!
With all these precious gifts, given to me at so high a cost to Himself, how could I ever leave? How could I ever turn away from the Cross, or refuse the precious Bread from Heaven that is offered me every day? I cannot, my brother. But I thank you for your comment so that I might take a moment to reflect with gratitude for all that God has given me through His Divine Son, Jesus Christ.
May God bless and keep you, brother, and please be assured of the great love Our Lady, the Mother of Jesus, has for you.
-Ancient_Scribe
@Ancient_Scribe - Thank you, my friend, good for your response
Believe me, all Muslims love Jesus peace be upon him and his mother Mary, peace be upon
See what Allah says about Jesus and his mother Mary, peace be upon them in the Quran :
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan
Name of Allah, the Merciful
Surah Al-E-Imran
Lo! Allah preferred Adam and Noah and the Family of Abraham and the Family of ‘Imran above (all His) creatures. (33) They were descendants one of another. Allah is Hearer, Knower. (34) (Remember) when the wife of ‘Imran said: My Lord! I have vowed unto Thee that which is in my belly as a consecrated (offering). Accept it from me. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Hearer, the Knower! (35) And when she was delivered she said: My Lord! Lo! I am delivered of a female – Allah knew best of what she was delivered – the male is not as the female; and lo! I have named her Mary, and lo! I crave Thy protection for her and for her offspring from Satan the outcast. (36) And her Lord accepted her with full acceptance and vouchsafed to her a goodly growth; and made Zachariah her guardian. Whenever Zachariah went into the sanctuary where she was, he found that she had food. He said: O Mary! Whence cometh unto thee this (food)? She answered: It is from Allah. Allah giveth without stint to whom He will. (37) Then Zachariah prayed unto his Lord and said: My Lord! Bestow upon me of Thy bounty goodly offspring. Lo! Thou art the Hearer of Prayer. (38) And the angels called to him as he stood praying in the sanctuary: Allah giveth thee glad tidings of (a son whose name is) John, (who cometh) to confirm a word from Allah lordly, chaste, a prophet of the righteous. (39) He said: My Lord! How can I have a son when age hath overtaken me already and my wife is barren? (The angel) answered: So (it will be). Allah doeth what He will. (40) He said: My Lord! Appoint a token for me. (The angel) said: The token unto thee (shall be) that thou shalt not speak unto mankind three days except by signs. Remember thy Lord much, and praise (Him) in the early hours of night and morning. (41) And when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah hath chosen thee and made thee pure, and hath preferred thee above (all) the women of creation. (42) O Mary! Be obedient to thy Lord, prostrate thyself and bow with those who bow (in worship). (43) This is of the tidings of things hidden. We reveal it unto thee (Muhammad). Thou wast not present with them when they threw their pens (to know) which of them should be the guardian of Mary, nor wast thou present with them when they quarrelled (thereupon). (44) (And remember) when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah). (45) He will speak unto mankind in his cradle and in his manhood, and he is of the righteous. (46) She said: My Lord! How can I have a child when no mortal hath touched me? He said: So (it will be). Allah createth what He will. If He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is. (47) And He will teach him the Scripture and wisdom, and the Torah and the Gospel, (48) And will make him a messenger unto the Children of Israel, (saying): Lo! I come unto you with a sign from your Lord. Lo! I fashion for you out of clay the likeness of a bird, and I breathe into it and it is a bird, by Allah’s leave. I heal him who was born blind, and the leper, and I raise the dead, by Allah’s leave. And I announce unto you what ye eat and what ye store up in your houses. Lo! herein verily is a portent for you, if ye are to be believers. (49) And (I come) confirming that which was before me of the Torah, and to make lawful some of that which was forbidden unto you. I come unto you with a sign from your Lord, so keep your duty to Allah and obey me. (50) Lo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path. (51) But when Jesus became conscious of their disbelief, he cried: Who will be my helpers in the cause of Allah? The disciples said: We will be Allah’s helpers. We believe in Allah, and bear thou witness that we have surrendered (unto Him). (52) Our Lord! We believe in that which Thou hast revealed and we follow him whom Thou hast sent. Enrol us among those who witness (to the truth). (53) And they (the disbelievers) schemed, and Allah schemed (against them): and Allah is the best of schemers. (54) (And remember) when Allah said: O Jesus! Lo! I am gathering thee and causing thee to ascend unto Me, and am cleansing thee of those who disbelieve and am setting those who follow thee above those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection. Then unto Me ye will (all) return, and I shall judge between you as to that wherein ye used to differ. (55) As for those who disbelieve I shall chastise them with a heavy chastisement in the world and the Hereafter; and they will have no helpers. (56) And as for those who believe and do good works, He will pay them their wages in full. Allah loveth not wrong-doers. (57) This (which) We recite unto thee is a revelation and a wise reminder. (58) Lo! the likeness of Jesus with Allah is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, then He said unto him: Be! and he is. (59) (This is) the truth from thy Lord (O Muhammad), so be not thou of those who waver. (60) And whoso disputeth with thee concerning him, after the knowledge which hath come unto thee, say (unto him): Come! We will summon our sons and your sons, and our women and your women, and ourselves and yourselves, then we will pray humbly (to our Lord) and (solemnly) invoke the curse of Allah upon those who lie. (61) Lo! This verily is the true narrative. There is no God save Allah, and lo! Allah he verily, is the Mighty, the Wise. (62) And if they turn away, then lo! Allah is Aware of (who are) the corrupters. (63) Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him). (64) O People of the Scripture! Why will ye argue about Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not revealed till after him? Have ye then no sense? (65) Lo! ye are those who argue about that whereof ye have some knowledge: Why then argue ye concerning that whereof ye have no knowledge? Allah knoweth. Ye know not. (66) Abraham was not a Jew, nor yet a Christian; but he was an upright man who had surrendered (to Allah), and he was not of the idolaters. (67) Lo! those of mankind who have the best claim to Abraham are those who followed him, and this Prophet and those who believe (with him); and Allah is the Protecting Guardian of the believers. (68)
http://www.quranexplorer.com/Quran/Default.aspx
@ahmd1439 - Dear brother, thank you for sharing this with me. I have studied this part of the Quran, and it brings me a great peace when I see where our faiths intersect regarding the purity of Mary, the miracle of Jesus’ conception and birth and His holiness. True, we differ in our beliefs on Him being the Son of God, but we both still love Him and His mother. There is indeed no God other than the Lord, the God of Abraham, and there is no refuge from Satan than He! Peace, brother, and love the Lord always!
Psalm 63:1-9
O God, you are my God—
it is you I seek!
For you my body yearns;
for you my soul thirsts,
In a land parched, lifeless,
and without water.
I look to you in the sanctuary
to see your power and glory.
For your love is better than life;
my lips shall ever praise you!
I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands, calling on your name.
My soul shall be sated as with choice food,
with joyous lips my mouth shall praise you!
I think of you upon my bed,
I remember you through the watches of the night
You indeed are my savior,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.
@Ancient_Scribe - Thank you, my friend,
pray to Almighty Allah, Guide us all to truth and Show Us the Straight Path
Amen
I rarely comment on xanga anymore, either, but I just can’t bring myself to leave it. Thanks for hanging in there for us! Blessings on you as you continue onward with your goals. May God continue to enlighten you.