Cathartic Weekend

I'm taking this weekend off from blogging and dedicating it to reading a book by Martha Beck entitled "Leaving the Saints."  I've never been Mormon, but this lady's life story is so identical to my own that it's just plain weird.  It has been a growing experience so far.  I'm constantly amazed at what God uses to work in our lives.

The Quote of the Decade

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies. Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that 'the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better.”


-- Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006

Exactly!

This Thing Should Be Tax Deductable

Give Me Jesus!

There is nothing else!

Scott Hahn's New Book

Gotta put this one on my shopping list!

Man destroys tabernacle and desecrates Eucharist at Colombian chapel :: EWTN News

Man destroys tabernacle and desecrates Eucharist at Colombian chapel :: EWTN News

Thank You To a Couple of Great Brothers

I just want to thank a couple of guys who have been true brothers to me.  My computer was dying a slow death and I really didn't have the funds to upgrade.  My dear friend Mike Barry remoted in and solved some serious memory problems and tuned it up and my dear friend Steve Ray helped me get some peripherals that help me work more efficiently and comfortably.  So I'm sitting here at my desk and giving thanks to God for my much improved technology and I wanted to thank the friends who were his instruments.  God bless you both!

Down In Adoration Falling

Catholic View of the Book of Exodus

I noticed a word search in the site meter this evening for the words "Catholic view of the book of Exodus."  If I have already written about this, pardon my repetition, but I'm so jazzed about this book I can't shut up.  If you really want to know the Catholic view of the book of Exodus, then you must read Brant Pitre's book "Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist."

I read it last week and it is absolutely amazing.  It flows beautifully with the class I took last spring on Exodus from Gayle Somers at the Institute of Catholic Theology.  The Catholic Church and the Sacraments are clearly foreshadowed in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament and up to today in the Catholic Church.  Thanks be to God for His Glorious works.

Dust Storm Hits Day After I Washed the Haboob Off My Car

Yup, the monsoon is throwing dust at us again.  Check it out here. 

Hacked DOT Road Sign Reads "Impeach Obama" - WGHP

Hacked DOT Road Sign Reads "Impeach Obama" - WGHP

Melanie Pritchard: The Day I Died

I spent a chunk of the weekend consuming Melanie's Pritchard's book, "The Day I Died." You might remember a while back that I am hundreds of other on line communicators broadcast urgent prayer requests for Melanie who is a powerful voice for Life here in Phoenix and across the nation.  Melanie suddenly died while giving birth to her second child.  She coded several times actually and God and his medical helpers managed to bring her through multiple medical crises that should have taken her life over and over again over the next 48 hours.  Her story is beyond amazing.  It is a miracle that not only brought blessing to Melanie and her family and friends, but has impacted souls across the country and beyond. 

The link above will take you to an information page about Melanie and her work and also to a way to bring this book home and walk with her through the valley of the shadow of death to the victory of God's abundant response to His children's prayers.

Last Shuttle Launch From A Jet Plane - Very Cool

Sheep May Safely Graze - CatholicMom.com

Sheep May Safely Graze - CatholicMom.com: "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen"

Marxist America?

A Kiss That Jesus Bestows

"'Suffering is like a kiss that Jesus hanging from the cross bestows on persons whom He loves in a special way. Because of this love He wants to associate them in the work of the redemption.' St. Bonaventure"

Christian Tattoos

I know, here come the comments and emails.  I have three tattoos and would have no problem getting another if I had the money and the inspiration for what I wanted.  I really love this guys comments about Christian tattoos not being the best way of getting a demon to protect you.  Hehe! Ya, not hardly.  And since our bodies will be resurrected someday, unless the Lord sees fit to erase our tattoos in our resurrected bodies, we will have them for eternity.  So I strongly suggest praying about it before you get one.   Eternity is very, very long.

One point that Molitav overlooked was that the passage in Leviticas also states that men should not trim their beards like the pegans.  So next time someone picks on your tattoo, ask him how he trims his beard.  :)

On a less spiritual subject, make sure you know your tattooist and that you have seen their work.  Also make sure they draw out what they think you want, make sure it is what you want, and then watch them draw it one and make sure before they touch you with ink that they drew what you want.  Yes, I've been burned.  Eternity is a very, very long time.

To answer the what tattoos do you have question:  I have a shamrock for my Patron Saint Patrick of Ireland.  I have two lady bugs who form a musical note in memory of my mother who loved lady bugs and who was a musician.  I also have a Jerusalem Cross which may someday insure that when Sharia law moves into Phoenix (God forbid) I'm one of the first beheaded.

Bella Vita, Baby!

Wet Mascara

I just found this on facebook and think it's a great piece on abstinance for young girls.  This little lady has her head on straight even if her mascara is a mess.

Nancy Grace Interview

I know she is a controversial figure, but I love Nancy Grace.  I started watching her when Caylee Anthony disappeared.  I have watched her through the tragic deaths of several children and cried with her over the shame it is that little children ever have to suffer at the hands of wicked adults.

In the aftermath of the Casey Anthony trial (travesty of justice that I believe it to be) Nancy was interviewed and the transcript of the interview appears on her blog here. I thought it was a great interview and I could not agree with her more.  I also like her creative use of the word "fig."

Divine Praises

4th Of July Flash Mob

Gaga Over Gaga

I snagged this off of Steve Ray's blog this morning.  It is a great piece on the intolerant Queen of tolerance.

My Thoughts on the Casey Anthony Business

The shock in the court room was obvious.  The angry mob outside said everything the rest of us wanted to say.  I really thought that the state had done everything they could to make their case.  Yes, there were evidence gaps because of how long little Caylee's body was in that swamp.  But I believe they connected the dots as well as they could.  The verification of their characterization of Casey could be seen in her face this morning.  She's chomping at the bit to get out of jail and cash in on her good fortune. 

I find it ironic that she was found guilty of covering up the truth, but not for what truly happened.  Why the lies then?  Why the elaborate and evolving stories if she had nothing to hide.  Prosecutor Linda Drane-Burdick stressed to the jury that her greatest fear is that they would not use their common sense.  That was my fear as well.  It was so clear and yet there were just enough missing pieces that the jury was afraid of trust their common sense and convict this girl.  They reportedly were all crying and some felt sick to their stomachs as they reached the verdict.  I can't blame them.  It had to be heart wrenching to come to that decision. 

I know I made a prediction about Caylee's father being one of the Anthony men.  That is apparently not true. I also predicted that Casey has been sexually abused.  While that has not been proven and seems unlikely after watching her parents interact for the last six weeks, I still feel strongly that George Anthony has something to hide.  I noticed that when Cindy Anthony was asked questions, she answered concisely and briefly.  But when George is asked a question he immediately launches into a sermon about how good he is and how he did everything right.  The majority of his words were about himself regardless of what the question was.  It reminds me of the phrase: "Me thinks he protests too much!" But I don't suspect him of wrong doing because Casey accused him.  I wouldn't trust a word that comes out of that lying mouth.  I've never seen such a pathological liar. 

The worst part of the last two days of this case is that Casey apparently wrote a letter to another prisoner stating that she wants more children and she would even like to adopt.  That is the most frightening prospect I can think of.

As a Catholic, I believe that Caylee is with Jesus.  I also believe that Caylee can pray for God's mercy on her mother.  What a beautiful thought that if this woman is ever converted and forgiven, she probably owes that favor of grace to her own murdered child.  Caylee, pray for you mama.  She needs your help.

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.  Maybe talking about it will help us all get over the sick feeling I think we all have after this turn of events.

I Didn't Become Catholic Because of Fr. Corapi or anyone else for that matter.

I appreciated this blog post that Steve Ray shared on Twitter.  Keep your eyes on Jesus folks.  He will see to it that the ship sails in the right direction.  He hasn't failed yet, and He's not about to.  But if you get you eyes on a person, no matter how dynamic or seemingly devout, eventually they will fail you. 

Driving Into a Haboob

Crews work to restore power after outages from massive Valley dust storm

Crews work to restore power after outages from massive Valley dust storm

I've lived in the Valley for almost 40 years and this is the third haboob I remember being in. I knew it had happened the minute I stepped outside my daughter's apartment. They are really weird storms. They blanket everything in a fine powder dust. I have asthma and they make breathing real fun too.

RAW VIDEO: Haboob rolls into Phoenix

RAW VIDEO: Haboob rolls into Phoenix

SOLT News: Press Release Concerning Fr John Corapi from SOLT ...

SOLT News: Press Release Concerning Fr John Corapi from SOLT ...: "July 5, 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE From: Rev. Gerard Sheehan, SOLT Regional Priest Servant Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Ro..."

Why Did Steve Ray Tear Up In Church Last Sunday?

Those who have the privilege of knowing Steve Ray and having long conversations with him know that Steve tears up pretty easily when he talks about the Catholic faith, but what made him tear up this Sunday?

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist - Brant Pitre

Not since Scott Hahn and the Lamb's Supper and The Father Who Keeps His Promises has a book been so amazing to me that when I finish it I start it all over again.  You may remember I started a little walk through Exodus a while back and never got very far.  That was from a class I took at the Institute of Catholic Theology at St. Thomas the Apostle.  Professor Gayle Somers did a wonderful job taking us through Exodus and showing us the many ways that the Eucharist and the Catholic faith were foreshadowed in the book of Exodus.  Then I found Brant Pitre's "Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist."  In this book Pitre takes the Jewish roots of Catholicism even deeper as he not only examines scripture, but also Jewish Tradition.  You cannot understand scripture until you read it through the eyes of the original hearers.  Or should that be through the ears of the original hearers.  You have to talk a mile in Jesus' sandals to understand His words completely.  Otherwise, you end up with the time capsule affect.  You have to try to understand first century life with a 21st century mindset.  It does not work.

I'm almost done with my first run through, and I plan to start all over from the beginning with my Bible by my side and my note cards and bright colored pens for marking.  I don't want to miss a tidbit of this book.

Happy 4th of July!

Welcome Home St. Lukes!

The Rev. Mark Lewis now offers a prayer every Sunday morning that centuries ago would have been considered an homage to the enemy. It's a prayer for the bishop of Rome, the pope and all the Catholic bishops and priests. Lewis chants, "For Benedict our Pope ... Let us prayer to the Lord." And the congregation sings its answer, "Lord, have mercy."

The distinctly Roman Catholic offering is the outward sign of an inner spiritual journey. St. Luke's Church in Bladensburg, Md., will become later this year the first American Episcopal Parish to convert to Catholicism, Anglicanism's one-time nemesis.

"What really drew us was the apostolic authority, the oneness of the faith of the people," Lewis said "That's what we really wanted, and I don't think you have that in Anglicanism." Ironically, what is driving St. Luke's to Roman Catholicism is what split the church in the first place: the issue of authority. Nearly 500 years ago, Britain’s King Henry VIII broke with Rome in a dispute involving his wish to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon, and marry his young mistress, Anne Boleyn. A showdown forced England's clergy to choose sides, with the king demanding to know if the British bishops and Cardinals were more loyal to him or to the Pope. Lives and heads were literally lost in the ensuing theological and political clash. In its wake, The Church of England was born, with the sitting monarch as its head, a structure still in place today. The American version, the Episcopal church, was the faith of many of the founding fathers, including President George Washington.

Today, the Episcopal Church, with nearly 1.5 million members, is one of thousands of Christian denominations in the U.S. Its recent conflicts over the ordination of gays and women and the blessing of same-sex unions have caused some congregations to seek more conservative branches.

But that was not an option for St. Luke's. Lewis says he felt that the same problem would persist. There was no authority concerning who would have the final interpretation of scripture over the most controversial issues the church is facing. "Anglicanism is Anglicanism," Lewis said. "So it doesn't matter if you go to a more conservative group like the Anglican Church in North America or any of the others that are around. It's still the faith of this body here. (It) doesn’t necessarily mean it's the same in Nigeria or Sierra Leone or any other outlet."

In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI created a special Ordinariate, a path through which Anglicans could reconcile with Rome and come back to the Roman Catholic flock. In some circles it's been called the religious equivalent of sheep stealing. The Rev. Scott Hurd, who's assisting Washington's Cardinal Donald Wuerl to create the new Anglican Ordinariate, disagrees with the implication, saying, "This initiative is a response to repeated and insistent requests from Anglican groups. So it's not a matter of stealing sheep. It's more a matter of opening the door for people who have been seeking to come in for some time."

In the last few years, bitter legal battles over property have erupted in the American Episcopal church when conservative congregations sought to leave and be led by more orthodox Anglicans groups. But St. Luke's transition was essentially given a blessing by the Washington Diocese's Bishop John Bryson Chane. "Christians move from one church to another with far greater frequency than in the past, sometimes as individuals, sometimes as groups," Chane said in a written statement. "I was glad to be able to meet the spiritual needs of the people and priest of St. Luke's in a way that respects the tradition and polity of both of our churches." Under the terms of the agreement, St. Luke's congregation will have three years to either buy its current building or move elsewhere.

That especially pleases its 100 members, who are mostly West African immigrants like Gloria Deigh, from Sierra Leone. Deigh is happy to convert, saying, "I like it. To me, it's like going home. That's where the original church was. We are all one." Parishioner Randy King says for him the conversion brings needed certainty.  "We have a church that doesn't change. We don't have to worry one day or the other what is going to be said from the pulpit."

Over the next few months, members of St. Luke's will attend catechism classes to learn more about the Catholic faith and the its doctrines. Then in October they will be formally confirmed into the Roman Catholic Church -- what Lewis calls the return of the prodigal son.  "We drifted away and now we want to come home," he said, "and I am just thankful that we have the opportunity to do so."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/07/01/episcopal-church-in-maryland-converts-to-catholicism/#ixzz1Qv9bvs3O
 
I snagged this from Fox News.  Click the title for the original article.

Look what I just snagged of Patrick Madrid's Blog (and he never saw a thing!).

This is the sound of dial up slowed way down.  It sounds so completely sci-fi it's almost creepy.  Don't tell Patrick where you heard it!