St John Bosco

From today's Office of Readings:

rom a letter by Saint John Bosco, priest

I have always laboured out of love

First of all, if we wish to appear concerned about the true happiness of our foster children and if we would move them to fulfil their duties, you must never forget that you are taking the place of the parents of these beloved young people. I have always laboured lovingly for them, and carried out my priestly duties with zeal. And the whole Salesian society has done this with me.

My sons, in my long experience very often I had to be convinced of this great truth. It is easier to become angry than to restrain oneself, and to threaten a boy than to persuade him. Yes, indeed, it is more fitting to be persistent in punishing our own impatience and pride than to correct the boys. We must be firm but kind, and be patient with them.

I give you as a model the charity of Paul which he showed to his new converts. They often reduced him to tears and entreaties when he found them lacking docility and even opposing his loving efforts.

See that no one finds you motivated by impetuosity or wilfulness. It is difficult to keep calm when administering punishment, but this must be done if we are to keep ourselves from showing off our authority or spilling out our anger.

Let us regard those boys over whom we have some authority as our own sons. Let us place ourselves in their service. Let us be ashamed to assume an attitude of superiority. Let us not rule over them except for the purpose of serving them better.
This was the method that Jesus used with the apostles. He put up with their ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. He treated sinners with a kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalised, and still others to hope for God’s mercy. And so he bade us to be gentle and humble of heart.

They are our sons, and so in correcting their mistakes we must lay aside all anger and restrain it so firmly that it is extinguished entirely.

There must be no hostility in our minds, no contempt in our eyes, no insult on our lips. We must use mercy for the present and have hope for the future, as is fitting for true fathers who are eager for real correction and improvement.

In serious matters it is better to beg God humbly than to send forth a flood of words that will only offend the listeners and have no effect on those who are guilty.

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Son of God/Son of Man

From today's Office of Readings:

From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop

In Christ are the first-fruits of the Resurrection

The Word of God became man, the Son of God became the Son of Man, in order to unite man with himself and make him, by adoption, a son of God. Only by being united to one who is himself immune could we be preserved from corruption and death, and how else could this union have been achieved if he had not first become what we are? How else could what is corruptible and mortal in us have been swallowed up in his incorruptibility and immortality, to enable us to receive adoptive sonship?

Therefore, the Son of God, our Lord, the Word of the Father, is also the son of man; he became the son of man by a human birth from Mary, a member of the human race.
The Lord himself has given us a sign here below and in the heights of heaven, a sign that man did not ask for because he never dreamt that such a thing would be possible. A virgin was with a child and she bore a son who is called Emmanuel, which means “God with us”. He came down to the earth here below in search of the sheep that was lost, the sheep that was in fact his own creature, and then ascended into the heights of heaven to offer to the Father and entrust to his care the human race that he had found again.

The Lord himself became the first-fruits of the resurrection of mankind, and when its time of punishment for disobedience is over the rest of the body, to which the whole human race belongs, will rise from the grave as the head has done. By God’s aid it will grow and be strengthened in all its joints and ligaments, each member having its own proper place in the body. There are many rooms in the Father’s house because the body has many members.

God bore with man patiently when he fell because he foresaw the victory that would be his through the Word. Weakness allowed strength its full play, and so revealed God’s kindness and great power.

He became like us that we may become like him.

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Send Flowers

Here's some help in the Valentine's day idea search. We can use all the help we can get to send flowers or gifts.

No matter what the occasion, Dot Flowers is literally buzzing with fabulous flower gift ideas and gorgeous gourmet gift baskets perfect for anyone on your list. They offer same day flower delivery on Florist Direct flower arrangements designed in your local floral shop, or Field Fresh flower delivery straight from their growers' farms to anywhere in the United States.

And, if you're looking to buy gift baskets online, they have a wide selection of gourmet treats that are sure to please. From their fantastic flowers to their charming cookies to their savory snacks, Dot Flowers has something for everyone. Remember, their award winning customer service department is devoted to ensuring your complete satisfaction with every order you place with Dot Flowers! So what are you waiting for... send flowers today! Dot Flowers offers a diverse selection of flower bouquets, gift baskets, gourmet food, and more for those folks seeking a little buzz from their online gift giving experience.

They are committed to offering fantastic flowers, gorgeous gifts, and superlative service to their customers, and they'd like you to consider their site the answer to all your gift giving needs. They understand that the gifts you send represent you both personally and professionally, and they are devoted to helping you make a great impression.

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Bowie's Heroes

From Gym Class Heroes to David Bowie's Heroes...It is so easy to go on a tangent on Youtube. Being the music fan I am I spent probably too much time on that site. It is for that reason (and the tons of stupid human tricks videos) that it is one of the top 5 sites on the internet. You can easily find almost anything there.

I'm glad I found this one....:)

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Cupid's Chokehold

Speaking of Cupid, here's Gym Class Heroes with Cupid's Chokehold. This song samples Breakfast in America from Supertramp. My kids really liked this song. But when I asked them if they knew who they sampled for the chorus and hook they didn't have a clue! So I gave them a lesson in "Music Appreciation". They now like Supertramp as well. Long live rock and roll!

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Cupid's a-coming!

Valentine's Day is becoming one of my favorite celebrations. I think of it as the expression of joy and love on a personal level that is matched only by Christmas and Easter on a braoder level.

That being said, it’s never to early to search for great Valentines Day gifts; if your search has brought you here, then it must be clear to you that Valentine’s Day gift baskets are the perfect way to show your love or say “I’m thinking of you” on Valentine’s Day! Indulge with gourmet gift baskets that show off your great taste. Valentine’s Gift Baskets show that you think the person you love deserves the very best. He or she will receive their Valentine gift baskets filled with the finest chocolates, nuts, wines, and fruits from the finest orchards, vineyards, and cheese makers in the world.

Create that romantic mood with romantic Valentine’s Day gifts that please the most discriminating tastes. They do provide pre-designed Valentine’s Gift Baskets, but they also enable you to create your own personalized Valentine’s Day gifts—gift baskets filled with the delicacies that your sweet heart loves the most. Their personalized Valentine’s Day Baskets are the most unique Valentine’s Day gifts available, and show how much you cherish and care about the recipient. So if you’re searching for great Valentine’s Day gift ideas or unique Valentine’s Day gifts be sure to consider a Valentine’s Day gift basket from Gourmet Gift Baskets!

Visit them before Cupid's Arrows have all flown!

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Carry The Light - Various CCM Artist

I was going to write about Billy Graham this morning. But upon doing a search for him on Youtube I ran across a little cult in California who protests him and has posted two videos which really says nothing about their reasons for being against him. To me it is just another principality in that spiritual realm when preacher fights preacher. To me if you are with God how can you be against a brother?

Anyway this video has some on my favorite artists and was released while I was in Bible school in 1987.

Be Blessed!

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Perception and Prophets

From today's Gospel: Luke 4:21 - 30

Then Jesus began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen’. And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips They said, ‘This is Joseph’s son, surely?’
But he replied, ‘No doubt you will quote me the saying, “Physician, heal yourself” and tell me, “We have heard all that happened in Capernaum, do the same here in your own countryside”’. And he went on, ‘I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.

‘There were many widows in Israel, I can assure you, in Elijah’s day, when heaven remained shut for three years and six months and a great famine raged throughout the land, but Elijah was not sent to any one of these: he was sent to a widow at Zarephath, a Sidonian town. And in the prophet Elisha’s time there were many lepers in Israel, but none of these was cured, except the Syrian, Naaman.’

When they heard this everyone in the synagogue was enraged. They sprang to their feet and hustled him out of the town; and they took him up to the brow of the hill their town was built on, intending to throw him down the cliff, but he slipped through the crowd and walked away.

They say familiarity breeds contempt. Jesus was pointing out that it would be as difficult for his townpeople to believe in him as it was for the people in Elisha's town. when God moves through a person it is not always God who is seen in the action. Much of spirituality is about seeing God in the action of the world around us, or his nemisis. We must be aware the that we battle agains principalities and powers in the spititual realm everyday, and what you pervceive and what is the case may be two different thing.

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Need a Lawyer?

Sometimes a person needs a lawyer. I'm not the litigation type but recently I've had to hire an attorney and it was the best decision I could have made. My readers in the Northeast may be interested in this.

Simmons, Jannace & Stagg, LLP practices in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. The firm has achieved the highest peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell, which rates legal ability and ethical standards. Ten years ago, they began as a litigation firm focusing on commercial and general liability litigation. Today, they are a highly respected full service law firm practicing throughout the tri-state area. In addition to their core practice of commercial and general liability litigation, their practice areas include labor and employment , arbitrations and litigation, securities law, banking and consumer litigation, bankruptcy and creditors rights, corporate transactions, municipal law, real estate, zoning and land use, and environmental law.

The firm’s clients include several of the largest companies in the world, including Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., Bank of America Corp., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Kmart Holding Corp., Best Buy Co. Inc., Washington Mutual Bank FA, Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., Staples Inc., Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc., General Motors Acceptance Corporation, GMAC Insurance Holdings, Inc., Circuit City Stores, Inc., and Foot Locker Inc., among others.

These Fortune 500 clients turn to Simmons, Jannace & Stagg for their expertise and experience, and because they are widely recognized as a firm that thinks “outside the box.” All too often, lawyers are slaves to convention, to the status quo. They’re not. They are equally adept at representing small companies, municipalities and individuals, many of whom turn to them for quality representation at a reasonable cost. By truly listening to the needs of their clients and looking for ways to resolve conflicts in nontraditional ways, they have established long-standing relationships with their clients, many of whom they have represented since their inception a decade ago.

They are proud of the trust and loyalty that all of their clients, both large and small, have placed in Simmons, Jannace & Stagg. Their attorneys are encouraged to approach each case with a fresh perspective and to look for opportunities to resolve conflicts in a cost-efficient and effective way. They have successfully tried many cases for their clients, yet have also been successful employing alternative dispute resolution techniques and negotiations on behalf of their clients. Clients turn to them because they listen to their needs and always put their interests first.

In addition to litigation, the firm acts as counsel to business clients and real estate developers in matters involving financing transactions, real estate and general commercial matters. In this area, they have structured a variety of loans and other financing transactions, including real estate and construction loans, asset-based loans, asset securitizations, stock purchase sale and leaseback transactions. Their firm provides guidance in choosing a business form and has organized corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and other legal entities throughout the U.S., as well as negotiated and prepared joint venture agreements and buy/sell agreements.

If you need a litigation attorney, give them a call.

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Meet the Peetles

The Beatles enjoying a little quality studio time. The song is from Anthology cd, the video by thegoodthiefsremorse on Youtube.

You know I've had days like these, where you really had to go but could find no place. "Restrooms for paying customers only" is usually how it goes. When I run into that I will often buy something and then go. But what if you need to go first...could you pee now, pay later?

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UFOlogy

Ok I dink around a little but with music. Since 2000 I've been periodically posting music to AcidPlanet.com under the band name glitchfilter. I was listening to my old stuff today and I was reminded of how making home made music is a lot of fun for me. so I'm taking a chance here. Here is "UFOlogy" from my upcoming release.

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Gifts of Love and Friendship

Thinking of buying flowers for your loved one? I know Valentine's Day is coming up soon...but why wait? Don't check a calendar to show your love and appreciation! Your loved one probably doesn't. Niether should you!

One way to show your love is to send flowers online. FlowerShop.com is a family-owned floral company with almost 35 years of experience in the flower industry. FlowerShop.com is dedicated to providing their customers with fresh flowers and unique gifts to express their thoughts and feelings. Most of their products are hand-delivered by local florists, and can be delivered same-day. They are experts in gift baskets, gourmet baskets, corporate gifts, plants, flowers and all items that you would find in a flower shop.

You’ll also find unique gifts that wouldn’t be typically sold by florists, such as chocolate-covered berries, melt-in-your-mouth brownies, and gourmet nuts and dried fruits. They are a FTD and Teleflora member florist, so you can count on them to provide you with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Not sure what to send? Need some tips on how to make your arrangement last longer? You can find information about flowers and gift-giving at the FlowerShop.com blog. Flowershop.com is a secure site. They've taken all the necessary steps to create a secure environment for credit card transactions. Eighty-three percent of people like to receive flowers unexpectedly.

Shop FlowerShop.com today and make someone smile!

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Pitching Tents

This morning's earlier post at St. Paul as an example to imitate in service to the Lord. In the Office of Readings for today, St. John Chrysostom give great advice about that but none is given in the case of the above video. Talk about being persecuted for his faith! The look on his face is priceless. Now everyone slips up every now and then but that one was major.

Say Pitch Tents three times fast!

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Remain Amid The Fight

From Today's Office of Readings:

From a homily by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop

I have fought the good fight

Though housed in a narrow prison, Paul dwelt in heaven. He accepted beatings and wounds more readily than others reach out for rewards. Sufferings he loved as much as prizes; indeed he regarded them as his prizes, and therefore called them a grace or gift. Reflect on what this means. To depart and be with Christ was certainly a reward, while remaining in the flesh meant struggle. Yet such was his longing for Christ that he wanted to defer his reward and remain amid the fight; those were his priorities.

Now, to be separated from the company of Christ meant struggle and pain for Paul; in fact, it was a greater affliction than any struggle or pain would be. On the other hand, to be with Christ was a matchless reward. Yet, for the sake of Christ, Paul chose the separation.

But, you may say: “Because of Christ, Paul found all this pleasant”. I cannot deny that, for he derived intense pleasure from what saddens us. I need not think only of perils and hardships. It was true even of the intense sorrow that made him cry out: Who is weak that I do not share the weakness? Who is scandalised that I am not consumed with indignation?

I urge you not simply to admire but also to imitate this splendid example of virtue, for, if we do, we can share his crown as well.

Are you surprised at my saying that if you have Paul’s merits, you will share that same reward? Then listen to Paul himself: I have fought the good fight, I have run the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth a crown of justice awaits me, and the Lord, who is a just judge, will give it to me on that day – and not to me alone, but to those who desire his coming. You see how he calls all to share the same glory?
Now, since the same crown of glory is offered to all, let us eagerly strive to become worthy of these promised blessings.

In thinking of Paul we should not consider only his noble and lofty virtues or the strong and ready will that disposed him for such great graces. We should also realise that he shares our nature in every respect. If we do, then even what is very difficult will seem to us easy and light; we shall work hard during the short time we have on earth and someday we shall wear the incorruptible, immortal crown. This we shall do by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all glory and power belongs now and always through endless ages. Amen.

Amen and Amen. Fight the good fight.

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Get Ready to Set Sail

Out here on the Chesapeake Bay folks are always looking for the latest in Boating equipment. As Spring approaches...and it is coming...anglers and leisure boaters need to start preparing to hit the water once again. I found a website that will help that preparation go alot easier for you.

At Northeast Marine Electronics you will find electronics for camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, and driving. Take a look at their extensive collection of Standard Horizon electronics when you get a moment, or their high-tech GPS chart plotters and Garmin Marine Electronics. They also have a large selection of electronic fishing tools like their Furuno Fish Finders and Garmin Marine Electronics. Let the enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff help you choose the Discount Marine Electronics you need.

Their selection of discount marine electronics is the best you will ever find. They carry anything you could ever need at sea. * fishfinders * batteries * gps systems * radar * chart plotters * depth finders * binoculars * compasses * instructional videos All of their consumer marine electronics are sold at incomparable discounts from retail prices. They only sell materials of the absolute highest quality.

Their site is easy to navigate and includes many necessary products. If you ever encounter any difficulty using their website or if you ever have any difficulties with a product, call and let them know. They do all they can to make your experience at NortheastMarineElectronics.com enjoyable and stress free. People who spend time at sea understand how much equipment is necessary to avoid problems and to be able to relax and have a good time.

At NortheastMarineElectronics.com their consumer marine electronics are designed to give you peace of mind when you sail away from the shore. They only sell supplies that They know to be reliable. Their brands are some of the most trusted in the industry. They have products from Astron, Garmin, Standard Horizon, Raymarine, and equipment from many more manufacturers. They want everyone to take pleasure in fishing.

Whether you make your living as an angler or fishing is your weekend calling, you will benefit from using quality materials. The discount marine electronics available at NortheastMarineElectronics.com are always astonishing. Whether you need radar, fishfinders, or gps systems, you'll find the perfect products at their store.

Check them out I think you will be impressed.

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Old Jokes Never Die

I almost forgot about this joke:

A preacher and his flock at a very poor church in the hills of Tennessee took up collections, baked cakes and washed cars for months to get enough money to buy paint for the church exterior which was bare and weatherbeaten. Finally they went to Walmart and bought enough paint for the job and all joined together on a Saturday morning to complete the job. When they were about half finished they realized that they were going to run out of paint before finishing. The preacher said, "Its a water base paint, just thin it down with water." They continued painting and thinning until the color started losing its depth and when they finally finished it was dark green at the top, light green in the middle and a very light green (almost white) at the bottom. The preacher and his flock were standing on a nearby hill admiring their work when a dark cloud appeared and the heavens opened up with a deluge of rain which washed all of the newly applied paint off the church. The preacher was in tears and the congregation was stunned at all the hard work they had done for nothing.

Just then there was a huge lightening flash followed by the roll of thunder and a loud voice from the heavens rang out, "REPAINT, REPAINT AND THIN NO MORE."

I just couldn't resist telling that one again.

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Taking Trophies Home

From the Office of Readings:

From a homily by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop

For love of Christ, Paul bore every burden

Paul, more than anyone else, has shown us what man really is, and in what our nobility consists, and of what virtue this particular animal is capable. Each day he aimed ever higher; each day he rose up with greater ardour and faced with new eagerness the dangers that threatened him. He summed up his attitude in the words: I forget what is behind me and push on to what lies ahead. When he saw death imminent, he bade others share his joy: Rejoice and be glad with me! And when danger, injustice and abuse threatened, he said: I am content with weakness, mistreatment and persecution. These he called the weapons of righteousness, thus telling us that he derived immense profit from them.

Thus, amid the traps set for him by his enemies, with exultant heart he turned their every attack into a victory for himself; constantly beaten, abused and cursed, he boasted of it as though he were celebrating a triumphal procession and taking trophies home, and offered thanks to God for it all: Thanks be to God who is always victorious in us! This is why he was far more eager for the shameful abuse that his zeal in preaching brought upon him than we are for the most pleasing honours, more eager for death than we are for life, for poverty than we are for wealth; he yearned for toil far more than others yearn for rest after toil. The one thing he feared, indeed dreaded, was to offend God; nothing else could sway him. Therefore, the only thing he really wanted was always to please God.

The most important thing of all to him, however, was that he knew himself to be loved by Christ. Enjoying this love, he considered himself happier than anyone else; were he without it, it would be no satisfaction to be the friend of principalities and powers. He preferred to be thus loved and be the least of all, or even to be among the damned, than to be without that love and be among the great and honoured.
To be separated from that love was, in his eyes, the greatest and most extraordinary of torments; the pain of that loss would alone have been hell, and endless, unbearable torture.

So too, in being loved by Christ he thought of himself as possessing life, the world, the angels, present and future, the kingdom, the promise and countless blessings. Apart from that love nothing saddened or delighted him; for nothing earthly did he regard as bitter or sweet.

Paul set no store by the things that fill our visible world, any more than a man sets value on the withered grass of the field. As for tyrannical rulers or the people enraged against him, he paid them no more heed than gnats. Death itself and pain and whatever torments might come were but child’s play to him, provided that thereby he might bear some burden for the sake of Christ.

May the Lord give us the mindset of "taking trophies home"! Have a blessed day.

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Boston Condos at CondoCompany.com

Condominiums are going up EVERYWHERE there is water! I know I live in a town on the water and the shore line is growing taller by the day. Condominiums are a very accomodating purchase, because they are convenient and are easily turning into vacation rentals if you prefer not to live in it.

If you are in the New England area and are interested in Boston Condos there is a perfect website available to you. CondoCompany.com has launched a CondoList. CondoCompany.com is the number one searched condominium dedicated site on the Internet. The site receives thousand of unique visitors every day who are looking to buy sell or rent condos. The CondoList program allows Realtors, Owners, and Developers to list condos for sale in the Boston area. This allows potential buyers searching for Boston condos to find the contact information of the listing agent or owner of each condo, bypassing any middlemen. CondoCompany.com has also recently launched the "Building Specialists" program. A building specialist is a real estate agent who specializes in a particular condominium building. Generally this is used for luxury high rise condos. Agents must meet certain requirements to be a Boston building specialist. If you are looking for condos in Boston CondoCompany.com is your number one source!

I recommend this site for your Boston Condo search! :)

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Devotion and Vocation

From the Office of Readings:

From The Introduction to the Devout Life by Saint Francis de Sales, bishop

Devotion must be practised in different ways

When God the Creator made all things, he commanded the plants to bring forth fruit each according to its own kind; he has likewise commanded Christians, who are the living plants of his Church, to bring forth the fruits of devotion, each one in accord with his character, his station and his calling.

I say that devotion must be practised in different ways by the nobleman and by the working man, by the servant and by the prince, by the widow, by the unmarried girl and by the married woman. But even this distinction is not sufficient; for the practice of devotion must be adapted to the strength, to the occupation and to the duties of each one in particular.

Tell me, please, my Philothea, whether it is proper for a bishop to want to lead a solitary life like a Carthusian; or for married people to be no more concerned than a Capuchin about increasing their income; or for a working man to spend his whole day in church like a religious; or on the other hand for a religious to be constantly exposed like a bishop to all the events and circumstances that bear on the needs of our neighbour. Is not this sort of devotion ridiculous, unorganised and intolerable? Yet this absurd error occurs very frequently, but in no way does true devotion, my Philothea, destroy anything at all. On the contrary, it perfects and fulfils all things. In fact if it ever works against, or is inimical to, anyone’s legitimate station and calling, then it is very definitely false devotion.

The bee collects honey from flowers in such a way as to do the least damage or destruction to them, and he leaves them whole, undamaged and fresh, just as he found them. True devotion does still better. Not only does it not injure any sort of calling or occupation, it even embellishes and enhances it.

Moreover, just as every sort of gem, cast in honey, becomes brighter and more sparkling, each according to its colour, so each person becomes more acceptable and fitting in his own vocation when he sets his vocation in the context of devotion. Through devotion your family cares become more peaceful, mutual love between husband and wife becomes more sincere, the service we owe to the prince becomes more faithful, and our work, no matter what it is, becomes more pleasant and agreeable.

It is therefore an error and even a heresy to wish to exclude the exercise of devotion from military divisions, from the artisans’ shops, from the courts of princes, from family households. I acknowledge, my dear Philothea, that the type of devotion which is purely contemplative, monastic and religious can certainly not be exercised in these sorts of stations and occupations, but besides this threefold type of devotion, there are many others fit for perfecting those who live in a secular state.

Therefore, in whatever situations we happen to be, we can and we must aspire to the life of perfection.

God will grant you the aspiration to perction according to your own life...not another's. Rest in that knowledge.

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Only a Mama Left

Mamas and Papas's Denny Doherty dies at 66



MONTREAL (AFP) - Canadian singer and songwriter Denny Doherty, a
member of the 1960s folk-rock quartet The Mamas and The Papas, died
in his home outside Toronto at the age of 66, local media said.

Born in 1940 in the east coast city of Halifax, Doherty died at his
home in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga following a brief illness,
according to CBC television.

Doherty was a folk musician with Canadian bands in the early 1960s
before forming The Mamas and The Papas in the United States in 1965
with John Phillips, Cass Elliot and Michelle Phillips.

The group became known worldwide with hits such as "California
Dreamin'," and "Monday, Monday." The foursome split up in 1968 after recording four albums. Doherty pursued a solo career and was inducted into the Canadian
Music Hall of Fame in 1996.

His death leaves Michelle Phillips as the only surviving member of
The Mamas and The Papas Elliot, known as "Mama Cass," died in 1974 at the age of 32, while John Phillips died in 2001 at 65.

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The Dating Game - Russian Style

We have all heard of mail order brides. It has almost become a cliche as they have appeared in comedies such as Mail Order Bride, Mail Order Wife, and Dodgeball. But as with every cliche there are doubtlessly many more success stories that we never ever hear about.

I had a friend who was not a very outgoing person. For the twenty years I've known him I would always wonder if he would have to be celibate out of necessity. I had considered time and time again using this wife shopping method. He is getting married this year but if he hadn't I might have invited some russian women into his life!

One place I may have pointed out to him would have been Lovers Planet.

Lovers Planet unites a diverse community of single Russian women seeking men for marriage and romance. You will find many singles looking for a serious relationship, just like you. Lovers Planet is a Russian dating and personals agency. At Lovers Planet they understand that it takes time for a relationship to grow into marriage. their Russian dating service offers profiles and photos of single Russian women and Ukraine women, as well as ladies from other countries of Eastern Europe.

Most Russian brides are looking for a life partner on this site. They prefer to get to know a person before creating a more serious bond or marriage. Russian and Ukrainian brides are different from brides of other countries because marriage is normally their main priority from early age. Even young Russian women strive to create a family first and only afterwards they think about building a career, not visa versa. Dating for most of these women implies marriage and family. Therefore, a relationship with a Russian bride (AKA "mail order brides") is likely to be different from any affair you have had before.

The divorce rate in marriages with Russian women tends to be much lower than with marriages in America, UK and Australia. Russian brides are famous internationally as the most beautiful women in the world. A typical Russian woman looks like a model. Dating attractive Russian girls is likely to be very different from any local dating experience. Most Russian girls have well-developed family values and instincts. They are intelligent and well-educated. They are also loving, tender and devoted to a relationship. Each year millions of men from them, Canada and Australia meet, marry and admire brides from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries of Eastern Europe. Many couples eventually create successful families and raise beautiful and intelligent children. Marriages to Russian brides have a proven track record of success. Why wait? Browse Russian women profiles, post your own ad for free and find a loving wife in minutes!

If you are looking for a different kind of dating relationship? Try Lovers Planet. Good luck... and invite me to the wedding!

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Meet Punchy

Warning: Mild language.



"It's like trurrets...only he punches people in the face."

We all have had friends that have had certain "traits" we overlook. I'm not sure if I could overlook this one... :)

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Through Jesus Christ

From today's Office of Readings:

From a letter by Fulgentius of Ruspe, bishop

Christ lives for ever to make intercession for us

Notice, at the conclusion of our prayer we never say, “through the Holy Spirit”, but rather, “through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord”. Through the mystery of the Incarnation, Jesus Christ became man, the mediator of God and man. He is a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech. By shedding his own blood he entered once and for all into the Holy Places. He did not enter a place made by human hands, a mere type of the true one; but, he entered heaven itself, where he is at God’s right hand interceding for us. Quite correctly, the Church continues to reflect this mystery in her prayer.

This mystery of Jesus Christ the high priest is reflected in the apostle Paul’s statement: Through him, then, let us always offer the sacrifice of praise to God, the fruit of lips that profess belief in his name. We were once enemies of the Father, but have been reconciled through the death of Christ. Through him then we offer our sacrifice of praise, our prayer to God. He became our offering to the Father, and through him our offering is now acceptable. It is for this reason that Peter the apostle urges us to be built up as living stones into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. This then is the reason why we offer prayer to God our Father, but through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When we speak of Christ’s priesthood, what else do we mean than the incarnation? Through this mystery, the Son of God, though himself ever remaining God, became a priest. To him along with the Father, we offer our sacrifice. Yet, through him the sacrifice we now offer is holy, living and pleasing to God. Indeed, if Christ had not sacrificed himself for us, we could not offer any sacrifice. For it is in him that our human nature becomes a redemptive offering. When we offer our prayers through him, our priest, we confess that Christ truly possesses the flesh of our race. Clearly the Apostle refers to this when he says: Every high priest is taken from among men. He is appointed to act on behalf of these same men in their relationship to God; he is to offer gifts and sacrifices to God.

We do not, however, only say “your Son” when we conclude our prayer. We also say, “who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit”. In this way we commemorate the natural unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is clear, then, that the Christ who exercises a priestly role on our behalf is the same Christ who enjoys a natural unity and equality with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

May the blessings of the Trinity rest with you today! :)

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St Antony, Abbot

St Antony, Abbot (251 - 356)

St. Antony's story is a part of the desert tradition of the Early Christian Church.

From Universalis.com:

St Antony is the originator of the monastic life. He was born in Egypt: when his parents died, he listened to the words of the Gospel and gave all his belongings to the poor. He went out into the wilderness to begin a life of penitence, living in absolute poverty, praying, meditating, and supporting himself by manual work. He suffered many temptations, both physical and spiritual, but he overcame them. Disciples gathered round him, attracted by his wisdom, moderation, and holiness. He gave support to the victims of the persecutions of Diocletian, and helping St Athanasius in his fight against the Arians. He lived to be over a hundred years old, and died in 356.

The Gospels are full of wise sayings of Jesus that seem to be ignored, and one of the most poignant of these was in his meeting with that young man who asked over and over again, insistently, “What must I do to have eternal life?”. When, in the end, Jesus told him that if he wanted to be perfect he would have to sell all that he had and give the money to the poor, the young man went away, sorrowing; because he was very rich. What could be more of a waste than that? You tell someone what he has to do, and he is afraid to do it. And yet... 250 years later, St Antony hears the story, and does give away all that he has, and becomes the founder of monasticism. And then again, over 1,000 years later, St Francis of Assisi hears the story, and gives away his possessions (and some of his father’s) and revolutionises Christianity again.

Not all the words that we speak are forgotten, even though we cannot see their effects ourselves. Let us pray that those unknown effects may always be good ones.

Amen and Amen.

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Love Unites Us To God

From today's Office of Readings:

From a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement I, pope

Who can express the binding power of divine love?

Let the man truly possessed by the love of Christ keep his commandments. Who can express the binding power of divine love? Who can find words for the splendour of its beauty? Beyond all description are the heights to which it lifts us. Love unites us to God; it cancels innumerable sins, has no limits to its endurance, bears everything patiently. Love is neither servile nor arrogant. It does not provoke schisms or form cliques, but always acts in harmony with others. By it all God’s chosen ones have been sanctified; without it, it is impossible to please him. Out of love the Lord took us to himself; because he loved us and it was God’s will, our Lord Jesus Christ gave his life’s blood for us – he gave his body for our body, his soul for our soul.

See then, beloved, what a great and wonderful thing love is, and how inexpressible its perfection. Who are worthy to possess it unless God makes them so? To him therefore we must turn, begging of his mercy that there may be found in us a love free from human partiality and beyond reproach. Every generation from Adam’s time to ours has passed away; but those who by God’s grace were made perfect in love have a dwelling now among the saints, and when at last the kingdom of Christ appears, they will be revealed. Take shelter in your rooms for a little while, says Scripture, until my wrath subsides. Then I will remember the good days, and will raise you from your graves.

Happy are we, beloved, if love enables us to live in harmony and in the observance of God’s commandments, for then it will also gain for us the remission of our sins. Scripture pronounces happy those whose transgressions are pardoned, whose sins are forgiven. Happy the man, it says, to whom the Lord imputes no fault, on whose lips there is no guile. This is the blessing given those whom God has chosen through Jesus Christ our Lord. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

God's love to you, today!

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Improve Your Profits

Looking to improve your profitablity? I think w all are but especially those who run their own business. Performance management and activity based costing is the key and Acorn systems can help.

Acorn Systems enables meaningful and sustained profit improvement by providing continuous enterprise-wide visibility into business performance. How? Acorn combines a unique and proven consulting methodology with a highly scalable, sustainable software platform to provide a superior profit improvement solution. The Profit Improvement Company Acorn Systems enables companies to achieve their performance management objectives, by providing the foundation for sound decision making.

Organizations striving to understand and improve profitability, supply chain efficiencies, cost allocation and cost reduction rely on Acorn for accurate, dynamic cost/profit analytics and metrics that are easy to maintain and highly scalable to support the largest enterprises. Acorn delivers the Enterprise Profit System and next generation Activity Based Costing (ABC) solutions that provide the highest value at the lowest total cost of ownership.

Their solutions enable you to confidently measure, optimize and predict costs, net operating profits, EVA, capacity and resources at any level of granularity such as by customer, supplier, product, facility, transaction and more. Acorn Systems' revolutionary software and unique methodology makes this elusive information readily available and easy to act on for ongoing cost reductions and profit improvements throughout your organization. Every employee at Acorn is focused on helping their customers improve profits and reduce costs. This is ALL they do. They are FOCUSED so that they can deliver on our mission of helping our customers QUICKLY and DRAMATICALLY improve their profitability.

Whether you are a multi-national corporation, a government organization or a medium-sized business, Acorn Systems has solutions that will directly interface with your existing systems and enable you to quickly start improving the results of your organization.

Kick start your profits. Check them out today!

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Weather Patterns

It has been wonderfully warm here this weekend. The Weatherman says that will soon change. And we alway trust the Weatherman...right?

This is funny:

There was a communist named Rudolph. One day he looked out the window and said, "It looks like a storm is coming." "No it isn't," said his wife. "Besides, how would you know?" "Because," he responded, "Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear."

so is this:

The Indians asked their Chief in autumn, if the winter was going to be cold or not. Not really knowing an answer, the chief replies that the winter was going to be cold and that the members of the village were to collect wood to be prepared.

Being a good leader, he then went to the next phone booth and called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is this winter to be cold?"

The man on the phone responded, "This winter was going to be quite cold indeed." So the Chief went back to speed up his people to collect even more wood to be prepared.

A week later he called the National Weather Service again, "Is it going to be a VERY cold winter?"

"Yes", the man replied, "it's going to be a very cold winter."

So the Chief goes back to his people and orders them to go and find every scrap of wood they can find. Two weeks later he calls the National Weather Service again: "Are you absolutely sure, that the winter is going to be very cold?"

"Absolutely" the man replies, "the Indians are collecting wood like crazy!"

Stay dry and warm.

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Nothing Is Better Than Peace

From today's Office of Reading:

From a letter to the Ephesians by Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr

Have faith in Christ, and love

Try to gather together more frequently to give thanks to God and to praise him. For when you come together frequently, Satan’s powers are undermined, and the destruction he threatens is done away with in the unanimity of your faith. Nothing is better than peace, in which all warfare between heaven and earth is brought to an end.

None of this will escape you if you have perfect faith and love toward Jesus Christ. These are the beginning and the end of life: faith the beginning, love the end. When these two are found together, there is God, and everything else concerning right living follows from them. No one professing faith sins; no one possessing love hates. “A tree is known by its fruit”. So those who profess to belong to Christ will be known by what they do. For the work we are about is not a matter of words here and now, but depends on the power of faith and on being found faithful to the end.
It is better to remain silent and to be than to talk and not be. Teaching is good if the teacher also acts. Now there was one teacher who “spoke, and it was made”, and even what he did in silence is worthy of the Father.

He who has the word of Jesus can truly listen also to his silence, in order to be perfect, that he may act through his speech and be known by his silence. Nothing is hidden from the Lord, but even our secrets are close to him. Let us then do everything in the knowledge that he is dwelling within us so that we may be his temples and he may be God within us. He is, and will reveal himself, in our sight, according to the love we bear him in holiness.

“Make no mistake”, my brothers: those who corrupt families “will not inherit the kingdom of God”. If those who do these things in accordance with the flesh have died, how much worse will it be if one corrupts through evil doctrine the faith of God for which Jesus was crucified. Such a person, because he is defiled, will depart into the unquenchable fire, as will any one who listens to him.

For the Lord received anointing on his head in order that he might breathe incorruptibility on the Church. Do not be anointed with the evil odour of the teachings of the prince of this world, do not let him lead you captive away from the life that is set before you. But why is it that we are not all wise when we have received the knowledge of God, which is Jesus Christ? Why do we perish in our stupidity, not knowing the gift the Lord has truly sent us?

My spirit is given over to the humble service of the cross which is a stumbling block to unbelievers but to us salvation and eternal life.

Wishing you true faith love and peace today!

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Job Roping

The job market is soooo tight here on the Delmarva Penninsula. Without a little help one might be a long time looking. And take a good hard look because out here it seems employers are like cowboys, they make the rules and it's ususlly as they go along. Lassoing that perfect job may be a hard drive for the average cowhand.

If you are an engineer, you may need an expert in Civil Engineer Jobs. You should look into CSI's recruitment team.

CSI is a team of 14 professional recruiters that eat, drink and sleep Civil Engineering and are 100% dedicated to working nationally with Civil Engineering candidates and companies! Unmatched in recruiting experience, the CSI team is highlighted by the following:

President with 20 years of Civil Engineering recruiting experience.

Consultant with a PE designation (over 30 years of Executive Mgt) .

Sales Director with over 10 years of Civil Engineering recruiting experience.

Principal with 7 years of Exec. Mgt with a Fortune 500 Technology Co.

Their combined staff has over 60 years of Civil Engineering recruiting experience. They understand the need for complete confidentiality and have a continuous goal of exceeding the expectations of their Civil Engineering candidates and clients!

Professional Recruiters Working Harder and Smarter:

In an average month, their recruiters make over 25,000 telephone calls through a database of prospects that they are confident is the most comprehensive list of Civil Engineering PE’s and EIT’s in their industry. Instead of “churning” through old resumes, they focus on dialing hot prospects and building relationships……CSI makes every effort to customize the search to fit your needs. they recruit the old fashioned way.

Satisfied Clients Including Many of the Top Engineering Firms in the United States:

Currently, they represent over 50 leading Civil Engineering firms, many are international leaders while others are top regional firms. These firms are working on the best projects, have outstanding management teams and offer excellent salaries/benefits as well as a chance for rapid promotion. After spending the time to get to know their client’s needs, they then prepare a detailed job order before beginning the outbound dialing process.

Good luck pardner!

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Busted System

Here's a couple of head scratchers:

Former highly regarded Texas drug agent Barry Cooper (800 arrests) announced in December he would begin selling his video, "Never Get Busted Again," instructing drug users on how to conceal their stashes. (Cooper called the "war on drugs" counterproductive.)

In related news: In December, former New York City parking court judge Haskell Nussbaum published "Beat That Parking Ticket," in which he advises that harried judges look for the slightest defect in a ticket, in that it's the easiest way to move quickly through a docket. "Every ticket is worth fighting," he told the New York Post in October.

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Unless The Word Keep It

From today's Office of Readings:

From a discourse Against the Pagans by Saint Athanasius, bishop

The word of the Father gives order, direction and unity to creation

By his own wisdom and Word, who is our Lord and Saviour Christ, the all-holy Father (whose excellence far exceeds that of any creature), like a skilful steersman guides to safety all creation, regulating and keeping it in being, as he judges right. It is right that creation should exist as he has made it and as we see it happening, because this is his will, which no one would deny. For if the movement of the universe were irrational, and the world rolled on in random fashion, one would be justified in disbelieving what we say. But if the world is founded on reason, wisdom and science, and is filled with orderly beauty, then it must owe its origin and order to none other than the Word of God.

He is God, the living and creative God of the universe, the word of the good God, who is God in his own right. The Word is different from all created things: he is the unique Word belonging only to the good Father. This is the Word that created this whole world and enlightens it by his loving wisdom. He who is the good Word of the good Father produced the order in all creation, joining opposites together, and forming from them one harmonious sound. He is God, one and only-begotten, who proceeds in goodness from the Father as from the fountain of goodness, and gives order, direction and unity to creation.

By his eternal Word the Father created all things and implanted a nature in his creatures. He did not want to see them tossed about at the mercy of their own natures, and so be reduced to nothingness. But in his goodness he governs and sustains the whole of nature by his Word (who is himself also God), so that under the guidance, providence and ordering of that Word, the whole of nature might remain stable and coherent in his light. Nature was to share in the Father’s Word, whose reality is true, and be helped by him to exist, for without him it would cease to be. For unless the Word, who is the very “image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation”, kept it in existence it could not exist. For whatever exists, whether visible or invisible, remains in existence through him and in him, and he is also the head of the Church, as we are taught by the ministers of truth in their sacred writings.

The almighty and most holy Word of the Father pervades the whole of reality, everywhere unfolding his power and shining on all things visible and invisible. He sustains it all and binds it all together in himself. He leaves nothing devoid of his power but gives life and keeps it in being throughout all of creation and in each individual creature.

Thank God for a brand new day!

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Big Kahuna Dreaming

Meanwhile on the Big Island:

It's cold and windy on Delmrva today. One could say I'm california dreaming...well actually I'm Big Kahuna dreaming...

Thinking about buying a Hawaii Condo too?

Gebhart Properties (www.gebhartproperties.com) has launched a new website featuring premiere Hawaii resort and ocean front vacation homes for rent on both the Big Island and Maui. Even in Hawaii not all vacation destinations are created equally.

Gebhart Properties owns and manages custom homes in some of the most exclusive resort locations in the Hawaiian Islands. You’ll find incomparable amenities in their outstanding Hawaii vacation homes. Luxurious and convenient features, spacious living areas, custom furnishings, and artwork not found in even the finest of hotels. Hale Nani Loa Maka, their Kolea Villa, is a 3BR/3BA penthouse located at the Waikoloa Beach Resort. One of the finest condominiums in all of Hawaii, it sleeps 6 and offers 2,576 square feet of living space. Featuring private elevator access, gourmet kitchen, an extensive collection of Hawaiian art and outstanding views of Anaeho'omalu Bay and Kileaua, this vacation rental offers all the comforts of home in a resort setting.

Hale Ke Kai, their luxurious 3BR/4BA two-level private home in Kailua-Kona will comfortably sleep up to 8 people. It features full-sized kitchens and expansive lanais on both levels, two master suites, a private wading pool, and a location so close to the ocean that you can frequently feel the spray from the ocean as waves break against the coastline.

If you want a taste of Old Lahaina, you want to book a stay at their incredible 2BR/2BA corner-unit condo located on the third floor of the Mahana at Kaanapali Resort in Maui. This resort, the only property in Kaanapali that runs parallel to the ocean, is located a mere thirty feet back from the beach! Gebhart Properties has selected and furnished their Hawaii vacation rentals to meet your every expectation and give you the luxury, convenience and comfort not found in most other vacation rentals or standard hotels.

Browse their Hawaii residential real estate and see for yourself why their Hawaii vacation homes are incomparable to others or call 1-800-545-5151 and book your stay with them today!

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There's something rotten in the Big Apple

Stinking up the road:

Source of stench: NY or NJ?

NEW YORK — It's what New Yorkers like to say when they get a whiff of something funky: "Must be New Jersey." They said it again this week when a mysterious gas-like odor wafted across Manhattan and New Jersey. To which some indignant New Jerseyans said it's the New Yorkers who are smelling up the joint.

The source of the stink remained a mystery Tuesday, as well as a rich source of juvenile jokes about New Jersey _ and New York, too.

"You know what you call New York with a bad smell? New Jersey," Jay Leno wisecracked. And Conan O'Brien killed with this: "Apparently, New Yorkers knew something was wrong because it smelled bad when they got OUT of their taxis.

Charles Sturcken, a spokesman for the city Department of Environmental Protection, said initial complaints about the sulfurous, rotten-egg smell indicated that it emanated from south and west of the city. That would place it in _ surprise! _ New Jersey.

But Garden State officials, tired of Jersey-bashing and industrial waste jokes, were quick to charge New Yorkers with prematurely blaming their long-time neighbors for the Monday morning stench that produced scores of 911 calls, disrupted transit service and sent a dozen people to the hospital.

"It looks an awful lot like jumping to conclusions," said Lisa Jackson, New Jersey commissioner for environmental protection.

New York investigators considered three possible theories for what a front-page New York Post headline dubbed "THE BIG STINK."

The first was a New Jersey chemical plant, although it was later ruled an unlikely source, Sturcken said. Next was a natural process, such as decaying vegetable matter related to the recent warm weather. And last was a build-up of sewer gases in both New York and New Jersey, tied to Tuesday's wet weather.

In the initial moments of the craze over the smell, officials in New Jersey indicated that the odor was coming from a leak in Greenwich Village. But they later said they were investigating the possibility of a natural gas pipeline problem in their state.

Wherever the stink came from, Mayor Michael Bloomberg stressed there was never any danger to the public.

"It was good theater," the mayor told reporters, "for you and for Jay Leno."

Good theatre? Not the kind NY visitors had in mind I'm sure.

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Visible and Palpable

From today's Office of Readings:

From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop

Knowledge of the Father consists in the self-revelation of the Son

No one can know the Father apart from God’s Word, that is, unless the Son reveals him, and no one can know the Son unless the Father so wills. Now the Son fulfils the Father’s good pleasure: the Father sends, the Son is sent, and he comes. The Father is beyond our sight and comprehension; but he is known by his Word, who tells us of him who surpasses all telling. In turn, the Father alone has knowledge of his Word. And the Lord has revealed both truths. Therefore, the Son reveals the knowledge of the Father by his revelation of himself. Knowledge of the Father consists in the self-revelation of the Son, for all is revealed through the Word.

The Father’s purpose in revealing the Son was to make himself known to us all and so to welcome into eternal rest those who believe in him, establishing them in justice, preserving them from death. To believe in him means to do his will.

Through creation itself the Word reveals God the Creator. Through the world he reveals the Lord who made the world. Through all that is fashioned he reveals the craftsman who fashioned it all. Through the Son the Word reveals the Father who begot him as Son. All speak of these things in the same language, but they do not believe them in the same way. Through the law and the prophets the Word revealed himself and his Father in the same way, and though all the people equally heard the message not all equally believed it. Through the Word, made visible and palpable, the Father was revealed, though not all equally believed in him. But all saw the Father in the Son, for the Father of the Son cannot be seen, but the Son of the Father can be seen. The Son performs everything as a ministry to the Father, from beginning to end, and without the Son no one can know God. The way to know the Father is the Son. Knowledge of the Son is in the Father, and is revealed through the Son. For this reason the Lord said: No one knows the Son except the Father; and no one knows the Father except the Son, and those to whom the Son has revealed him. The word “revealed” refers not only to the future – as though the Word began to reveal the Father only when he was born of Mary; it refers equally to all time.

From the beginning the Son is present to creation, reveals the Father to all, to those the Father chooses, when the Father chooses, and as the Father chooses. So, there is in all and through all one God the Father, one Word and Son, and one Spirit, and one salvation for all who believe in him.

To believe in him means to do his will. Thus I include today's closing preayer:

In your love, Lord, answer the prayers of your people:
make us see what we have to do
and give us the strength to do it.

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Politician talks his teeth out!

This guy could use some help. He reminds me of my grandmother who always had trouble with her dentures. Things like a good hard cough or a pothole would necessitate an adjustment.

The best way to prevent those embarrassing moments is god dental care. nd if you live in the Alexandria VA area then you may want to visit Hayfield Dental Care.

Hayfield Dental Care has been serving the residents of Alexandria and the surrounding areas since 1987.

All of their dentists have received advanced or specialty training which means they can perform almost any procedure without the need for a referral to another office. Experience is not in short supply. Charles Brown DDS has been employed by Hayfield Dental Care for over ten years. During that time Charles Brown DDS has performed literally thousands of crown, root canal and surgical procedures.

Charles Brown DDS has a perfect record at the Virginia Board of Dentistry with a history of zero complaints. He graduated from the Medical College of Virginia and has received numerous awards. Charles Brown DDS was the recipient of the Academic Achievement Award for being ranked first in his class for the 1996 academic year.

In 1997 Charles Brown DDS received the Quality Care Award and Resident of the Year award from UMMC. Charles Brown DDS is listed as one of the regions top dentists by the Washington Area Consumer Council and is a member of the ADA. Hayfield Dental Care’s doors are always open to new patients and emergencies. Give them a call at 703-971-2220.

Be good to your teeth!

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Real "Cell Phones"

One ringy dingy...

National Public Radio reported in October that perhaps thousands of prison inmates are using cell phones (which are contraband in all correctional facilities) and that the problem has gotten so bad that Maryland state Sen. Ed DeGrange said he was sitting at his desk recently when an inmate called him on a cell phone with a list of general complaints.

Also, a warden in Texas reported getting a call from the mother of an inmate, demanding that the warden do something to improve cell-phone reception in the prison so she can chat more easily with her son.

Perhaps it's time to have those cell's blocked?

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New York Soup Kitchen Feeds The Famous

Manna from heaven?

New York City has more than 400 soup kitchens but nothing else like the Broadway Presbyterian Church's, where master chef Michael Ennes presides three days a week, turning leftover restaurant ingredients into gourmet meals. In fact, one pre-Christmas meal included octopus, as well as day-old bread from Le Bernardin restaurant. Ennes told London's Independent that he is motivated by the chance to help troubled people get "real nutrition," but he also likes serving "famous" homeless people, such as diners who claim to be, among others, George Bush, George Washington and Jesus Christ. [The Independent (London), 12-21-06]

Hey Jesus...about my water...?

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Flower Power

Caution- Hippies (and topless flower children)
ahead. Keep your shirts on!



The 60's-- a decade of relationship building!

I'm thinking of what to do for my family and friends this year that will be meaningful and help build my relationships. Woodstock probably doesn't hold the key but I think I will give more peace, more love---and more flowers!

And I'll do it through a groovy place called Beyond Blossoms.

Beyond Blossoms mission is simple - to provide the freshest flowers, with the best designs, at the lowest prices. Because their flowers are imported directly from flower farms around the world, they can save you money while providing your recipient with extremely fresh flowers. Whether you want a dozen roses for less than $30 or a more unusual flower like lisianthus, they have the freshest flowers at the best prices. And, they automatically give you rewards points with each online purchase – so you can get free flowers just by shopping with them. Flowers convey emotions that words can’t express. You want to buy your recipient a design that inspires.

Beyond Blossoms’ arrangements feature European styles, meaning they showcase a complementary mix of flowers and greens in matching colors. This creates a more sophisticated look than a typical "garden" style bouquet filled with a wild mix of mismatched flowers. In a European style bouquet, one can truly appreciate each flower’s splendor. They like to think of themselves as the Ben & Jerry's of flowers. While most flower websites are boring and lifeless, they take pride in creating a website that shows you how much they love flowers. From the easy-to-use layout to the looks and descriptions of their bouquets, from their flower picture contest to their favorite flower quotes page, their goal is to make your flower buying experience enjoyable!

Beyond Blossoms was founded in 2003 by Josh Grossman and Gina Maschek. The idea for the company flowered when they needed to write a business plan for an entrepreneurship class in grad school. "We were looking for a business that would allow us to be creative and sell something that people love. Flowers are the perfect item," Josh states. After graduating, the two budding (get it budding?) entrepreneurs began operations.

Check out Beyond Blossoms today. I will. :)

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Cannonball Baptism

In celebration of the feast day of the Baptism of the Lord I'm posting these ditties.

First this:



And now a joke:

A little son of a Baptist minister was in church one morning, when he saw for the first time the rite of baptism by immersion. He was greatly interested in it, and the next morning proceeded to baptise his three cats in the bathtub!

The first kitten bore it very well, and so did the young cat, but the old family cat rebelled. It struggled with him, clawed and tore him, and got away. With considerable effort he caught it again and proceeded with the ceremony. But the cat acted worse than ever. Finally, after barely getting her splattered with water, he dropped her on the floor in disgust and said: “Fine, be an Atheist!”

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Be Radiant Lights

From Today's Office Of Readings: The Baptism of the Lord

A sermon by St Gregory Nazianzen

The baptism of Christ

Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light. Christ is baptised; let us also go down with him, and rise with him.

John is baptising when Jesus draws near. Perhaps he comes to sanctify his baptiser; certainly he comes to bury sinful humanity in the waters. He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake and in readiness for us; he who is spirit and flesh comes to begin a new creation through the Spirit and water.

The Baptist protests; Jesus insists. Then John says: I ought to be baptised by you. He is the lamp in the presence of the sun, the voice in the presence of the Word, the friend in the presence of the Bridegroom, the greatest of all born of woman in the presence of the firstborn of all creation, the one who leapt in his mother’s womb in the presence of him who was adored in the womb, the forerunner and future forerunner in the presence of him who has already come and is to come again. I ought to be baptised by you: we should also add, “and for you”, for John is to be baptised in blood, washed clean like Peter, not only by the washing of his feet.

Jesus rises from the waters; the world rises with him. The heavens like Paradise with its flaming sword, closed by Adam for himself and his descendants, are rent open. The Spirit comes to him as to an equal, bearing witness to his Godhead. A voice bears witness to him from heaven, his place of origin. The Spirit descends in bodily form like the dove that so long ago announced the ending of the flood and so gives honour to the body that is one with God.

Today let us do honour to Christ’s baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the conversion and salvation of men, for whom his every word and every revelation exist. He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light, bathed in the glory of him who is the light of heaven. You are to enjoy more and more the pure and dazzling light of the Trinity, as now you have received – though not in its fullness – a ray of its splendour, proceeding from the one God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.

Shine brightly! Have a Blessed Sunday.

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SEO PDQ

SEO - Search Engine Optimization. I see it everywhere. At first it seems rather mystical to me.

These three word (or letters) DO have a magic that every blogger and webmaster should get to know. It is one of the tools used in search engine marketing. There is alot of information available online about online marketing which you can use to some extent. But I find that most site only lead you up to a sales pitch for an e-book.

And from my experiences of "learning on the internet", I would rather leave the work in the real life hands of professionals.

USWeb is a leading strategic Internet services firm helping clients achieve revenue, profit, market share, and customer loyalty objectives through Internet strategies and systems. USWeb partners with a diverse and prominent portfolio of clients, from medium-size organizations to Fortune 100 corporations. Originally founded in 1995, USWeb has offices across the United States and is known for being the most experienced, qualified and professional Internet consultants in the world.

In today's market, there is a broad range of online marketing opportunities. Successful online marketing depends largely on your ability to identify those that provide the best opportunity to reach your target audience in a scalable and cost effective manner. USWeb designs, develops, and implements custom web systems and integrated online marketing solutions that focus on brand awareness, audience development, and customer retention.

Research confirms that 70-80% of prospective web customers use search engines or search directories to find relevant content. Search engine marketing is the most widely used method of attracting visitors to a website. As a result, competition is fierce at the top of the search engines. USWeb's search engine marketing services are designed to get your site noticed when potential buyers are looking for the products and services you have to offer. Their Search Engine Optimization, PPC Bid Management, and Trusted Feed services target the Internet's major search properties to drive self-qualified prospects to your site - the specific audiences that are looking for your products, content, and/or services.

These folks are trained professionals--so don't try this at home. Let them do it.

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Backwards Thinking

Or should I say listening...

Well since posting the "Paul is Dead again" post I have been checking out some other stuff on backmasking. As you can see I'm a Youtube nerd because I invariably find what I'm looking for there. And I mean I can find anything.

I've been interested from time to time in backmasking for three reasons.

1.) some of my favorite bands were "demonised" during the backmasking heyday.

2.) I went to the Bible school that published "Truth About Rock".

3.) Although some of it is uncanny, I think it is like the inkblot test... you hear something, suggested or not, because you want to.

So I've decided to post this nifty backmask from Blue Oyster Cult: Don't Fear The Reaper. (ps. it needs more cowbell--look that up on Youtube!)



Now I personally like Beyonce's stuff but backmasked she's just too racy...I'll let you go there yourself but be warned it is bad...send your kids to bed first. Dang girl! That's some hidden message!

Now I can't wait for the Justin Timberlake backmask! :)

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Mexico Celebrates Three Kings' Day

From 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and the Weather Channel:

Anyone who has ever had a hard time completing their shopping before Christmas may want to spend the holidays in Mexico, where gifts are traditionally given today. Three Kings' Day, also known as The Epiphany, is the last of the twelve days of Christmas, when the Three Kings-Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar-presented the baby Jesus with the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The morning of the holiday starts with gift giving and a special sweet cake called the Rosca de Reyes, in which is baked a small doll representing the baby Jesus. Whoever finds the doll in their slice of cake is expected to throw a party on February 2, Candlemas, providing the perfect excuse for another trip south of the border.

Current Forecast
Mexico City, Mexico
Mostly Clear
High: 73°
Low: 45°
Precip: 10% sweet!

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Planning My Vacation Now

Jump in the weather is fine! It is 67 degrees today. From someone from L.A. this may not mean much but for someone who spent 1/5th of his life in Minnesota, it is tremendous! I think I'll go to the beach or to the golf course. Or...

Too bad there are not any theme parks reasonably close. I'll have to plan for that. Time to start calling Orlando Florida hotels for reservations.

If you are looking for a great place to spend Christmas, Spring Break, or even your summer break might I suggest an Orlando vacation. How many places in the World have 52 theme parks? Beaches within a short 40 minute drive? Outstanding resorts and vacation homes to stay in for less than most other popular destination places, at every turn? They have it all in Orlando.

Yes, Disney World is their biggest draw, but that is not all they have to offer. they have more top rated golf courses within a 40 minute drive than anywhere else. They also have the second largest convention center in the world, and since Disney World is our biggest draw almost every recreation in Orlando is definitely family friendly.

Orlando is ever changing, and I have not been to Orlando in the past 3 to 5 years, so I really need to visit it soon. The ever competitive theme park business are continuously adding new rides and new attractions. These constant upgrades to the area attractions will continue to make Orlando a great destination for the entire family.

Days like this are just a reminder for me to plan ahead fro that Orlando vacation.

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What's in a name?

From webpronews.com:

Custom Domain Names Catch On At Blogger by Doug Caverly

"Google's Blogger just got a lot more flexible: It will now support custom domain names for your blog. "We'll continue to host all your content as before, but it will be displayed at your new address," promises a post at Blogger Help.

The post, which WebProNews contributor Philipp Lenssen discussed on Google Blogoscoped, also points out that the update works "unlike FTP publishing, which requires you to buy both a domain name and a hosting service."

The timing of this update is rather interesting, given the negative press that Google has encountered recently. As our own Joe Lewis wrote, there was a veritable "firestorm of negativity . . . concerning the company's practice of advertising its own services as 'tips' in SERP pages queried by users."

Joe's article, written yesterday, then noted that, "at least for today, the company has put that practice on hold." Now, one day later, the "hold" has continued, and Google may be trying to get back into everyone's good graces with the Blogger update.

It's also entirely possible that Google has been planning this update for days, weeks, or months, but what would Friday be without a conspiracy theory or two?"

Good news for blogspotters? You decide. Read More...

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Celebrate With Spiritual Joy

From today's Office of Readings: A sermon by Pope St Leo the Great

The Lord has made his salvation known to the whole world

The loving providence of God determined that in the last days he would aid the world, set on its course to destruction. He decreed that all nations should be saved in Christ.

A promise had been made to the holy patriarch Abraham in regard to these nations. He was to have a countless progeny, born not from his body but from the seed of faith. His descendants are therefore compared with the array of the stars. The father of all nations was to hope not in an earthly progeny but in a progeny from above.
Let the full number of the nations now take their place in the family of the patriarchs. Let the children of the promise now receive the blessing in the seed of Abraham, the blessing renounced by the children of his flesh. In the persons of the Magi let all people adore the Creator of the universe; let God be known, not in Judaea only, but in the whole world, so that his name may be great in all Israel.

Dear friends, now that we have received instruction in this revelation of God’s grace, let us celebrate with spiritual joy the day of our first harvesting, of the first calling of the Gentiles. Let us give thanks to the merciful God, who has made us worthy, in the words of the Apostle, to share the position of the saints in light, who has rescued us from the power of darkness, and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son. As Isaiah prophesied: the people of the Gentiles, who sat in darkness, have seen a great light, and for those who dwelt in the region of the shadow of death a light has dawned. He spoke of them to the Lord: The Gentiles, who do not know you, will invoke you, and the peoples, who knew you not, will take refuge in you.

This is the day that Abraham saw, and rejoiced to see, when he knew that the sons born of his faith would be blessed in his seed, that is, in Christ. Believing that he would be the father of the nations, he looked into the future, giving glory to God, in full awareness that God is able to do what he has promised.
This is the day that David prophesied in the psalms, when he said: All the nations that you have brought into being will come and fall down in adoration in your presence, Lord, and glorify your name. Again, the Lord has made known his salvation; in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.

This came to be fulfilled, as we know, from the time when the star beckoned the three wise men out of their distant country and led them to recognise and adore the King of heaven and earth. The obedience of the star calls us to imitate its humble service: to be servants, as best we can, of the grace that invites all men to find Christ.

Dear friends, you must have the same zeal to be of help to one another; then, in the kingdom of God, to which faith and good works are the way, you will shine as children of the light: through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with God the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

May the abundance of Joy be yours today.

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Pocket Full Of Gold

Yes...cool. But who do you think made out better in the long run - the kid who found 5 bucks or the one with the leprechaun in his pocket?

I'd say the guy with the gold. all of my life I've heard that precious metals is the wisest investment choice. It is because it is both liquid and tangible that makes it such a valuable. And even a leprechaun doesn't rely purely on luck. Gold holds its value in the worst markets. But you can't wish on a four leaf clover...you have to invest.

You can buy your gold through the Monex Deposit Company. They allow you to purchase gold or other precious metals for immediate personal delivery or arrange for convenient and safe storage at an independent bank or depository. The Monex companies have been America's gold and precious metals investment leader, for over 30 years.

As an investment product, gold, is available in coin or ingot form. Ingots are generally gold ingots of pure bullion cast in a convenient size and shape. Coins have a currency value or they are actually defined as ingots. Buying gold has been recognized for centuries as one of the best ways to preserve one's wealth and purchasing power. Gold bullion is a unique investment.

From the time of ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans to more modern times, man has had a love for gold bullion. Man has always been fascinated with the beauty and magic of gold, and with its power to change men's lives.

Today, the beauty of a gold bar lies in its proven ability to diversify investments, protect wealth and preserve one's purchasing power. Monex Precious Metals is home to a large and dedicated staff of hard asset professionals committed to serving your precious metals investment needs. This is whyMonex is America's best precious metal dealer.

Lucky charms? --no such thing but wise investing is something to COUNT ON!

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Cushioning the Walls

From my Associated Content page:

I have a 15 year old girl in "rebellion". Actually it is more like emancipation with the aid of "performance enhancing" hormones. However you define it, it is painful to experience.

The raving, the selective hearing, disobedience, and anger...primarily against one parent (sometimes both), is not an isolated stereotype. Mind you not all teens go through this period, but enough do to create a cultural icon of the raging teen. I have one and a pastor/friend of mine has one also.

In speaking with this friend about our travail he offered a way that is not so much a solution to the problem as a way to navigate through it. He called it "Cushioning The Walls". His point was that we may not be able to win our teens hearts and minds right away but we can and must protect them from hurting themselves.

A case in point: My daughter is excluding herself from our family by staying away with friends or locking herself in her room. This made it difficult for my wife and I especially during advent. We have a large family and the celebration of Christmas traditions is very important to us. The rest of our children actually WANTED to participate in family things and my daughter's absence is strikingly apparent. This gets a bit under my skin. That being said a recent blowout between she and I had her leaving to stay the night with a friend, to cool her jets so to speak. It is at this point that the pastor and I compared notes. Read More...

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Paul is Dead Again

Paul may not be dead, but John sure looks alot like Bill Gates.


If you know me you know I am a big Beatles fan. I grew up with them and they provided the best soundtrack to my life that I could ask for. Even after they broke up I followed each of the fab 4's careers- through the good and the bad.

I even followed the old "Paul is Dead" rumors tracking the album covers and the "mysterious" clues. I recently came upon an web page called "Who Buried Paul." which is a very detailed account of the whole Dead Paul frenzy.

You've gotta read and hear some of this stuff. It's a conspiracy worth revisting. Even if it is hog wash.



If you don't buy that, maybe some "rotten apples" will do? everything you ever wanted to know about "the Walrus" (Paul).

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Teen Driving Safety

This is probably NOT the best way to learn driving safety: (Caution...bad language ahead)



If this is how your TEEN learned drivers training you, may need to get more than just cheap car insurance, though it will definitely help.

Seriously, teen driving safety affects everyone. The best way to insure your teen is a safe driver is to take advantage of the vast resources available on the Internet. As a parent you can visit sites like GEICO's for safe driving tips as explained by CarInsurance.com :

GEICO added "Teens and Trucks" to its online library of safe driving materials for teen drivers. The brochure, developed with the American Moving and Storage Association, includes valuable information for teens on how to safely share the highway with large trucks.

The GEICO teen safe driving Web site is located at http://www.geico.com/auto/safety. While the information is helpful to drivers of all ages, GEICO is particularly interested in providing teens with this information when they first learn to drive.

As discussed in "Teens and Trucks," here are some very valuable tips for safe highway driving around large trucks:

* Stay out of a truck's blind spots or "No Zones."
* Be careful when attempting to pass a truck.
* Do not swerve in front of a truck or cause the driver to come to a sudden stop.
* Avoid "Squeeze Play" when a large truck needs to make a wide turn.
* Do not cut off a large truck or passenger bus.

Parents and teens are invited to visit GEICO's teen safe driving library of materials at http://www.geico.com/auto/safety. GEICO provides the materials at no cost to families, driving classes, law enforcement officials and state agencies.

This information is brought to you by CarInsurance.com. CarInsurance.com's online insurance marketplace gives an opportunity to consumers and to insurance companies. We offer the ability to shop for car insurance online. CarInsurance.com will meet the consumers’ requests and solve insurance companies' needs. Consumers can receive quotes from many insurance companies, in some states you are able to purchase your insurance instantly, online. You don't have to drive your car to buy car insurance. Buy online...anytime!

Safety first!

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How are men like UFOs?

You don't know where they come from, what their mission is, or what time they're going to take off.



Well this little video will show you that men are not the only pain in the butt's when it comes to UFO's. All kidding aside the whole UFO thing is interesting and frightening. It makes for some great internet entertainment, whether you believe they are real or not.

Here's a couple of Hot spots:

UFO's for believers.
UFO's for skeptics.

One more joke:

Q. Why do aliens make crop circles?

A. Because they are corny.

As is that joke. :)

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Speaking of Italians and t-shirts...

I found this interesting t-shirt design on a Portuguese blog called LUA DE LOBOS. I have no idea what the posts are about but I really like the pictures and the music: "Dire Straits-Sultans of Swing."

Whatever happen to them? Vh1 has a great bio on them but the last news bite was from 2001.

Lead singer and guitarist Mark Knopfler has been busy in Nashville and can be seen here with Emmylou Harris in "This is Us".

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