The Battle of Lepanto: October 7, 1571

 

For those who do not know, the Battle of Lepanto was the last crusade; by the grace of God, and after intense prayer, the Christians won a decisive battle against the Muslim navy on October 7, 1571.

If that battle had been lost, it is possible that Rome would have fallen into Muslim hands, and St. Peter’s basilica would have been stolen, and turned into a Mosque.

That is exactly what happened to the magnificent Church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. When the Muslim army captured Constantinople and destroyed most of Byzantium Christianity, they stole the Hagia Sophia Church and made it into a Mosque. (I have stood in that incredible building, and wept.) In recent years, the government made it a museum.

incredible building, and wept.) In recent years, the government made it a museum.

I urge you to read the wonderful article that follows on the Battle of Lepanto. (Frankly, it is worth your time far more than any of today’s headlines.)

Please Pray with Us.

We are considering doing a

“teaching event” in cities around the country

On October 7.

Several people who have written to me, or with whom I have spoken by phone, havee said that they would like to hold some calm, yet prophetic event in their own community. We are praying about that, focusing on the date of October 7 – the date of the Battle of Lepanto.

I urge you – for the sake of your mind and soul – to read the article that follows. You will learn more from this article than from every newscast you have ever seen on the religion of Islam.

Tomorrow or the next day, we will decide what, if anything, we are DOING or NOT DOING.  And I will tell you why.

Again, I will read EVERY LETTER that comes to me in response of this email.

Please read this article; it shows the place of PRAYER, MARY, and FIERCE ACTION that saved the Latin Church from the sword of Islam.

The Battle that Saved the Christian West

[The Battle of Lepanto]

By Christopher Check

“…1571, the year of the battle of Lepanto, the most important naval contest in human history, is not well known to Americans. October 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, celebrates the victory at Lepanto, the battle that saved the Christian West from defeat at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. That this military triumph is also a Marian feast underscores our image of the Blessed Virgin prefigured in the Canticle of Canticles: "Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?..."

You will LOVE this historic record!

Entire article found at:

http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2007/0703fea2.asp

A Happy Mother's Day

Michael and Linda share a moment at Braum's on Mother's Day

Kayla with Emersyn on Mother's Day.

Kayla looks on as husband, Landon, shows Kadence something at Braum's.

Grandma tells Kadence about her gift.

A Year in Review

Merry Christmas!

This has been an eventful year. As for the career in teaching, it did not do so well the latter half of the year. I have been doing driver’s education which has been paying the bills. Zarrow was a challenge which, when the contract was over, I was more than happy to leave. Unfortunately, I found that my former boss was not very professional when it came to parting ways. Apparently she has been more than happy to embellish things when it comes to reference calls.

Enough on that. Linda has worked this year to create a new business, 2 Ladies Cleaning has been doing rather well. Though it has been a challenge having a partner, she has been doing quite well for herself.

We continue to struggle with our children’s personal issues. Linda and I do what we can to be the support that our children need and be there for our grandchildren. We have found, like probably most grandparents, that we are not the parents so we definitely have a challenge. Isn’t it fun when you know the answer but you often have children that won’t take the answer? Why do they ask the question? LOL

Some children we see, some we do not. The door is always open but we sometimes wonder if it is wide enough to get their attention!

I had a chance to renew old friendships at the high school reunion this year! It was our 30th and about time! It came at a rough time personally but, in the process of renewing friendships, we also renewed our marriage. It can be rough to go through a marriage when your children are being battered by the elements and easy to lose sight of each other. We realize that this is the first day of the rest of Our lives and we need to be there for each other.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our old friends, new friends, and family. May you all keep sight of what is really near and dear this holiday season!

Linda and J. Arroyo

God and the Barber

This is one of the best explanations of why God allows pain and suffering that I have seen...


A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.
As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.
They talked about so many things and various subjects.
When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said:
'I don't believe that God exists.'

'Why do you say that?' asked the customer. 'Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist.
Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people?
Would there be abandoned children?

If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain.
I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.'
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.
The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard.
He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:
'You know what? Barbers do not exist.'
'How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber.
'I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!'
'No!' the customer exclaimed. 'Barbers don't exist because
if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.'

'Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.'
'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 'That's the point! God, too, DOES exist!
That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help.
That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.'

Arroyo Christmas Preparations

From Christmas Village

From Christmas Village

The Arroyo Christmas Village has expanded this year to include a Nativity Scene, School, Mayor's Mansion, roads etc.

From The Arroyo Family

Rainee decorates the Christmas Tree

From The Arroyo Family

Grandma and Rainee preparing the decorations

From The Arroyo Family

Holly and Rainee - Taking a little break

From The Arroyo Family

Almost done, Rainee has completed most of the decorations

Merry Christmas from the Arroyo Family to yours.

Sen. McCain is the one person who should lead the battle to protect traditional marriage!

As you know, the California Supreme Court has legalized homosexual marriage. This happened despite the fact that voters in California passed Proposition 22 with 61.4 percent of the vote. Proposition 22 defined marriage as only between one man and one woman.
The recent 4-3 ruling, if allowed to stand, would destroy marriage as it has been known for thousands of years. It would lead to the logical conclusion of the following:
• Legalization of polygamous and other aberrant unions as "marriages"
• Legalization of marriage between an adult parent and adult child
• Legalization of group marriage
• Overturn all the marriage laws in the other 49 state

My dear friends and family, the link above gives you an opportunity to send Sen McCain a message. Click on the link below and sign a petition supporting a national Marriage Amendment defining marriage as that between a Man and a Woman.



Yours in Christ
J