The Pope and the doves...

Even some of us who are not Catholic, look upon the Pope as a spiritual leader. Because he is so precious to the church, he is closely guarded and the world rarely gets to see or hear spontaneity. But obviously, even the doves love him. Listen for his exclamation of "Mama Mia!"


The words he speaks afterward basically say that they want to stay in Papa's house (in case you didn't know, the Pope is known as Papa)...

Although I would never presume to have an audience with the Pope, I too world love to visit his house...to view the Dome of St. Peter's,

the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel,

to view "The Pieta"...

he has a very lovely house indeed!

Unconditional love...

This is in no way an endorsement of a candidate...we don't do that here. It is the story of a family who loves and nurtures a child who has no way of reciprocating that love...

She is a font of love,” he said. “And she made me understand that that’s how the Father looks at me. I’m disabled and unable to ‘do’ anything for him — except love him. And he loves me unconditionally.”

Read the Santorum's story here...

Beauty

I used to think the world was trying to teach girls and women that you had to do this or that or use this beauty product or that, wear these clothes or that, attend this school, be a cheerleader, dancer, be the most popular, and the list goes on an on. I now realize that the world is actually saying, "You'll never be good enough!"

That is so not true...



We must all work to teach our children and young girls that all are beautiful in God's eyes...and ours!

Thankful

Little Old Ladies....

I know people like this...

Grief

Although grief is something we wish we could avoid, it happens to us all. And while there is not an "How to face Grief" manual that tells us what to do or how to handle it, there are those among us who have walked the path and who are willing to reach out. This is actually 3 articles but they're not tool long and worth the time...

 The experience starts here...

Having recently gone through the devastating experience of having our beautiful 32-year-old daughter die, completely unexpectedly, of a pulmonary embolism, I was determined from Day One (January 11, when she was found dead in her home in Durham, N.C.) to be open to whatever positive thing there might be to glean from this.  I cling by my fingernails to the promise of Romans 8:28 that “God works all things together for good for those who love him….”
Thoughts on grieving...
When a person suffers the devastating loss of a loved one, you should — however well-intentioned you might be — keep your mouth shut.  Or at the very least, you should think long and hard before you say anything.  Here are some of the things I recently heard that did not help, and frankly were not true.
1)  “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.”
2)  “You’ll get over it soon.”
3)  “Sorry about your lost loved one.”
4)  “Well, at least you still have your son.”
5)  “God will make up for this with a twofold blessing.”

The hope of the grieving:
What does it mean to grieve, then, as one who has hope?  It means we grieve with one eye forever fixed on the eschatological horizon.  It means we grieve knowing that resurrection will reverse Death.  It means we grieve knowing that Death will not have the last word about us.  Life will.  Elsewhere, Paul reminds us of the old saying “Who hopes for what they already have?”  Just so.  The hope to which he refers is not something we possess now in a fully realized form.  While I may have comfort now, and solace now, and peace now,  none of this is my hope.

3 Generations...

that, as of 2012, span 222 years.

 

President John Tyler was born in 1790, became President in 1841, married his second wife Julia Garndiner (30 years his junior) in 1844. They had 7 children together (added to the 8 he had with his previous wife!) Their son Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Sr. was born in 1853 (when his father was 63).

 

He married his second wife, Sue Ruffin, in 1923. His son

 

Lyon Gardiner Tyler, Jr was born in 1924, when his father was 71. He still lives in Virginia today at the age of 88. His brother,

Harrison Ruffin Tyler was born in 1928, when his father was 75. He still lives in Virginia today at the age of 84.

These 3 generations have born witness to:

The year the President was born (1790), George Washington gave his first State of the Union address and the French Revolution began. In the year his son, LG Tyler, Sr was born (1853), the Crimean War began and Levi Strauss was founded. In the year LG Tyler, Jr. was born (1924), Lenin died and Stalin took over dictatorship of Russia and MGM studios was founded in Los Angeles. When HR Tyler was born (1928), Mickey and Minnie Mouse debuted on film. Along with automobiles, airplanes, televisions, computers and the thousands of other inventions that make our lives what they are...

Forgiveness...

To forgive another person from the heart is an act of liberation. We set that person free from the negative bonds that exist between us. We say, "I no longer hold your offense against you" But there is more. We also free ourselves from the burden of being the "offended one." As long as we do not forgive those who have wounded us, we carry them with us or, worse, pull them as a heavy load. The great temptation is to cling in anger to our enemies and then define ourselves as being offended and wounded by them. Forgiveness, therefore, liberates not only the other but also ourselves. It is the way to the freedom of the children of God.

                                                                                   Henri Nouwen

 

Open the Doors

A thought provoking video from St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church...for any church looking for ways to draw people closer to God. It's obviously not the only way but it worked for them...

War

"Wars are not acts of God. They are caused by man, by man-made institutions, by the way in which man has organized his society. What man has made, man can change."
                  Memorial Day Speech at Arlington National Cemetery, 1945
                  by: Frederick Moore Vinson

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following prayer was written and spoken by Franklin D. Roosevelt as the Allied troops were invading German-occupied Europe during WWII. It was read to the nation on the evening of D-Day June 6, 1944. American, British and Canadian troops were fighting to establish beach heads on the coast of Normandy. This past Tuesday, Congress passed the World War II Memorial Prayer Act to authorize it to appear on a plaque in the World War II Memorial.

My Fellow Americans:
Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.
And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.
They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.
Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.
Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.
And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.
With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.
Thy will be done, Almighty God.
Amen.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944

Vanity

Society has a name for mothers who have recently given birth and quickly resumed their former shape...they're called "Yummy Mummys"...in an effort to make us all want to be one. I mean really, who doesn't want to have an infant in arms while wearing a size 2...or less?

This is not a testament against women who have worked hard to get into shape and work even harder to stay that way. Of course it is a healthier way of life! But, unless one is doing it strictly for their own health and well being, it can be a double edged sword. There is a healthy weight (which can be different for each person) and what I'll call Celebrity weight (which might be even worse for you than being a little heavy).

I, for one, have a terrible time trying to loose weight unless I am able to focus most of my time and energy into it. At this point in my life, all my time and energy are already spoken for. I'm heavier than I'd like to be and have been berating myself about it for quite some time. That is, until I sat down and looked at the reasons why I wanted to be slimmer.

Sure, I would like to be healthier...but secretly, down deep inside, I think I have come to believe it will make my future brighter...everything will be easier and better if I loose weight...my clothes will fit better, people will admire me when I enter a room, I will be liked by everyone. "My how good she looks, she can't be a grandmother!" My, how ridiculous! Yes, even those of us on the downward slide from middle age can have fantasies.

If I did drop the extra pounds, my life won't change just because of that...actually, for me, there may even be a down side. I have been married to one man for 34 years and cannot imagine life with another. Even though it's just in my head...why would I want other men to follow after me? I have two grown children who are on their own and have the blessing of an 8 year old grandson in my home...what would he think if Nana lost her lap? Or the soft cushiony area where he likes to lay his head when I hold him. At what price am I willing to loose the peace I have in my home, with my family? God gives us peace ("peace on earth to those on whom His favor rests") and our bodies are His temple. And while, like I said earlier, being healthy is an admirable goal, loosing weight for the sake of my vanity will never be worth the peace in my heart.

I guess all those stars in Hollywood can quit worrying now... ; )

I never knew...

Jane Roe was not her real name...nor that she has had a change of heart...




But now I do...

Cringe Worthy

 

This is located just outside Marta Valle HS on the Lower East Side of New York City.

Surprisingly no one is accepting the "blame" for the error which until now went unreported...even by the faculty of the HS...

St. Francis de Sales

Today is the feast day of St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), bishop of Geneva, leader of the Catholic Reformation, cofounder of the Visitation Order, and influential spiritual writer.

Francis was born of an aristocratic Savoyard family at a time of reform and spiritual renewal within the Catholic Church. His early education was in the Christian humanist tradition of the Jesuits. At the University of Padua he studied law at his father's request and theology on his own initiative. Ordained in 1593, he was shortly made associate to the bishop of Geneva and in 1602 succeeded to his predecessor's post. Since the Protestant city of Geneva did not allow Catholic presence, Bishop de Sales resided in the nearby town of Annecy. He actively evangelized his Calvinist opponents, especially through gentle persuasion. He engaged in vigorous reform of religious institutions and sought to revitalize faith among all in his diocese.

Francis de Sales believed that the "devout life" was open to all, not only monks and priests. God, he felt, raised up persons in all walks of life to be leaven in the loaf of a revitalized church. Thus he promoted many works of spiritual renewal, including spiritual direction, preaching (his sermons were said to speak "heart to heart") and writing. His best-known book Introduction to the Devout Life was based on the letters of direction he wrote to a woman who wished to live a Christian life in the midst of her husband's duties with the French court. A practical summary of the means by which one cultivates a living faith in the midst of the busy demands of family and work, the Introduction was an overnight success and has remained a staple of devotional literature to the present day.

Francis de Sales was canonized in 1665 and declared a Doctor of the Church (an authoritative teacher) in 1877.  "Upper Room"

Noblesse Oblige

...is the obligation of the nobility to the poor much like Luke 12:48 "...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." When this first appeared in print the early 1800's, the concept was there, but not the terminology.


Translated from the French, noblesse oblige means "nobility obligates." Originally, the term was used to suggest that certain requirements of behavior could be legitimately imposed upon persons of noble birth. Noblesse oblige in modern English is a broad concept which implies that anyone who possesses special talents or gifts is required by society to make the best use of those gifts; that he or she is duty-bound to do his or her best. It is required by society, but even more so by God.

What if we took this principle to heart and believed that we are held personally accountable for our stewardship. What if we knew there is a direct correlation between what we are given and what we give. God looks not only at how well we open our heads, our hearts and  our hands, but also at the attitude with which we do these things.


In 1994, Forbes magazine profiled a man who lived in the USA but was the son of a Czechoslovakian aristocrat who fled the Republic at the age of 10. When the Czech government was democratized he was able to reclaim his family's wealth and estates. His holdings are vast and include castles, artwork by the masters, a phenomenal library, original musical manuscripts by Mozart and Beethoven, thousands of acres, a vineyard and a brewery (dating from 1466) and well, you get the picture. The surprising fact is, rather than sell off the bulk of these holdings and make himself obscenely wealthy, he has taken a different approach:   "We are merely custodians of the cultural treasures that must be preserved for future generations" (Berman, 1994).
He feels it is his obligation to maintain these irreplaceable objects for the people of the Czech Republic. Societal pressures here compels him to act selflessly and honorably—the very essence of noblesse oblige.

The strength and power of this concept can be rightfully applied to Christians. If we know the depths of God's love and mercy and if we know that His grace is available to all who will call upon His name, then we are obligated by His word and this concept to show the world "a life lived in Christ". Who among us can deny that to call ourselves Christians is the very definition of noble? ..."possessing outstanding qualities"...Not through any work we may have done but by the grace of God. Who can hold to such a gift and not share it with a hurting and troubled world?


We are blessed to hold the key to locking up the evil that prevails in our world. We are called upon by God to share this key with anyone and everyone. We are obligated to share so that the world may know what manner of God we serve. Noblesse Oblige...

Human...

from Asbo Jesus

Busy, busy, busy

Sorry there have been no posts for the last few days. My one and only grandson had a birthday this weekend and so we dedicated the entire time to him! After all, you only turn 8 once. Because he's still a child,  playtime is his favorite activity. All he wants from any of us is attention. Not constantly, but enough to reassure him that he is special.

It won't be long until he starts in to the pre-teen and teenage years. Those times have joys of their own but with each passing year I mourn "innocence lost". It's not that I expect him to become jaded but I do know he will begin to question, to doubt, to experiment. And with those things can come fear, anger and confusion.

Our prayer for him, as he starts this next year of his life...
That he always feel the Hand of God in his life,
That he never forgets that the voice in his head is actually the Holy Spirit helping him on his path.
We cannot shield him from the hurts that will come but pray that he is strong enough to weather the storm and come out on the other side, a better person.
And finally, that he will know that he is loved and cherished...forever.

Movie Themes

I'm sure this will (or may already) be popping up everywhere...but it was just too funny not to share. Especially for those of us who remember the original Star Wars and Darth Vadar's theme...



It's called...wait for it...The Bark Side!

The Poe Toaster

 With me, poetry has not been a purpose, but a passion.  Edgar Allan Poe

 

Every year, since at least the 1940's a man dressed in black, with a white scarf and wide-brimmed hat has visited Edgar Allan Poe's grave on his birthday. The visitor always leaves 3 roses and a half-empty bottle of cognac in tribute. And no one knows the identity of the Toaster.

Alas, this is the 3rd year in a row that he has not visited. You see, Poe fans have gathered at the grave for years to watch the mysterious man pay his tribute to the writer. He did not appear in either 2010 or 2011 but fans said they'd wait one more year before ending the tradition.  

You can read the details here...

Those who have read Poe know that his writings are prolific and varied but almost without exception, they are dark. Although I have enjoyed many over the years and heard his voice in each of them, Anabelle Lee is a favorite, ending thus...

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
   Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I see the bright eyes
   Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride,
   In her sepulchre there by the sea--
   In her tomb by the side of the sea.

It's worth your time...

An exceptional video by an extraordinary middle school class in Alabama...



from here...

The colors of the flesh...

 

Need I say more?

Lies

Hebrews 4:12-13 tells us, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Look at the image of the sword. If the blade were sharp only on one side, it's use would be limited.This is a formidable weapon no matter what direction you swing it. God's word is just such a weapon. But instead of dealing death, it deals LIFE!

Sin whispers through the desires of the flesh and the rationalizations of the mind. "You won't have a chance in the future if you don't cheat on this test." "You won't be noticed if you don't dress this way." "You won't have job security if you speak up about dishonest practices at work." "Your life will be wasted in this relationship, you should just get a divorce." "Only a fool would go around looking weak instead of getting revenge." These are all lies...every one of them.
 
It is the deceitfulness of sin made manifest in the flesh. These lies and others can lodge themselves very deep in our hearts. They will stay in our minds as thought and intentions. They will seem unshakably true because of the hardness of the heart that encloses them like a dark, sealed casket. 

When the heart and the mind are in this condition, unbelief has the upper hand. They block out the teachings that we know are true. Instead of trusting in the promises of God, we are believing in the promises of sin.
The Word of God is living, active and sharp. It will penetrate deeper than the deception of sin has ever gone and reveal what is truly worth trusting.

Head vs. Heart

There's an old saying that tells us "the longest journey we ever undertake is between the head and the heart". The path to our hearts, even though it is where Christ lives, is always cluttered and sometimes almost totally obscured. Like the seeds from the parable, weeds spring up way too easily and will take over, if we let them. The Apostle Paul reminds us...what our head says we want, our actions contradict; what our hearts long for, our head refuses to attend to. We are blessed in the fact that God knows all about weeds and is a loving and tender gardener.

Because God loves and dwells within us, nothing is closer than a place of quiet rest. His heart is waiting for our hearts to stop running, stop trying so hard, to stop focusing on externals and to let go. When your days are filled with noise and the juggling of tasks and demands, when you face the daily decisions and stresses, when you face times of sorrow and despair remember He is as close as your own heart.

Angels and Archangels

I hope you've had the opportunity to watch the movie "Michael". While John Travolta's depiction of the Archangel may be a little irreverent at times, I'd like to think that it is a true showing of his nature. Michael
is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. In Hebrew, Michael means "who is like God" (mi-who, ke-as or like, El-deity), which is traditionally interpreted as a rhetorical question: "Who is like God?" to imply that no one is like God. In this way, Michael is reinterpreted as a symbol of humility before God.

 In the Bible he is called "Prince of the first rank", an advocate of the Jews (Book of Daniel), a healer and protector (Book of Daniel) and as the leader of God's army (Book of Revelation).

One would hope that the writers of the movie had these things in mind when they wrote this scene:



as well as this one (dialogue in Italian)



Angels and Archangels do God's work, at His bidding and I for one am glad they do...

The only US citizen...

to have a national holiday dedicated to him. You know of whom I speak, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Next to his "I have a dream speech", one of my favorite passages is:

"If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composted music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, "here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well.""
(Based on Ecclesiastes 9:10, Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...)

But perhaps one of his most profound quotes is, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

Church is...

What is the church? Watch and find out....

Be Still

He is all these things and so much more if we but Be Still and open up to Him,
He is all these things and so much more if we but Be Still and ask Him,
He is all these things and so much more if we but Be Still and let Him...

^{Psalm 46:10
10} He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
   I will be exalted among the nations,
   I will be exalted in the earth.”

God's gifts

About a year ago, the "Homeless man with the Golden Voice" hit the airwaves. His desperate struggle was there for all the world to see. Have you wondered what he's doing now? 



So who gets the credit for this life changing turn around? 
The difference between my successes of years gone by is that I didn't acknowledge the Lord or thank him for anything before," he told them. "This time around, I have God in my life, acknowledging him on a daily basis. I've found a new sense of spirituality now."

Lost?

If you've ever been lost...then you'll relate to this video. If you're still lost, perhaps this might give you the encouragement you need...Either way, it's worth a couple of minutes of your time.

Sooner or later it had to happen....

I don't normally write about sports and athletes but there's always an exception. I am speaking of the person who is Tim Tebow.

I have watched this young man play football since his first start with the University of Florida. He is the same today as he was then...respectful, talented, determined, hard working, and several other adjectives along those lines. But what gets the most recognition from the main stream media is the fact that he believes in God with his whole heart. You know it when he talks...not because he's trying to "win you over", but in his quiet humbleness.  He chooses to unashamedly live his life of faith so that the whole world can see it. And that is not acceptable in the sight of the media types.

For once, sports in general and football in specific has a player who is worthy to be held up as someone to emulate. Someone that young people can look up to as an example of how to live their lives. And they do look up. Even though they don't have the platform to get the word out, and don't stand a chance of drowning out his detractors, they know what they see when they watch him.

So what is it about Tim Tebow that is so threatening? It's can't be his views, he has never once suggested that God cares one whit about football. He never tries to proselytize. Oh sure, he might wear a Bible verse reference (such as, Mark 8:36) on a patch under his eye, but he leaves it to the reader as to whether they look it up or not. He does take a knee on the field (several times during the game) and somehow that's perceived as worse than the silly, sometimes vulgar antics of other players in the end zone?

Again I will ask, what is it about him that makes so many people crazy? Why do they even care what he does? Some have theorized that it is because he emphasizes the part of his talent that he feels in given, not earned. When he bows his head he is saying that there is someone who is greater than anything else in the universe who deserves his attention, his allegiance and his praise.

Does his faith actually work? Have you ever watched one of his 4th quarter come backs (in college or pros)? Then you know that for him, it absolutely does. He does not believe his talent is random at all, but that it is bestowed on him by his Creator. It was not given to him so he can sit back and relish the adulation of the crowds but (as I heard from his own mouth in an interview) so that he can be in a position to impact the lives of others. And this he does through his foundation to help the poor, through his work at his father's orphanage, through his mission work and through his face to face visits.

So when you hear all those people bashing and giving him a hard time, think of the young people who desperately want to see a life lived by faith. And recognize that His God has given him a tremendous talent but at the same time, a formidable challenge. To live with the adulation I spoke of earlier. He must hear it, but not believe it. Read it, but not fall for it. It is a terrible, all consuming monster to those who do, who let themselves believe their press. But given the rock solid foundation he has grown up with, somehow I don't believe he will.

Waiting with a song...

I already knew it was way more fun to have to "lay over" somewhere if you had a choir with you...

Passengers on this flight were given a surprise as they waited for a maintenance check on their aircraft...


I traveled to Boston with the Advanced Chorus from the local high school when son was a member. We were waiting for the other half of our group in a McDonald's somewhere between Providence, RI and Boston when one of the employees asked the group to sing. Needless to say, those lunch time diners had a special treat with their Big Macs that day.

Noblesse Oblige

...is the obligation of the nobility to the poor much like Luke 12:48 "...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." When this first appeared in print the early 1800's, the concept was there, but not the terminology.

Translated from the French, noblesse oblige means "nobility obligates." Originally, the term was used to suggest that certain requirements of behavior could be legitimately imposed upon persons of noble birth. Noblesse oblige in modern English is a broad concept which implies that anyone who possesses special talents or gifts is required by society to make the best use of those gifts; that he or she is duty-bound to do his or her best. It is required by society, but even more so by God.

What if we took this principle to heart and believed that we are held personally accountable for our stewardship. What if we knew there is a direct correlation between what we are given and what we give. God looks not only at how well we open our heads, our hearts and  our hands, but also at the attitude with which we do these things.

In 1994, Forbes magazine profiled a man who lived in the USA but was the son of a Czechoslovakian aristocrat who fled the Republic at the age of 10. When the Czech government was democratized he was able to reclaim his family's wealth and estates. His holdings are vast and include castles, artwork by the masters, a phenomenal library, original musical manuscripts by Mozart and Beethoven, thousands of acres, a vineyard and a brewery (dating from 1466) and well, you get the picture. The surprising fact is, rather than sell off the bulk of these holdings and making himself obscenely wealthy, he has taken a different approach:   "We are merely custodians of the cultural treasures that must be preserved for future generations" (Berman, 1994).

He feels it is his obligation to maintain all these irreplaceable objects for the people of the Czech Republic. Societal pressures here compels him to act selflessly and honorably—the very essence of noblesse oblige.

The strength and power of this concept can be rightfully applied to Christians. If we know the depths of God's love and mercy and if we know that His grace is available to all who will call upon His name, then we are obligated by His word and this concept to show the world "a life lived in Christ". Who among us can deny that to call ourselves Christians is the very definition of noble? ..."possessing outstanding qualities"...Not through any work we may have done but by the grace of God. Who can hold to such a gift and not share it with a hurting and troubled world?

We are blessed to hold the key to locking up the evil that prevails in our world. We are called upon by God to share this key with anyone and everyone. We are obligated to share so that the world may know what manner of God we serve. Noblesse Oblige...

Election Year

Another election year has rolled around and it promises to be a doozy! While I am all for the free exchange of ideas, the vitriol is already almost unbearable and it's only January!

Why can't we have the candidates tell us their positions and ideas without attacking their counterpart or being attacked themselves? What does it tells us about the person running if their time is totally wasted on negativity? Wouldn't it make choosing a candidate easier if you could find their stance on the issues and trust the information you are receiving? Must we always check, double check and re-check?

I am blessed to live in a country where I can step into the booth and vote for MY choice...without pressure, without fear. I just wish the campaigns were run in such as way as to reflect what an enormous privilege this is...

Prayer for elections:

O God, we acknowledge You today as Lord, Not only of individuals, but of nations and governments.

We thank You for the privilege Of being able to organize ourselves politically And of knowing that political loyalty Does not have to mean disloyalty to You. 

We thank You for Your law, Which our Founding Fathers acknowledged And recognized as higher than any human law. 

We thank You for the opportunity that this election year puts before us, To exercise our solemn duty not only to vote, But to influence countless others to vote, And to vote correctly. 

Lord, we pray that Your people may be awakened. Let them realize that while politics is not their salvation, Their response to You requires that they be politically active. 

Awaken Your people to know that they are not called to be a sect fleeing the world But rather a community of faith renewing the world. 

Awaken them that the same hands lifted up to You in prayer Are the hands that pull the lever in the voting booth; That the same eyes that read Your Word Are the eyes that read the names on the ballot, And that they do not cease to be Christians When they enter the voting booth. Awaken Your people to a commitment to justice.


Lord, we rejoice today That we are citizens of Your kingdom.May that make us all the more committed To being faithful citizens on earth. 

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 
Amen.


Prayer source: various websites

Faith in the Divine Plan...

On December 28th I posted about Msgr. Stephen Rosetti spending Christmas in Antartica. Here is a letter he wrote upon his return...
 
Jan. 5, 2012

Dear friends,

My trip to the Ice is finished. After four days, the weather finally broke and the C-17 was able to land and bring us back to New Zealand. I was happy to see the plane and I am looking forward to snuggling up in my own warm bed, the sun going down at night, and breathing air with humidity. Whew! But I also have mixed feelings about leaving Antarctica. I will miss the stark beauty of the ice continent and the new friends I made.

My main feelings are ones of gratitude. There are so many people who make significant moments in our lives possible. CUA’s School of Theology and Religious Studies was generous in allowing me to go. The Diocese of Syracuse continues to be very supportive. The National Science Foundation was more than welcoming. And I am grateful to you, all my friends, for living this experience with me. I constantly felt your presence as I journeyed through the continent.

Stark beauty of the ice continent, Antarctica

I am grateful for the enthusiasm which many communicated to me about my Antarctic journey. One couple told their young child that I was at the South Pole for Christmas. The child’s question was, “Does Santa go to the South Pole?” I can respond that, although I personally did not see Santa, I met many of his helpers and the spirit of Christmas was alive and well at the other end of the earth.

One of the most moving moments on the Ice was, indeed, Christmas at the Pole. After celebrating Christmas Mass, a small group gathered in the communications room. As is the custom, all the American sites around the continent (over 20) tuned their radios into a common frequency and then site after site sang Christmas carols so all could hear. It was a touching moment as we heard from these isolated souls far from home singing their beloved hymns. We were especially blessed by the presence of several Norwegians who courageously skied into the Pole and were camped nearby. They joined us and sang three traditional Norwegian Christmas carols to the great delight of all.

Finally, I am grateful to God. When we turn our lives over to God, we never know where the Divine plan will take us, even to the ends of the earth. I was asked by the program director if I would consider returning to the Ice sometime in the future. I said it was unlikely as it is so difficult to take such an extended period away. But that is what I said four years ago after my first trip ... who knows what the future holds?

When God finally calls all of us home, we will likely have mixed feelings as well. We will be sad to leave behind the beauty of this earth and our many friends and loved ones. But we will know that the time has come to return to our true and final home.

May God bless each of you in the coming new year.

Blessings,
Monsignor Steve

You can check out his Antarctica Notebook . By the way, this is one very interesting piece of information from his Notebook:
At South Pole station, people drink melted ice and snow. The water is so pure that it is specially treated or it would leech out their bones. The water costs 10 times more to make there than in the United States. The average usage is 35 gallons per person per day compared to 100 in the U.S. For example, people are asked to take just two showers a week. The water consumed at the South Pole comes from approximately 500 feet below the surface. The ice at this level accumulated around 550 A.D. when Imperial Rome fell.

Now how cool is that? Drinking water accumulated over 1,400 years ago!

Human Zoo???

Under Indian laws designed to protect ancient tribal groups susceptible to outside influence and disease, photographing or coming into contact with the Jarawa is illegal.

The tribe, thought to have been among the first people to migrate successfully from Africa to Asia, lives a nomadic existence in the lush, tropical forests of the Andamans in the Bay of Bengal.

This just makes me sad and angry! All people deserve their dignity...read the rest of the story here....

In a nutshell

Just because it's Monday, again!

Perhaps this is a little off-color but I felt the need to pass it along for a chuckle...it is Monday after all!
This is an ode to all the e-mails we receive from our "friends"...
  
As we enter 2012, I want to thank you all for your educational e-mails over the past year. I am totally messed up now and have little chance of recovery:  I can no longer open a bathroom door without using a paper towel, nor let the waitress put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel. I cannot sit down on a hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed. I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking one's nose. Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats or pounds of gluten or insect parts I have consumed over the years. I can't touch any woman's handbag for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public toilet. 
 I must also send my special thanks for the email about rat poo in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.  Also, I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.  

I cannot have a drink in a bar because for fear I'll wake up in a bathtub full of ice with my kidneys gone. I can't eat at KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes, feet or feathers (someone saw pictures!).  I can't use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day. Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.  Because of your concern, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains . I no longer buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car, so a serial killer doesn't crawl in my back seat when I'm filling up and I no longer use Cling Wrap in the microwave because it causes seven different types of cancer.

Thanks for letting me know that I can't boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face, disfiguring me for life . I no longer go to the movies because I could be pricked with a needle infected with a serious disease when I sit down. Because of your information, I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for which I will get a huge phone bill with calls to four or five other countries . Thanks to you,  I can't use anyone's toilet but mine because a big black snake could be lurking under the seat and cause me instant death when it bites me. Because of your advice,  I can't ever pick up a dime dropped in the parking lot because it was probably placed there by a sex molester waiting to grab me as I bend over. It is a shame but I can no longer garden because I'm afraid I'll get bitten by the Violin Spider and my hand will fall off. 

Please understand that if you don't send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 7 minutes, a large bird will land on your head at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, and the fleas from 120 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's best friend's beautician .  

One last note, a scientist performed a lengthy study and has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mails with their hand on the mouse. Don't bother taking it off now, it's too late. P. S. I now keep my toothbrush in the living room, because I was told by e-mail that water splashes over 6 ft. out of the toilet. Remember to have yourself and very good day and a most Happy New Year (and try not to be so paranoid)!

Just Friends

This has been the topic of conversation in my home on more than one occasion. My answers mirror the girls, my husbands mirror the boys. But I still think I'm right!

Stayin' Alive!

The British Heart Association has a great video demonstrating "Hands Only" CPR...Of course, in the USA call 911.



Hands only, it's a good thing to know!

Epiphany

The Twelve Days of Christmas is probably the most misunderstood part of the church year. Contrary to much popular belief, these are the twelve days from Christmas (Dec. 25) until the beginning of Epiphany, (January 6th).

In the Western church, Epiphany is usually celebrated as the time the Magi arrived to present gifts to the young Jesus. The term epiphany means "to show" or "to make known" or even "to reveal." The Magi were the first Gentiles to acknowledge Jesus as "King" and so were the first to "show" or "reveal" Jesus to a wider world as the incarnate Christ. This act of worship by the Magi, which corresponded to Simeon’s blessing that this child Jesus would be "a light for revelation to the Gentiles" (Luke 2:32), was one of the first indications that Jesus came for all people, of all nations, of all races, and that the work of God in the world would not be limited to only a few.

The Christian Church has long celebrated the 6th of January as the feast of the Wise Men but we have never quite figured out who they were. Tradition tells us there were three (because there were three gifts) and that their names were Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar. Their gifts were gold, which is valuable and represents kingship on earth,  frankincense, a perfume and a symbol of deity, and myrrh, an anointing oil and a symbol of death. 

The Magi have also been linked to Old Testament prophesies that the Messiah would be worshipped by kings. 

Psalms 72:10

¹⁰ May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. 

Isaiah 60:3
³ Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Although most of the information we have about the Magi comes from tradition rather than written history, it's emphasis shows Jesus being recognized as king of the earth, even from infancy.

Who knew?

The Phi Phi Islands off western Thailand are known for their abundance of sea turtles, but chances are that very few people have watched two of these playful critters greet each other with their version of a high five. Jan Lempfrid captured the peculiar but amusing event during a recent expedition to the region, specifically at a dive site called Malong.

Prison is easier...

Well, it seems not everyone can be a monk:

A convicted criminal who was serving out his sentence in a monastery has escaped for the second time and asked to be sent back to prison because life was too tough. David Catalano, 31, was sent to Santa Maria degli Angeli community run by Capuchin monks in Sicily last November.

On Monday he fled for a second time in six weeks and swiftly turned himself in at a police station and begged officers to send him back to jail in the nearby town of Nicosia.

Read the rest of the story here.

Decorating

 Just in case you haven't had your fill of the holidays...a short film of 400 volunteers decorating the White House. You read that right...they volunteer! And do an awesome job! Someday I plan to see it with my own eyes.
 

Heaven and earth

 An oldie but goodie from Asbo Jesus!

Resolutions

As I mentioned earlier today, I'm not much on New Year's resolutions. But I ran across Woodie Guthrie's New Years Rulin's for 1942...

Larger version here...

NEW YEAR'S RULIN'S

1. WORK MORE AND BETTER
2. WORK BY A SCHEDULE
3. WASH TEETH IF ANY
4. SHAVE
5. TAKE BATH
6. EAT GOOD - FRUIT - VEGETABLES - MILK
7. DRINK VERY SCANT IF ANY
8. WRITE A SONG A DAY
9. WEAR CLEAN CLOTHES - LOOK GOOD
10. SHINE SHOES
11. CHANGE SOCKS
12. CHANGE BED CLOTHES OFTEN
13. READ LOTS GOOD BOOKS
14. LISTEN TO RADIO A LOT
15. LEARN PEOPLE BETTER
16. KEEP RANCHO CLEAN
17. DON’T GET LONESOME
18. STAY GLAD
19. KEEP HOPING MACHINE RUNNING
20. DREAM GOOD
21. BANK ALL EXTRA MONEY
22. SAVE DOUGH
23. HAVE COMPANY BUT DON’T WASTE TIME
24. SEND MARY AND KIDS MONEY
25. PLAY AND SING GOOD
26. DANCE BETTER
27. HELP WIN WAR - BEAT FASCISM
28. LOVE MAMA
29. LOVE PAPA
30. LOVE PETE
31. LOVE EVERYBODY
32. MAKE UP YOUR MIND
33. WAKE UP AND FIGHT

Courtesy of The Woodie Guthrie Foundation

Faith, Hope and Trust

Although I love seeing family and friends during the holiday season, sometimes it can get hectic to the point of being exhausting. Although I always start out the season with the intent to keep my eyes and heart focused on Advent and the coming of the King, most years I fail to follow through. Also, I am not one to make New Year's resolutions...like most everyone else, I find I have broken them before I've allowed them to become habit.

Now this is not meant to be a pity party. I thoroughly enjoyed being with those that we don't see often. I loved having children/grandchildren and others under our roof. We spent much time in fellowship and rest...we recharged ourselves together. Although, as I said, I didn't put the focus on Advent that I should have, I did spend time reading and meditating about Joseph. He gets very little credit within the Nativity story but played a large part. I wrote the following piece for our Church Newsletter:

 

During Advent we are called to spend time joyfully waiting for the birth of the Christ child. But hope is the key...it's why we are joyful in the first place! Joseph's life is a shining example of choosing to hope and to trust.

He's betrothed to a young woman named Mary. Only to find out she is pregnant. When he asks her why and how, Mary tells him the truth...God is the proverbial “other man” and she is carrying a divine child. Also, she's still a virgin! Now how do you think Joseph reacted? I can only assume he was perplexed to say the least. But, despite her strange excuses, he is generous in his decision to divorce

her quietly. This would spare her the wrath of a harsh penal system that frowned upon adulterers (as in stoning offense). But wait! Because of an angel in a dream, Joseph decides to stick by Mary. Jesus is born and raised by His parents to become the Savior of the world.

Think of it...what reason did he really have to believe he wasn't being “played”? Would you believe? Not only that, what kind of courage does it take to believe that you can be a father to God's only Son?

It is because he chose to hope. He chose to hope that Mary was telling the truth. He chose to hope he wasn't crazy when the angel appeared. He chose to hope that he would have whatever it took to be the father of Jesus. It was not logical...it was not rational...he just did it. Because he also chose to trust. I'm sure he was told that everything would be alright but there had to be doubt...somewhere, deep down. I'm sure he questioned the wisdom of the path he chose. Whether it was his love for Mary or his faith in God (or a combination), Joseph and Mary lived the first-ever Advent. He chose to be a husband, a father and a man of faith.

If you need an example of living the Advent season...look to Joseph.

 

So, even though the holidays are over and it's time to get back to the normal routine, it's never to late to spend time learning about the parents God chose for His Son.

God's Imagination

So much of our energy, time, and money goes into maintaining distance from one another.  Many if not most of the resources of the world are used to defend ourselves against each other, to maintain or increase our power, and to safeguard our own privileged position.

Imagine all that effort being put in the service of peace and reconciliation!  Would there be any poverty?  Would there be crimes and wars?  Just imagine that there was no longer fear among people, no longer any rivalry, hostility, bitterness, or revenge.  Just imagine all the people on this planet holding hands and forming one large circle of love.   We say, "I can't imagine."  But God says,  "That's what I imagine, a whole world not only created but also living in my image."

Henri Nouwen