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Showing posts from December, 2010

Arizona storm: Phoenix-area hit with rain, snow in high country

Michael Brandon, a friend of this blog has just moved down to their winter abode in anticipation of his wife's arrival. While he is wet and cold in Arizona, today was sunny and temp's into the plus territory for the first time in a couple of months. The next couple of days are promised to bring temperatures up into into the low 50's F (albeit with rain). I hope that we are spared either bouts of freezing rain or heavy rains as they tend to make for treacherous driving conditions as people are returning to their homes after the holidays come to an end. Arizona storm: Phoenix-area hit with rain, snow in high country

Freedom Through Truth: Of Christians and Atheists

Michael Brandon over at Freedom Through Truth comments on my recent discussion with numerous atheists here and on the Holy Post in which he offers the following: Atheists are people who CLAIM not to believe in the existence of God. Theists, on the other hand CLAIM that God believes in ALL of us. Christians take this further, and claim, with historical support, that God believes in us so much, and loves us so much that even though many CLAIM not to believe in Him that would not stop Him from making himself known to them, and offer himself up to save them from themselves. Although God sent His Son Jesus to earth to show us what He wants from us, and to prove His love for us, many of us do not believe in Him still. Proving the existence of God to one who does not want to believe is like taking a blind man to the zoo, and trying to prove to him that elephants exist, when he refuses to get up off the bench he parked himself on. He can hear the elephant trumpeting, but conside...

Fr. Thomas Doyle: the Vatican’s most critical insider | Holy Post | National Post

John Allen offers a comparison of assessments of the Church's handling of the sex abuse scandal between Pope B16 and Fr. Thomas Doyle - the Vatican priest who deals with the victims and their lawyers. I fear that Fr. Doyle has a point - one that I've written about here many times: the principal scandal is that children have been sexually abused by clerics, and then abused by the hierarchy's response to their allegations. Essentially, the Church is on fire. The faith of generations is turning to ash in front of our eyes as neglect and a perceived ongoing disrespect for victims rights (with the aim of 'preventing scandal' that would 'damage the faith' - a worthy end but morally fatally flawed means). I acknowledge that the fires have burned down in North America as Bishops are finally beginning to understand the moral carnage their predecessors have wrecked upon the Church and the faithful. Generations of savings from Catholics have been sacrificed thanks...

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Friends, It is now a few hours before I am privileged to celebrate the first of two vigil Christmas masses and I am spending a few minutes with quiet Christmas music playing on the TV and giving thanks for the blessings I have received through this blog in particular and via this internet 'ministry' of mine in general. It has brought me untold blessings. The people who have made contact with me either on the blog or via my personal email have (for the most part) inspired, challenged, and led me to look deep within my mind and heart to see not only what I believe to be 'true' but why it is that I so believe. Wisdom shared from regulars like Lady Janus, Small Town Guy, Martin and Michael Brandon has helped me to see many sides of these questions we discuss; sides I had not ever taken note of before. You have all been the most precious of gifts that I give thanks for you this Christmas eve.  You offer the light of charity and the voice of your life's convictions ...

Graphic: Who gives? Canadians’ charitable donations | Posted | National Post

Note that it is the younger generation that seems to be the most generous donors to charity. That seem to fly in the face of those of us who have despaired the values of the younger generation. This is a wonderful Christmas gift - to know that the generation that follows us is generous in heart and spirit in meeting the needs of others. Graphic: Who gives? Canadians’ charitable donations | Posted | National Post

Here's the best Santa letter I've ever seen!

I should have sent this letter to Santa when I was a kid!!

Bad diagnosis : Pharyngula

Another blog article discussing my National Post column. Thanks to 'Rebecca65' for the link! The whole purpose of this blog and my National Post columns are to get people talking about these issues. It is heartwarming to see that my desire is coming to fruition, even when the remarks and comments do not agree with what I hold to be true. Bad diagnosis : Pharyngula

Churches halt decline, new research shows - Telegraph

Humm... I thought that the atheists were trying to convince us that not only was the Catholic Church on an inexorable slide into oblivion, (especially in today's Britain) but that B16 was thought to be the very epitome of what the English detested: German, conservative, dogmatic, homophobic etc. Yet the evidence shows that in the wake of his visit to the British Isles, religious practice was on the rise throughout the Christian Churches. Maybe the forces of faith are more resilient that our opponents have given us credit for. I do not deny that the church stands bloodied and battered before the world this day, and that there is a great deal of work to be done to repair the Barque of Peter. This news should give hope to believers everywhere for it is evident that the boat will stay afloat despite the sinfulness of a few and the animus of its enemies. Churches halt decline, new research shows - Telegraph

Heroic, Female and Muslim - NYTimes.com

"Part Mother Teresa, part Rambo." Any woman who could be so described is worth reading about! Heroic, Female and Muslim - NYTimes.com

Your Monday smile

Q. What is a dyslexic agnostic insomniac? A.  Someone who lies awake all night wondering if there really is a dog. =========================================== I'd never "heard" this before, but it's too good not to be old.

Good will to all men? Not from the grumpy atheists! (Thank God not all atheists are grumpy but there sure seems to be a lot of them)

Why is it that so many in the atheist community cannot bring  themselves to get past their anger whenever they engage in discussions? The language of many of their contributions in public debate is laced with invective and dripping with sarcasm and bile. There are exceptions of course, but they tend to fall more into the category of being the 'exception that proves the rule' when compared to the hostility of many of today's atheist posters. Comment offered by the theists in the public square is often depicted as being 'malicious' or 'venomous' and intended to enslave the 'feeble minded and weak' by those who post. Nothing could be further from the truth. Venom is something that is oriented to death. Christians are oriented in a 180 degree different direction. We speak not to the culture of death  that grips our world but rather for the culture of life and light which ends with the gift of eternal life. For example, the Catholic Church in its hum...

An opinion on the relationships between atheists and theists from the National Post

Charlie Lewis of the Holy Post has offered another opinion piece on the relationship between atheists and believers. You can read it here . Among the numerous comments that have been generated, Charlie responds to one poster in a manner that succinctly brings a light to the reason why we believers demand that our voices be heard in the public square. I share it in the hopes that it might generate a discussion here on his assessment. A thoughtful reader wrote that atheists would stop getting angry at religious people when we "stopping trying to cram things down his throat." I took the time to respond to him even though I'm pretty certain nothing would ever change his mind. Here's what I wrote: "Please take the time to read what I'm writing to you. And then tell me what you think. Your idea is that religious people are trying to jam views down your throat. Who are these people? I know they're not most mainstream Protestants and not Catholics...

A Christmas letter from Jesus: An oldie but a goodie none the less for the message it communicates

Letter from Jesus about Christmas -- It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town. Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape v...

The mystery of Mona Lisa and Amelia Earhart solved?

Here are a couple of interesting stories about long held mysteries. The first one deals with an announcement in Italy that they may have discovered a 'code' painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. (click here for link) The second story deals with human remains found in the Pacific which may belong to Amelia Earhart! (click here for link) Two mysteries 'solved' by science... COOL

Clergy shortage affecting all denominations in Canada - The Globe and Mail

I guess all those folks who claim that Catholic clergy are the only ones suffering from lack of numbers (due of course to the great 'demon' of 'unatural' celibacy) are wrong. Even denominations with married clergy are facing the same shortfall in their personnel. Clergy shortage affecting all denominations in Canada - The Globe and Mail

The Pink Candle and Other Musings

This Sunday we light the third candle of the Advent wreath: the pink one. Here's a posting that explains why this unique candle is a part of this traditional advent decoration. The Pink Candle and Other Musings

NASA announcement will 'impact the search' for life - CTV News

COOL! Can't wait to see what they will announce! NASA announcement will 'impact the search' for life - CTV News