In Memorial

Theresa Schiavo died one year ago today. May she rest in peace. (See the March 2005 archives)

Give to the departed eternal rest.
Let light perpetual shine upon her.

It would be real ...

These are the folks who want to be in charge of our national security. I bet Osama is hiding under his rock, just shaking in his boots.

Heaven help us.

WACKO Alert

This week, there was lots of crazy talk in the media.

1. Charlie Sheen comes out with his conspiracy theory comments about what happened on 9/11.

"Call me insane," said Sheen, "but did it sort of look like those buildings came down in a controlled demolition?"

"It seems to me like 19 amateurs with box cutters taking over four commercial airliners and hitting 75% of their targets: that feels like a conspiracy theory,"

These statements are proof positive that drug and alcohol abuse causes brain damage.

2. Hillary tells us WWJD (What Would Jesus Do), sort of.

"It is certainly not in keeping with my understanding of the Scriptures,"
..."This bill would literally criminalize the Good Samaritan and probably even Jesus himself."

3. Christian peace activists are rescued in Iraq. But, do not show the basic value of thanksgiving. Instead, they blame the good guys.

"We believe that the illegal occupation of Iraq by multinational forces is the root cause of the insecurity which led to this kidnapping and so much pain and suffering in Iraq today," said Doug Pritchard, co-director of the Christian Peacemaker Teams. "The occupation must end."

Makes you want to wrap some duct tape around your head, before it explodes.

Interesting read

"Why We Need Hell" is an interesting article by Frederica Mathewes-Green.

Highlights:

This idea, that both heaven and hell are experiences of the same divine presence, is startlingly different from contemporary assumptions. But even more so is the next idea: hell is not a punishment. We assume God’s justice means settling the score; that each sin must have its payment, either in Christ’s blood or human writhing in hell. We can even sort of like the idea. Surely God will torture murderers and rapists and bad guys, and anyone who ever did us a wrong turn. Justice, we think, means finally getting even.

But as St. Isaac points out, God isn’t "just" in that calculating sense. "How can you call God just," he says, when you consider the parable of the workers paid for a full day when they worked only an hour? Or the parable of the Prodigal Son, restored fully to his father on the basis of mere repentance? St Isaac concludes, "Do not call God just, for his justice is not evident in the things concerning you."

God is not looking for repayment, but repentance. What heals a broken relationship is sincere love and contrition. What’s wrong with us isn’t a rap sheet of bad deeds, but a damaged heart, a soul-sickness, that plunges us into fearful self-protection, alienation from God and others. Paradoxically, this leads to death: "whoever would save his life will lose it" (Matthew 16:25).

This sickness elicits not God’s fury but his indomitable love, much like the urgent, grieving love a parent has for a wandering child. (Jesus’ parable was about the Prodigal Son, not the Indignant Accountant.) "It is not that God grows angry with us," said the 3rd century Desert Father, St. Antony the Great, "but it is our own sins that prevent God from shining within us."

Read the whole thing, here.

Zugzwang

We went to the National Zoo this weekend and saw the Panda Bears. They reminded me of my brother in law. He is not lazy, he is just low energy.

Hey Dr. Rawn, zugzwang this.

Thanks guys and the lovely Sue, we had a great time. Safe trip home.

Hillary for President. NOT!!!!

Puting on the Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rains fall soft upon your fields
May God hold you in the palm of His hand

May you be in heaven half an hour
Before the Devil knows you're dead

Daily Lectionary Reading for 03/16/2006

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (English Standard Version)

12"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. 13"Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"--and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." 17But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Isn't this what Lent is all about? Taking control of our bodies, for we are not our own. Obviously, controling our bodies is an everyday task, not just during Lent.

"...for you were bought with a price." What price? Answer - the blood of God. Pretty amazing. God purchased us by paying with His own blood. With that in mind, how can we do other than glorify Him in our bodies.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, unto ages of ages!!

Thoughts on the Ports Deal

Recently, many on the left and the right have basically said that Arabs are not to be trusted. What other reason could there be for their opposition to the UAE port deal?

What amazes me is that some of these same people are the first ones to complain about using racial profiling in airport security. So, profiling is not good enough for airports but can be used for sea ports. Hummm?

I will keep that in mind the next time I am forced to take off my belt and shoes in the airport while the guy behind me from the religion of peace, walks on with his box cutter in his pocket.

Daily Lectionary reading for 02/08/06

Mark 1:29-45

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once.
31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

Old joke: How do we know that Jesus did not really love Peter? Answer: He healed Peter's mother-in-law.

Griswold meets Castro - Part 2

My previous post, "Griswold meets Castro" was right on. The Episcopal News Service published a sermon Griswold gave in Cuba.

Cuba: Presiding Bishop's sermon affirms reconciliation

It is Frank's usual "can't we just get along" sermon. Of course, he blames the U.S. government for the poverty in Cuba.

"...Also, I have been saddened to see the suffering caused by the policies of my country’s government."

"The ministry of reconciliation strikes a particular chord for me in Cuba as I witness the devastating effects of the Blockade. My country’s policies have driven wedges though your country, wedges that are profoundly at odds with the Scriptural call to unity among all people in Christ. The U.S. embargo has helped fuel inhumane poverty among your people, brought large parts of your magnificent cities and infrastructure to ruins, and cut off Cuban families from the support – financial and otherwise – of their loved ones in the United States. "

"For my country to repent, we must acknowledge that we bear a great deal of the responsibility for the suffering and pain endured by your country over the last forty years."

Hey Frank, the suffering in Cuba was not caused by the U.S. It was caused by Castro and his policies. Castro is the one who needs to repent.

Abortion Ban

S.D. Governor Signs Abortion Ban Into Law

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) - Gov. Mike Rounds signed legislation Monday banning nearly all abortions in South Dakota, setting up a court fight aimed at challenging the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

My Dear Bill

Hillary Clinton 'unaware' of Bill's Dubai ties


By Stephanie Kirchgaessner
Updated: 3:12 a.m. ET March 4, 2006

Hillary Clinton, a leading opponent of DP World's takeover of some US port operations, was this week forced to admit that she did not know her husband had advised Dubai leaders on how to handle the growing dispute.

I'm still not sure where I come down on the UAE port issue. But, to hear that the Clinton's are taking both sides of the issue doesn't make me feel any better.

Griswold meets with Castro

Overheard in the hallway: Griswold to Castro, "Thanks for the cigars. Oh, can I come here after I retire. Since I have destroyed the ECUSA, I need a place to stay. I knew you'd understand since you did a hurt dance on Cuba yourself."

Seriously, do you think Frank even mentioned Jesus to Fidel? Or do you think he told Fidel that a larger percent of the national budget should go to help the poor in Cuba? I'll bet they shared with each other about the evil Bush administration over a good cigar though.

Ash Wednesday 2006

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Luke 18:9-14 (NRSV)

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income." 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.'

St David's Day

Happy St David's (Dewi) Day.

Almighty God, who called your servant David to be a faithful and wise steward of your mysteries for the people of Wales: Mercifully grant that, following his purity of life and zeal for the gospel of Christ, we may with him receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever.