“A Prophet is not without honor…”

"A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house."

You are called to share in the Prophetic role of Jesus' ministry. You are called to spread the Word of God, to make sacrifice on behalf of your family and of others. As you grow into your ministry you will be persecuted and mocked and suffer set back's, but remember this; "Your Set-Back is God's Set-UP for your Comeback!"

As the Author of the Book of James reminds us, we must consider it a joy when we encounter various trials and tribulations… for they make us stronger in our Faith in Jesus. Be thankful this day when others talk about you for the Love of the Lord that is on your lips, on your face and in your heart; for Jesus was not without honor except in his native home.

Rejoice when you walk in the Light of the Lord this day, though the earthly perceptions may be negative, the entire Kingdom of Heaven is Rejoicing in your Heavenly actions. Praise be Jesus Christ now and forever, let the Church say… amen, Amen and AMEN!

Richard Lane, Qorban Ministries – www.CatholicEvangelist.net

"The Kingdom of heaven is like a net…”

Matt 13:47 - "The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind…"

Today, you are a Fisher of men and women. God has called each and every one of us by our Baptism to be His disciples and preach the Good News of Salvation to all the world. How to you Preach the Gospel you might ask, if you are not an ordained Minister? Well, you preach the Gospel in the way you live your life; how you treat others, family, friends, co-workers; you preach the Gospel in the way you treat strangers, "For whatsoever you do unto the least of these, you do unto me", Jesus reminds us.

Cast your nets today and lower them for a catch. Speak a word of life into someone's life today, greet someone with an extra smile. Make a conscious effort to tell everyone you come into contact with today, "God Bless you". When you do this, your net is being lowered for the Holy Spirit to catch them. Your mouth is the Fishing Pole and the Word of God is the bait. Make sure you cast out for some nibbles and when the big one bites, let the Holy Spirit reel them in!

Blessings and Peace to you.

Richard Lane, Qorban Ministries – www.CatholicEvangelist.net

“Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

I believe Jesus said these words to us several times in the Bible and it is cause for reflection. Why does our Lord stress this phrase after some of His teachings? My wife sometimes reminds me, "You are listening to me, but do you really
hear what I am trying to communicate?" So often we get wrapped up in listening to things, but fail to really hear what is said to us.

What is Jesus saying to you in your life? What is Jesus asking you to do for the Kingdom? Often times we think of ourselves and our own situations, but Jesus is speaking to our situation when He directs our steps in service to others. Jesus came to serve and not to be served. Have you served someone lately? Have you asked someone how you can be a blessing in their life? Yes we are in very trying times right now and millions of us really have nowhere to turn too. The Banks have failed us, our Government is trying to… well, I will let you speculate on what our Government is trying to do, but they tell us to have hope. Is your hope in a failing system, or is your Hope in Eternal Salvation?

Today ask the Holy Spirit to guide your steps. Ask Him to open your ears that you may truly hear what He is saying and what others are saying to you. Use the 80/20 rule this day, Listen/Hear 80% of the time and only speak 20%; and hear the Word of Life the Holy Spirit is speaking in you this day. Remember, you are blessed to be a blessing to others.

Blessings and Peace to you.

Richard Lane, Qorban Ministries – www.CatholicEvangelist.net

PS… We have been working on the website over the past couple of days to check it out! If your church or Parish is seeking a Revival, a Speaker or if you are a Protestant church who would like to invite Evangelist Richard Lane as a guest speaker, PLEASE DO SO TODAY. Go to our website and see the homepage for the services offered. We are in need of your help with invitations so if you know of a Church or Parish looking for a Speaker, Revivalist or Guest Preacher, please contact us. We have many open dates for the remainder of this year. Also, if you wish to make a 'Free Will Love Offering' to help us continue, please click on the DONATE button at the bottom of the homepage of our website at www.Qorban.net Thank you again and God's continued blessings to you and yours! Remember, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE…!

God is Good All the Time!!!

Psalm 136:1 – “Praise the LORD, who is so good; God's love endures forever;”

“God is good all the time…ALL the time…. God is Good!” He is good to us even when we are not good to Him and to ourselves. He continues to be Good and Merciful to us when we turn our backs to Him in committing sin each day, but His Mercy and Goodness endures forever. How great is our God that He loves us just where we are in life’s journey. The old saying is “hate the sin, but love the sinner” and this is just what the Lord does for us. He hates our sinfulness, but loves each and every one of us equally and without condition, no matter where we are in life and what we have done. Praise Him today for the Love He has for you where you are today, and continue to grow in His Word, because His Word has been indelibly imprinted upon your heart.

Blessings and Peace,

Richard Lane - Qorban Ministries - www.CatholicEvangelist.net

Do you have Rich Soil within you…

In today's Gospel Reading we are given a Parable from Jesus about the sowing of seeds. Jesus says to us;

"The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom
without understanding it,
and the Evil One comes and steals away
what was sown in his heart.
The seed sown on rocky ground
is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy.
But he has no root and lasts only for a time.
When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
he immediately falls away.
The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word,
but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word
and it bears no fruit.
But the seed sown on rich soil
is the one who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."

It seems in this day and age that seeds are being sown among thorns, to which the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word within us. Many of us are struggling and trying to make it and we see no way out and our faith is lacks each day more and more. For some of us the size is much less than that of a Mustard Seed, but God tells us unequivocally that HE WILL NOT LET US DIE. That He is the beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, which means that He is with us now, even until the end of the age; He sees our sufferings and knows our tribulations and He assures us that this is only a season. We should Praise Him always in Good times and in Trying times, for He is always with us. As the saying says, it is during these times of tribulation that He carries us.

Rest in the Peace of Christ for He has suffered and died for all of us that we should not suffer and die in our own sinfulness. He will make a Way out of no Way for us…we must BELIEVE and not have the evil one steal away what God has sown in our heart, for He truly knows our heart!

Blessings and Peace.

Evangelist Richard Lane – www.CatholicEvangelist.net

“Is customer service and professionalism a lost art?”

This was the question posed by one of my family members on my Facebook page this afternoon and it caused me to do a little reflecting on this topic. I would say, emphatically YES, Service and Professionalism are a truly lost art. I went to the post office yesterday to check my P.O. Box and also to pick up mail that had been left at the post office, from an out of town trip, and low and behold at the 'Customer Service' desk was the same person who, approximately 6 week earlier gave me grief and actually called me a liar, because of something that was on my registration for my Post Office Box. I gently explained to the young lady that the home address on my registration card did not match that of my driver's license due to the fact that I had not renewed it as of yet. She went on and on about other things and in front of another of her co-workers, stated to me, "so you are now saying that this is not your correct address, when I just heard you say it was." I looked, and looked at the other lady and she said, "that is NOT what he said", but the original clerk said "that's what I heard" and I emphatically said "NO, I did not say that…I would not nor have any reason to be dishonest with you."

Yesterday this same clerk was at the window and had such a horrible attitude and look on her face, it was painfully obvious she did not want to be at work and was disgruntled with her job. It cause me to think about the millions of people who are currently out of work who would gladly do her job, with much more enthusiasm and courtesy – 'Serving' people who come in.

When I thought more today I immediately thought of 'service' in the Bible and thought of Mary Magdalene who showed up at the rich man Simon's home, to weep at the feet of Jesus. Mary was a 'worldly' woman and was well known for her sinfulness, and those who saw her in the house, worshiping at the feet of Jesus, I am certain took offense to her doing such a thing. They even looked at Jesus funny because he actually allowed it. No matter what others knew of her sins, Jesus knew her heart. She let down her long beautiful hair, wiped her tears from His feet and anointed them with expensive perfume. This caught many by surprise, but Jesus said; "Many sins have been forgiven her, because she loved very much." Then Jesus said to Mary kindly, "Your faith has made you safe; go in peace." From then on, Mary served Jesus and His Apostles.

Service must be done with love and kindness and yes it is a lost art in this relativistic world we currently live in, which teaches us to do as little as we can, with so much given to us and not worry about others. We must take yet another page in the teachings of Jesus, and remember that we must see His face in others, because only He knows their heart. In the face of evil we must remember what Mother Teresa said, "you can save someone's soul, with just a smile." When someone fails to serve you…serve them up a smile. Jesus knows your heart.

Evangelist Richard Lane – Qorban Ministries – www.CatholicEvangelist.net

"Between the Rooms", God's Door is always open...

The other day my wife and I rec'd the call everyone dreads. "Something has happened to Mamma..." We prayed and scrambled, scrambled and prayed and then took a breath...and prayed again.

I feel as if I am insulting this wonderful woman of God by calling her my Mother "In-Law" because of the stereotyped the name draws. She has never called me her son "in-law", but her son as I feel she is my mother as well. Such a wonderful, strong and loving woman who bore and raised four extremely intelligent children who turned out to all be wonderful, professional and God Loving People.

We arrived here in Grand Rapids yesterday after 7 plus hours of driving only to find the Matriarch of this family confined to a hospital bed, but yet her beautiful penetrating smile just pierces and lights up any room she is within. In the midst of her trial and suffering she still brings the Joy and Love of Christ to everyone she meets, even in the hospital.

As my wife and I were having lunch this afternoon, she reminisced on her life and the life of her wonderful 88 year YOUNG mother, and was saddened that this true matriarch of the family, who gave so much of her life to her family and others, who served God, the People of God as well as her community, has been relegated to a "room". All the stuff she has, to fill and entire home, here she is just in a 'room'. Those of you who know me, knew exactly where my mind went... straight into "Preach Mode" and I said, "for most of us, we are Born in a Room and for most of us, we will Die in a 'Room', but what matters MOST is what we do "Between the Rooms".

God gives us all free will. The Free Will to Love Him or turn our backs to Him; the free will to do right or wrong; to choose good over evil and that is what we are called to do between the rooms, which will decide our ultimate future.

God wishes and desires us to return to Him, the Creator and we must understand in this life that it is not about STUFF, how much stuff we have acquired because I have said before, "I have never seen a U'Haul Truck attached to a Hearse!" We can't take it with us, but we can leave something behind. We can leave a legacy of Love behind that will continue to be written for long after we have departed this earth, IF we do what God Wills of us. I am also reminded that there are many who are never born in a 'room' and many who never die in a room' and are born into an Evil world or situation and die a death that most of us could not ever imagine and we are all called to continue to pray for them as well and just "Make the World a Better Place".

God's door is always open to us, but so often we shy away from it, run away from it, go the opposite way, because of FEAR! We need to RUN through that Open Door because there is Salvation within it... ETERNAL Salvation through Him Who Saved us... Jesus Christ.

So I ask you...what are YOU doing between rooms? Have you walked through God's Open Door yet? He's waiting for YOU!

Blessings and Peace and Keep getting better Rita! We love you Momma!

Evangelist Richard Lane

www.Qorban.net

“Why don’t Catholics seek out other Catholics for Businesses and Services?”

This was a question posted in a Catholic Business Forum that I saw today and saw so many good answers and responses to it. Thinking on what I just said I guess it is NOT a "good response" when we are speaking of not being able to do more for our brothers and sisters.

My response was given in two parts;

I think I can craft and entire Series of Talks based upon this discussion! (smile).

I think all have a valid point and in my humble opinion, from the perspective of a convert to Catholicism as well as one who speaks and preaches to thousands of Catholics (and other denominations) around the Country, it comes down to two key points:

1. Lack of Catechesis (on-going): Most of us do not know our Faith very well and we take the Sacraments off the shelf in the closet, (so to speak) when we need them; e.g. Marriage, then we put it back on the shelf, until the baby comes...then Baptism...back on the shelf, etc. More often than not, we are not living out our VOCATION (for those of us who are married as well as the single laity) which calls us to GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES...but we just don't know HOW. We don't know or understand just HOW to live a Sacramental Life. I heard Fr. John Corapi put it a GREAT way and it is SO TRUE, "Protestants to more with less (speaking of Sacraments as well as the FULLNESS of the Means of Salvation in the Roman Catholic Church) and Catholics do LESS with MORE." How sad, but how true.

2. FEAR. We are afraid to put on our Catholic Faith when we enter the Secular world. We are AFRAID to sign ourselves when having dinner out, because everyone will then know you are Catholic. We are afraid to engage our Protestant brothers and sisters in conversation, because we feel that most of them will run all over us quoting Chapter and Verse and we are often times not prepared. One of our other shortcomings is that we do not have the equivalent in Catholic/Religious Education as we do Secular, e.g. if you have a Graduate Degree in XYZ, do you have the equivalent in your Catholic Education as well...most of us do not nor do we wish to do so...which is also sad. As someone wrote above, Catholics MUST UNITE! We MUST continue to grow and understand the Deep and Rich Traditions and History we have in our Church and we MUST be willing to do something NEW - We must craft for ourselves NEW Wine Skins to let the Holy Spirit Fill us with New Wine. To often we are trying to put New Wine in our Old Wine Skins and it just don't work. KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON brothers and Sisters. Wear those Crosses and Catholic Crucifix's in public, show our devotion to our Blessed Mother and the Saints, use Holy Water, Blessed Salt, ask the Holy Spirit for "the Gifts" and God will give them to us ALL, to Understand what He wants from us in our lives and not what we want from God!

By the way, my GREAT looking website www.CatholicEvangelist.net is done by and hosted by a great Catholic Business Owner! Thanks Dave! www.ConnectingMembers.com he does CATHOLIC Church Websites!!!

Pax Christi.

Richard Lane (PROUD to be a Catholic Evangelist) www.CatholicEvangelist.net

“RUN SHAY RUN…”

This was sent to me weeks ago and I just read it and wanted to share it with you all. PLEASE forward this to others… we need more LOVE like this in our world! Blessings and Peace.

Richard Lane - www.CatholicEvangelist.net

A little long, but .....
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with
learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a
speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After
extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything
nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He
cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?'
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay,
who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an
opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes
in the way other people treat that child.'
Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were
playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew
that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team,
but as a father myself; I also understood that if my son were allowed to
play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some
confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps....
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not
expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance
and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth
inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat
in the ninth inning.'
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile,
put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in
my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few
runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played
in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously
ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to
ear as I waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning
run was on base and Shay was scheduled to next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their
chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit
was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat
properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact...
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first
baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay,run to first! Run to first!'
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay' Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!' As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both team s helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'. Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!