Jennifer Hartline
The word beautiful to describe a woman of substance goes far beyond the mere physical. As My Dear Wife has aged, and been somewhat subject to the ravages of illness, her character and particularly her faith has grown stronger, day by day. I see it happening, and even more so than I see the impact of illness and the required medicines. I am not blind to the physical changes; they just are not nearly as significant as the growth of her inner, true beauty. So, I thank God daily for the gift of beauty in the woman that I share life and love with in the sacrament of our marriage.
Jennifer Hartline has written a thoughtful posting over at My Chocolate Heart about this. Follow the link below to read her insights.
My Chocolate Heart: On Beauty: "Tonight a thoughtful conversation with my husband turned out this question: If you asked a woman if she would rather have her husband think..."
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Are You and I a Hard Case for God?
Monsignor Charles Pope
Interesting viewpoint on the challenges we sheep/goats present to a God who knows only love. Cthis article describes me pretty well. How 'bout you?
Are You and I a Hard Case for God?
Interesting viewpoint on the challenges we sheep/goats present to a God who knows only love. Cthis article describes me pretty well. How 'bout you?
Are You and I a Hard Case for God?
Scandals in Ireland and Miami
Mark Shea
Interesting thoughts on scandals affecting the Roman Catholic Church, from a Catholic apologist with a wary eye.
Scandals is Ireland and Miami
Interesting thoughts on scandals affecting the Roman Catholic Church, from a Catholic apologist with a wary eye.
Scandals is Ireland and Miami
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The Terror of Evil and Sin, Christian News
Chuck Colson knows whereof he speaks.
Here is an interesting take from a respected Christian man, who by the grace of God has turned his life into one that gives witness to God's mercy and abounding love for all of us. The tragedy in Norway cannot be easily explained, but understanding our fallen human nature can bring us closer to seeing it for what it is.
Does a tragedy such as this draw people to the love of God, or are they so stubborn as to ignore it.
The Terror of Evil and Sin, Christian News
Here is an interesting take from a respected Christian man, who by the grace of God has turned his life into one that gives witness to God's mercy and abounding love for all of us. The tragedy in Norway cannot be easily explained, but understanding our fallen human nature can bring us closer to seeing it for what it is.
Does a tragedy such as this draw people to the love of God, or are they so stubborn as to ignore it.
The Terror of Evil and Sin, Christian News
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The Errant Blindness of Justice Denied
Father Gordon MacRae
Justice is blind, in and of itself, but the agendas of those purporting to work on it's behalf adds more dimension to the blindness. Fr. Gordon MacRae, a priest who has spent about 17 years in jail for crimes that were never committed is an of systemic blindness to the truth, while furthering the agenda of participants in it. Dominique Strauss-Kahn was treated differently and in this case fairly, though one question his personal moral fiber.
Father MacRae examines aspects of the cases against Roman Polanski and Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and how justice sometimes works, particularly for those of influence, but may be really blind for Catholic priests and other selected targets.
Why the Sordid Case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn matters to Catholics
Justice is blind, in and of itself, but the agendas of those purporting to work on it's behalf adds more dimension to the blindness. Fr. Gordon MacRae, a priest who has spent about 17 years in jail for crimes that were never committed is an of systemic blindness to the truth, while furthering the agenda of participants in it. Dominique Strauss-Kahn was treated differently and in this case fairly, though one question his personal moral fiber.
Father MacRae examines aspects of the cases against Roman Polanski and Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and how justice sometimes works, particularly for those of influence, but may be really blind for Catholic priests and other selected targets.
Why the Sordid Case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn matters to Catholics
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
What Are Attachments and What Are They Not
Monsignor Charles Pope
I sometimes wonder about attachments, those things that draw me in certain directions. The prayer to the left, the Drain Me Prayer speaks to a desire to be drained of all attachment to the flesh; easily said, not so easily done. In the link below, Monsignor Pope references the teaching of a now deceased priest on the subject with his own insights into the topic.
What Are Attachments and What Are They Not
I sometimes wonder about attachments, those things that draw me in certain directions. The prayer to the left, the Drain Me Prayer speaks to a desire to be drained of all attachment to the flesh; easily said, not so easily done. In the link below, Monsignor Pope references the teaching of a now deceased priest on the subject with his own insights into the topic.
What Are Attachments and What Are They Not
Abby Johnson: Yes, I oppose ALL abortions! But being pro-life doesn’t stop there | LifeSiteNews.com
Recall that Abby Johnson for many years worked for Planned Parenthood.. She saw the light miraculously.
Abby Johnson: Yes, I oppose ALL abortions! But being pro-life doesn’t stop there | LifeSiteNews.com
Abby Johnson: Yes, I oppose ALL abortions! But being pro-life doesn’t stop there | LifeSiteNews.com
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Rise of the Evangelical Catholic Bishops - George Weigel - National Review Online
George Weigel
There is only one Holy Roman Catholic Church, but there is a Catholic attitude that is tuned by the society it exists in. Since Luther et al attempted to break apart the Church that Christ founded, in what has erroneously been called a reformation, not a revolt, the RCC has been considered to be in a post Reformation, Counter Reformation mindset. But men like Archbishop Chaput, recently of Denver, and now going to Philadelphia, are the new breed, men of evangelical fervor, and just the tonic that the Church needs in this challenging epoch.
The faithful need the leadership of men like Chaput, and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, to wake us up to the joy of the faith we hold dear, and to bring back to the fold those who have wandered off, while drawing those who have not heard the Gospel previously in to the Church.
Read what George Weigel has to say about it at the link below.
Rise of the Evangelical Catholic Bishops - George Weigel - National Review Online
There is only one Holy Roman Catholic Church, but there is a Catholic attitude that is tuned by the society it exists in. Since Luther et al attempted to break apart the Church that Christ founded, in what has erroneously been called a reformation, not a revolt, the RCC has been considered to be in a post Reformation, Counter Reformation mindset. But men like Archbishop Chaput, recently of Denver, and now going to Philadelphia, are the new breed, men of evangelical fervor, and just the tonic that the Church needs in this challenging epoch.
The faithful need the leadership of men like Chaput, and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, to wake us up to the joy of the faith we hold dear, and to bring back to the fold those who have wandered off, while drawing those who have not heard the Gospel previously in to the Church.
Read what George Weigel has to say about it at the link below.
Rise of the Evangelical Catholic Bishops - George Weigel - National Review Online
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
ZENIT - South Sudan Bishop Dies Celebrating Mass
Wow
RUMBEK, South Sudan, JULY 18, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Just one week after welcoming the independence of South Sudan where he had been a missionary for three decades, Bishop Cesare Mazzolari of Rumbek died Saturday while celebrating Mass.
The Bishop had just consecrated the Eucharist, and died where he stood. What an amazing witness to Christ.
Read at the link below.
ZENIT - South Sudan Bishop Dies Celebrating Mass
RUMBEK, South Sudan, JULY 18, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Just one week after welcoming the independence of South Sudan where he had been a missionary for three decades, Bishop Cesare Mazzolari of Rumbek died Saturday while celebrating Mass.
The Bishop had just consecrated the Eucharist, and died where he stood. What an amazing witness to Christ.
Read at the link below.
ZENIT - South Sudan Bishop Dies Celebrating Mass
Monday, July 18, 2011
Debt Ceiling Debate
Paul Ryan vs. Stephen Schneck – A Budget Debate between Catholics and a Request for Your Input
In the US currently there is a debate underway with lots of rhetoric, finger pointing and arm waving going on. There are party lines which have been drawn, and there is much at stake. As a Canadian, I appreciate that this issue, which is monumental, is to an extent, out in the open. In Canada we don't have a debt ceiling; we just spend the money we don't have. Well, I guess that is what is happening in the US as well in reality?
The blog post by Monsignor Charles Pope over at the Archdiocese of Washington linked below shows the two sides of the debate from Catholic perspectives.
But, they seem to be missing a major point, in my personal opinion. The US is in debt - public debt only excluding unfunded pension liabilities, for example, - to the tune of about $14.4 trillion at the moment, and it is climbing daily by numbers that are beyond our individual comprehension.
So, the House, Senate and President's Office are debating how to get to borrow more money, to fund the 40 cents out of every dollar of government spending that they are not taking in in tax revenues.
So let me put this as clearly as possible. The US owes $14.4 trillion and spends 66% more than it takes in in revenue. In the real world, a company operating like this is called an undeclared bankrupt, or is pushed into bankruptcy officially. But, they intend to raise the debt ceiling a few trillion or so, and might make some cuts in spending. The Republicans don't want to raise taxes, and the Democrats do not want to cut programs.
So to an extent both parties are wanting to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Here in our house, My Dear Wife and I give from our income to assist charities that we believe in. We do not borrow from the bank, or from foreign governments to make charitable donations, because that would be bad stewardship of our assets.
What's wrong with this picture?
Paul Ryan vs. Stephen Schneck – A Budget Debate between Catholics and a Request for Your Input
In the US currently there is a debate underway with lots of rhetoric, finger pointing and arm waving going on. There are party lines which have been drawn, and there is much at stake. As a Canadian, I appreciate that this issue, which is monumental, is to an extent, out in the open. In Canada we don't have a debt ceiling; we just spend the money we don't have. Well, I guess that is what is happening in the US as well in reality?
The blog post by Monsignor Charles Pope over at the Archdiocese of Washington linked below shows the two sides of the debate from Catholic perspectives.
But, they seem to be missing a major point, in my personal opinion. The US is in debt - public debt only excluding unfunded pension liabilities, for example, - to the tune of about $14.4 trillion at the moment, and it is climbing daily by numbers that are beyond our individual comprehension.
So, the House, Senate and President's Office are debating how to get to borrow more money, to fund the 40 cents out of every dollar of government spending that they are not taking in in tax revenues.
So let me put this as clearly as possible. The US owes $14.4 trillion and spends 66% more than it takes in in revenue. In the real world, a company operating like this is called an undeclared bankrupt, or is pushed into bankruptcy officially. But, they intend to raise the debt ceiling a few trillion or so, and might make some cuts in spending. The Republicans don't want to raise taxes, and the Democrats do not want to cut programs.
So to an extent both parties are wanting to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Here in our house, My Dear Wife and I give from our income to assist charities that we believe in. We do not borrow from the bank, or from foreign governments to make charitable donations, because that would be bad stewardship of our assets.
What's wrong with this picture?
Paul Ryan vs. Stephen Schneck – A Budget Debate between Catholics and a Request for Your Input
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)