Tonight's humor is entitled, "Evil Always Starts Small". I am sure the gentle reader will agree.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tonight's Humor - Evil Always Starts Small
Folks,
Tonight's humor is entitled, "Evil Always Starts Small". I am sure the gentle reader will agree.
Tonight's humor is entitled, "Evil Always Starts Small". I am sure the gentle reader will agree.
Today's Readings
Folks,
I had not read the Daily Readings from Scripture for 06/30/2009 this morning, but I did attend evening Mass and learned that they coincidentally included the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:15-29. I wonder if President Obamolech remembers why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. The answer of course is given in Genesis 18:20-33. The story goes on Genesis 19:1-11 about the visit of angels from the Lord to Lot who was living in Sodom. Certain wicked men of that city went to Lot's house on the evening of the visit and demanded:
Where are the men who came to your house tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have intimacies with them.
Sadly, the present state of Amerika is no different than the state of Sodom and Gomorrah four millennia ago. Indeed our English word "sodomy" derives from the name of that infamous city renown for its rampant homosexual immorality.
No nation is beyond God's eternal justice, and no ruler beyond His gaze. Beware, Mr. President. You are being watched by the Lord God Most High, and to Him you, I and everyone else shall have to answer. But yours is a special position of responsibility. As Wisdom 6:1-9 says,
Hear, therefore, kings, and understand; learn, you magistrates of the earth's expanse! Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude and lord it over throngs of peoples! Because authority was given you by the LORD and sovereignty by the Most High, who shall probe your works and scrutinize your counsels! Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom, you judged not rightly, and did not keep the law, nor walk according to the will of God, Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you, because judgment is stern for the exalted - For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test. For the Lord of all shows no partiality, nor does he fear greatness, Because he himself made the great as well as the small, and he provides for all alike; but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends. To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin.
I had not read the Daily Readings from Scripture for 06/30/2009 this morning, but I did attend evening Mass and learned that they coincidentally included the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:15-29. I wonder if President Obamolech remembers why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. The answer of course is given in Genesis 18:20-33. The story goes on Genesis 19:1-11 about the visit of angels from the Lord to Lot who was living in Sodom. Certain wicked men of that city went to Lot's house on the evening of the visit and demanded:
Where are the men who came to your house tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have intimacies with them.
Sadly, the present state of Amerika is no different than the state of Sodom and Gomorrah four millennia ago. Indeed our English word "sodomy" derives from the name of that infamous city renown for its rampant homosexual immorality.
No nation is beyond God's eternal justice, and no ruler beyond His gaze. Beware, Mr. President. You are being watched by the Lord God Most High, and to Him you, I and everyone else shall have to answer. But yours is a special position of responsibility. As Wisdom 6:1-9 says,
Hear, therefore, kings, and understand; learn, you magistrates of the earth's expanse! Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude and lord it over throngs of peoples! Because authority was given you by the LORD and sovereignty by the Most High, who shall probe your works and scrutinize your counsels! Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom, you judged not rightly, and did not keep the law, nor walk according to the will of God, Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you, because judgment is stern for the exalted - For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test. For the Lord of all shows no partiality, nor does he fear greatness, Because he himself made the great as well as the small, and he provides for all alike; but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends. To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin.
Obama hopes to persuade all Americans to accept homosexuality
Folks,
President Obamolech is at it again:
Obama hopes to persuade all Americans to accept homosexuality.
Obamolech stated:
"There are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors or even family members and loved ones, who still hold fast to worn arguments and old attitudes..."
Mr. President, I am proudly one of those citizens who still hold fast to the SAME arguments and attitudes that St. Paul declared two thousand years ago in 1st Corinthians 6:9-10:
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
Your legitimization of sodomy does NOT make a man putting his privy parts into the behind or mouth of another man a human right. This is dirt and filth.
President Obamolech is at it again:
Obama hopes to persuade all Americans to accept homosexuality.
Obamolech stated:
"There are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors or even family members and loved ones, who still hold fast to worn arguments and old attitudes..."
Mr. President, I am proudly one of those citizens who still hold fast to the SAME arguments and attitudes that St. Paul declared two thousand years ago in 1st Corinthians 6:9-10:
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
Your legitimization of sodomy does NOT make a man putting his privy parts into the behind or mouth of another man a human right. This is dirt and filth.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Large Scale Structure of the Universe
Folks,
Yesterday I again had a chance to go to Mass at St. Peter the Fisherman and one of the seminarians there gave a presentation on Psalm 19:2-7. Verse two is especially note worthy:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky proclaims its builder's craft.
The following pictures from The Atlas of the Universe explains what the seminarian was trying to convey:
The Universe within 12.5 Light Years
The Nearest Stars
Number of stars within 12.5 light years = 33
This map shows all the star systems that lie within 12.5 light years of our Sun. Most of the stars are red dwarfs - stars with a tenth of the Sun's mass and less than one hundredth the luminosity. Roughly eighty percent of all the stars in the universe are red dwarfs, and the nearest star - Proxima - is a typical example.
The Universe within 250 Light Years
The Solar Neighbourhood
Number of stars within 250 light years = 260,000
This map is a plot of the 1500 most luminous stars within 250 light years. All of these stars are much more luminous than the Sun and most of them can be seen with the naked eye. About one third of the stars visible with the naked eye lie within 250 light years, even though this is only a tiny part of our galaxy.
The Universe within 5000 Light Years
The Orion Arm
Number of stars within 5000 light years = 600 million
This is a map of our corner of the Milky Way galaxy. The Sun is located in the Orion Arm - a fairly minor arm compared with the Sagittarius Arm, which is located closer to the galactic centre. The map shows several stars visible with the naked eye which are located deep within the Orion arm. The most notable group of stars here are main stars in the constellation of Orion - from which the spiral arm gets its name. All of these stars are bright giant and supergiant stars, thousands of times more luminous than the Sun. The most luminous star on the map is Rho Cassiopeia (ρ Cas) - to us 4000 light years away, it is a dim naked eye star, but in reality it is a huge supergiant star 100 000 times more luminous than our Sun.
The Universe within 50,000 Light Years
The Milky Way Galaxy
Number of stars within 50 000 light years = 200 billion
This map shows the full extent of the Milky Way galaxy - a spiral galaxy of at least two hundred billion stars. Our Sun is buried deep within the Orion Arm about 26 000 light years from the centre. Towards the centre of the Galaxy the stars are packed together much closer than they are where we live. Notice also the presence of small globular clusters of stars which lie well outside the plane of the Galaxy, and notice too the presence of a nearby dwarf galaxy - the Sagittarius dwarf - which is slowly being swallowed up by our own galaxy.
The Universe within 500,000 Light Years
The Satellite Galaxies
Number of large galaxies within 500,000 light years = 1
Number of dwarf galaxies within 500,000 light years = 12
Number of stars within 500 000 light years = 225 billion
The Milky Way is surrounded by several dwarf galaxies, typically containing a few tens of millions of stars, which is insignificant compared with the number of stars in the Milky Way itself. This map shows the closest dwarf galaxies, they are all gravitationally bound to the Milky Way requiring billions of years to orbit it.
The Universe within 5 million Light Years
The Local Group of Galaxies
Number of large galaxies within 5 million light years = 3
Number of dwarf galaxies within 5 million light years = 46
Number of stars within 5 million light years = 700 billion
The Milky Way is one of three large galaxies belonging to the group of galaxies called the Local Group which also contains several dozen dwarf galaxies. Most of these galaxies are depicted on the map, although most dwarf galaxies are so faint, that there are probably several more waiting to be discovered.
The Universe within 100 million Light Years
The Virgo Supercluster
Number of galaxy groups within 100 million light years = 200
Number of large galaxies within 100 million light years = 2500
Number of dwarf galaxies within 100 million light years = 50,000
Number of stars within 100 million light years = 200 trillion
Our galaxy is just one of thousands that lie within 100 million light years. The above map shows how galaxies tend to cluster into groups, the largest nearby cluster is the Virgo cluster a concentration of several hundred galaxies which dominates the galaxy groups around it. Collectively, all of these groups of galaxies are known as the Virgo Supercluster. The second richest cluster in this volume of space is the Fornax Cluster, but it is not nearly as rich as the Virgo cluster. Only bright galaxies are depicted on the map, our galaxy is the dot in the very centre.
The Universe within 1 billion Light Years
The Neighbouring Superclusters
Number of superclusters within 1 billion light years = 100
Number of galaxy groups within 1 billion light years = 240,000
Number of large galaxies within 1 billion light years = 3 million
Number of dwarf galaxies within 1 billion light years = 60 million
Number of stars within 1 billion light years = 250,000 trillion
Galaxies and clusters of galaxies are not uniformly distributed in the Universe, instead they collect into vast clusters and sheets and walls of galaxies interspersed with large voids in which very few galaxies seem to exist. The map above shows many of these superclusters including the Virgo supercluster - the minor supercluster of which our galaxy is just a minor member. The entire map is approximately 7 percent of the diameter of the entire visible Universe.
The Universe within 14 billion Light Years
The Visible Universe
Number of superclusters in the visible universe = 10 million
Number of galaxy groups in the visible universe = 25 billion
Number of large galaxies in the visible universe = 350 billion
Number of dwarf galaxies in the visible universe = 7 trillion
Number of stars in the visible universe = 30 billion trillion (3x10²²)
This map attempts to show the entire visible Universe. The galaxies in the universe tend to collect into vast sheets and superclusters of galaxies surrounding large voids giving the universe a cellular appearance. Because light in the universe only travels at a fixed speed, we see objects at the edge of the universe when it was very young up to 14 billion years ago.
Yesterday I again had a chance to go to Mass at St. Peter the Fisherman and one of the seminarians there gave a presentation on Psalm 19:2-7. Verse two is especially note worthy:
The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky proclaims its builder's craft.
The following pictures from The Atlas of the Universe explains what the seminarian was trying to convey:
The Universe within 12.5 Light Years
The Nearest Stars
Number of stars within 12.5 light years = 33
This map shows all the star systems that lie within 12.5 light years of our Sun. Most of the stars are red dwarfs - stars with a tenth of the Sun's mass and less than one hundredth the luminosity. Roughly eighty percent of all the stars in the universe are red dwarfs, and the nearest star - Proxima - is a typical example.
The Universe within 250 Light Years
The Solar Neighbourhood
Number of stars within 250 light years = 260,000
This map is a plot of the 1500 most luminous stars within 250 light years. All of these stars are much more luminous than the Sun and most of them can be seen with the naked eye. About one third of the stars visible with the naked eye lie within 250 light years, even though this is only a tiny part of our galaxy.
The Universe within 5000 Light Years
The Orion Arm
Number of stars within 5000 light years = 600 million
This is a map of our corner of the Milky Way galaxy. The Sun is located in the Orion Arm - a fairly minor arm compared with the Sagittarius Arm, which is located closer to the galactic centre. The map shows several stars visible with the naked eye which are located deep within the Orion arm. The most notable group of stars here are main stars in the constellation of Orion - from which the spiral arm gets its name. All of these stars are bright giant and supergiant stars, thousands of times more luminous than the Sun. The most luminous star on the map is Rho Cassiopeia (ρ Cas) - to us 4000 light years away, it is a dim naked eye star, but in reality it is a huge supergiant star 100 000 times more luminous than our Sun.
The Universe within 50,000 Light Years
The Milky Way Galaxy
Number of stars within 50 000 light years = 200 billion
This map shows the full extent of the Milky Way galaxy - a spiral galaxy of at least two hundred billion stars. Our Sun is buried deep within the Orion Arm about 26 000 light years from the centre. Towards the centre of the Galaxy the stars are packed together much closer than they are where we live. Notice also the presence of small globular clusters of stars which lie well outside the plane of the Galaxy, and notice too the presence of a nearby dwarf galaxy - the Sagittarius dwarf - which is slowly being swallowed up by our own galaxy.
The Universe within 500,000 Light Years
The Satellite Galaxies
Number of large galaxies within 500,000 light years = 1
Number of dwarf galaxies within 500,000 light years = 12
Number of stars within 500 000 light years = 225 billion
The Milky Way is surrounded by several dwarf galaxies, typically containing a few tens of millions of stars, which is insignificant compared with the number of stars in the Milky Way itself. This map shows the closest dwarf galaxies, they are all gravitationally bound to the Milky Way requiring billions of years to orbit it.
The Universe within 5 million Light Years
The Local Group of Galaxies
Number of large galaxies within 5 million light years = 3
Number of dwarf galaxies within 5 million light years = 46
Number of stars within 5 million light years = 700 billion
The Milky Way is one of three large galaxies belonging to the group of galaxies called the Local Group which also contains several dozen dwarf galaxies. Most of these galaxies are depicted on the map, although most dwarf galaxies are so faint, that there are probably several more waiting to be discovered.
The Universe within 100 million Light Years
The Virgo Supercluster
Number of galaxy groups within 100 million light years = 200
Number of large galaxies within 100 million light years = 2500
Number of dwarf galaxies within 100 million light years = 50,000
Number of stars within 100 million light years = 200 trillion
Our galaxy is just one of thousands that lie within 100 million light years. The above map shows how galaxies tend to cluster into groups, the largest nearby cluster is the Virgo cluster a concentration of several hundred galaxies which dominates the galaxy groups around it. Collectively, all of these groups of galaxies are known as the Virgo Supercluster. The second richest cluster in this volume of space is the Fornax Cluster, but it is not nearly as rich as the Virgo cluster. Only bright galaxies are depicted on the map, our galaxy is the dot in the very centre.
The Universe within 1 billion Light Years
The Neighbouring Superclusters
Number of superclusters within 1 billion light years = 100
Number of galaxy groups within 1 billion light years = 240,000
Number of large galaxies within 1 billion light years = 3 million
Number of dwarf galaxies within 1 billion light years = 60 million
Number of stars within 1 billion light years = 250,000 trillion
Galaxies and clusters of galaxies are not uniformly distributed in the Universe, instead they collect into vast clusters and sheets and walls of galaxies interspersed with large voids in which very few galaxies seem to exist. The map above shows many of these superclusters including the Virgo supercluster - the minor supercluster of which our galaxy is just a minor member. The entire map is approximately 7 percent of the diameter of the entire visible Universe.
The Universe within 14 billion Light Years
The Visible Universe
Number of superclusters in the visible universe = 10 million
Number of galaxy groups in the visible universe = 25 billion
Number of large galaxies in the visible universe = 350 billion
Number of dwarf galaxies in the visible universe = 7 trillion
Number of stars in the visible universe = 30 billion trillion (3x10²²)
This map attempts to show the entire visible Universe. The galaxies in the universe tend to collect into vast sheets and superclusters of galaxies surrounding large voids giving the universe a cellular appearance. Because light in the universe only travels at a fixed speed, we see objects at the edge of the universe when it was very young up to 14 billion years ago.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
More Wisdom from Rome's Greatest Lawyer
Folks,
Here is some more wisdom from ancient Rome's greatest lawyer (Marcus Tullius Cicero) back when the profession of law was an honorable one. That all changed of course once the plebians learned they could vote for themselves bread and circuses without consequences.
Next to God we are nothing. To God we are Everything.
(This was said by a virtual pagan before Christ was even born!)
A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague.
(I quoted this saying before, but it's always worth a re-read in these times. Indeed, think about this when contemplating Obamolech, Biden, Pelosi, et al.)
The enemy is within the gates; it is with our own luxury, our own folly, our own criminality that we have to contend.
(Never was a truer statement said about this post modern, neo-pagan Amerika)
It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment.
(Yet we continue to extol the muscular, the swift and the dexterous while ignoring careful reflection, virtuous character and dispassionate judgment.)
No man can be brave who thinks pain the greatest evil; nor temperate, who considers pleasure the highest god. [Lat., Fortis vero, dolorem summum malum judicans; aut temperans, voluptatem summum bonum statuens, esse certe nullo modo potest.]
(But the people of today's society can't stand the pain of discipline, and look whom they have elected to the Oval Office!)
A man of courage is also full of faith.
(Note that Cicero did NOT say a man of courage is a man of science.)
Every evil in the bud is easily crushed; as it grows older, it becomes stronger. [Lat., Omne malum nascens facile opprimitur; inveteratum fit pleurumque robustius.]
(Sadly we have failed to nip liberalism in the bub. We will now repeat the days of Maximillen Robespierre.)
Here is some more wisdom from ancient Rome's greatest lawyer (Marcus Tullius Cicero) back when the profession of law was an honorable one. That all changed of course once the plebians learned they could vote for themselves bread and circuses without consequences.
Next to God we are nothing. To God we are Everything.
(This was said by a virtual pagan before Christ was even born!)
A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague.
(I quoted this saying before, but it's always worth a re-read in these times. Indeed, think about this when contemplating Obamolech, Biden, Pelosi, et al.)
The enemy is within the gates; it is with our own luxury, our own folly, our own criminality that we have to contend.
(Never was a truer statement said about this post modern, neo-pagan Amerika)
It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment.
(Yet we continue to extol the muscular, the swift and the dexterous while ignoring careful reflection, virtuous character and dispassionate judgment.)
No man can be brave who thinks pain the greatest evil; nor temperate, who considers pleasure the highest god. [Lat., Fortis vero, dolorem summum malum judicans; aut temperans, voluptatem summum bonum statuens, esse certe nullo modo potest.]
(But the people of today's society can't stand the pain of discipline, and look whom they have elected to the Oval Office!)
A man of courage is also full of faith.
(Note that Cicero did NOT say a man of courage is a man of science.)
Every evil in the bud is easily crushed; as it grows older, it becomes stronger. [Lat., Omne malum nascens facile opprimitur; inveteratum fit pleurumque robustius.]
(Sadly we have failed to nip liberalism in the bub. We will now repeat the days of Maximillen Robespierre.)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Today's Humor - An Atheist in the Woods
AN ATHEIST IN THE WOODSAn atheist was walking through the woods.
'What majestic trees!'
'What powerful rivers!'
'What beautiful animals!'
He said to himself.
As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him.
He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path.. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him....He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer.
He tripped & fell on the ground.
He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw & raising his right paw to strike him... At that instant the Atheist cried out, “Oh my God!”
Time Stopped.
The bear froze.
The forest was silent.
As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky.'You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident.'
'Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament?Am I to count you as a believer?'
The atheist looked directly into the light, 'It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the BEAR a Christian'?
'Very well,' said the voice.
The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke:
'Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen.'
Whom Are You Considering Today?
Folks,
I receive daily e-mails from a Protestant organization called Rick Renner Ministries. These e-mails are generally a part of Rev. Renner's Sparkling Gems from the Greek. I thought therefore that I would begin sharing these with the gentle reader (since we all can and should learn a little more about the Koine Greek in which the New Testament was originally written), or alternatively you can sign up for the same at Rev. Renner's web site. And no, folks, being a devout Catholic I don't necessarily agree with all of Rev. Renner's theology (remember: one man's theology is another man's belly laugh), but his knowledge of Koine Greek is worth sharing. Indeed, today's essay is quite "thought provoking" as it were.
Whom Are You Considering Today? And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. —Hebrews 10:24
Do you ever get so busy and self-consumed that you forget there are people all around you who have needs and challenges too? It's true that we are often so concerned about ourselves that we forget or bypass people who are struggling terribly, not realizing that they need a special act or word to encourage them. This is especially sad when it happens inside the church, because we are supposed to be a spiritual family who genuinely cares for one another and who helps meet each other's needs. This is why Hebrews 10:24 says, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works."
The word "consider" is from the Greek word katanoeo, a compound of the words kata and noeo. The word kata depicts something that is moving downward; the word noeo (from the word nous) depicts the mind and means to think. When the two words are placed together, the new word means to thoroughly think something through or to ponder something from the top all the way to the bottom. It is the idea of mulling something over; carefully contemplating a matter; pondering and carefully looking at a particular issue; or examining and fully studying a subject.
This word pictures someone who is so concerned about someone else that he has taken the time to really consider that other person. He has observed the person's ups and downs and his highs and lows. He has studied to find out what helps that person feel encouraged and what events tend to pull him down. Because he has determined to really know and understand that other person, he invests a great deal of time and concentration into studying and getting to know that other person. This kind of knowledge doesn't come by accident, but by determined pursuit.
In light of this understanding, we must remember that although the local church is to be a place where we can come to worship and hear the Word of God preached and taught, it is also a place where believers should "consider one another" as this verse commands. The writer of Hebrews uses this word to convey the picture of a loving community where people are vitally concerned about each others' welfare. In fact, they are constantly observing and contemplating each other to know how to encourage and provoke each other to love and to good works.
Not only are we to consider one another, but the Bible goes on to say we are also to provoke one another unto love and good works. The word "provoke" is the Greek word paraxusmos. The word para means alongside, and it carries the idea of being close. The second part of the word is the Greek word xusmos, which means to sharpen something, such as a knife, and indicates a very sharp situation. When you put the two words together, the compound word describes someone who has come alongside of someone else for the purpose of prodding and impelling that person to do something.
You may have already guessed that "provoking" one another can be either a positive or a negative thing! One translation for this word paraxusmos would be to call into combat. Throughout the New Testament, the word paraxusmos is usually translated to mean to irritate, to incite, to anger, to inflame, or to enrage. Obviously, this kind of provoking is very bad! But in Hebrews 10:24, the word "provoking" is telling us that our relationships with other believers should incite us to become better, stronger, and bolder in the Lord.
How can you provoke other believers in a positive way? How can you stimulate your brother in the Lord in such a way that you make him want to walk in love and do good works? How can you sharpen and inspire the fellow believer who is in need of endurance? You can come alongside that person and love him enough not to leave him in discouragement and defeat. You can sharpen him, prod him, impel him, and inspire him to keep on fighting the good fight of faith! All believers need to be provoked at times, no matter what their position is in the Body of Christ. Everyone needs a loving push in the right direction now and then!
A paraphrase of this verse might be the following:
"And constantly be observing one another, seriously contemplating, studying, and examining each other, until you know exactly how to incite and stimulate each other to love and to good works."
This verse plainly tells us that we should be extremely concerned about each other's welfare and spiritual progression. We are to get involved in the local church, not just for our own benefit, but to be a benefit to others as well. We need people who will love us, observe us, and support us when we are struggling or standing on a word from God. But at the same time, others need our assistance too.
Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." This verse is telling us that real friends love us at all times and stay with us even in the midst of difficult circumstances. They will love us and stand with us no matter what we are going through, looking for ways to assist us when we are experiencing challenging times.
The local church should be a place of victory where faith is built up, the soul is encouraged, and wisdom and strength are imparted. It's a community where faith lives and triumphs through a family of believers' love and concern for one another.
There is nothing like living in an atmosphere of faith and love where you are surrounded by believers who really believe and practice the Word of God. Having friends like this gives you strength -- and being a friend like this to someone else helps give him the strength he needs to live as an overcomer.
There is absolutely no substitute for the joy and satisfaction that comes when fellow church members go out of their way to call you, to come see you, to write you a note, or to personally check up on you -- just because they have noticed that you need a little encouraging! Just knowing that someone cares enough to do that can make such a difference when you're going through a difficult time!
If you're anything like the rest of us, you're probably pretty good at provoking others in the negative sense. So why not commit yourself to becoming just as proficient in provoking your brothers and sisters in the Lord in the positive sense? Make a quality decision to become an expert at provoking others unto love and good deeds!
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, forgive me for being so self- consumed that I have neglected to see the needs in people around me. I am sorry I've been so selfish that I haven't even recognized the times I could have been a blessing and an encouragement. I repent and I make the decision to reach out to those who are around me. Just as others have strengthened me, I want to be a source of strength to those around me!I pray this in Jesus' name!
MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY
I confess that I take the time to carefully consider other people's needs. I observe their ups and downs and their highs and lows. I study to find out what helps them feel encouraged. I am constantly observing and contemplating others to know how to encourage and provoke them to love and to good works. God uses me to come alongside those around me to help impel them to stay on track with God and with their God- given assignments. Because I am careful to notice other people's needs and I reach out to assist them with words of strength, they are becoming better, stronger, and bolder in the Lord. I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!
QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER
1. Can you think of someone whom God really used to encourage you at a critical moment in your life? What did that person do that had such a dramatic impact on you?
2. Who is that one person who needs you to be a source of strength and encouragement to him or her right now? Isn't it time that you help someone else as others have helped you in the past?
3. What practical things can you do to communicate your concern to others (for example, writing them a note, calling them on the telephone, sending flowers, etc.)? Is there something concrete you need to do today to show someone you are thinking and praying for him or her?
I receive daily e-mails from a Protestant organization called Rick Renner Ministries. These e-mails are generally a part of Rev. Renner's Sparkling Gems from the Greek. I thought therefore that I would begin sharing these with the gentle reader (since we all can and should learn a little more about the Koine Greek in which the New Testament was originally written), or alternatively you can sign up for the same at Rev. Renner's web site. And no, folks, being a devout Catholic I don't necessarily agree with all of Rev. Renner's theology (remember: one man's theology is another man's belly laugh), but his knowledge of Koine Greek is worth sharing. Indeed, today's essay is quite "thought provoking" as it were.
Whom Are You Considering Today? And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. —Hebrews 10:24
Do you ever get so busy and self-consumed that you forget there are people all around you who have needs and challenges too? It's true that we are often so concerned about ourselves that we forget or bypass people who are struggling terribly, not realizing that they need a special act or word to encourage them. This is especially sad when it happens inside the church, because we are supposed to be a spiritual family who genuinely cares for one another and who helps meet each other's needs. This is why Hebrews 10:24 says, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works."
The word "consider" is from the Greek word katanoeo, a compound of the words kata and noeo. The word kata depicts something that is moving downward; the word noeo (from the word nous) depicts the mind and means to think. When the two words are placed together, the new word means to thoroughly think something through or to ponder something from the top all the way to the bottom. It is the idea of mulling something over; carefully contemplating a matter; pondering and carefully looking at a particular issue; or examining and fully studying a subject.
This word pictures someone who is so concerned about someone else that he has taken the time to really consider that other person. He has observed the person's ups and downs and his highs and lows. He has studied to find out what helps that person feel encouraged and what events tend to pull him down. Because he has determined to really know and understand that other person, he invests a great deal of time and concentration into studying and getting to know that other person. This kind of knowledge doesn't come by accident, but by determined pursuit.
In light of this understanding, we must remember that although the local church is to be a place where we can come to worship and hear the Word of God preached and taught, it is also a place where believers should "consider one another" as this verse commands. The writer of Hebrews uses this word to convey the picture of a loving community where people are vitally concerned about each others' welfare. In fact, they are constantly observing and contemplating each other to know how to encourage and provoke each other to love and to good works.
Not only are we to consider one another, but the Bible goes on to say we are also to provoke one another unto love and good works. The word "provoke" is the Greek word paraxusmos. The word para means alongside, and it carries the idea of being close. The second part of the word is the Greek word xusmos, which means to sharpen something, such as a knife, and indicates a very sharp situation. When you put the two words together, the compound word describes someone who has come alongside of someone else for the purpose of prodding and impelling that person to do something.
You may have already guessed that "provoking" one another can be either a positive or a negative thing! One translation for this word paraxusmos would be to call into combat. Throughout the New Testament, the word paraxusmos is usually translated to mean to irritate, to incite, to anger, to inflame, or to enrage. Obviously, this kind of provoking is very bad! But in Hebrews 10:24, the word "provoking" is telling us that our relationships with other believers should incite us to become better, stronger, and bolder in the Lord.
How can you provoke other believers in a positive way? How can you stimulate your brother in the Lord in such a way that you make him want to walk in love and do good works? How can you sharpen and inspire the fellow believer who is in need of endurance? You can come alongside that person and love him enough not to leave him in discouragement and defeat. You can sharpen him, prod him, impel him, and inspire him to keep on fighting the good fight of faith! All believers need to be provoked at times, no matter what their position is in the Body of Christ. Everyone needs a loving push in the right direction now and then!
A paraphrase of this verse might be the following:
"And constantly be observing one another, seriously contemplating, studying, and examining each other, until you know exactly how to incite and stimulate each other to love and to good works."
This verse plainly tells us that we should be extremely concerned about each other's welfare and spiritual progression. We are to get involved in the local church, not just for our own benefit, but to be a benefit to others as well. We need people who will love us, observe us, and support us when we are struggling or standing on a word from God. But at the same time, others need our assistance too.
Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." This verse is telling us that real friends love us at all times and stay with us even in the midst of difficult circumstances. They will love us and stand with us no matter what we are going through, looking for ways to assist us when we are experiencing challenging times.
The local church should be a place of victory where faith is built up, the soul is encouraged, and wisdom and strength are imparted. It's a community where faith lives and triumphs through a family of believers' love and concern for one another.
There is nothing like living in an atmosphere of faith and love where you are surrounded by believers who really believe and practice the Word of God. Having friends like this gives you strength -- and being a friend like this to someone else helps give him the strength he needs to live as an overcomer.
There is absolutely no substitute for the joy and satisfaction that comes when fellow church members go out of their way to call you, to come see you, to write you a note, or to personally check up on you -- just because they have noticed that you need a little encouraging! Just knowing that someone cares enough to do that can make such a difference when you're going through a difficult time!
If you're anything like the rest of us, you're probably pretty good at provoking others in the negative sense. So why not commit yourself to becoming just as proficient in provoking your brothers and sisters in the Lord in the positive sense? Make a quality decision to become an expert at provoking others unto love and good deeds!
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Lord, forgive me for being so self- consumed that I have neglected to see the needs in people around me. I am sorry I've been so selfish that I haven't even recognized the times I could have been a blessing and an encouragement. I repent and I make the decision to reach out to those who are around me. Just as others have strengthened me, I want to be a source of strength to those around me!I pray this in Jesus' name!
MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY
I confess that I take the time to carefully consider other people's needs. I observe their ups and downs and their highs and lows. I study to find out what helps them feel encouraged. I am constantly observing and contemplating others to know how to encourage and provoke them to love and to good works. God uses me to come alongside those around me to help impel them to stay on track with God and with their God- given assignments. Because I am careful to notice other people's needs and I reach out to assist them with words of strength, they are becoming better, stronger, and bolder in the Lord. I declare this by faith in Jesus' name!
QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER
1. Can you think of someone whom God really used to encourage you at a critical moment in your life? What did that person do that had such a dramatic impact on you?
2. Who is that one person who needs you to be a source of strength and encouragement to him or her right now? Isn't it time that you help someone else as others have helped you in the past?
3. What practical things can you do to communicate your concern to others (for example, writing them a note, calling them on the telephone, sending flowers, etc.)? Is there something concrete you need to do today to show someone you are thinking and praying for him or her?
Obama Sacks Bioethicists From Bush Years
Folks,
The Zenit News Agency reports that Obama Sacks Bioethicists From Bush Years. One quote from ethicist E. Christian Brugger is quite telling:
"...the commission in general took seriously the kind of people we become as a result of asking the questions. It knew that scientific advancement doesn’t always translate into good moral options."
We have now entered the brave new world of infanticide on demand, harvesting stem cells during the murder of unborn babies, and perhaps one day even human cloning to produce spare parts for the wealthy. As Brugger stated:
"[This] push to get practical in bioethical discourse is a bad sign. [This shift] signals a turn away from urgent questions such as whether human embryos deserve full moral respect or whether 'human dignity' means that all persons, even the disabled and dying, possess equal value."
This is the kind of society that Obamolech is pushing for, and he is thus NO different than his predecessors Mao Tse Tung, Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin and Maximillen Robespierre.
The Zenit News Agency reports that Obama Sacks Bioethicists From Bush Years. One quote from ethicist E. Christian Brugger is quite telling:
"...the commission in general took seriously the kind of people we become as a result of asking the questions. It knew that scientific advancement doesn’t always translate into good moral options."
We have now entered the brave new world of infanticide on demand, harvesting stem cells during the murder of unborn babies, and perhaps one day even human cloning to produce spare parts for the wealthy. As Brugger stated:
"[This] push to get practical in bioethical discourse is a bad sign. [This shift] signals a turn away from urgent questions such as whether human embryos deserve full moral respect or whether 'human dignity' means that all persons, even the disabled and dying, possess equal value."
This is the kind of society that Obamolech is pushing for, and he is thus NO different than his predecessors Mao Tse Tung, Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin and Maximillen Robespierre.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Latin Mass in Wilmingtom
Folks,
The following is a news announcement from the Diocese of Raleigh about monthly Latin masses to be held in Wilmington, NC:
Beginning in August, a regular Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be offered at St. Mary's Parish and Shrine in Wilmington on the last Sunday of each month at 7 p.m. The first of these, a Solemn High Mass, will take place on Sunday, August 30, with the Reverend Paul M. Parkerson as principal celebrant.
The Forma extraordinaria, commonly referred to as the Tridentine Mass, is also offered in four other churches in the Diocese of Raleigh: Sacred Heart Cathedral, 4:30pm on the First Sunday of every month; Sacred Heart Church in Dunn, at noon every Sunday; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Rocky Mount, at 6 p.m. every Sunday; and St. Bernadette Church in Fuquay-Varina, at 9 a.m. every Tuesday.
The following is a news announcement from the Diocese of Raleigh about monthly Latin masses to be held in Wilmington, NC:
Beginning in August, a regular Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be offered at St. Mary's Parish and Shrine in Wilmington on the last Sunday of each month at 7 p.m. The first of these, a Solemn High Mass, will take place on Sunday, August 30, with the Reverend Paul M. Parkerson as principal celebrant.
The Forma extraordinaria, commonly referred to as the Tridentine Mass, is also offered in four other churches in the Diocese of Raleigh: Sacred Heart Cathedral, 4:30pm on the First Sunday of every month; Sacred Heart Church in Dunn, at noon every Sunday; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Rocky Mount, at 6 p.m. every Sunday; and St. Bernadette Church in Fuquay-Varina, at 9 a.m. every Tuesday.
Tonight's Quotes
Folks,
Tonight's quotes come from Publius Cornelius Tacitus, a senator and historian of the Roman Empire, and a contemporary of the early Church Fathers after the Apostles. He lived from AD 56 to AD 117. Again, here is more wisdom which we fail to remember:
A bad peace is even worse than war.
(This is a lesson that Obamolech may have to learn the hard way - Iran, North Korea, etc.)
A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.
(And who implanted such desire but God Himself?)
A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.
(This sound awefully like today's infanticide aginst the unborn - Planned Parenthood against 50 million babies.)
All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.
(One may well substitute Washington, DC, especially now with the rise of atheist humanism in Congress, POTUS and SCOTUS.)
In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.
(And what nation now has more laws than these United States?)
Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from.
(Is there any other love more dear to the heart of Obamolech who is noted and praised for his fly-swatting capabilities while he waffles on the Islamic fascist tyranny that is Iran?)
Prosperity is the measure or touchstone of virtue, for it is less difficult to bear misfortune than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.
(Now how could Tacitus have known that the degradation of our nation follows its rise to prosperity?)
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.
(Nothing better describes what we post-modern neo-pagans call the "Precautionary Principle".)
To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.
(Surely the end result of Obamania.)
We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.
(True 2000 years ago and still true today.)
Tonight's quotes come from Publius Cornelius Tacitus, a senator and historian of the Roman Empire, and a contemporary of the early Church Fathers after the Apostles. He lived from AD 56 to AD 117. Again, here is more wisdom which we fail to remember:
A bad peace is even worse than war.
(This is a lesson that Obamolech may have to learn the hard way - Iran, North Korea, etc.)
A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.
(And who implanted such desire but God Himself?)
A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.
(This sound awefully like today's infanticide aginst the unborn - Planned Parenthood against 50 million babies.)
All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.
(One may well substitute Washington, DC, especially now with the rise of atheist humanism in Congress, POTUS and SCOTUS.)
In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.
(And what nation now has more laws than these United States?)
Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from.
(Is there any other love more dear to the heart of Obamolech who is noted and praised for his fly-swatting capabilities while he waffles on the Islamic fascist tyranny that is Iran?)
Prosperity is the measure or touchstone of virtue, for it is less difficult to bear misfortune than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.
(Now how could Tacitus have known that the degradation of our nation follows its rise to prosperity?)
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.
(Nothing better describes what we post-modern neo-pagans call the "Precautionary Principle".)
To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.
(Surely the end result of Obamania.)
We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.
(True 2000 years ago and still true today.)
Two Pop Culture Stars Die
Folks,
Two pop culture stars have recently died, Farrah Fawcett from cancer and Michael Jackson from unknown causes. There was much in the life of the first that symoblized our culture of wanton, promiscuous sex, and much in the life of the second that hinted at pedophilia and worse. However, while the lives these people led perhaps shouldn't be extolled as models of virtue, let us pray for the repose of their souls:
God,
Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant to the souls of your servants and handmaids the forgiveness of all their sins.
Through our devout prayers may they obtain the pardon which they have always desired.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Requiescant in Pacem.
Two pop culture stars have recently died, Farrah Fawcett from cancer and Michael Jackson from unknown causes. There was much in the life of the first that symoblized our culture of wanton, promiscuous sex, and much in the life of the second that hinted at pedophilia and worse. However, while the lives these people led perhaps shouldn't be extolled as models of virtue, let us pray for the repose of their souls:
God,
Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant to the souls of your servants and handmaids the forgiveness of all their sins.
Through our devout prayers may they obtain the pardon which they have always desired.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Requiescant in Pacem.
Science and Christianity
Folks,
A week or two ago I entered a comment at a blog site called We Support Lee. This blogsite is primarily a pro-nuclear energy site dedicated to promoting the proposed William States Lee III Nuclear Station in Cherokee County, South Carolina. Sadly, however, the author of the blog is a dedicated Democrat with some of the typical anti-religious prejudices of liberal leftists. In an entry called Administrivia - 2009 Version, Biblical creationists were unnecessarily denigrated.
Now the author of blog wants democracy and dialogue in everything except when it comes to debating whether or not Creationism should be taught in public schools alongside of atheist evolution. I made a comment that the Catholic Church sees no conflict between science and faith, but that comment never appeared at We Support Lee. Perhaps the author of this blogsite is threatened by the existence of an immutable God who created the Heavens and the Earth, and made man in His own image. I don't know. But at this blogsite - Commentarius de Prognosticis - I encourage the interested reader to please read and study what Pope Pius XII has to say about evolution in his encyclical Humani Generis, and what Pope John Paul II has to say about science and faith in his encyclical Fides et Ratio.
Now neither my faith nor my ability to understand science is threatened by either the theory of evolution or the account of special creation in the Bible. There is certainly no harm in children within public schools being taught special creation alongside of evolution. Surely that's got to be better than the sex education and immorality of gay marriage currently being taught in public schools. Indeed, for about the first century since the founding of the United States, the Bible was THE text book of use in public schools, and when that changed, we began to see all manner of immorality and violence plaguing our school children.
Furthermore, while I disagree with the proponents of Special Creation, I cannot but admire their love and zeal for the Lord Jesus Christ. I do wish that they were a little less zealous, but I too am a zealot of sort, so I can find room to accept them as they are. Apparently liberals like the author at the We Support Lee blog site can't.
Now perhaps the author of the We Support Lee blog site doesn't want our children to have any hope of loving God and a reason for man's existence on this Earth. I can't believe that that is the case, for then one wonders why she supports nuclear energy as a means of improving everyone's life. I just find it endlessly fascinating that liberals simply can't stand for anyone to disagree with them, and that to them dialogue means acquiescence. Well here at Commentarius de Prognosticis, we acquiesce only to the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Therefore, maybe the author of the We Support Lee blog site should talk less about evolution and science (since she can't stand opposing points of view), and more about nuclear energy (as most of her blog entries do). I think she runs a great blog, EXCEPT when this liberal Obamania crap comes up.
A week or two ago I entered a comment at a blog site called We Support Lee. This blogsite is primarily a pro-nuclear energy site dedicated to promoting the proposed William States Lee III Nuclear Station in Cherokee County, South Carolina. Sadly, however, the author of the blog is a dedicated Democrat with some of the typical anti-religious prejudices of liberal leftists. In an entry called Administrivia - 2009 Version, Biblical creationists were unnecessarily denigrated.
Now the author of blog wants democracy and dialogue in everything except when it comes to debating whether or not Creationism should be taught in public schools alongside of atheist evolution. I made a comment that the Catholic Church sees no conflict between science and faith, but that comment never appeared at We Support Lee. Perhaps the author of this blogsite is threatened by the existence of an immutable God who created the Heavens and the Earth, and made man in His own image. I don't know. But at this blogsite - Commentarius de Prognosticis - I encourage the interested reader to please read and study what Pope Pius XII has to say about evolution in his encyclical Humani Generis, and what Pope John Paul II has to say about science and faith in his encyclical Fides et Ratio.
Now neither my faith nor my ability to understand science is threatened by either the theory of evolution or the account of special creation in the Bible. There is certainly no harm in children within public schools being taught special creation alongside of evolution. Surely that's got to be better than the sex education and immorality of gay marriage currently being taught in public schools. Indeed, for about the first century since the founding of the United States, the Bible was THE text book of use in public schools, and when that changed, we began to see all manner of immorality and violence plaguing our school children.
Furthermore, while I disagree with the proponents of Special Creation, I cannot but admire their love and zeal for the Lord Jesus Christ. I do wish that they were a little less zealous, but I too am a zealot of sort, so I can find room to accept them as they are. Apparently liberals like the author at the We Support Lee blog site can't.
Now perhaps the author of the We Support Lee blog site doesn't want our children to have any hope of loving God and a reason for man's existence on this Earth. I can't believe that that is the case, for then one wonders why she supports nuclear energy as a means of improving everyone's life. I just find it endlessly fascinating that liberals simply can't stand for anyone to disagree with them, and that to them dialogue means acquiescence. Well here at Commentarius de Prognosticis, we acquiesce only to the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Therefore, maybe the author of the We Support Lee blog site should talk less about evolution and science (since she can't stand opposing points of view), and more about nuclear energy (as most of her blog entries do). I think she runs a great blog, EXCEPT when this liberal Obamania crap comes up.
Today's Humor - Love
Folks,
Here's today's humor. One wonders if the name of the gentleman in folder might not be Daniel instead of Stu / Stew?
Here's today's humor. One wonders if the name of the gentleman in folder might not be Daniel instead of Stu / Stew?
Over Bishops’ Objections, North Carolina Passes ‘Sexual Orientation’ Legislation
Folks,
Over the objections of the Bishops in our State, the North Carolina Legislature has passed "Sexual Orientation" legislation. The bishops had warned:
The School Violence Prevention Act (Senate Bill 526) is an attempt to eradicate bullying at public schools. Much of its language and its attempt to make all forms of bullying unacceptable are laudatory and this dimension of the bill has been endorsed by us. However, the inclusion of the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity,” as specific examples of bullying to be eradicated, creates a potential for legalizing same-sex marriage in NC. Codifying these terms into an anti-bullying law was used in the construction of “findings of fact” by lawyers to convince judges in California, Connecticut and Iowa to mandate same-sex marriage. We oppose this language because of its future implications for same-sex marriage. Efforts to remove this specific language and simply make all forms of bullying unacceptable have failed so far.
It appears that our State Senator for New Hanover County - Julia Boseman, herself an openly self-acknowledged lesbian - has won this battle. But the victory in this war still belongs to the Lord. At this point it is useless to contact Senator Boseman over her public support of and participation in immorality. As Jesus Himself said in Matthew 7:6:
Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Sometimes folks, we have to call a spade a spade. Liberals accuse us of judging when we do that. But the reality is that we are making an observation - the same observation that Jesus Himself made in Matthew 7:16-20:
By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.
Over the objections of the Bishops in our State, the North Carolina Legislature has passed "Sexual Orientation" legislation. The bishops had warned:
The School Violence Prevention Act (Senate Bill 526) is an attempt to eradicate bullying at public schools. Much of its language and its attempt to make all forms of bullying unacceptable are laudatory and this dimension of the bill has been endorsed by us. However, the inclusion of the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity,” as specific examples of bullying to be eradicated, creates a potential for legalizing same-sex marriage in NC. Codifying these terms into an anti-bullying law was used in the construction of “findings of fact” by lawyers to convince judges in California, Connecticut and Iowa to mandate same-sex marriage. We oppose this language because of its future implications for same-sex marriage. Efforts to remove this specific language and simply make all forms of bullying unacceptable have failed so far.
It appears that our State Senator for New Hanover County - Julia Boseman, herself an openly self-acknowledged lesbian - has won this battle. But the victory in this war still belongs to the Lord. At this point it is useless to contact Senator Boseman over her public support of and participation in immorality. As Jesus Himself said in Matthew 7:6:
Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Sometimes folks, we have to call a spade a spade. Liberals accuse us of judging when we do that. But the reality is that we are making an observation - the same observation that Jesus Himself made in Matthew 7:16-20:
By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Today's Quotes - from Pliny the Elder
Folks,
Today's quotes are from Gaius Plinius Secundus, otherwise known as Pliny the Elder. He was the personal friend of Emperor Vespasian who as the gentle reader may recall (with his son Titus) fulfilled Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 24 concerning the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Thus, Gaius Plinius Secundus was a contemporary of the early Church Apostles. I wonder if he ever met St. Paul when St. Paul had gone to Rome to stand trial before Caesar? There is so much history we have forgotten, and thus we repeat to our eventual doom the immoral and godless antics of ancient Rome.
An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit.
Grief has limits, whereas apprehension has none. For we grieve only for what we know has happened, but we fear all that possibly may happen.
Such is the audacity of man, that he hath learned to counterfeit Nature, yea, and is so bold as to challenge her in her work.
The depth of darkness to which you can descend and still live is an exact measure of the height to which you can aspire to reach.
The lust of avarice has so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth.
Today's quotes are from Gaius Plinius Secundus, otherwise known as Pliny the Elder. He was the personal friend of Emperor Vespasian who as the gentle reader may recall (with his son Titus) fulfilled Jesus' prophecy in Matthew 24 concerning the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Thus, Gaius Plinius Secundus was a contemporary of the early Church Apostles. I wonder if he ever met St. Paul when St. Paul had gone to Rome to stand trial before Caesar? There is so much history we have forgotten, and thus we repeat to our eventual doom the immoral and godless antics of ancient Rome.
An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit.
Grief has limits, whereas apprehension has none. For we grieve only for what we know has happened, but we fear all that possibly may happen.
Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the dream of a waking man.
It is generally much more shameful to lose a good reputation than never to have acquired it.Such is the audacity of man, that he hath learned to counterfeit Nature, yea, and is so bold as to challenge her in her work.
The depth of darkness to which you can descend and still live is an exact measure of the height to which you can aspire to reach.
The lust of avarice has so totally seized upon mankind that their wealth seems rather to possess them than they possess their wealth.
Judge Roy Moore from Alabama
Folks,
The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama. Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama! The judge's poem sums it up quite well.
America the beautiful,
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride;
I'm glad they'll never see.
Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
your house is on the sand.
Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine
choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said abstain
From sea to shining sea,
our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God's love
and a need to always pray
We've kept God in our
temples, how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
and Heaven is His throne.
We've voted in a government
that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges;
who throw reason out the door,
Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.
You think that God's not
angry, that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?
How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?
If we who are His children,
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way:
Then God will hear from Heaven;
and forgive us of our sins,
He'll heal our sickly land
and those who live within.
But, America the Beautiful,
If you don't - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
withdraw His hand from Thee.
The following is a poem written by Judge Roy Moore from Alabama. Judge Moore was sued by the ACLU for displaying the Ten Commandments in his courtroom foyer. He has been stripped of his judgeship and now they are trying to strip his right to practice law in Alabama! The judge's poem sums it up quite well.
America the beautiful,
or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims' pride;
I'm glad they'll never see.
Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
your house is on the sand.
Our children wander aimlessly
poisoned by cocaine
choosing to indulge their lusts,
when God has said abstain
From sea to shining sea,
our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God's love
and a need to always pray
We've kept God in our
temples, how callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
and Heaven is His throne.
We've voted in a government
that's rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges;
who throw reason out the door,
Too soft to place a killer
in a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
before he leaves the womb.
You think that God's not
angry, that our land's a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
before His judgment comes?
How are we to face our God,
from Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
but stem this evil tide?
If we who are His children,
will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
and mend our evil way:
Then God will hear from Heaven;
and forgive us of our sins,
He'll heal our sickly land
and those who live within.
But, America the Beautiful,
If you don't - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
withdraw His hand from Thee.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Today's Gospel Reading
Folks,
I think given what is happening in our nation and around the world, today's Gospel reading was most appropriate:
Matthew 7: 6 & 12-14
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.
"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.
"Enter through the narrow gate;for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few."
Too many nowadays focus solely on verse 12. They ignore to their peril verses 6, 13 and 14. The fact of the matter is that not everybody gets to heaven, and there are evil people. But as Romans 3:10-18 states:
As it is written: "There is no one just, not one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have gone astray; all alike are worthless; there is not one who does good, (there is not) even one. Their throats are open graves; they deceive with their tongues; the venom of asps is on their lips; their mouths are full of bitter cursing. Their feet are quick to shed blood; ruin and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace they know not. There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Let us therefore repent and pray:
Áve María, grátia pléna, Dóminus técum.
Benedícta tu in muliéribus,
Et benedíctus frúctus véntris túi, Iésus.
Sáncta María, Máter Déi,
Ora pro nóbis peccatóribus,
Nunc et in hóra mórtis nóstrae.
Ámen.
I think given what is happening in our nation and around the world, today's Gospel reading was most appropriate:
Matthew 7: 6 & 12-14
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.
"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets.
"Enter through the narrow gate;for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few."
Too many nowadays focus solely on verse 12. They ignore to their peril verses 6, 13 and 14. The fact of the matter is that not everybody gets to heaven, and there are evil people. But as Romans 3:10-18 states:
As it is written: "There is no one just, not one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have gone astray; all alike are worthless; there is not one who does good, (there is not) even one. Their throats are open graves; they deceive with their tongues; the venom of asps is on their lips; their mouths are full of bitter cursing. Their feet are quick to shed blood; ruin and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace they know not. There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Let us therefore repent and pray:
Áve María, grátia pléna, Dóminus técum.
Benedícta tu in muliéribus,
Et benedíctus frúctus véntris túi, Iésus.
Sáncta María, Máter Déi,
Ora pro nóbis peccatóribus,
Nunc et in hóra mórtis nóstrae.
Ámen.
Constitution Party Opposes Sotomayor Confirmation
Folks,
I received the following e-mail notification from the Constitution Party. As a devote Catholic who opposes the infanticide of the unborn, I fully support the Constitution Party's opposition to the appointment of pro-abortion, faux Catholic Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States.
P.O. Box 1782
Lancaster, PA 17608
contactus@constitutionparty.org
Dear Fellow Constitutionalists,
It's imperative we keep President Obama's Supreme Court pick from being confirmed. Please contact your US Senators and urge them to vote against the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
Won't you take a moment to cut and paste the following press release, and send it along with a short message to your senators today? If you're unsure of your senators' contact info check here:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Constitution Party Opposes Sotomayor Confirmation - Unanimous Vote Urges Senate to Nix Obama Nominee
Lancaster, PA: The Constitution Party National Committee unanimously passed a resolution urging the U.S. Senate to deny the confirmation of President Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court, 2nd Cir. Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
The resolution was agreed upon at the party’s recent National Committee Meeting held in Newark, N.J.
Constitution Party members from more than 30 states attended the meeting where the resolution was approved. The resolution strongly decried Obama’s pick for Supreme Court judge for her lack of adherence to the principles necessary to rule objectively as a justice of the country’s highest court.
The resolution cites Sotomayor’s lack of fidelity to the Constitution in a number of areas including her denial of " the applicability of the individual right to bear arms protected by the 2nd Amendment to the citizens of the several states;" because "she supports giving voting rights to convicted murderers who are still serving time in prison…"; because " she has been a member of the National Council of La Raza, many of the leaders of which favor amnesty for illegal aliens and the return of the southwest United States to Mexico…" and because "she favors racial and ethnic quotas in education and employment…"
Constitution Party National Committee Chairman Jim Clymer said "Americans from across the political spectrum have little patience with the kind of blatant bias this woman has shown in the past through her affiliation with a racist group and her pronouncements that a woman of her race could be a better jurist than a "white male"
(http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/28/in-her-own-words-sotomayor-2001-latina-speech/).
"President Obama has hand-picked another cog in the wheel in the mechanism he’s designing to abrogate the Constitutional rule of law and its guarantees of liberty for all Americans. Sotomayor simply should not be given the opportunity to carry out her practice of substituting personal ideology for the Constitution on the highest court of the country", Clymer added.
The Constitution Party adopted other resolutions including a condemnation of the federal government’s so-called "bailouts" of the private banking and auto industries.
(http://constitutionparty.com/news.php?aid=971)
I received the following e-mail notification from the Constitution Party. As a devote Catholic who opposes the infanticide of the unborn, I fully support the Constitution Party's opposition to the appointment of pro-abortion, faux Catholic Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States.
P.O. Box 1782
Lancaster, PA 17608
contactus@constitutionparty.org
Dear Fellow Constitutionalists,
It's imperative we keep President Obama's Supreme Court pick from being confirmed. Please contact your US Senators and urge them to vote against the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
Won't you take a moment to cut and paste the following press release, and send it along with a short message to your senators today? If you're unsure of your senators' contact info check here:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Constitution Party Opposes Sotomayor Confirmation - Unanimous Vote Urges Senate to Nix Obama Nominee
Lancaster, PA: The Constitution Party National Committee unanimously passed a resolution urging the U.S. Senate to deny the confirmation of President Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court, 2nd Cir. Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
The resolution was agreed upon at the party’s recent National Committee Meeting held in Newark, N.J.
Constitution Party members from more than 30 states attended the meeting where the resolution was approved. The resolution strongly decried Obama’s pick for Supreme Court judge for her lack of adherence to the principles necessary to rule objectively as a justice of the country’s highest court.
The resolution cites Sotomayor’s lack of fidelity to the Constitution in a number of areas including her denial of " the applicability of the individual right to bear arms protected by the 2nd Amendment to the citizens of the several states;" because "she supports giving voting rights to convicted murderers who are still serving time in prison…"; because " she has been a member of the National Council of La Raza, many of the leaders of which favor amnesty for illegal aliens and the return of the southwest United States to Mexico…" and because "she favors racial and ethnic quotas in education and employment…"
Constitution Party National Committee Chairman Jim Clymer said "Americans from across the political spectrum have little patience with the kind of blatant bias this woman has shown in the past through her affiliation with a racist group and her pronouncements that a woman of her race could be a better jurist than a "white male"
(http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/28/in-her-own-words-sotomayor-2001-latina-speech/).
"President Obama has hand-picked another cog in the wheel in the mechanism he’s designing to abrogate the Constitutional rule of law and its guarantees of liberty for all Americans. Sotomayor simply should not be given the opportunity to carry out her practice of substituting personal ideology for the Constitution on the highest court of the country", Clymer added.
The Constitution Party adopted other resolutions including a condemnation of the federal government’s so-called "bailouts" of the private banking and auto industries.
(http://constitutionparty.com/news.php?aid=971)
Followup to This Weekend's Homilies
Folks,
My friend Linda at the Offer It Up! blog site made two follow-up entries on the topics discussed in my entry yesterday entitled This Past Weekend's Homilies. I therefore encourage the interested reader to review the following entries by Linda:
My friend Linda at the Offer It Up! blog site made two follow-up entries on the topics discussed in my entry yesterday entitled This Past Weekend's Homilies. I therefore encourage the interested reader to review the following entries by Linda:
Demokracy Iranian Style
Folks,
Just in case anyone is confused about what is happening with all the unrest going on in Iran right now, here is a photograph that sums up the situation quite well.
By the way, Steve Ray over at his Catholic Convert blog site has a realistic short discussion on "Islam's Rejection of Freedom Woven into Its Very Fabric".
Just in case anyone is confused about what is happening with all the unrest going on in Iran right now, here is a photograph that sums up the situation quite well.
By the way, Steve Ray over at his Catholic Convert blog site has a realistic short discussion on "Islam's Rejection of Freedom Woven into Its Very Fabric".
Monday, June 22, 2009
U.S. Bishops Express Support for Bishop D’arcy
Folks,
This news announcement is from the USCCB web site:
U.S. Bishops Express Support for Bishop D’arcy and His Pastoral Concern for the University of Notre Dame
SAN ANTONIO—During their spring General Assembly, June 17-19, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed their solidarity for Bishop John M. D’Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., in particular for his care and concern for the University of Notre Dame, which resides in his diocese.
The bishops made this show of support during executive session, but released the following statement:
The bishops of the United States express our appreciation and support for our brother bishop, the Most Reverend John D'Arcy. We affirm his pastoral concern for Notre Dame University, his solicitude for its Catholic identity, and his loving care for all those the Lord has given him to sanctify, to teach and to shepherd.
This news announcement is from the USCCB web site:
U.S. Bishops Express Support for Bishop D’arcy and His Pastoral Concern for the University of Notre Dame
SAN ANTONIO—During their spring General Assembly, June 17-19, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed their solidarity for Bishop John M. D’Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., in particular for his care and concern for the University of Notre Dame, which resides in his diocese.
The bishops made this show of support during executive session, but released the following statement:
The bishops of the United States express our appreciation and support for our brother bishop, the Most Reverend John D'Arcy. We affirm his pastoral concern for Notre Dame University, his solicitude for its Catholic identity, and his loving care for all those the Lord has given him to sanctify, to teach and to shepherd.
This Past Weekend's Homilies
Folks,
As you may recall, this past Sunday's Scripture readings included the following:
Job 38:1, 8-11
Psalms 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31
2 Corinthians 5:14-17
Mark 4:35-41
I had the good fortune to listen to two excellent homilies on these, one by Msgr. Matt at St. Therese and the other by a Deacon at St. Peter the Fisherman. Since the Deacon's church followed the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, Mark 5:1-20 was also included in the Gospel reading and I am glad that it was as the reader will soon discover.
First, let me give a little background on my state of mind before I attended the 1730 Mass at St. Therese on Saturday evening and heard Msgr. Matt's homily (which I think was one of his best). I had a serious argument by both telephone and e-mail with my ex-spouse and my ability to remain civil and level-headed was seriously impacted. Truthfully, I felt as though I were in that whirlwind about which the reading from the Book of Job talked, or I were in a small ship being tossed by a terrible storm about which the reading from the Gospel of Mark talked. While sadly I don't recall with any exactitude all that Msgr. Matt said, he emphasized that when we get in such storms as these, perhaps the best thing that we can do is exactly what Jesus commanded the wind and the waves: "Peace, be still." I have always had problems with that, especially when I am in emotional turmoil, yet more appropriate words could not have been said to me that evening. Oh, there were more than 100 people at St. Therese then, but it was as though Monsignor were talking directly to me (though he was completely unaware of my need to hear his words at that time). So with great difficulty I stayed off the e-mail and the telephone later that evening, realizing that perhaps discretion is the better part of valor.
Then the next morning - Sunday, that is - I decided I would go to visit the local Charismatic Episcopal Church (which is completely unrelated to the ECUSA). I have found that I like the half-hour of silent time in prayer held in the sanctuary before Mass begins, and I like the singing and worship part of the service which St. Peter's has. It's different, and perhaps not every Catholic would like it, but I do.
In any event, the priest was out of town on business, and so were two of the three deacons. Thus, the third remaining Deacon gave the homily. At first he said that he apologized for not having enough time to prepare, but I think the Holy Spirit did his prepartion for him just as the Holy Spirit did the preparation for Msgr. Matt's homily at St. Therese the evening previously. First, before the reader continues, I would like him or her to read Mark 4:35-41 and Mark 5:1-20 as one story or account of what transpired when Jesus and the disciples crossed the Lake of Galilee to go to the Decapolis (which in Greek means "Ten Cities").
This story of the crossing of the lake, and the exorcism of the demoniacs is very, very interesting, as the Deacon at St. Peter's pointed out. The Decapolis was a area of ten pagan cities inhabited by Greeks and Romans. The Greek and Roman gods (Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Artemis, Hermes, Apollo, Athena, etc.) were worshipped by the inhabitants, as well as the Canaanite gods of ages past. Demonic possession was common, for Jesus has not yet died on the Cross, so the powers of darkness had free reign among the pagan people. And Jesus - the Son of God - was crossing the lake to go to the Decapolis. As the Deacon described it, surely all hell broke lose among the demons infesting that area, and thus a mighty storm arose on the lake which the boat carrying Jesus and the disciples was crossing. The demons in the Decapolis did not want the Son of God there, hence the storm. But nothing perturbed Jesus for he was asleep in the bowels of the boat. The disciples cried to him for help, and all he did was to say, "Peace, be still", and the storm abated, the work of the demons departed.
Then at the other side of the lake Jesus confronted the demoniacs, asking one of them what his name was. The demons responded by saying, "We are called legion for we are many." Though the Deacon didn't continue along this line of thought, this is noteworthy because in Latin "legio" means "a division of the Roman army."
Of course, after the demons begged to be allowed to depart into the nearby herd of swine, Jesus gave them permission and so they departed. The herd of swine - 2000 of them - then rushed back into the lake and drowned. This too is noteworthy (just as the meaning of "Legio" was above) because the pig (actually, the boar or wild male pig) was one of the four mascots of the Tenth Roman Legion headquartered in Antioch and overseeing Palestine, including the region of the Decapolis. Perhaps what makes the analogy really valid is the fact that pigs - swine - are unclean animals under Jewish Mosaic Law, and the Romans - being Gentiles - are unclean people.
So when Jesus cast out the demons from the demoniac into the 2000 swine, and those swine then drowned themselves, something quite prophetic was being said about Christianity and "Imperium Romanum." Remember that it was the tenth legion under Vespasian and Titus which destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. Yet the demonic influence of insufferable pride that had so afflicted the Pharisees and Saduccees, had now been cast out by the utter defeat of the Jews, and had gone into their conquerers, the swine - the Romans. These "Legiones Romanae" would then go on to drown themselves in their own blood as their Empire crumbled and Christianity arose.
Though I am sure neither the Deacon at St. Peter's nor Msgr. Matt at St. Therese intended to say this, I think this whole story of the storm at sea, the curing of the demoniacs and the drowning of the pigs foreshadowed in a very real way the storm that would result in Christ's Crucifixion, the defeat of Jerusalem in AD 70 (the demonic influence of religious pride excised from a now destroyed Jerusalem), and then the fall of the Roman Empire as the "pigs" drowned themselves in their own blood. But the demoniac himself (we must remember was cured and in his right mind, thus foretelling the spread of Christianity throughout all the Empire.
Oh, let no one mistake however that these events recorded in the three synoptic Gospels really transpired, but they foreshadowed an even greater story, for when the Prince of Peace said, "Peace be still", there was peace and there was stillness (exactly as Msgr. Matt pointed out). Sadly, many Jews and Romans who rebelled against God died in the process, yet that was their choice, their decision. Let it not be ours.
As you may recall, this past Sunday's Scripture readings included the following:
Job 38:1, 8-11
Psalms 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31
2 Corinthians 5:14-17
Mark 4:35-41
I had the good fortune to listen to two excellent homilies on these, one by Msgr. Matt at St. Therese and the other by a Deacon at St. Peter the Fisherman. Since the Deacon's church followed the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, Mark 5:1-20 was also included in the Gospel reading and I am glad that it was as the reader will soon discover.
First, let me give a little background on my state of mind before I attended the 1730 Mass at St. Therese on Saturday evening and heard Msgr. Matt's homily (which I think was one of his best). I had a serious argument by both telephone and e-mail with my ex-spouse and my ability to remain civil and level-headed was seriously impacted. Truthfully, I felt as though I were in that whirlwind about which the reading from the Book of Job talked, or I were in a small ship being tossed by a terrible storm about which the reading from the Gospel of Mark talked. While sadly I don't recall with any exactitude all that Msgr. Matt said, he emphasized that when we get in such storms as these, perhaps the best thing that we can do is exactly what Jesus commanded the wind and the waves: "Peace, be still." I have always had problems with that, especially when I am in emotional turmoil, yet more appropriate words could not have been said to me that evening. Oh, there were more than 100 people at St. Therese then, but it was as though Monsignor were talking directly to me (though he was completely unaware of my need to hear his words at that time). So with great difficulty I stayed off the e-mail and the telephone later that evening, realizing that perhaps discretion is the better part of valor.
Then the next morning - Sunday, that is - I decided I would go to visit the local Charismatic Episcopal Church (which is completely unrelated to the ECUSA). I have found that I like the half-hour of silent time in prayer held in the sanctuary before Mass begins, and I like the singing and worship part of the service which St. Peter's has. It's different, and perhaps not every Catholic would like it, but I do.
In any event, the priest was out of town on business, and so were two of the three deacons. Thus, the third remaining Deacon gave the homily. At first he said that he apologized for not having enough time to prepare, but I think the Holy Spirit did his prepartion for him just as the Holy Spirit did the preparation for Msgr. Matt's homily at St. Therese the evening previously. First, before the reader continues, I would like him or her to read Mark 4:35-41 and Mark 5:1-20 as one story or account of what transpired when Jesus and the disciples crossed the Lake of Galilee to go to the Decapolis (which in Greek means "Ten Cities").
This story of the crossing of the lake, and the exorcism of the demoniacs is very, very interesting, as the Deacon at St. Peter's pointed out. The Decapolis was a area of ten pagan cities inhabited by Greeks and Romans. The Greek and Roman gods (Zeus, Hera, Aphrodite, Artemis, Hermes, Apollo, Athena, etc.) were worshipped by the inhabitants, as well as the Canaanite gods of ages past. Demonic possession was common, for Jesus has not yet died on the Cross, so the powers of darkness had free reign among the pagan people. And Jesus - the Son of God - was crossing the lake to go to the Decapolis. As the Deacon described it, surely all hell broke lose among the demons infesting that area, and thus a mighty storm arose on the lake which the boat carrying Jesus and the disciples was crossing. The demons in the Decapolis did not want the Son of God there, hence the storm. But nothing perturbed Jesus for he was asleep in the bowels of the boat. The disciples cried to him for help, and all he did was to say, "Peace, be still", and the storm abated, the work of the demons departed.
Then at the other side of the lake Jesus confronted the demoniacs, asking one of them what his name was. The demons responded by saying, "We are called legion for we are many." Though the Deacon didn't continue along this line of thought, this is noteworthy because in Latin "legio" means "a division of the Roman army."
Of course, after the demons begged to be allowed to depart into the nearby herd of swine, Jesus gave them permission and so they departed. The herd of swine - 2000 of them - then rushed back into the lake and drowned. This too is noteworthy (just as the meaning of "Legio" was above) because the pig (actually, the boar or wild male pig) was one of the four mascots of the Tenth Roman Legion headquartered in Antioch and overseeing Palestine, including the region of the Decapolis. Perhaps what makes the analogy really valid is the fact that pigs - swine - are unclean animals under Jewish Mosaic Law, and the Romans - being Gentiles - are unclean people.
So when Jesus cast out the demons from the demoniac into the 2000 swine, and those swine then drowned themselves, something quite prophetic was being said about Christianity and "Imperium Romanum." Remember that it was the tenth legion under Vespasian and Titus which destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. Yet the demonic influence of insufferable pride that had so afflicted the Pharisees and Saduccees, had now been cast out by the utter defeat of the Jews, and had gone into their conquerers, the swine - the Romans. These "Legiones Romanae" would then go on to drown themselves in their own blood as their Empire crumbled and Christianity arose.
Though I am sure neither the Deacon at St. Peter's nor Msgr. Matt at St. Therese intended to say this, I think this whole story of the storm at sea, the curing of the demoniacs and the drowning of the pigs foreshadowed in a very real way the storm that would result in Christ's Crucifixion, the defeat of Jerusalem in AD 70 (the demonic influence of religious pride excised from a now destroyed Jerusalem), and then the fall of the Roman Empire as the "pigs" drowned themselves in their own blood. But the demoniac himself (we must remember was cured and in his right mind, thus foretelling the spread of Christianity throughout all the Empire.
Oh, let no one mistake however that these events recorded in the three synoptic Gospels really transpired, but they foreshadowed an even greater story, for when the Prince of Peace said, "Peace be still", there was peace and there was stillness (exactly as Msgr. Matt pointed out). Sadly, many Jews and Romans who rebelled against God died in the process, yet that was their choice, their decision. Let it not be ours.
St. Thomas More
Folks,
We sadly forget the lessons history has taught us. June 22nd is the day of remembering St. Thomas More. He stood alone in opposing King Henry VIII's redefinition of marriage and the imposition of the power of the State over the Church. Today President Obamolech is not much different from his predecessor, that former King of England. Obamolech has spoken at Notre Dame University, a once proud Catholic Institution, to place the right to chose over the God-given right to life. Obamolech has redefined marriage by declaring June to be LGBT Pride Month - a month wherein the immorality of sodomy is held up in esteem. St. Thomas More would immediately recognize black skinned Obamolech as some sort of re-incarnated white skinned Henry VIII.
Now like a lot of apostate Catholics nowadays, St. Thomas More could have rationalized his way out of this mess and had taken the oath called "The Act of Succession", accepting as licit Henry VIII's illicit union with Anne Boleyn. But St. Thomas More KNEW what Godly marriage is and refused to surrender to the State. He did not use the rationalization that liberal apostate Catholics use: "Well, this is only allegiance to my Country and has nothing to do with the Faith, and if I do it, then I can influence the King for good and care for the poor." No, St. Thomas More remained true to the Church and for that the State beheaded him on July 6, 1535.
We must be exactly like St. Thomas More. We must oppose Obamolech and Biden Bin Laden just as this holy saint opposed the forces of despotism and immorality so long ago. The State can behead us, but the State cannot win against the King of kings and Lord of lords. Please read more about this saint at Catholic Online's web article, A Man for This Season: Thomas More.
We sadly forget the lessons history has taught us. June 22nd is the day of remembering St. Thomas More. He stood alone in opposing King Henry VIII's redefinition of marriage and the imposition of the power of the State over the Church. Today President Obamolech is not much different from his predecessor, that former King of England. Obamolech has spoken at Notre Dame University, a once proud Catholic Institution, to place the right to chose over the God-given right to life. Obamolech has redefined marriage by declaring June to be LGBT Pride Month - a month wherein the immorality of sodomy is held up in esteem. St. Thomas More would immediately recognize black skinned Obamolech as some sort of re-incarnated white skinned Henry VIII.
Now like a lot of apostate Catholics nowadays, St. Thomas More could have rationalized his way out of this mess and had taken the oath called "The Act of Succession", accepting as licit Henry VIII's illicit union with Anne Boleyn. But St. Thomas More KNEW what Godly marriage is and refused to surrender to the State. He did not use the rationalization that liberal apostate Catholics use: "Well, this is only allegiance to my Country and has nothing to do with the Faith, and if I do it, then I can influence the King for good and care for the poor." No, St. Thomas More remained true to the Church and for that the State beheaded him on July 6, 1535.
We must be exactly like St. Thomas More. We must oppose Obamolech and Biden Bin Laden just as this holy saint opposed the forces of despotism and immorality so long ago. The State can behead us, but the State cannot win against the King of kings and Lord of lords. Please read more about this saint at Catholic Online's web article, A Man for This Season: Thomas More.
Today's Quotes
Folks,
Today's quotes are from Quintus Horatius Flaccus (also known as Horace in English-speaking countries). He lived from 65 BC to 8 BC, mainly during the reigns of Julius and Augustus Caesar. I remember translating some of his poems when I was in Latin class so long ago. It's a pity that our post-modern world has forgotten the wisdom of the ancients. I fear, however, that Quintus Horatius would feel right at home in today's neo-pagan, secular society devoid of all morality and sanity.
A good and faithful judge ever prefers the honorable to the expedient. (Now there's a lesson for Obamolech's nominee to SCOTUS, Sonia Sotomayor.)
Fidelity is the sister of justice. (Surely another quote for our would-be Justice, the subject being fidelity to the Constitution as it is written, though likely that's not what Quintus Horatius had in mind!)
The pen is the tongue of the mind.
The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes.
If you would have me weep, you must first of all feel grief yourself.
Money is a handmaiden, if thou knowest how to use it; a mistress, if thou knowest not.
Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it.
Pale Death beats equally at the poor man's gate and at the palaces of kings.
Subdue your passion or it will subdue you.
The foolish are like ripples on water, For whatsoever they do is quickly effaced; But the righteous are like carvings upon stone, For their smallest act is durable. (That seems very like one of Solomon's Proverbs, to which present Amerikan society pays no more attention that it does Quintus Horatius.)
Suffering is but another name for the teaching of experience, which is the parent of instruction and the schoolmaster of life. (In other words, "Take up your cross and follow me.")
We are just statistics, born to consume resources. (This quote shocked me, for I had expected this sentiment to be but a recent modern thing uttered by government and corporate bureaucrats; yet not so different from ancient Rome are we, folks, and yes, apostasy and heresy will give to us the same fate as the ancient Caesars suffered.)
Who then is free? The wise man who can command himself. (A lesson surely resisted by every liberal demokrat over-awed by the false gospel of social justice and the common good.)
Why do you hasten to remove anything which hurts your eye, while if something affects your soul you postpone the cure until next year?
Today's quotes are from Quintus Horatius Flaccus (also known as Horace in English-speaking countries). He lived from 65 BC to 8 BC, mainly during the reigns of Julius and Augustus Caesar. I remember translating some of his poems when I was in Latin class so long ago. It's a pity that our post-modern world has forgotten the wisdom of the ancients. I fear, however, that Quintus Horatius would feel right at home in today's neo-pagan, secular society devoid of all morality and sanity.
A good and faithful judge ever prefers the honorable to the expedient. (Now there's a lesson for Obamolech's nominee to SCOTUS, Sonia Sotomayor.)
Fidelity is the sister of justice. (Surely another quote for our would-be Justice, the subject being fidelity to the Constitution as it is written, though likely that's not what Quintus Horatius had in mind!)
The pen is the tongue of the mind.
The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes.
If you would have me weep, you must first of all feel grief yourself.
Money is a handmaiden, if thou knowest how to use it; a mistress, if thou knowest not.
Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it.
Pale Death beats equally at the poor man's gate and at the palaces of kings.
Subdue your passion or it will subdue you.
The foolish are like ripples on water, For whatsoever they do is quickly effaced; But the righteous are like carvings upon stone, For their smallest act is durable. (That seems very like one of Solomon's Proverbs, to which present Amerikan society pays no more attention that it does Quintus Horatius.)
Suffering is but another name for the teaching of experience, which is the parent of instruction and the schoolmaster of life. (In other words, "Take up your cross and follow me.")
We are just statistics, born to consume resources. (This quote shocked me, for I had expected this sentiment to be but a recent modern thing uttered by government and corporate bureaucrats; yet not so different from ancient Rome are we, folks, and yes, apostasy and heresy will give to us the same fate as the ancient Caesars suffered.)
Who then is free? The wise man who can command himself. (A lesson surely resisted by every liberal demokrat over-awed by the false gospel of social justice and the common good.)
Why do you hasten to remove anything which hurts your eye, while if something affects your soul you postpone the cure until next year?
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Happy Father's Day
To All Fathers,
Happy Father's Day! The Catholic Online web site has a great article about this day set aside to reverence our fathers: Father’s Day Reveals the Heart of God.
Happy Father's Day! The Catholic Online web site has a great article about this day set aside to reverence our fathers: Father’s Day Reveals the Heart of God.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
A Spineless President
Folks,
I encourage the interested reader to take a look at Steve Ray's latest blog entry, Which Way is the Wind Blowing.
The days of Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt are long past. But I fear that just as it took a civil war to end the injustice and immorality of slavery, so also may it take a civil war to end the infanticide of the unborn. I pray that that is not the case, and every devout Catholic should pray that the Holy Spirit speaks directly to the President so that he repents in time to avert catastrophe, but as Thomas Jefferson said so long ago:
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its own natural manure.
What utter irony that Obamolech is on the side of the slavers.
I encourage the interested reader to take a look at Steve Ray's latest blog entry, Which Way is the Wind Blowing.
The days of Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt are long past. But I fear that just as it took a civil war to end the injustice and immorality of slavery, so also may it take a civil war to end the infanticide of the unborn. I pray that that is not the case, and every devout Catholic should pray that the Holy Spirit speaks directly to the President so that he repents in time to avert catastrophe, but as Thomas Jefferson said so long ago:
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its own natural manure.
What utter irony that Obamolech is on the side of the slavers.
Today's Quotes
Folks,
Today's quotes are from Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, the fifth Caesar who ruled the Imperium Romanum from AD 41 to AD 54. His predecessor was the mad Caligula and his successor the mad Nero.
No one is free who does not lord over himself.
No one is more miserable than the person who wills everything and can do nothing.
Say not always what you know, but always know what you say.
To do no evil is good, to intend none better.
I have often wondered if, had St. Paul stood trial before Claudius instead of one of his mad successors, might the rise of Christianity in the Empire had been faster? Perhaps not, for as we see in today's affluent neo-pagan society, Christianity languishes in apathy when its people are well fed, clothed and housed, but often flourishes in torture and martyrdom as a flower bush does when it is regularly pruned.
I am relatively confident that Barack Hussein Obama will give us the pruning for which we have voted (though perhaps we mistook as the promise of social justice and the common good the coming torture and martyrdom - it's happened before as the rise and fall of Maximillen Robespierre clearly show).
Today's quotes are from Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, the fifth Caesar who ruled the Imperium Romanum from AD 41 to AD 54. His predecessor was the mad Caligula and his successor the mad Nero.
No one is free who does not lord over himself.
No one is more miserable than the person who wills everything and can do nothing.
Say not always what you know, but always know what you say.
To do no evil is good, to intend none better.
I have often wondered if, had St. Paul stood trial before Claudius instead of one of his mad successors, might the rise of Christianity in the Empire had been faster? Perhaps not, for as we see in today's affluent neo-pagan society, Christianity languishes in apathy when its people are well fed, clothed and housed, but often flourishes in torture and martyrdom as a flower bush does when it is regularly pruned.
I am relatively confident that Barack Hussein Obama will give us the pruning for which we have voted (though perhaps we mistook as the promise of social justice and the common good the coming torture and martyrdom - it's happened before as the rise and fall of Maximillen Robespierre clearly show).
Without Faith
Folks,
The Meditation and Prayer for the Day from Hazeldon's Twenty Four Hours a Day book is as follows:
To see God with eyes of faith is to cause God's power to manifest itself in the material world. God cannot do His work because of unbelief. In response to your belief, God can work a miracle in your personality. All miracles happen in the realm of personality and all are caused by and based on belief in God's never-failing power. But God's power cannot manifest itself in personalities unless those personalities make His power available by their faith. We can only see God with the eyes of faith, but this kind of seeing produces a great change in our way of living.
I pray that I may see God with the eyes of faith. I pray that this seeing will produce a change in my personality.
This reminds me of Hebrews 11:6:
But without faith it is impossible to please [God], for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Indeed, just as 1st Corinthians 13 is the "Love Chapter" of the Bible, so also is Hebrews 11 the "Faith Chapter".
The Meditation and Prayer for the Day from Hazeldon's Twenty Four Hours a Day book is as follows:
To see God with eyes of faith is to cause God's power to manifest itself in the material world. God cannot do His work because of unbelief. In response to your belief, God can work a miracle in your personality. All miracles happen in the realm of personality and all are caused by and based on belief in God's never-failing power. But God's power cannot manifest itself in personalities unless those personalities make His power available by their faith. We can only see God with the eyes of faith, but this kind of seeing produces a great change in our way of living.
I pray that I may see God with the eyes of faith. I pray that this seeing will produce a change in my personality.
This reminds me of Hebrews 11:6:
But without faith it is impossible to please [God], for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Indeed, just as 1st Corinthians 13 is the "Love Chapter" of the Bible, so also is Hebrews 11 the "Faith Chapter".
Friday, June 19, 2009
Tonight's Humor - Motherhood
Folks,
Here is another photograph from the LOL Cats web site. I am sure that all mothers out there can identify with this - Motherhood: When sleep is a thing of the past.
Here is another photograph from the LOL Cats web site. I am sure that all mothers out there can identify with this - Motherhood: When sleep is a thing of the past.
East Germany and Iran
Folks,
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright and theatre director in the 20th century. He was a life-long committed Marxist. He made the following commentary on the uprising of 1953 in East Germany, never realizing the irony behind his being a Marxist. (As the student of history may recall, the uprising was brutally suppressed by a group of Soviet Tank Forces.)
The Solution
After the uprising of the 17th of June
The Secretary of the Writers Union
Had leaflets distributed in the Stalinallee
Stating that the people
Had forfeited the confidence of the government
And could win it back only
By redoubled efforts. Would it not be easier
In that case for the government
To dissolve the people
And elect another?
Of course, as the reader who frequents this blog already knows, "Vox populi vox Dei non est." Or said another way, the people get the government they deserve.
The Israelites learned this under King Saul 3000 years ago, and I am afraid the Iranians are learning this now. Indeed, we Amerikaners (as Bertolt Brecht would say) aren't long for learning this lesson either.
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright and theatre director in the 20th century. He was a life-long committed Marxist. He made the following commentary on the uprising of 1953 in East Germany, never realizing the irony behind his being a Marxist. (As the student of history may recall, the uprising was brutally suppressed by a group of Soviet Tank Forces.)
The Solution
After the uprising of the 17th of June
The Secretary of the Writers Union
Had leaflets distributed in the Stalinallee
Stating that the people
Had forfeited the confidence of the government
And could win it back only
By redoubled efforts. Would it not be easier
In that case for the government
To dissolve the people
And elect another?
Of course, as the reader who frequents this blog already knows, "Vox populi vox Dei non est." Or said another way, the people get the government they deserve.
The Israelites learned this under King Saul 3000 years ago, and I am afraid the Iranians are learning this now. Indeed, we Amerikaners (as Bertolt Brecht would say) aren't long for learning this lesson either.
Resisting Leftist Thuggery
Folks,
Father Philip Neri Powell runs an excellent blog site called, "Domine, Da Mihi Hanc Aquam" which in Latin means, "Lord, give to me this water." His most recent entry, "Resisting Leftie Thuggery in China...and in the US," is worthy of your consideration. Please left click your mouse cursor on the aforementioned web link.
P.S., I truly like his descriptors for President Barack Hussein Obama - either President BO or Obamolech are appropriate. I shall add those to the other title, "The Obamanation of Desolation."
Father Philip Neri Powell runs an excellent blog site called, "Domine, Da Mihi Hanc Aquam" which in Latin means, "Lord, give to me this water." His most recent entry, "Resisting Leftie Thuggery in China...and in the US," is worthy of your consideration. Please left click your mouse cursor on the aforementioned web link.
P.S., I truly like his descriptors for President Barack Hussein Obama - either President BO or Obamolech are appropriate. I shall add those to the other title, "The Obamanation of Desolation."
Quotes for the Day
Folks,
Here are a few noteworthy quotes for the day:
Plato:
Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme liberty.
Excess of liberty, whether it lies in state or individuals, seems only to pass into excess of slavery.
Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.
Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens.
Marcus Tulius Cicero:
Honor is the reward of virtue.
I add this, that rational ability without education has oftener raised man to glory and virtue, than education without natural ability.
If you pursue good with labor, the labor passes away but the good remains; if you pursue evil with pleasure, the pleasure passes away and the evil remains.
Nothing is more unreliable than the populace, nothing more obscure than human intentions, nothing more deceptive than the whole electoral system.
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus:
A man should be upright, not be kept upright.
How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.
The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.
The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.
Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.
Publius Vergilius Maro (Virgil):
If ye despise the human race, and mortal arms, yet remember that there is a God who is mindful of right and wrong.
It is easy to go down into Hell; night and day, the gates of dark Death stand wide; but to climb back again, to retrace one's steps to the upper air - there's the rub, the task.
It never troubles the wolf how many the sheep may be.
The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts.
Here are a few noteworthy quotes for the day:
Plato:
Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme liberty.
Excess of liberty, whether it lies in state or individuals, seems only to pass into excess of slavery.
Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws.
Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens.
Marcus Tulius Cicero:
Honor is the reward of virtue.
I add this, that rational ability without education has oftener raised man to glory and virtue, than education without natural ability.
If you pursue good with labor, the labor passes away but the good remains; if you pursue evil with pleasure, the pleasure passes away and the evil remains.
Nothing is more unreliable than the populace, nothing more obscure than human intentions, nothing more deceptive than the whole electoral system.
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus:
A man should be upright, not be kept upright.
How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.
The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.
The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.
Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.
Publius Vergilius Maro (Virgil):
If ye despise the human race, and mortal arms, yet remember that there is a God who is mindful of right and wrong.
It is easy to go down into Hell; night and day, the gates of dark Death stand wide; but to climb back again, to retrace one's steps to the upper air - there's the rub, the task.
It never troubles the wolf how many the sheep may be.
The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Year for Priests
Folks,
Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, will be opening the Year for Priests tomorrow, June 19, 2009. Father Corapi has also written a short paper on this entitled, Jubilee Year Announced by the Vatican. Simply left click your mouse cursor on either link to learn more.
Let us pray for our priests for they are under attack by the enemy. Without our priests, there is no Holy Eucharist. Pray, folks, pray. As Jesus said when questioned that Mary the sister of Martha should anoint him with expensive oil, "The poor you will have with you always, but not so with me." Today's adherents of the false gospel of social justice would do away with the Blessed Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior in the false pretense of serving the common good, and one of the fastest ways to acheive that end is to eliminate holy priests.
May Heaven have mercy!
Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, will be opening the Year for Priests tomorrow, June 19, 2009. Father Corapi has also written a short paper on this entitled, Jubilee Year Announced by the Vatican. Simply left click your mouse cursor on either link to learn more.
Let us pray for our priests for they are under attack by the enemy. Without our priests, there is no Holy Eucharist. Pray, folks, pray. As Jesus said when questioned that Mary the sister of Martha should anoint him with expensive oil, "The poor you will have with you always, but not so with me." Today's adherents of the false gospel of social justice would do away with the Blessed Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior in the false pretense of serving the common good, and one of the fastest ways to acheive that end is to eliminate holy priests.
May Heaven have mercy!
More on Sotomayor
Folks,
My friend Linda at the Offer It Up blogsite has a link to a short history of Judge Sotomayor's pro-abortion position. (Thanks, Linda!) Just left click your mouse cursor on the picture below to go to the article at the Americans United for Life web site. It seems readily apparent that President Obama has been choosing renegade, apostate faux Catholic politicians for positions in his government.
My friend Linda at the Offer It Up blogsite has a link to a short history of Judge Sotomayor's pro-abortion position. (Thanks, Linda!) Just left click your mouse cursor on the picture below to go to the article at the Americans United for Life web site. It seems readily apparent that President Obama has been choosing renegade, apostate faux Catholic politicians for positions in his government.
GE-Hitachi's Lisa Price Before House Subcommittee
Folks,
The statement by GE-Hitachi's Lisa Price to the US House of Representative Subcommittee on Science and Technology may be read here (just left-click your mouse cursor on the link):
Prepared Testimony of Lisa Price
I am glad to see the GE-Hitachi is encouraging lawmakers with regard to recycling spent nuclear fuel. GE-Hitachi's PRISM reactor would be ideal for this.
Here are links to the other statements at the meeting:
Opening Statement of Chairman Bart Gordon
Witness Statements of:
The statement by GE-Hitachi's Lisa Price to the US House of Representative Subcommittee on Science and Technology may be read here (just left-click your mouse cursor on the link):
Prepared Testimony of Lisa Price
I am glad to see the GE-Hitachi is encouraging lawmakers with regard to recycling spent nuclear fuel. GE-Hitachi's PRISM reactor would be ideal for this.
Here are links to the other statements at the meeting:
Opening Statement of Chairman Bart Gordon
Witness Statements of:
PS, while Congressman Bart Gordon, head of the House Committee on Science and Technology, is pro-nuclear energy, he fails in almost every other way. The OnTheIssues web site records the following on his voting pattern:
Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
Voted YES on allowing human embryonic stem cell research. (May 2005)
Voted YES on restricting interstate transport of minors to get abortions. (Apr 2005)
Voted YES on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime. (Feb 2004)
Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortion except to save mother’s life. (Oct 2003)
Voted YES on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research. (Feb 2003)
Voted YES on funding for health providers who don't provide abortion info. (Sep 2002)
Voted NO on banning Family Planning funding in US aid abroad. (May 2001)
Voted YES on federal crime to harm fetus while committing other crimes. (Apr 2001)
Voted YES on banning partial-birth abortions. (Apr 2000)
Voted YES on barring transporting minors to get an abortion. (Jun 1999)
Rated 30% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
Expand contraceptive services for low-income women. (May 2006)
Rated 50% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion. (Dec 2006)
Congressman Gordon thus has a mixed record. Some of his votes are a part of the Culture of Death. He is not consistently pro-life.
Estne Vox Populi Vox Dei?
Folks,
Estne vox populi vox Dei? Minime! Populus Deus non est. (Translation is at the end, so read through first.)
Last night at Eucharistic Adoration I had the chance to consider the question and its answer above as I read the old, old story of the anointing of Saul as king of Israel and his subsequent rejection by God. The pertinent chapters include 1st Samuel 8 through 1st Samuel 15.
In chapter 8 the people of Israel came to Samuel to tell him that they wanted a king to judge them as the other nations had kings. Samuel was displease and prayed to the Lord, who responded by pointing out that it was not Samuel who was being rejected, but the Lord as their king. So Samuel warned the people the slavery to which a king would subject them, and how they would eventually complain of their decision, but on that day the Lord would not answer them. This did not matter to the people; they declared in verse 20, “We too must be like other nations, with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare and fight our battles.”
The thing that struck me in this chapter was the desire of the people to be like the other pagan nations surrounding them. No longer did they want the freedom and responsibility of being God’s Chosen people; rather, they wanted the mediocrity, indeed the slavery, of conformity and equality. That is precisely the attitude of most people in America today. As Dr. Jerry Pournelle constantly points out at his Chaos Manor web site, freedom and equality cannot co-exist. The children of Israel thus chose equality.
Chapters 9 and 10 then go on to describe Saul’s anointing, and how Saul prophesied among the prophets. The thing that struck me here was that Saul was not all bad, for how else could he have prophesied among the prophets? Yet, Saul could not during his kingship remain obedient, and thus was rejected. God gave Saul a chance just as He gives all of us a fair chance, and Saul squandered his opportunity with ego and pride. The end of chapter 10 records how some worthless men objected to Saul’s ability to save Israel; it is noteworthy that these men are called “worthless.” That should remind us that even though we may object to a leader God has allowed to rule over us, we too could make ourselves worthless by criticizing. We are to honor the king whether we agree or disagree with his selection.
Chapter 11 records how Saul defeated Nahash the Ammonite (whom we learn in the next chapter was their king). The first noteworthy thing in this chapter is that even though contrary to God’s will the children of Israel demanded a king, God was yet able to use this king to deliver them from the oppression of the Ammonites. The other noteworthy thing in this chapter is that Saul could be kind and forgiving. Some men in the previous chapter objected to Saul’s kingship, and now that Saul had won victory over the Ammonites, the people wanted to put these men to death. But Saul put a stop to this by declaring; “No man is to be put to death this day, for today the LORD has saved Israel.”
Chapter 12 records how Samuel reprimanded the people for demanding a king. It points out that the people’s demand for a king occurred not because Samuel’s two sons were corrupt, but because the people feared Nahash the Ammonite. We learn in this chapter that the people’s complaints against Joel and Abijah in Samuel 8:1-5 was just a ruse to cover up their fear that the Lord could not deliver them from the evil Nahash. As usual, the people neither trusted God (in their fear) nor wished to obey God (in their pride). How often indeed are fear and pride the opposite sides of the same coin? Yet in spite of the people’s infidelity to God, Samuel said, “As for me, far be it from me to sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you and to teach you the good and right way.”
Chapter 13 records the first time of how Saul disobeyed the Lord openly. His son Jonathan had won a victory over the Philistines at Gibeah, and Saul held out at Gilgal, waiting seven days for the appointed arrival of Samuel. When Samuel did not arrive on time, Saul (contrary to instructions) offered the sacrifice to the Lord. Of course, when the offering was finished, Samuel arrived and asked what Saul had done. Saul responded by blaming the men who were with him, “When I saw that the men were slipping away from me, since you had not come by the specified time, and with the Philistines assembled at Michmash, I said to myself, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not yet sought the LORD'S blessing.' So in my anxiety I offered up the holocaust.” Samuel then explained that if Saul had kept the Lord’s word, then his kingship would have been established over Israel as everlasting; but as it was, his kingdom would now be given to a man after God’s own heart. I pondered what was meant by a man after God’s own heart, and then looked at why Saul did what he did: he was fearful (afraid his men would desert him) and he was prideful (he took Samuel’s authority onto himself to offer the sacrifice). Here we again have the twin snakes of fear and pride. The end of the chapter describes how the Israelites had no iron weapons since only the Philistines did the blacksmithing; this sets Israel up at a significant military disadvantage, being without iron swords, spears and shields. Yet in spite of this, and in spite of Saul’s disobedience, God delivered them.
Chapter 14 records how both Jonathan and Saul won separate battles against the Philistines. Saul was so full of himself at the victory won that day that he swore a very rash oath, saying, "Cursed be the man who takes food before evening, before I am able to avenge myself on my enemies.” Notice that in Saul’s mind the battle was not the Lord’s but his own struggle for vengeance. So none of the people ate except for Jonathan who was not with Saul to have heard the command. Thus, when Jonathan found a honeycomb, he ate some the honey, not knowing about Saul’s oath. Of course, at the end of the day the people were completely exhausted from having routed the Philistines and from not having had anything to eat, so when it was time to eat, they slaughtered the cattle taken as spoils from the Philistines, and before enough time had transpire from the blood to drain out, they ate of the meat and thereby disobeyed the command against eating blood. Thus we find that Saul’s rash oath – one act of disobedience – resulted in two adverse consequences: the people eating blood contrary to Mosaic Law, and his son Jonathan now being under the curse of death. Of course, when Saul learned that the people had eaten blood, he had them repent, and when he learned that Jonathan was the one who had broken the oath about not eating, the people saved him by declaring, “Is Jonathan to die, though it was he who brought Israel this great victory? This must not be! As the LORD lives, not a single hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for God was with him in what he did today!” Yet in the end (some chapters later), both Saul and Jonathan die horrible deaths. While punishment can be delayed, it was not averted in the case of Saul because he never truly became repentant, as Chapter 15 tells us.
Chapter 15 recounts the story of Saul’s victory over the Amalekites, and of his disobedience that results in God tearing the kingdom of Israel from him. Now the Amalekites were a band of pagan nomadic raiders who persecuted the Israelities during their journey from Egypt to Canaan (see Deuteronomy 25:17-19). The Israelites had been told that they would “…blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heavens.” So the Lord ordered Saul, “Go, now, attack Amalek, and deal with him and all that he has under the ban. Do not spare him, but kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and asses.” Saul then won victory over the Amalekites, but “he and his troops spared Agag [the Amalekite king] and the best of the fat sheep and oxen, and the lambs. They [the Israelites] refused to carry out the doom on anything that was worthwhile, dooming only what was worthless and of no account.” It never occurred to either Saul or the men of his army that God had declared everything of the Amalekites “worthless and of no account”, hence the order for their destruction. Yet Saul and his people thought they knew better than God and so preserved what they thought was worthwhile and of account. Of course Samuel confronted Saul about this, and again Saul blames the people – the men who were with him – and claimed that the reason was to offer up in sacrifice to the Lord the things that they had not destroyed. It just did not occur to them that God didn’t want pagan, demonic property (which is all that the pagan Amalekites had) offered up to him in sacrifice. Here those famous verses of Scripture are written that the Lord desires obedience better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of the rams. Saul then admits that he sinned. But Samuel explains that because he had rejected the command of the Lord (in this case, by listening to the people), the Lord rejected him as king over Israel. As Samuel turned to go, Saul reached out and tore a part of Samuel’s cloak off. So Samuel said, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day…” yet in an apparent attempt at repentance Saul still did NOT “get” it, for he said, “I have sinned, yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Return with me that I may worship the LORD your God.” Saul was interested only in his own honor, and called the Lord Samuel’s God; notice that Saul does not say, “Return with me that I may worship the LORD our God,” or “Return with me that I may worship the LORD my God.” He says, “Return with me that I may worship the LORD your God.” So is the Lord Saul’s God or not? That’s the question, which we find time again that Saul answers with a “NO”.
At the end of this chapter it is Samuel who carried out God’s sentence of justice on King Agag of the Amalekites. Samuel said to him, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." Then he cut Agag into pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. But Samuel was sad, so very sad:
“Never again, as long as he lived, did Samuel see Saul. Yet he grieved over Saul, because the LORD regretted having made him king of Israel.”
There is much in these chapters of the book of 1st Samuel for us Americans to contemplate in this day and age. Is the voice of the people the voice of God? By no means! The people are NOT God!
Estne vox populi vox Dei? Minime! Populus Deus non est. (Translation is at the end, so read through first.)
Last night at Eucharistic Adoration I had the chance to consider the question and its answer above as I read the old, old story of the anointing of Saul as king of Israel and his subsequent rejection by God. The pertinent chapters include 1st Samuel 8 through 1st Samuel 15.
In chapter 8 the people of Israel came to Samuel to tell him that they wanted a king to judge them as the other nations had kings. Samuel was displease and prayed to the Lord, who responded by pointing out that it was not Samuel who was being rejected, but the Lord as their king. So Samuel warned the people the slavery to which a king would subject them, and how they would eventually complain of their decision, but on that day the Lord would not answer them. This did not matter to the people; they declared in verse 20, “We too must be like other nations, with a king to rule us and to lead us in warfare and fight our battles.”
The thing that struck me in this chapter was the desire of the people to be like the other pagan nations surrounding them. No longer did they want the freedom and responsibility of being God’s Chosen people; rather, they wanted the mediocrity, indeed the slavery, of conformity and equality. That is precisely the attitude of most people in America today. As Dr. Jerry Pournelle constantly points out at his Chaos Manor web site, freedom and equality cannot co-exist. The children of Israel thus chose equality.
Chapters 9 and 10 then go on to describe Saul’s anointing, and how Saul prophesied among the prophets. The thing that struck me here was that Saul was not all bad, for how else could he have prophesied among the prophets? Yet, Saul could not during his kingship remain obedient, and thus was rejected. God gave Saul a chance just as He gives all of us a fair chance, and Saul squandered his opportunity with ego and pride. The end of chapter 10 records how some worthless men objected to Saul’s ability to save Israel; it is noteworthy that these men are called “worthless.” That should remind us that even though we may object to a leader God has allowed to rule over us, we too could make ourselves worthless by criticizing. We are to honor the king whether we agree or disagree with his selection.
Chapter 11 records how Saul defeated Nahash the Ammonite (whom we learn in the next chapter was their king). The first noteworthy thing in this chapter is that even though contrary to God’s will the children of Israel demanded a king, God was yet able to use this king to deliver them from the oppression of the Ammonites. The other noteworthy thing in this chapter is that Saul could be kind and forgiving. Some men in the previous chapter objected to Saul’s kingship, and now that Saul had won victory over the Ammonites, the people wanted to put these men to death. But Saul put a stop to this by declaring; “No man is to be put to death this day, for today the LORD has saved Israel.”
Chapter 12 records how Samuel reprimanded the people for demanding a king. It points out that the people’s demand for a king occurred not because Samuel’s two sons were corrupt, but because the people feared Nahash the Ammonite. We learn in this chapter that the people’s complaints against Joel and Abijah in Samuel 8:1-5 was just a ruse to cover up their fear that the Lord could not deliver them from the evil Nahash. As usual, the people neither trusted God (in their fear) nor wished to obey God (in their pride). How often indeed are fear and pride the opposite sides of the same coin? Yet in spite of the people’s infidelity to God, Samuel said, “As for me, far be it from me to sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you and to teach you the good and right way.”
Chapter 13 records the first time of how Saul disobeyed the Lord openly. His son Jonathan had won a victory over the Philistines at Gibeah, and Saul held out at Gilgal, waiting seven days for the appointed arrival of Samuel. When Samuel did not arrive on time, Saul (contrary to instructions) offered the sacrifice to the Lord. Of course, when the offering was finished, Samuel arrived and asked what Saul had done. Saul responded by blaming the men who were with him, “When I saw that the men were slipping away from me, since you had not come by the specified time, and with the Philistines assembled at Michmash, I said to myself, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not yet sought the LORD'S blessing.' So in my anxiety I offered up the holocaust.” Samuel then explained that if Saul had kept the Lord’s word, then his kingship would have been established over Israel as everlasting; but as it was, his kingdom would now be given to a man after God’s own heart. I pondered what was meant by a man after God’s own heart, and then looked at why Saul did what he did: he was fearful (afraid his men would desert him) and he was prideful (he took Samuel’s authority onto himself to offer the sacrifice). Here we again have the twin snakes of fear and pride. The end of the chapter describes how the Israelites had no iron weapons since only the Philistines did the blacksmithing; this sets Israel up at a significant military disadvantage, being without iron swords, spears and shields. Yet in spite of this, and in spite of Saul’s disobedience, God delivered them.
Chapter 14 records how both Jonathan and Saul won separate battles against the Philistines. Saul was so full of himself at the victory won that day that he swore a very rash oath, saying, "Cursed be the man who takes food before evening, before I am able to avenge myself on my enemies.” Notice that in Saul’s mind the battle was not the Lord’s but his own struggle for vengeance. So none of the people ate except for Jonathan who was not with Saul to have heard the command. Thus, when Jonathan found a honeycomb, he ate some the honey, not knowing about Saul’s oath. Of course, at the end of the day the people were completely exhausted from having routed the Philistines and from not having had anything to eat, so when it was time to eat, they slaughtered the cattle taken as spoils from the Philistines, and before enough time had transpire from the blood to drain out, they ate of the meat and thereby disobeyed the command against eating blood. Thus we find that Saul’s rash oath – one act of disobedience – resulted in two adverse consequences: the people eating blood contrary to Mosaic Law, and his son Jonathan now being under the curse of death. Of course, when Saul learned that the people had eaten blood, he had them repent, and when he learned that Jonathan was the one who had broken the oath about not eating, the people saved him by declaring, “Is Jonathan to die, though it was he who brought Israel this great victory? This must not be! As the LORD lives, not a single hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for God was with him in what he did today!” Yet in the end (some chapters later), both Saul and Jonathan die horrible deaths. While punishment can be delayed, it was not averted in the case of Saul because he never truly became repentant, as Chapter 15 tells us.
Chapter 15 recounts the story of Saul’s victory over the Amalekites, and of his disobedience that results in God tearing the kingdom of Israel from him. Now the Amalekites were a band of pagan nomadic raiders who persecuted the Israelities during their journey from Egypt to Canaan (see Deuteronomy 25:17-19). The Israelites had been told that they would “…blot out the memory of Amalek from under the heavens.” So the Lord ordered Saul, “Go, now, attack Amalek, and deal with him and all that he has under the ban. Do not spare him, but kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and asses.” Saul then won victory over the Amalekites, but “he and his troops spared Agag [the Amalekite king] and the best of the fat sheep and oxen, and the lambs. They [the Israelites] refused to carry out the doom on anything that was worthwhile, dooming only what was worthless and of no account.” It never occurred to either Saul or the men of his army that God had declared everything of the Amalekites “worthless and of no account”, hence the order for their destruction. Yet Saul and his people thought they knew better than God and so preserved what they thought was worthwhile and of account. Of course Samuel confronted Saul about this, and again Saul blames the people – the men who were with him – and claimed that the reason was to offer up in sacrifice to the Lord the things that they had not destroyed. It just did not occur to them that God didn’t want pagan, demonic property (which is all that the pagan Amalekites had) offered up to him in sacrifice. Here those famous verses of Scripture are written that the Lord desires obedience better than sacrifice, and submission than the fat of the rams. Saul then admits that he sinned. But Samuel explains that because he had rejected the command of the Lord (in this case, by listening to the people), the Lord rejected him as king over Israel. As Samuel turned to go, Saul reached out and tore a part of Samuel’s cloak off. So Samuel said, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day…” yet in an apparent attempt at repentance Saul still did NOT “get” it, for he said, “I have sinned, yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Return with me that I may worship the LORD your God.” Saul was interested only in his own honor, and called the Lord Samuel’s God; notice that Saul does not say, “Return with me that I may worship the LORD our God,” or “Return with me that I may worship the LORD my God.” He says, “Return with me that I may worship the LORD your God.” So is the Lord Saul’s God or not? That’s the question, which we find time again that Saul answers with a “NO”.
At the end of this chapter it is Samuel who carried out God’s sentence of justice on King Agag of the Amalekites. Samuel said to him, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." Then he cut Agag into pieces before the Lord in Gilgal. But Samuel was sad, so very sad:
“Never again, as long as he lived, did Samuel see Saul. Yet he grieved over Saul, because the LORD regretted having made him king of Israel.”
There is much in these chapters of the book of 1st Samuel for us Americans to contemplate in this day and age. Is the voice of the people the voice of God? By no means! The people are NOT God!
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