Courage

If you've watched the news at all, you know that there is major unrest in the Ukraine.

Security forces fired on masses of anti-government demonstrators in Kiev on Thursday in a drastic escalation of the three-month-old crisis that left dozens dead and Ukraine reeling from the most lethal day of violence since Soviet times.

and in the midst of it all, Priests praying...between the police and the protesters...the kind of courageous non-violence Jesus asks us to practice. 

Silence

Can they survive?

Few places are as central as Syria to the long history of Christianity. Saul of Tarsus made his conversion here, reputedly on the Street Called Straight, which still exists in Damascus. It was in these lands that he conducted his first missions to attract non-Jews to the nascent faith.

A century ago, the Levant supported a population that was perhaps 20% Christian. Now it is closer to 5%. Syria today hosts vibrant, if dwindling, communities of various ancient sects: Syrian Orthodox, Syrian Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholics and Armenian Orthodox.

Read more of their plight here...

A must read...

From time to time you run across a posting that just says so much...and this is one of those. Not written by me...but most definitely something I will read more than once!

"I think Mary would not shy away from naming the darkness and despair of an event like Friday’s massacre.  She was familiar with darkness after all– Luke tells us that it is from Mary Magdalen that Jesus cast out 7 demons.  Then having been freed from her demons she followed Jesus and as the text tells us, even supported the ministry from her own pocketbook. And at the end it was Mary Magdalen who did not deny Jesus nor betray Jesus nor high tale it out when things got rough but she with just a couple other faithful women stood at the cross.  And after Jesus died, it was Mary who came to his tomb, as we are told, while it was still dark.

My Bishop Allan Bjornberg once said that the Greatest spiritual practice isn’t yoga or praying the hours or living in intentional poverty although these are all beautiful in their own way.  The greatest spiritual practice is just showing up.

And in some ways Mary Magdalen is like, the patron saint of just showing up."

The rest is here: Sarcastic Lutheran

Unstoppable

The organizers of London 2012 are determined that this year’s Paralympic Games are not seen as the bridesmaid to its counterpart but as admirable an aim that may be, the vast majority of the creative work we are seeing concern the other games. So it’s really refreshing to see a video like this from Canadian photographer/director Mark Zibert aimed at inspiring potential paralympic athletes. Shot in one continuous take, it’s atmospheric, powerful and hugely inspirational, exploring one runner’s journey back to the track.

Watch the video first...



The link is here...

Crying...

Can you relate? I can...

Protests...

I know most all of you have seen or heard about those protesting the funerals of our fallen...I cannot understand their motivation...we obviously read different Bibles. Whether you agree with the war or not, these families have lost sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers...what purpose is served by such hatred? 

Yes, you can...

Adam was a gymnast...before he lost his leg to cancer in 2009...looks like he's still a gymnast. Hurray for Adam and his indomitable spirit!

D Day

Today is the 67th Anniversary of the Landings in Normandy.

I have the great pleasure to sit in front of a veteran of WWII each Sunday in church. Although he is 90 years old, he is still vibrant and active. I spoke with him briefly yesterday about his recollections...needless to say they are still vivid and affect him even after 24,455 days. You could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice.

I have always felt that those who have seen war first hand and who have returned to become active members of society are to be commended. Think of the violence and death they witnessed daily, sometimes hourly. Not only have they seen friends die, they have raised their hands to take the lives of others. Not because they are bad, but because their country asked them to...

To those who still survive, thank you...

St. Crispen's Day Speech from Henry V
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
W. Shakespeare

Children's safety....

The last thing most people would think of during a shoot out would be singing...but then again, most people are not responsible for the safety of Kindergarten students.

The 33-year-old teacher and mother of two has been responding to questions about the incident on her Twitter account. She replied to one user who criticized her for taking the video by saying, "The video was uploaded by a third party, I don't seek to profit from the children's fear." She also wrote that she wasn't after fame or recognition with the video, she just wanted to "show our reality." She insists she was not acting heroically, and was just doing her job.




You can read the rest of the story here.

They're on their way up....

So far 10 of the 33 miners trapped 1/2 mile below the surface for 69 days have made their way up! They all seem to be in good health and the Chilean government is to be applauded for their all out efforts to care for and rescue them. They are estimating they will have Luis Urzua (the Shift foreman credited with keeping the men healthy and calm during their time below), the last man on the list, to the surface Thursday morning. Please continue to lift up prayers that the equipment will continue to function and that there will be no set backs.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...