Divine connections

A rather profound revelation that Shellie brings up here.

Abide in Me

What a beautiful connection I’d not seen before, how do we abide in Him?

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. John 15:4 NKJV

He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. John 6:56 NKJV

I am doing the "Understanding the Scriptures" Bible study and these type of connection through the scripture keep coming up. I love learning about how the Old and New Testament are intertwined. I would share some of the profound items, but I would recommend listening to the podcast instead.

Goodwin's Law, for Catholics

Pro Ecclesia: "Godwin's Law" for Sex Scandal Revisited

Catholic blogger Jay Anderson reacted by proposing a Catholic equivalent to the Internet rule known as Godwin's Law "for invocations of 'the Scandal' as a rhetorical device." "It would go something like this: 'As a debate involving the Catholic Church (either a discussion about the Church specifically, or a discussion in which the Church is taking a position) grows longer, the probability of someone mentioning the sex scandal approaches one.'
"And then there's its corollary: 'Once such reference to the Scandal is made, whoever mentioned the Scandal has automatically "lost" whatever debate was in progress,' "

What about if a mere comment by a Catholic warrants the Catholic "Goodwin effect"? I was commenting on a mothers working out of the home issue on a local blog and one guy took the bait on the Goodwin line a mere 8 comments into the topic.

At least they know I am Catholic.

via Bettnet

The "new" direction

If this is a "new" direction, look for another "new" direction coming up in the 08 elections.

Congress plays the pork card. This is a “New Direction”?: Leaning Straight Up

So since congress launched this session, they have wrangled on how to address the war so as to appease the angry voices like Code Pink and the Sheehanistas who demand action now.

Well, they finally managed to pull it off. They had to find a solution to get the cut and runners to support the slow bleed tactic, as the cooler heads in congress know that an immediate pullout would never fly. They finally found the solution. A funding package that contains emergency funding, a non binding timetable for withdrawal...oh yes and a ton of Pork Spending to lure the reluctant nutroots in from the left.

It took an exceptional amount of pork to make it pass. The Democrats loaded it with enough pet projects they of course labeled as Emergency Objectives.

And you may ask how much? I'm glad you asked. QandO and ST provide the answers:

1) $24 million for funding for sugar beets.
2) $3 million for funding for sugar cane (goes to one Hawaiian co-op).
3) $20 million for insect infestation damage reimbursements in Nevada, Idaho, and Utah.
4) $2.1 billion for crop production losses.
5) $1.5 billion for livestock production losses.
6) $100 million for Dairy Production Losses.
7) $13 million for Ewe Lamb Replacement and Retention Program. (note to Pelosi. What if we don't want to retain Ewe?)
8) $32 million for Livestock Indemnity Program.
9) $40 million for the Tree Assistance Program.
10) $100 million for Small Agricultural Dependent Businesses.
11) $6 million for North Dakota flooded crop land.
12) $35 million for emergency conservation program.
13) $50 million for the emergency watershed program.
14) $115 million for the conservation security program. (is that to conserve the Homeland Security Department?)
15) $18 million for drought assistance in upper Great Plains/South West. (drought and flooding assistance. We got it all covered.)
16) Provision that extends the availability by a year $3.5 million in funding for guided tours of the Capitol. Also a provision allows transfer of funds from holiday ornament sales in the Senate gift shop.
17) 165.9 million for fisheries disaster relief, funded through NOAA (including $60.4 million for salmon fisheries in the Klamath Basin region).
18) $12 million for forest service money (requested by the president in the non-emergency FY2008 budget).
19) $425 million for education grants for rural areas – (Secure Rural Schools program).
20) $640 million for LIHEAP.
21) $25 million for asbestos abatement at the Capitol Power Plant.
22) $388.9 million for funding for backlog of old Department of Transportation projects. (that is a BIG backlog.)
23) $22.8 million for geothermal research and development.
24) $500 million for wildland fire management.
25) $13 million for mine safety technology research.
26) $31 million for one month extension of Milk Income Loss Contract program (MILC) (or more commonly known as P.O.R.K.)
27) $50 million for fisheries disaster mitigation fund.

By my count that is more then 6.4 BILLION in pork projects tacked onto the 124 billion spending package. or about 5.2 percent of the spending.

My comments are in bold.
I also received a press release from Rep. Bill Sali detailing his disgust with the pork.

How disheartening that Speaker Pelosi and her House lieutenants included in the bill the worst, rawest form of political bribery - spending on the parochial pet projects of wavering Members of Congress. By including everything from funding for Gulf Coast levees and shrimp subsidies to peanut storage money and a spinach program, Speaker Pelosi bought the votes of reluctant Congressmen - some who want an immediate pullout and some who don't really support a timeline at all.

Mrs. Pelosi's bill even included badly needed money for rural Northwestern schools, counties and highway districts. For Idaho alone, the bill provided more than $23 million for schools and counties - an extension of the “Craig-Wyden” funds. This item was included specifically so my Pacific Northwest colleagues and I would have to choose between a vote for the Democrat troop pull-out plan or a difficult vote against schools and roads.

If House Democrat leadership truly agrees with me that relief is needed for our rural schools and counties, they should be willing to permit a straight up-or-down vote. I have introduced legislation in the House to accomplish this, and Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo have introduced identical legislation on the Senate.

It shocks and infuriates me to see Mrs. Pelosi and the Democrat majority in Congress use Idaho's schoolchildren and economic infrastructure as pawns in the War against America's enemies.

Working moms, or moms that work

It's easy being a legislator until you stand for something.The left bank has had a field day bashing the Idaho Reps that stood for the family and being able to keep a parent home to care for the kids. Rather than tax and regulate, they look for a little personal responsibility.

Idaho's legislators don't grasp complexities of working moms


And my "working mom" wife works harder than I do keeping the kids fed, dress and educated.Not dismissing those who work OUT of the home, but the real value is in the home. Raising that next generation that will decide much of our care later in our life.

For those mothers that want to make a difference, you can be one voice out in the workforce, leaving someone else to influence your children. Or you can have 2, 3, 4 ... voices in the world as you raise your children to be citizens.

But there is no glory in that. Delayed gratification went out with the dinosaurs.

Again, no ill will for those mothers that work. We both had to work for awhile. But we are much happier now without the extra job. Kids and time together are worth much more than bigger, better toys or a bigger house.

Oh yeah, I forgot to tip the waiter. Hat tip to DFO at Huckleberries

Caring enough to hire the very best

Or

• I support the cause, but it just doesn't fit my schedule.
• Rent-a-riot.
• I protest, therefore I am... paid.
• Because sometimes believing just costs too much.
  

Germans put price on protesting

They refuse to rally for neo-Nazis, but as long as the price is right a new type of German mercenary will take to the streets and protest for you.

Young, good-looking, and available for around 150 euros (£100), more than 300 would-be protesters are marketing themselves on a German rental website.

They feature next to cars, DVDs, office furniture and holiday homes.

or some, these protesters show how soulless life has become. For others, they breathe new life into old causes.

Stay the course

Dr. Mirus gives us five reasons to stay the course. Stay on the ship and live. Or jump at the peril of you own soul.

How Traditionalists and Modernists Are Alike via the Curt Jester

An old saw reminds us that no matter which side of the barque of Peter
we fall off of, we’ll drown. Port or starboard, left or right: the
result is the same. That’s why both traditionalists and modernists are
drowning in the same sea. Paradoxically, despite being mortal enemies,
they are drowning because they are so much alike. The mindsets of
modernism and traditionalism share at least five essential
characteristics.
...
I don’t say that people need to give up their right to think in order to be Catholics. Quite the contrary. But if you want to avoid drowning, it is best to think first about your own limits. From this somber reflection, every competent mariner concludes that it is far more intelligent to remain aboard the boat, under the orders of the captain.

Sorta what I was thinking some time ago with Swimming behind the boat. Now not everybody that jumps off drowns in my opinion, but it is to the detriment of the whole Church.

It doesn't matter if you dive off to the left or to the right, you are still diving off the Barque of Peter. Either way you will be stuck in a little life raft or swimming on your own. And it isn't easy to keep up when you are swimming behind the boat, soon you are hopelessly lost. And for those that cling to a lifeline from the boat, they are dragging behind and slowing it down, like barnacles. Thankfully for their sake, the Church adheres to mercy and hopes for their salvation rather than just cutting the rope. But they slow it down still the same. And might I add, very selfishly flail about calling for all attention to be on them.

Pushing back

Give the bishops this, they have a limit.

Having been pushed around and barely a few responding to the false teacher, they finally reached the limit. They were pushed far enough that the had to take a stand and did so as a group.

US bishops offer ‘public correction’ of contraception, abortion, marriage pamphlets

The Committee on Doctrine of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has declared that pamphlets published by Professor Daniel Maguire of theology at Marquette University on contraception, abortion, and same-sex marriage, “do not present authentic Catholic teaching.”

“The views about contraception, abortion, same-sex marriage, as well as the very nature of Church teaching and its authoritative character, cross the legitimate lines of theological reflection and simply enter into the area of false teaching,” the doctrine committee said.

“Such mistaken views should not be confused with the moral teaching of the Catholic Church.”

No wishy-washy terms. Just the truth.

Maguire sent two pamphlets to all Catholic U.S. bishops on June 19. One is entitled “The Moderate Roman Catholic Position on Contraception and Abortion.” The other is “A Catholic Defense of Same-Sex Marriage.”

In a statement issued by the committee last week, the bishops said it was important to “offer a public correction of the erroneous views” in the pamphlets since it is apparent Maguire went to considerable efforts to give his views wide distribution.

Seems as though he wanted a confrontation. Was Satan getting this bold, or is this guy just crying out for correction? Maguire's pamphlets are a good synopsis of all the errors used to promote contraception, abortion and homosexuality as acceptable practices.

In his pamphlets, Maguire argues that “there is no one position” on contraception, abortion, homosexual acts and same-sex marriage that can be called “Catholic.” He pursues his argument, stating that “there is no authentic Church teaching [on these issues] that is binding on all members of the Catholic Church.”

If he truly believes there is "no one position", then it is evident he has read "no one" definitive writings on the matter. The popes and the councils have been very clear. Church teaching and the Bible are very clear.

And now we can add the US Bishops to that list of being very clear.

Hooray

We made it through our first Pinewood Derby as scouts. My second oldest is nine and #3 is seven, both had fun and did well. I was nervous that the cars wouldn't even make it down the track. I was relieved when they passed weigh-ins and inspection for us rookies. With the added weights, both were right on the 5.0 ounces.

Then came the test runs. The "Speedy Hornet" of #2 came in first in the test heat. #3's "The American" ran well also. I was very relieved at this point and started to even get hopeful.

Running a consistent mid 3.2 every time, the Hornet won each of its six heats and even won the 2 heats that had to be re-run because of electronic issues. The American was always #2 except for two heats, winning one and third on another. Overall the Hornet was second out of 20 some cars and The American was fifth. The Hornet never matched up against the overall winner, the Black Widow that came in under 3.2 every time. I suggested to #2 that he have an unofficial race off against the Widow. But he strongly shot that idea down. Guess he was paying attention to the times and knew it would be a tough draw.

So on to the regional Scout-o-Rama for #2 and his "Speedy Hornet".

And more nerves for the proud papa.

What would happen if..

Alive and Young has the interesting efforts of Liturgical Police to end liturgical abuse. Hmmm, bunny punching, caring kittens and the French winning?

New Efforts to End Liturgical Abuses

I suspect the results would vary significantly if the French and the Bunnies were to switch places.

Via the Curt Jester.

Archbiship Chaput: We need to stop pornography, now

Archbishop Chaput weighs in on General Pace's comments and on the deeper problem, pornography.

Archbishop's column

A friend recently quipped to me that if Americans were as good at the “war on terror” as we are in our “war on common sense,” the world would be a much safer place. He was talking about our country’s increasingly confused attitudes toward sex.
Last week offered a good example. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, said that “I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe the United States is well-served by a policy that says it is OK to be immoral in any way.”

Note that Pace did not say that, “homosexual persons are evil.” He said that homosexual acts are wrong. And of course he’s right. We might question the general’s choice to comment in the context he did, but not his content. He simply stated the Western moral tradition. We should respect his courage for saying it. Every human being has an inalienable dignity as an image of God. But as part of that dignity, we also have free will, and our choices — our behaviors — create wholeness or havoc around us, depending on their moral content.

Our sexual behavior is never merely a “private” matter. Human sexuality is deeply linked to issues of identity, fertility and new life. Our sexual behavior always has social implications because it directly or indirectly impacts others. Therefore it helps shape the wider culture. This is not a uniquely Christian point of view. Most Americans clearly agree with Gen. Pace. The only thing strange about his remarks was the theatrical wave of shock they generated from critics. In fact, with the good exception of Sen. Sam Brownback and some others, many members of Congress scrambled to criticize Gen. Pace — despite the moral beliefs of the people who elected them.

That is because General Pace dared to smash the golden calf. None of the politicians were going to "face" the wrath of idolaters in the next elections. Even if it was as minor as not setting themselves apart from this "hate crime".

Pornography is never “innocent entertainment,” no matter how private it might seem. It turns human beings into objects. It coarsens our appetites. It darkens our ability to see real human beauty. It creates impossible expectations about sexual intimacy. It kills enduring romance and friendship between the sexes. And ultimately it’s a lie and a cheat. Pornography is a cheap, quick, empty copy of the real thing — the real joy of sexual intimacy shared by a man and woman who have joined their lives in a loving marriage.

Show me a man that hasn't tasted the sting of this coarsening, this destruction of purity; and I will show you am man that is very happy in his vocation. Sin can be forgiven. Confession is paramount, counseling is important and honesty with self and others is critical; but even then, the stain of temptation will remain.

In recent months, two Catholic bishops have begun some extraordinary work against pornography in their Midwest dioceses: Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., and Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kan.

Bishop Finn’s excellent pastoral letter, “Blessed Are the Pure in Heart: The Dignity of the Human Person and the Dangers of Pornography,” has a wealth of good information about the scope of pornography, the damage it does and many practical tips to fighting it in our homes. Archbishop Naumann’s anti-pornography initiative, “As for Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord,” includes a DVD and workbook with valuable resources for fighting pornography, teaching chastity and wholesome sexuality, and helping others who have been hurt by pornography addiction.

We can’t do much to fix the sexual confusion at the top of our society, beyond writing to our elected officials and demanding candidates who will advance our convictions when the time comes to vote. But we can do a lot about the poison in our homes and local communities. Pornography is poison. It should be controlled like any other toxic waste. And don’t be fooled. This isn’t “censorship.” It’s a matter of public health and common sense.

via the Curt Jester

Bethlehemian Rhapsody

I'm not much of a You Tube fan or viewer. But the Bethlehemian Rhapsody is well worth the viewing time. Kudos to the crew that created and did the work. The best Queen ever sounded in my opinion.

via Ironic Catholic

An Idaho first

Idaho Becomes First State to Pass Anti-NAU/SPP Resolution!

Idaho House Passes NAU Resolution

The Idaho House successfully passed House Joint Memorial 5 by a voice vote on Monday. The legislation is a resolution that opposes U.S. participation in the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP) and the development of the North American Union (NAU). The legislation has been transmitted to the Senate for further consideration and will hopefully come to floor vote soon.

...

If the state Senate passes H.J.M. 5 in Idaho, it would represent the first state to successfully pass an anti-NAU resolution in both the House and Senate.

The introduction and passage of these resolutions will likely spark some debate in Washington on this issue. For the most part, there has been an almost complete media blackout on the intended political and economical merger of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Congress, with the exception of Virgil Goode’s H.C.R. 40, has also denied knowledge on the President Bush-backed scheme to integrate the three countries participating in the Security and Prosperity Partnership.

When you are selling a lemon

One must act fast. (if you are the type to sell your problems to someone else.) And the street corner hawkers get desperate to sell their goods when they see the game is about up.

Gore urges fast action on global warming - Yahoo! News

He said he foresees a revolution in small-scale electricity producers for replacing coal, likening the development to what the Internet has done for the exchange of information. He also advocated tougher fuel-economy standards for cars and trucks.
"There is a sense of hope in this country that this United States Congress will rise to the occasion and present meaningful solutions to this crisis," he said. "Our world faces a true planetary emergency. I know the phrase sounds shrill, and I know it's a challenge to the moral imagination."

Still gnawing on that old bone I see.

Gore said the climate issue should not be a partisan or political issue. He said he saw a limited role for nuclear power, which the Bush administration has promoted, because the plants are expensive to build and "only come in one size: extra large."

How can it not be when he is involved? Partisan politics and big money is all that pushes these regulatory fear-mongers.

He rejected the contention by opponents of quick action on global warming that the United States should only impose mandatory controls on greenhouse gases if China, India and other rapidly developing nations agree to do the same.

"The best way and the only way to get China and India on board is for the U.S. to demonstrate real leadership," Gore said. "As the world's largest economy and the greatest superpower, we are uniquely situated to tackle a problem of this magnitude," he said.

Oh yeah. And I have a bridge to nowhere I can sell you also. That "leadership" has led China to wonderful progress on Human Rights issues. They will be on board, just waiting to buy the remainder of the scrap of our industry. Just as they have done with all the steel manufacturing.

Gore favors a "cap-and-trade" program for the U.S. economy, not just specific sectors such as electricity or manufacturing, which would set an overall limit on warming emissions but allow industry to meet the target by trading pollution allowances.

Speaking of which, I think Gore has reached his overall warming emissions. Time for him to stop riding Oscars fake coattail.

3, as in divine

My daughter had a rather humorous and somewhat profound thought on the number 3. A bit off as 3 doesn't refer to perfection, but to divine.

She mused that it is funny how with 3 being divine(she mistook it for perfection), but when dealing with movies, 3 is usually the number of worthlessness. The plot (if it even follows the first one at all) is stretched so thin and usually it is just a collection of one-liners gleaned from other movies. (or I might add, one-liners rejected from the first two scripts.)

Perhaps the number 3 is divine if the source of the 1 is good. If the source is only Hollywood, the inverse is true.

To the T

This comic reflects my feelings to the T.









Today's Zits Comic Strip - ArcaMax Publishing

I missed it!

I can't believe I missed this important day. I will be marking my calendar for next year for sure. The good news is, I am sure I ate some "yummy cow" on that day.

The Fifth Annual Intl. Eat an Animal for PETA Day: Thursday, March 15th

Don’t forget, this Thursday, March 15th, is the fifth annual International Eat a Tasty Animal for PETA (IEATAPETA) Day, the day on which we annoy vegans the world over, and PETA, which is right here in my state of Virginia.
...

For my second IETAPETA, Sarah and her children joined me for lunch at Brock’s. Her daughter Rebecca refers to all beef as “Yummy cow.”

Selective concern

Cliff Kincaid's editorial about General Pace's comments that, like marital infidelity, the military has a reason for not accepting immoral behavior such as homosexual activity.

Liberal media pushing for Gen. Pace’s forced resignation

This controversy says more about the Post than it does about Pace. It shows that a major American newspaper has become a virtual house organ of the gay rights movement. And it shows that this paper will not hesitate to use its power and influence to try to intimidate those with different views. It is the Post, in fact, which is being intolerant.

I was among those who strongly criticized Ann Coulter for using "faggot," a disparaging term about homosexuals. What Pace did, by contrast, was simply express his personal view, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, that homosexual conduct is immoral. (web site) The Post editorial said in passing that Pace was "entitled to his opinions, of course," but went on to complain about the impact of his words. What the paper is really saying is that he is entitled to his opinions but he should keep them to himself. Frankly, the paper wants him to shut up.

We are living in strange times when smoking is considered a serious danger to one's health, and something which cannot be tolerated in most areas of public life, but a lifestyle linked to a raging epidemic of disease and death is regarded as a civil right that must not be criticized and even deserves to be celebrated.

That is the crux of this issue. The media controls what we talk about and it controls the playing field. And if you are a big player on the wrong side, watch out for the illegal hits.

A basic truth

The author asks a simple question of why children understand what adults don't.

Understanding Abortion Kills Children: Are We Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

Now I know how real this is because I see it every day--adults not knowing simple truths that are obvious to children. I can take a set of fetal models or pictures of babies in the womb to any first or fifth grade class room in this country.

...

When it comes to something so simple as looking at a baby and knowing that it is a baby, we as a nation are obviously not smarter than a fifth grader. In fact we have killed over 1/3 of the fifth graders before they ever got a chance to go to school.

To me it is simple. Children still believe in the basic truth that lying is wrong. As adults, we are often working so hard to justify our own actions that lying gets a pass. The numerous skeletons in our own closet keep us from pointing out anyone else's failings.

And to a point they should. We are to remove the log from our own eye before the speck in our neighbors. But it seems that most have translated that verse to say we should hide the log in our own eye and ignore the speck in the neighbors, saying it might be right for him.

Dry dog food = dry humor

Being too cheap to buy Iams dog food can be a good thing. Nothing but the very best (cheap) Costco brand for our large German Shepherd .

But I saw the recall on the Menu Foods dog foods, so I stopped to check if the Costco brand was on there (one never knows.) On the top of their banner, they have a this photo. I thought of a good caption for it. Anyone else?

Guess which dog got the recalled food?

Feeling dehydrated? Perhaps another food conglomerate is for you.

For those whose teams have been eliminated

If your team has already been eliminated from March Madness, here is a second chance. Not quite the second coming, but hey, we can't all ride on clouds of glory. There is only one champion and he will cut the nets of the fishers of men at the end of the age.

But for the time being have fun with the Catholic Theologian-Educators Madness

via Ironic Catholic

Beauty

Today we went to Mass at the other parish in town (St. Thomas) as I wasn't up to sitting through the children's Mass at our regular parish. For some reason I was particularly struck by the beauty of the traditional style church. I always like the stained glass, the statues and the icons; but today I was struck that our kids need that. (yes, we are probably going to switch churches, but more on that later.) I grew up with this and remember spending my time learning the Gospel through the stained glass windows and statues when the sermon was beyond my comprehension.

Our regular church has no stained glass, very few statues and is the prayer barn shape. Add light pink wall and no corpus on the large cross and everything seems so bland.

So what happens after a church is stripped of all it Catholic art? Potted plants take the place of the statues. Felt banner art takes the place of the stained glass. Children's art projects replace the icons.

And we get someone to be in charge of art and environment!

Isn't it ironic that when they rip out all the beauty, they have to hire somebody to try and dress it up again.

Mininstry of reconciliation

A side note in today's Epistle from 2 Cor 5:17-21

And all this is from God,
who has reconciled us to himself through Christ
and given us the ministry of reconciliation.
namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
not counting their trespasses against them
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
So we are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Consider who the "we" refers to in those two lines. Given the "we implore you", I would say this could be St. Paul and the other Apostles. There is some aspects of the "Ministry of Reconciliation" in this reading. It isn't a proof text that can be taken out of context and tortured to say whatever we want, but in light of Sacrament of Reconciliation, we see that the Apostles (and the bishops in their place) are ambassadors for Christ just as they are in the confessional.

The old has passed away

All the readings tied together well today.

On that same day after the Passover,
on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased.
No longer was there manna for the Israelites,
who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.

That was the end of the wandering. No longer did they have to rely on manna for they had reached the promised land. Considering how this ties to the promised land being a type (as in typos) of heaven and also a type of the era of the Church after Jesus died and rose again.

Whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.

So after the death and resurrection, we were no longer wandering and waiting for the Messiah. And since Jesus said he was the living bread sent from heaven and unlike those who ate the manna and died, those who would eat his flesh and drink his blood would have eternal life. So no longer was their a need for the passover or of sacrificial lambs, as they were only types of the Christ. And not that the anti-type had fulfilled them, they were to pass away. And interestingly it was on Passover that the manna stopped.

And for the Gospel, we have the prodigal son. The imagery of the merciful Father accompanies the two sons who in some ways represent Jesus. Jesus is like the one who never left his father and always did as he was asked. Yet like the disobedient son, he became sin ( For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin. 2 Cor 5:21) and died (as the son's father thought he had.)

So Jesus shows us after the death of the Son, the merciful Father will welcome repentant sinners back to himself. For those who are in Christ, the old image of the Father being so far removed as to be unapproachable has passed away. We now have a Father that sees us as washed in the blood of Christ.

Oh my

The Curt Jester has something for those suffering from Laetare Intolerance

The 4th Sunday of Lent is also known as Laetare Sunday, but many people are unaware of the problems of many people on this Sunday in Lent. Some people especially men experience gastrointestinal upset and skin problems at the site of priests wearing apparently pink vestments. Telling them that these vestments are actually suppose to be Rose colored to rejoice in Christ's redemption to look up and see the first rays of Easter is of no avail. Regardless of any efforts to explain why a Rose is appropriate they still see pink vestments. This condition is known as Laetare Intolerance and the sufferers are Laetare sensitive.

Unto now there was no help for those affected by Laetare Intolerance.

Introducing Vestmints made of pure organically grown herb mentha. Mint was originally used as a medicinal herb to treat stomach ache and nothing could be better for those who get queasy over apparently pink vestments. Laetare Intolerance does not have to change affect your active participation in the Mass, but you will be able to pray actively with the best of them.

Good stuff. And then there is his last line:

Remember though to see your doctor first before taking Vestmints to ensure you have a vestment related illness. He will take a stole sample and can give you the results immediately.

Concerning translations

Puff and Bear at The Spirit's Sword take a shot at comparing translations of the Sacramentum Caritatis.

Singulos Homines is translated correctly as “every man”, but the translator immediately follows with “and women” parenthetically. The translator(s) do(es) this consistently throughout, as has become common in English. Puff finds that annoying. Bear stopped caring at some point in the nineties.

Sometimes that just says it all. They have much more and have done some very impressive work.

Bear's story of how they met is also worth a chuckle.

More fitting

A different look at Exhale abortion sympathy cards
from Confederate Yankee

some more from Rightwingnews and Hot Air

via Leaning Straight Up

Instant classic

The battle of the "Bay of Pigs" still turns. Remember Free Piglet?

Well it seems that the story of the Three Little Pigs has been re-written to be less offensive to the Muslim sensitivities. And for all their ruggedness and willingness to die for their religion, they sure raise a high number of overly sensitive men.

But The Curt Jester has solved the issue with his own version, "The Three Little Suicide Bombers" for all the little "sensitive" boys to enjoy.

In this story the Big Bad West keeps coming after and huffin' and puffin' a lot of hot air at these three little terror tykes. First they fled to Afghanistan, but the Big Bad West mostly chased them out. Then they fled to Iraq and the Huffin' and Puffin became less organized and focused. Then they fled to the Media and now laugh as the Big Bad West huffs and puffs to no avail and they can just easily wait him out.

Practicing what it's like to be in Heaven

From a review of Dawn Eden's The Thrill of the Chaste

Heaven can't wait

"Eden, who converted to Catholicism last year, said her editor was reluctant at first to use the title 'The Thrill of the Chaste' because 'he probably thought, quite rightly, that most people in this day and age don't know what chastity is. Chastity is not "no sex." According to the catechism, everyone is supposed to observe chastity according to their state in life, so there�s single chastity and there�s married chastity. Chastity is really a way to look at all your relationships so that they no longer become mere exchanges of commodities. It's a plan for your whole life, for your happiness, and for eventually going to heaven. I look at chastity as a way to practice what it's like to be in heaven.'

For being pro-choice, they aren't much of a choice

To paraphrase the rally cry from the seventh book of the Narnia series, The Last Battle, "further down and further right."

Pro-Life Advocate Says Top Republicans for President Not Good Enough

A leading pro-life advocate says she doesn't think any of the top three Republican presidential candidates are sufficiently strong enough on abortion and other pro-life issues. Janet Folger, a talk show host and founder of the Faith 2 Action group, urges pro-life voters to look further down the polling results for better candidates.

In a recent opinion column, Folger says it's obvious that pro-life advocates can't support someone like Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. She says both are disqualified because of their views on issues like partial birth abortions -- they oppose a ban -- but she singles out Obama for special criticism. "O'Bama actually argued against the Illinois Born Alive Infants Protection Act – he doesn't even want kids who are BORN to have any protection," Folger says.

But the Republican side doesn't bring Folger any more happiness.

She called Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who tops most polls, a "Republican in Name Only" who is "pro-abortion" which makes him "disqualified" to be president. However, Folger doesn't care for John McCain or Mitt Romney either.

On McCain, who recently announced he supports overturning Roe v. Wade, Folger suggests that pro-life advocates "ask Wisconsin Right to Life what they think about John McCain" because of his support of campaign finance reform that limited the activities of pro-life groups.

"He just sued them for having the audacity to ask people to lobby Congress on giving judicial candidates an up or down vote. John doesn't want to let people participate in our representative form of government during his federally mandated gag rule," Folger said.

Folger also bashed McCain on judges as well saying he "led the "gang of 14" who stood in the way of breaking the judicial filibuster."

Folger says Romney is no better because he made a "convenient flip from his ardent pro-abortion stance just in time to run for president." She also criticized him for including taxpayer funded abortions in his state health care plan not long before he left office.

"It just seems to me that if you really come to the realization that dismembering children is not good public policy, you'd remember not to FUND it with taxpayer dollars in your state health-care plan … after such a conversion," Folger wrote.

Instead of the top three Republicans, Folger suggests pro-life advocates look at lesser-known candidates like Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Tom Tancredo of Colorado, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Folger says Brownback has "a proven record of battling for life, liberty and the family in the Senate. He's been there taking the hits."

Hopefully one of these three can catch up to the pack. Including the constitutionalist Ron Paul on the ticket would be a boost among the more libertarian conservatives.

Daylight Savings Time? Could it be...

With all the tech issues this has caused, I will be sure to throw my considerable weight behind this cause.

The Ironic Catholic: Why couldn't the Vatican use its influence on Daylight Savings Time?

As we know, the dating of time is a human creation, for God is beyond time. If time is a human construct, then it is open to the twistedness of original sin. Although time as we date it is neutral, daylight savings time is clearly against God's will.

1. After all, in Gen 1:5: "God called the light day, and the darkness night." DST is an idolatrous human attempt to improve upon God, and extend the light for specious reasons.

...

Umm, no. No reason in particular

I am sure it is just a coincidence that PP wants to move into a black neighborhood.

Oregon Planned Parenthood's Move Within Portland Upsets Black Pro-Lifers

The Planned Parenthood abortion business is growing and its leaders want to move its large center to a part of Portland where city officials have been hoping to revitalize a formerly run-down area. But the move, which would place the abortion center in a predominantly black community,

I mean its not like their founder and the patron of all things contraceptive and abortive, Margret Sanger, had any notions of eugenics.

If that don't say it all

Pretty much sums up the useless thought of so many "theologians" of today.

Jesus was no socialist, guru, or hippie, but rather the Son of God, says Venezuelan bishop

In an article published this week Bishop Mario Moronta of San Cristobal warned against misinterpreting the person of Jesus as “a Socialist,” a “guru,” or “hippie” and encouraged the faithful to constantly recall that Jesus is Lord, the Son of God.

“The person of Jesus, with his actions and teachings, has always inspired amazement and admiration in many, as well as questioning and even rejection in others,” the bishop wrote in an article for the diocesan newspaper.

“In modern times as well,” Bishop Moronta said, “the question about Jesus remains. The answer given is in accord with those who do the asking: Some have claimed he is an alien who has come from who knows what planet or galaxy in order to carry out a mission. Some have claimed he is a kind of ‘guru’ who, after his death in Israel, supposedly traveled to the Far East to achieve complete wisdom. Some claim he is a great teacher of wisdom. There is even no lack of those who would say he is a myth or an invention of the first Christians,” the bishop wrote.

“In our Latin American continent, there have always been attempts to answer the troubling question about Him,” he continued. “He has been identified as a ‘revolutionary,’ a ‘guerrilla,’ to the point that he has been depicted in paintings crucified on a cross of rifles. In our own national debate, he has been presented as a ‘Socialist.’”

But alas, the Alpha and the Omega is not to be co-opted for whatever the latest political fad is.

The comparison nobody notices

In the "firestorm" over General Pace calling homosexual acts immoral, nobody seems to notice that he isn't discriminating, he is comparing apples to apples.

Pace expresses regret over gay remark - Yahoo! News

Pace's senior staff members said earlier that the general was expressing his personal opinion and did not intend to apologize."
...
As an individual, I would not want (acceptance of gay behavior) to be our policy, just like I would not want it to be our policy that if we were to find out that so-and-so was sleeping with somebody else's wife, that we would just look the other way, which we do not. We prosecute that kind of immoral behavior," he said, according to the audio and a transcript released by his staff.

Discrimination would be to say that adultery is okay while homosexual activity is not. He didn't condemn the homosexuals, he specifically referred to acts between individuals. And as the military has a policy against adultery and prosecutes for it, would it not be discriminatory to allow homosexual acts to be ignored?

Sinful Holy Water

Kinda reminds me of the Gospel reading about Jesus asking the Samaritan woman at the well for water. And then he tells his disciples that he has food they know not of.

Catholic World News : Interlopers try to steal, sell water from Pope's garden hose

Bavarian police have foiled a bizarre scheme to steal water from a garden hose in a house that belongs to Pope Benedict XVI.

Police in Pentling, a suburb of Regensburg, arrested a man who identified himself as freelance journalist who was caught videotaping a break-in at the Pope’s house. Three men-- who have to date escaped capture-- were drawing water from the garden hose while the “journalist” taped the event. Officials in Pentling say that the water from the Pope’s garden was to be sold on the internet auction site, Ebay.

Mere Entertainment

Father Euteneuer of HLI has taken Sean Hannity to task over his "apology" for "sinning" when he ate a chicken sandwich the other Friday.

For example, last Friday Sean Hannity took a few moments out of his afternoon radio show to make an apology. When I heard that the rather brash Hannity was actually going to apologize for something I was interested to find out what that would be. At first he sounded very

sincere in saying we have to take responsibility for our mistakes. Fine so far. Then he went on to tell his hearers that he had taken two bites of a chicken sandwich that day because he had been traveling and literally forgot it was a Friday of Lent. He stopped eating it when he

realized it was a Friday, but he used the opportunity on the show to make a fairly big deal about the "eat meat on Friday and you can go to hell" issue.

Several others have weighed in on the subject also. The Curt Jester, My Domestic Church and many others I am sure. But there was a discussion on Ann Coulter on Huckleberries last week. One commentor put it this way:

"The problem with Coulter is the same problem as O'Reilly and Franken and Michael Moore ... they don't debate to talk about points they debate as a means to celebrity."

Bingo! Its why I don't like Savage or Rush or Dr. Laura. They may say some things that I agree with, but in the end they are just the flip side of Jerry Springer. Make fun of someone for ratings. It doesn't matter if it is the latest liberal goofball or a some bimbos that will tear each others clothes off just to be on TV.

Mocking people is the lowest of all entertainment. Kinda like the Roman coliseum.

Lack of planning on their part does constitute an emergency

Lack of planning on their part does constitute an emergency on my part. This whole Daylight Savings Time change is a big pain in the nether regions.

Older software didn't update, so manual changes were in order. Some older devices don't have an option to update, so I have to turn off the DST function and change the times manually twice a year for as long as we continue to use these devices.

I don't know why a law that was changed back in 2005 wasn't generally known about until mid February. A mere month before it took effect. Many of the calendars I have seen don't note the change. Software patches seem patchy at best.

Here is Microsoft's information on How to minimize the impact of the DST change

Ultimately, individual calendar owners are the only ones who can validate that calendars are correct or not. To minimize confusion during the DST shift, follow these simple steps:

1. When organizing a meeting during the extended DST period, type the correct meeting time in the subject line or body of the message (for example, Project planning meeting at 8:30 A.M.).

2. Consider any appointments and meetings in the extended DST period to be suspect. When in doubt, verify the correct time with the organizer.

So, essentially, don't trust your computer calendar to work right anymore. But the good news is that it only effects about 4 weeks out of every year. The bad news, we don't know if you can ever trust your computer again.

Gentlemen, start your novenas

Don't forget to start your St. Joseph's Novena tomorrow (Saturday)

St. Joseph's feast day is March 19th and the novena for his intercession starts tomorrow.

As my patron and for prayers answered, my wife and I are going to do a novena of thanks.

Here is a link to the one we did asking for his intercession.

Back when it meant something.

A fine article from John C Wright.
via the Curt Jester
(I know this is duplication for many of the St. Blogs readers, but I do have a few other readers that may have not seen this. And this article fits in with the struggles of this week.)

I was also raised to believe in the axioms of the sexual revolution. It was merely part of the atmosphere of the age: everyone from Robert Heinlein to Ayn Rand told me that sex was recreation, not reproduction. Seeing that these people were trying to get me to fornicate, to cheat on my wife before I even had a wife, when honor demands self-control, began to offend my cold Vulcan heart. Why were all of them cheering for the lack of self-command? Why, suddenly, was self-discipline, trustworthiness, purity, honor, and goodness to be mocked? Why was virginity shameful and harlotry admirable? Would Epictetus or Seneca or Cicero or Marcus Aurelius have said, "Well, if your emotion is stronger than your reason, indulge! Wallow like a swine in heat with a sow! You need no live like an honest man. Surrender your brain to your loins, and act without regard to consequences."

It also began to offend my ferocious poet's heart. Where was the romance, the glamour, the allure? The Sexual Revolution made sex boring, robbed it of meaning, robbed life of its adventure. Why are so many romance novels set in the years long before this revolution? Because the mystique was still alive.

That is why the constant spiral downhill has picked up speed. Instead of liberating people and freeing them to enjoy the sexual union, contraception and the revolution has enslaved people. We are no longer free, but slaves to our emotions and impulses. And since sex is now meaningless pleasure, it becomes boring and something new and more exciting has to be found. Once contraception and meaningless sex was the norm, marital infidelity became popular. Once that was the norm, homosexuality stepped in.

Last years perversion is now the norm and becomes boring, so the thrill must be found in a new perversion.

Missing the sign

This article hits home as I spent time debating with people who make similar claims of the Church and the all male-priesthood.

Former advocate for female priests now explains Vatican's stance
via The Curt Jester

Polls generally show that 50 percent to 60 percent of Roman Catholics in the United States believe that women should be eligible for the priesthood.

Sister Sara Butler understands this impulse - because she once felt the same way. In 1978, she headed a task force of the Catholic Theological Society of America that came out in support of female priests.

But as she continued her work as an increasingly prominent theologian, her thinking began to change. Now, in a new book - "The Catholic Priesthood and Women: A Guide to the Teaching of the Church" - she attempts to explain the underpinnings of the all-male priesthood to doubters and skeptics who think the way she used to.

"The tradition is traced to the will of Christ, not to decisions made by the church," Butler said last night at St. Joseph's Seminary, where she has taught for four years.

The church's teachings must be better explained, she said, because many Catholics see the all-male priesthood as a symbol of patriarchal power and sexism, and many more who stay silent are probably befuddled.

...

Butler made the case last night that the all-male priesthood is grounded in Jesus' choice of 12 male apostles and the Catholic Church's sustained understanding of what this meant for the priesthood.

"The answer is discovered in a tradition of practice that is traced back to the Lord's choice of the 12," she said.

To change the church's traditional understanding of the priesthood, she said, would be to change the priesthood itself and disconnect the church from the apostles, ending what Catholics believe to be their church's God-given power to teach.

In recent decades, Butler said, "Christian feminists" have seen many Protestant denominations and Anglicans bring women into ministry. As a result, she said, many have lost sight of the Catholic Church's different understanding of the priesthood.

She also discussed theological arguments that she explores in her book, that the priest is a sacramental sign of Jesus - "who is and remains a man" - and that Scripture presents Jesus as a "bridegroom" wedded to the church, a role exclusive to men.

The sacramental sign of Jesus is where so many miss the boat. They get caught up thinking the Church is just another worldly organization. They see the people in power as all men and think they are missing out. But Christ set down the rules and the Church can't change them.

I shouldn't link to this

Cuz they are secret. I might have a non-Catholic reader in the group.

The Spirit's Sword (2): CATHOLIC SECRETS

AMEN: The only part of a prayer that everyone knows.

BULLETIN: Your receipt for attending Mass.

CHOIR: A group of people whose singing allows the rest of the Parish to lip-sync.

HOLY WATER: A liquid whose chemical formula is H2OLY.

HYMN: A song of praise usually sung in a key three octaves higher than that of the congregation's range.

RECESSIONAL HYMN: The last song at Mass often sung a little more quietly, since most of the people have already left.

JESUITS: An order of priests known for their ability to found colleges with good basketball teams.

JONAH: The original "Jaws" story.

JUSTICE: When kids have kids of their own.

PEW: A medieval torture device still found in Catholic churches.

PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of Mass consisting of altar servers, the celebrant, and late parishioners looking for seats.

RECESSIONAL: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of Mass led by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the parking lot.

RELICS: People who have been going to Mass for so long, they actually know when to sit, kneel, and Stand.

TEN COMMANDMENTS: The most important Top Ten list not given by David Letterman.

USHERS: The only people in the parish who don't know the seating capacity of a pew.

"Trust us. We're the good guys."

Well, they have proven they can't be trusted, now what?

Justice Dept.: FBI misused Patriot Act - Yahoo! News

The audit released Friday found that the number of national security letters issued by the FBI skyrocketed in the years after the Patriot Act became law.

In 2000, for example, the FBI issued an estimated 8,500 letters. By 2003, however, that number jumped to 39,000. It rose again the next year, to about 56,000 letters in 2004, and dropped to approximately 47,000 in 2005.

Over the entire three-year period, the audit found the FBI issued 143,074 national security letters requesting customer data from businesses.

The FBI vastly underreported the numbers. In 2005, the FBI told Congress that its agents in 2003 and 2004 had delivered only 9,254 national security letters seeking e-mail, telephone or financial information on 3,501 U.S. citizens and legal residents over the previous two years.

Additionally, the audit found, the FBI identified 26 possible violations in its use of the national security letters, including failing to get proper authorization, making improper requests under the law and unauthorized collection of telephone or Internet e-mail records.

Of the violations, 22 were caused by FBI errors, while the other four were the result of mistakes made by the firms that received the letters.

The FBI also used so-called "exigent letters," signed by officials at FBI headquarters who were not authorized to sign national security letters, to obtain information. In at least 700 cases, these exigent letters were sent to three telephone companies to get toll billing records and subscriber information.

"In many cases, there was no pending investigation associated with the request at the time the exigent letters were sent," the audit concluded.

The letters inaccurately said the FBI had requested subpoenas for the information requested — "when, in fact, it had not," the audit found.

Senators outraged over the conclusions signaled they would provide tougher oversight of the FBI — and perhaps limit its power.

Oh, I feel better already now that Congress is going to "perhaps limit" the abuses on our freedom. The Patriot Act has to be the most misnamed bill there ever was.

So the Justice Department confirmed what many suspected. They removal of constitutional freedoms are being used against U.S. citizens who are NOT terrorists and many who are not even criminal.

New blog

My apologies for not writing more lately. I have come across numerous items I should have blogged, but my heart is a bit heavy lately. So on the positive side, I have been spending more time praying instead of blogging.

On the down side, I really enjoy writing and blogging. So I will wade back in. And I have a good one. A new (to me) blog, Profound Gratitude, by a soon-to-be-Catholic, homeschooling mother. My wife met her last night and from what I understand, she did the design for her blog on her own. No cheesy blogger template for her. (as an amateur web designer myself, I am humbled.)

Seems she desires to be a Canon Lawyer now too. We can always use a few more blogging Canon Lawyers to keep us all straight. Dr. Ed Peters and Pete Vere can make room I am sure.

So Shellie, welcome to the Church! And welcome to the blog roll.


And on her post, The Ministry of Reconciliation

Scripture does not state that our future sins are forgiven; instead, Jesus taught us to pray, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). There is a theology that believes this? That asking “repeatedly for forgiveness would be admission that we believe that Christ’s work was imperfect “?

So if you concur with me that we still need to ask for forgiveness, rather than just express thanks, then shall we ask, What is the means by which our sins are forgiven? Only God may forgive sins, but he may mediate that forgiveness in any way he so chooses.

I spent some time defending Confession and The Blessed Mother on the local Huckleberries site. Seems some were put off by my faith and by my belief in Mary as an intercessor for us.

I ignored the blatant anti-Catholics just looking for a fight, and has some good discussion with some ex-Catholics and others. I was encouraged by some Protestants that seem to be realizing Mary is their mother too and that she isn't a stumbling block, but another sign pointing to her Son.

It may seem that Catholics make too much of Mary, but remember this. We only imitate Christ. As God commands in the 4th Commandment, Jesus honored his mother. And as we are too imitate Christ, so we too should honor her.

Who knew?

Been a bit busy since I found out someone I know plans on getting a vasectomy. Fellow Catholic and all, so I am a bit distraught. Please offer up any prayers for him and for me (so I have the courage and grace to speak with him.)

But in my searching for answers to the health risks, I found a few interesting items. I blogged on the possible link to early onset of dementia a few days back.
Good info on vasectomies and health from CCL
and one very interesting book by Kevin Hauber called

Are you big enough?

Are you big enough a threat to be blocked by The Great Firewall of China? The Spirit's Sword wasn't and neither am I.

I guess my measly hit count is not bothersome enough to be a threat. Although I had some interesting hits the other day. Suspicious enough that i created the St. Blogs Neighborhood watch program. Just leave me a comment to join the watch program.

***Update***
I am still not blocked as I just got two quick hits from China again. Time to alert the Blog Watch patrol.

How can we be sure

As in Did Tolkien Write The Lord of the Rings? After a twisted trail through Locusts & Honey and Vox Popoli, I found the source to be Mark Shea.

The Lord of the Rings: A Source-Criticism Analysis

Experts in source-criticism now know that The Lord of the Rings is a redaction of sources ranging from the Red Book of Westmarch (W) to Elvish Chronicles (E) to Gondorian records (G) to orally transmitted tales of the Rohirrim (R). The conflicting ethnic, social and religious groups which preserved these stories all had their own agendas, as did the "Tolkien" (T) and "Peter Jackson" (PJ) redactors, who are often in conflict with each other as well but whose conflicting accounts of the same events reveals a great deal about the political and religious situations which helped to form our popular notions about Middle Earth and the so-called "War of the Ring.". Into this mix are also thrown a great deal of folk materials about a supposed magic "ring" and some obscure figures named "Frodo" and "Sam". In all likelihood, these latter figures are totems meant to personify the popularity of Aragorn with the rural classes.

Because The Lord of the Rings is a composite of sources, we may be quite certain that "Tolkien" (if he ever existed) did not "write" this work in the conventional sense, but that it was assembled over a long period of time by someone else of the same name. We know this because a work of the range, depth, and detail of The Lord of the Rings is far beyond the capacity of any modern expert in source-criticism to ever imagine creating themselves.

The tension between source materials and the various redactors is evident in several cases. T is heavily dependent upon Gondorian records and clearly elevates the claims of the Aragorn monarchy over the House of Denethor. From this it is obvious that the real "War of the Ring" was a dynastic struggle between these two clans for supremacy in Gondor. The G source, which plays such a prominent role in the T-redacted account of Aragorn, is significantly downplayed by the PJ redactor in favor of E versions. In the T account, Aragorn is portrayed as a stainless saint, utterly sure of his claims to the throne and so self-possessed that he never doubts for a moment his right to seize power. Likewise, in the T account, the Rohirrim are conveniently portrayed as willing allies and vassals to the Aragorn monarchy, living in perfect harmony with the Master Race of Numenoreans who rule Gondor.

...

Source

I like Vox Popoli's synopsis.

This is simply beautiful; a nearly perfect taunt. I don't know if there's ever been anything so completely and utterly ridiculous as the circular argument that insists parts of the Bible are unreliable because they conflict with Q. Now, the document Q does not exist, but is theorized to perhaps have existed, and is therefore considered to be more reliable than documents we know for certain to exist and can actually examine.

A Friday night special.

Angus Daily has a topic that came to my mind recently. And does quite a good job explaining it if you can get through the St. Thomas Aquinas.

Agnus Daily: How drunk is too drunk?
i.e., where does enjoying adult beverages turn into mortal sin.

I am not too concerned about crossing between venial and mortal sin because once you willingly head down the venial road, mortal is just a step or two away.

But this touches on something else I was pondering. Drunkeness is a sin because it takes away the free will. And as Fr. Fernando states, willingly handing over the free will to Satan is definitely a serious sin.

And why? Because where else are we "made in His image" other than our will? So we set aside the most holy thing God has given us. The only thing we can freely give to Him, we hand down to Satan.

hmm... that will put pause in my next beverage or three.

Mediatrix of all Internet Graces?

The Ironic Catholic has a Caption Contest

Here is my submission.

Look closely at the company logo.

Seems fitting, after all, what word better mingles faith and technology than Mediatrix?

Bad news all the way around

Catholic Exchange - Early-Onset Dementia May Be Linked to Vasectomy.

Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered a link between vasectomy surgery and a form of dementia that usually strikes men in their 40's and 50's.

I think I would want to forget that surgery too.

But seriously: oh forget it. I can't be serious about this.

Then why do NFP users have more children?

New research shows effectiveness of natural family planning method

German scientists are now confirming what many Catholic couples have known for some time – the natural family planning method known as STM works. Scientists have been taken aback by a new study which found STM to be as effective, if not more so, than the contraceptive pill in family planning.

So, if it so effective, the question remains. Why do NFP users have more children?

Simple answer: Because they want to. Children are seen as a blessing, not as a financial burden.

Long answer: NFP is like applying little bits of grace to a marriage over the course of time. Slowly but surely, the couple yields to the will of God rather than their own.

I know of what I speak.

I didn't enter marriage really wanting children. I was rather selfish and looked out for number one. But we used NFP because it was the right thing and the only thing for a Catholic couple. I would have been satisfied with 2 or 3 children. But God had other plans and thank the good Lord that we were open to them. I cannot imagine our lives without seeing the faces of our 4th-6th children. The sweetness they have shared, the smiles they bring, the joy they provide with a simple word or act.

(/side note: I had to run out to fix a friends computer last night after supper. I asked my 7 year old to come with as we needed to talk! My two year old heard I was going and got his shoes on and stood by the door. Their was no going without him. And it was as well he did. My friend's wife and kids got their baby fix. /end side note)

Bottom line: I would have missed out on so much that I just couldn't fathom it. So much joy. So much holiness. So why do we have so many children? Maybe because God wanted them and we took a risk and listened to His Will.


And this doesn't even take into consideration what NFP does for the marriage. At a time when many other marriages are breaking down or the couples start to seek outside interest, an NFP marriage is just hitting stride. A home run trot if you will.

And for women, the benefits are immeasurable.

“What it does is teach you exactly what's going on with your body. I know my body and that's very liberating for a woman," another STM user added.