Where the Rubber Hits the Road

Shameless Popery: The Awesome Power of the Five-Step "Lectio Divina" Method to Scripture

This is an argument in favor of the accuracy of the oral traditions that led to the writing of the Gospels as well as inspiring the early Church Fathers. Former President John Tyler’s (1790-1862) grandchildren still alive | The Sideshow - Yahoo! News

Luke 21: 10-19   "Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives." http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/video/video-is-a-m...

My Take: There’s no such thing as the Bible and never has been – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs

Everyone is going to die. Life is a terminal illness. The concern the proponents of euthanasia  are raising deals with the means and conduct of death. If we have the desire and capacity when we are able, we can legally suicide. What they are speaking to is that moment when one no longer has the capacity to effect their own death. This desire to have someone else act as our agent when we approach our end is our fear of pain and profound existential angst.  If a medical coma is as effective as claimed, in as much it can suppress all conscious and unconscious thought, then it would seem to provide the same conclusion sought for with suicide. Why change the law to permit euthanasia when palliative care can provide the same abyss that is desired by those who rush to embrace in death just to alleviate an irrational fear?  This irrationality is all the more ironic coming as it does primarily from those who claim Voltaire's model of reason 'above all else' as their clarion call...

Here is a cross post to Michael Brandon's blog, Freedom Through Truth. It deals with a LONG discussion that has been taking place under my last Quebec posting (six weeks ago). Given that the comments have topped 100+ it may be time to bring that discussion into a new thread so that more people can join the conversation. The essence of the conversation has come down the the legitimacy (or lack there of) of the sacrament of reconciliation (Confession). 'Small Town Guy' a regular participant here on this blog has offered substantial evidence and documentation from his faith tradition to argue that Confession is not 'biblical'. Michael and I have obviously been arguing the opposite position. If you have any interest in this topic, feel free to peruse the earlier comments ( here ) or offer you comments in this new thread! My heartfelt thanks to Michael and STG for their diligent and intelligent contribution to this discussion. Fr. Tim Freedom Through Truth: Is...

Archaeologists have unearthed a series of structures in Old Jerusalem which seems to validate the biblical account of the first temple, built in the 10th century BCE by King Solomon. Once again we seem to be presented with the reality that although the Bible is not a history book, it is a book whose writings are rooted in the history of a people. This has particular resonance for me as I am currently reading N.T. Wright's history of the resurrection in which he continually argues the same point. It's always nice when these lessons of faith serve to be supported through secular academic research! Click on the title to this post to read the article yourself!