Sex = Babies

Shocking title there, huh?! “What are you saying Lisa, that sex isn’t solely for pleasure except for when I actually want to aid in creating human life on 1 or maybe 2 occasions?" Gosh I feel bad for you- you’re so oppressed.” Well If you find yourself at all revolted by the title of this post, I’d like to remind you that for thousands upon thousands of years this statement was a ‘no duh’ truth. So while we like to think we have progressed in our thinking and outlooks, we need only to look at what the majority feel as they react to the truth that Sex indeed equals Babies to see where we're at. While we were all playing God and decided it would feel real good to separate the sexual act from procreation, we didn’t quite look at what that separation would do to us, our minds and bodies, and consequently the entire world. Well YOU didn’t, but our most beautiful Catholic church did....and because of it’s divinity, it remains the only Church (correct me if I'm wrong) that has been steadfast in it’s teaching on artificial contraception being unacceptable. I do believe the Church has been under just a bit of pressure to change this teaching for say about 7 decades...and certainly it would be EASIER for the Church to just cave in, follow suit, and just change that darn teaching. Hey, the Church might even get a few youngsters to join if they did that... so why not? Ask yourselves that. Hint: It is not because they want to oppress women. Also, the Church will never change this teaching- it cannot as it's part of doctrine. http://littlecatholicbubble.blogspot.com/2010/09/catholics-you-must-understand-this.html

So forget about all those people who call themselves Catholics and use contraception- while I pray for their continued conversions, I sincerely want to apologize to you on their behalf as they are really confusing the heck out of you. To my Catholic friends on the pill, I love you and I beg you to delve into the wonderful world of learning what and why the faith you claim you belong to teaches this. If you come at it with an open heart armed with prayer...It will blow your mind. I’ve got a lot to say, but I’ve got these 3 little monkeys climbing on me as it’s Saturday and they want to play. (Are you thinking, well Lisa if you got on the pill, you could control how many kids you have and then you might be able to write more blog posts, I mean you're so good at it, we want more!) Ahhh, right. Why wouldn’t I just take that darn pill and control my life? So many reasons... that I will let you learn for yourself, if you just take the bait, click on the links, and read the excerpts below. (And because this is the world wide web and it seems everyone wants to know if ‘Im done having children’...I will let you in on some personal info- I have ‘tried’ for all three of my monkeys and I hope to have more. Now I’m not saying I started off wanting a litter of children- most certainly not. But God is good and He is real and working in me and I am open to His grand plan. At this point on my journey I can honestly tell you that I would love as many children as He sees fit. In fact, I am yearning to meet any future children I may have. I mean I really love my little stinkers and can't imagine life without them or any of their future siblings. A note here, Natural Family Planning is 99.9% effective at avoiding pregnancy when used properly. (If you have a serious reason to avoid having children- which only YOU and your spouse could determine, then feel free to use NFP in this way) You do have to have some self control over your urges, but remember we are not animals and despite what the world might have you believe, we can, in fact, control ourselves. This technique is so beautiful, logical, and mostly practical ;-) - that it’s main goal is not in preventing pregnancy nor achieving it, but it is meant to take care of you, the individual, while connecting you to your spouse in a more full and whole way, and it simultaneously promotes a more Holy marriage which helps in achieving a deeper connection to God. (The way in which marriage is designed by God to mimic the Holy Trinity is absolutely true and, frankly, awesome and humbling) 

"And the spark, the power of that union is meant to gloriously reveal the very image of God to angels and archangels and all the company of heaven and earth. That is why Satan fights tooth and nail to pervert and distort rightly ordered human sexuality, holy matrimony, the family, and fatherhood in particular.

In fact, the amount of time and effort that Satan expends to destroy the image of God reflected in marriage, fatherhood and human sexuality is a barometer of just how incredibly important it is to God's plan and the expression of His glory.

Beloved, there is a profound and awesome reason for the way God ordered the creation of man—one that is commented on throughout Scripture, and one that we must observe if we are to find the fulfillment of our very being as humans. It is ordered as the union of a man and a woman in marriage—heterosexual and monogamous—an order that Jesus unambiguously reaffirmed in Matthew." -From The Divine Marriage by David Kyle Foster.
 http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/gods-design-for-marriage/marriage-gods-idea/the-divine-order-to-marriage 
   There's a bunch of pretty neat side effects as well...including not inviting a known, recently upgraded to class 1, carcinogen into our bodies on the daily that leads to all sorts of icky issues. In addition to the health benefits of not chemically tricking your body into a constant state of pregnancy, your partner will start to look at you in a more authentically loving way. You might start discussing some pretty important stuff...you'll probably grow closer.

   I know this is pretty daunting for more than a few of you...if you decide to dig a little deeper and begin to grasp the evils of the pill, your whole world will seemingly fall into shambles. While it's true, seeking truth is quite a ride and can be a wee bit uncomfortable, I assure you it is worth it and quite exhilarating. And I'm praying for you so that'll help. Nothing feels better than true freedom so c'mon on in...the water's fine?!

 Some links and excerpts: (C’mon you know you’re interested): There are a ton of links to include so just google and go if you want more!...and you want MORE.

*Also, there are worse things to have than babies...just take a look here:http://thepillkills.org/talkingpoints.php

*And aren’t you curious who thought up this magic pill and promoted it endlessly and why? Look here:https://www.ewtn.com/library/PROLIFE/PP04A.TXT

*What is the pill doing to our water supply...even if you’re not taking it...you’re taking it indirectly. C’mon environmentalist- get on this. http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/birth-control-in-drinking-water-a-fertility-catastrophe-in-the-making

and here: http://www.livescience.com/17028-prostate-cancer-risk-birth-control.html

*And BTW overpopulation is a myth so fear not- have those kiddies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBS6f-JVvTY#t=104  But hey, Muslims are having lots of kids to make up for us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kKkY5EpVpY (this video is from 2007 so ya’ know...)

*The secular short film that's finally here to help educate women on their fertility and actually help give real reproductive health resources...it prompted this post. Sure it would've been real nice if they included the fact that Catholic teaching has included this natural technique for years. But hey, it would also be real nice if people at large would start giving Catholicism some credit for a whole bunch of stuff. I mean who started all those hospitals, colleges, schools, and organizations that help the homeless and poor? Oh, wait, what's that- you've decided to drop the Catholic name of your hospital even though it's founders gave their entire lives for the cause (without pay, sometimes even paid with their blood)....Oh okay, seems fair to just keep that Catholic college's name but run from the actual principals, teachings, and ethics for which it was formed. Ummmmm... about right in this day and age when anybody is entitled to anything because ya know...their 'good people'. I know you might not like us, but how can you deny all the good that has come from devout Catholics heeding the call of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? Rant over.

https://naturalwomanhood.org/film/?viewable=yes

*NFP https://ccli.org/

*A bit of insight on sterilization:  http://littlecatholicbubble.blogspot.com/2010/12/sterilization-is-it-getting-fixed-or.html

*Struggling to get pregnant- wait, don't think in-vitro, go here instead: http://www.fertilitycare.org/giannacenter

*Now for the stuff that matters most. Taken from “Humanae Vitae” written in 1968 (talk about prophetic):

Consequences of Artificial Methods

17. Responsible men can become more deeply convinced of the truth of the doctrine laid down by the Church on this issue if they reflect on the consequences of methods and plans for artificial birth control. Let them first consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards. Not much experience is needed to be fully aware of human weakness and to understand that human beings—and especially the young, who are so exposed to temptation—need incentives to keep the moral law, and it is an evil thing to make it easy for them to break that law. Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection.

Finally, careful consideration should be given to the danger of this power passing into the hands of those public authorities who care little for the precepts of the moral law. Who will blame a government which in its attempt to resolve the problems affecting an entire country resorts to the same measures as are regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty? Who will prevent public authorities from favoring those contraceptive methods which they consider more effective? Should they regard this as necessary, they may even impose their use on everyone. It could well happen, therefore, that when people, either individually or in family or social life, experience the inherent difficulties of the divine law and are determined to avoid them, they may give into the hands of public authorities the power to intervene in the most personal and intimate responsibility of husband and wife.

and how about this:

Concern of the Church

18. It is to be anticipated that perhaps not everyone will easily accept this particular teaching. There is too much clamorous outcry against the voice of the Church, and this is intensified by modern means of communication. But it comes as no surprise to the Church that she, no less than her divine Founder, is destined to be a "sign of contradiction." (22) She does not, because of this, evade the duty imposed on her of proclaiming humbly but firmly the entire moral law, both natural and evangelical.

Since the Church did not make either of these laws, she cannot be their arbiter—only their guardian and interpreter. It could never be right for her to declare lawful what is in fact unlawful, since that, by its very nature, is always opposed to the true good of man.

In preserving intact the whole moral law of marriage, the Church is convinced that she is contributing to the creation of a truly human civilization. She urges man not to betray his personal responsibilities by putting all his faith in technical expedients. In this way she defends the dignity of husband and wife. This course of action shows that the Church, loyal to the example and teaching of the divine Savior, is sincere and unselfish in her regard for men whom she strives to help even now during this earthly pilgrimage "to share God's life as sons of the living God, the Father of all men." (23)

Read the whole here: http://w2.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae.html

*Theology of the Body https://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2TBIND.HTM

And cheers to all the babies being born. So many glowing pregnant women and brand new mama's in my life!  I had the chance snuggle two newborns in the last 6 days...not bad! Hey, it pays to have some practicing Catholics in your life, if for nothing else, but the cuddly, cute, baby snuggles ;-) My Godson, David...and my newest nephew, Dominic :-) I just love these boys sooooo much.