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| Rahab the madam, Joshua 2 |
Enjoy it, this is the only place where you will get this kind of information about this caper.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
SECRET SERVICE MADAM RAHAB HELPED CONQUER JERICHO
Enjoy it, this is the only place where you will get this kind of information about this caper.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
READING THE BIBLE or READING FROM THE BIBLE
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| All those tabs don't mean a thing |
I had never met the man and I had made a promise to meet him at the church at a given hour. We were both on time. We began by a short prayer moment before retiring to a more private corner and some softer chairs. This young person was ever so polite and so respectful that it was a pleasure to be in his presence. He told me his story and I listened. I introduced myself to him and he listened. Then he said that he had some things that he wanted to talk about and proceeded to open his Bible at the tab that he evidently wanted to serve as the opening of the discussion. I told him to put his Bible away. He said that he had to have it otherwise he couldn't make his point. I said that reading one verse of two from a random corner of the Bible is not making a point. He was shocked as I repeated my requirement that he put his Bibe aside. I asked him point blank how much of the Bible he had read. He said that he had not really read that much of it because he was still fairly new at this. So he needed it to make his point. I then asked him if he had spent time reading the first pages of the Bible. He said that he had not yet done that.
"So," says I, "when are you going to get around to reading the Bible from the first page?"
He replied that what he wanted to know was not on the first page.
"Ah, so you wanted to know what YOU wanted to know. Did it ever cross your mind that the Bible is the book that we consult to ascertain what God wants us to know about Him?"
Uh? Hmmm.
"Did it ever cross your mind that God might have a system about how to teach us about Himself through the pages of this Book?"
Uh? Hmmm.
"When you open your text book in college do you generally hunt and peck for what you want to know or do you try to follow the author's system for developing the truths contained in the text book?"
Uh? Hmmm.
I let him off the hook when I said, "Leave your Bible on the seat. If you get stuck, I'll tell you the story and then you'll know what God wants you to know."
I won't bore you too much, but I will give you an example of what happened to this young man about 10 minutes before the end of the conversation. He complained that the older people in his life did not give him any credit for having some wisdom that they themselves might not have. He then took up his Bible and quoted from Job, [Eliphaz speaks to Job] thus: "Were you born the first Adam, brought forth before the hills? Did you listen in God's council: is wisdom limited to you? What do you know that we don't know; what do you understand that is not with us?"
[Job, 15; 7 - 9]
He looked at me smugly. I smiled and asked him, "Do you know how the book ends?" Uh? Hmmm. "No."
"I do. It does not go well for Eliphaz. I will spare you the quote since I do not have my Bible with me, but you can look it up, if you want." I paraphrased the story for him. He wasn't smiling.
For you, dear reader I quote what God says to Eliphaz:
7 After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” [Job, 42; 7 - 8]
There was a lot more to the conversation. My young interlocutor was at a loss to express the lessons that God would no doubt want to teach him. He will learn just as soon as he accepts the Bible as God's Word. So far all it is to him is a reference of self-gratifying quotes.
Friday, March 30, 2012
CLERICALISM -- CLERICAL IMPERIALISM -- 1962
Clericalism
The daily topic of "serious" seminarians as they walked home from their classes. It was also a hot topic discussed by bishops reporting for duty to the opening of the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican. The bishops were walking into the well fortified backyard of one, His Eminence Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani, Secretary of the Holy Office, now officially known as the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.
When I opened my online copy of the NCR this morning I saw the headline of the lead story by John Allen, renowned American Vaticanologist, as follows: Benedict's gentle debunk of clericalism.
As it turns out Benedict XVI was one of those who, it was said, was a champion of the anti-clericalism faction of bishops and cardinals. In the parlance of the day, there were the clerical-fascists, the clerical imperialists and maybe even more epithets than that to describe the various political positions of the incoming Council Fathers. It was great sport for the seminarians to discuss the possibilities of what the downfall of clericalism could bring about. Every day we looked for quotes from the likes of Ratzinger (he was still only 35 years old), Suenens, Bea, Alfrink, Schillebeeckx and Lustiger. We were rarely disappointed. We didn't really know where all this was going, but we were storming heaven with prayers to the Holy Spirit that there would come an end to the "pray, pay and obey" Church. Well, it didn't work as well as we all hoped. It takes a long time to change a culture.
One of main reasons for the slow change, I think, is that a priest spends anywhere from eight to twelve years in formative preparation for the life of ministry. During those twelve years, a man develops an attitude about his worth to the mission of Jesus. He knows that no one else in the pews has its equivalent. Most are people of good faith, but not of faith and development in a method of formation practiced for centuries. Not very many lay people have twelve years of intense spiritual and intellectual formation in the discipleship of Jesus. So naturally, the clergy know that they have a decided advantage over the laity in the area of theology, spirituality, Church life, etc. Lay people are also aware that they have not achieved the level of personal formation, spirituality and theology that the priests have. So they are not too uncomfortable in holding their position as good followers. This basic disconnect between the two has led to the separation that exists between clergy and laity. There's more, of course, but this is the start, I think.
Therefore, Benedict XVI can chide gently about clericalism because he knows where he is coming from. There are many who do not have the experience of the early Vatican II attitudes that were brought there by the bishops and cardinals. It is because the seed of the thought fell into the ground fifty years ago, before many of today's faithful were a) born, and b) old enough to appreciate what was happening. Don't think that clericalism is going away any day soon.
I do invite you, in conclusion, to stand your ground and make your contribution to the cause of its diminution. Make your positions known, intellectual, spiritual, educational, material and fiscal. Make things happen. Remember, "It's easier to beg pardon than to ask permission."
The daily topic of "serious" seminarians as they walked home from their classes. It was also a hot topic discussed by bishops reporting for duty to the opening of the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican. The bishops were walking into the well fortified backyard of one, His Eminence Alfredo Cardinal Ottaviani, Secretary of the Holy Office, now officially known as the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.
When I opened my online copy of the NCR this morning I saw the headline of the lead story by John Allen, renowned American Vaticanologist, as follows: Benedict's gentle debunk of clericalism.
As it turns out Benedict XVI was one of those who, it was said, was a champion of the anti-clericalism faction of bishops and cardinals. In the parlance of the day, there were the clerical-fascists, the clerical imperialists and maybe even more epithets than that to describe the various political positions of the incoming Council Fathers. It was great sport for the seminarians to discuss the possibilities of what the downfall of clericalism could bring about. Every day we looked for quotes from the likes of Ratzinger (he was still only 35 years old), Suenens, Bea, Alfrink, Schillebeeckx and Lustiger. We were rarely disappointed. We didn't really know where all this was going, but we were storming heaven with prayers to the Holy Spirit that there would come an end to the "pray, pay and obey" Church. Well, it didn't work as well as we all hoped. It takes a long time to change a culture.
One of main reasons for the slow change, I think, is that a priest spends anywhere from eight to twelve years in formative preparation for the life of ministry. During those twelve years, a man develops an attitude about his worth to the mission of Jesus. He knows that no one else in the pews has its equivalent. Most are people of good faith, but not of faith and development in a method of formation practiced for centuries. Not very many lay people have twelve years of intense spiritual and intellectual formation in the discipleship of Jesus. So naturally, the clergy know that they have a decided advantage over the laity in the area of theology, spirituality, Church life, etc. Lay people are also aware that they have not achieved the level of personal formation, spirituality and theology that the priests have. So they are not too uncomfortable in holding their position as good followers. This basic disconnect between the two has led to the separation that exists between clergy and laity. There's more, of course, but this is the start, I think.
Therefore, Benedict XVI can chide gently about clericalism because he knows where he is coming from. There are many who do not have the experience of the early Vatican II attitudes that were brought there by the bishops and cardinals. It is because the seed of the thought fell into the ground fifty years ago, before many of today's faithful were a) born, and b) old enough to appreciate what was happening. Don't think that clericalism is going away any day soon.
I do invite you, in conclusion, to stand your ground and make your contribution to the cause of its diminution. Make your positions known, intellectual, spiritual, educational, material and fiscal. Make things happen. Remember, "It's easier to beg pardon than to ask permission."
Sunday, March 25, 2012
WHORE OF BABYLON DEDICATED TO ROBERT JEFFRESS
There are those who claim that the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon. They are, for the most part, customers of a competing whore, but of course, they obey the rule of never speaking badly of your own mother.
The last time I heard this accusation hurled at the Catholic Church was about 2 weeks ago. [Now, slightly more than one month] At the time, First Baptist church of Houston Pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress was a guest on the Lawrence O’Donnell show, “The Last Word” which airs on MSNBC. His appearance there [February 21, 2012] was one during which he proclaimed that Mormonism is not a Christian religion and that the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon.
This poem is dedicated to him.
Signed:
One of the Whore’s assiduous and dedicated customers.
Use the "comment" utility to add on what you think is appropriate.
ODE TO THE WHORE OF BABYLON
She is old, but still turning tricks, age after age,
Era after era, forever present on center stage.
To some she should have long ago been dead,
To others her survival and her zeal bring real dread.
I, proud child of this misnamed, renowned mother
Present before you, friend, enemy and even brother,
The munificent generosity with which this universal woman
Has blessed, and blesses the world, material and human.
It is thanks to the Great Whore that the world is blessed indeed
With the integrity of the unbreakable, unshakable creed
Built on the Faith that the crown of King David is Her crown alone
Bequeathed by Her original, foundational lover
Her gifts to the nations include Alighieri and Buonarrotti,
Chrysostom, Francis, Jerome, Da Vinci, Verdi and Gregory.
She helps our worship along with simple, sweet plainchant sound
Which raises our soul to the heights where God is found.
From her was born the book that we all treasure
And read every day with devotion and pleasure.
For centuries she has welcomed and housed the poor,
The orphans, the infirm, the sick, anyone who’se at the door.
She has lived in the hottest of the world’s deserts.
She has protected life that was saved in the Ark’s berths.
She has warmly embraced the children of this world,
Keeping them warm in her arms, tight to her bosom curled.
She has been the refuge of soldier and widow alike
Infirm, weak of body and mind she’d never dislike,
She has always bent low and stretched a way up high
in search of the rich, the poor, the brash and the shy.
Imagine the energy that it takes to keep going this long
And still be frowned upon with disdain ever so strong
By those who, rather than enjoy her charms ever divine,
From their cold margins the warmth of her love do malign.
No doubt that the ability to attract this tsunami of vitriol
While remaining attractive, loving, kind and above it all,
Is without a doubt a sign that she is indeed the faithful bride
Of the God-Son whose Spirit in her great soul doth abide.
It is this accomplishment ever so miraculous
That in their proximity ever so perilous
The gates of Dante’s great inferno quite sulfurous
Will never, ever take Her away from any of us.
The last time I heard this accusation hurled at the Catholic Church was about 2 weeks ago. [Now, slightly more than one month] At the time, First Baptist church of Houston Pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress was a guest on the Lawrence O’Donnell show, “The Last Word” which airs on MSNBC. His appearance there [February 21, 2012] was one during which he proclaimed that Mormonism is not a Christian religion and that the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon.
This poem is dedicated to him.
Signed:
One of the Whore’s assiduous and dedicated customers.
Use the "comment" utility to add on what you think is appropriate.
ODE TO THE WHORE OF BABYLON
She is old, but still turning tricks, age after age,
Era after era, forever present on center stage.
To some she should have long ago been dead,
To others her survival and her zeal bring real dread.
I, proud child of this misnamed, renowned mother
Present before you, friend, enemy and even brother,
The munificent generosity with which this universal woman
Has blessed, and blesses the world, material and human.
It is thanks to the Great Whore that the world is blessed indeed
With the integrity of the unbreakable, unshakable creed
Built on the Faith that the crown of King David is Her crown alone
Bequeathed by Her original, foundational lover
Her gifts to the nations include Alighieri and Buonarrotti,
Chrysostom, Francis, Jerome, Da Vinci, Verdi and Gregory.
She helps our worship along with simple, sweet plainchant sound
Which raises our soul to the heights where God is found.
From her was born the book that we all treasure
And read every day with devotion and pleasure.
For centuries she has welcomed and housed the poor,
The orphans, the infirm, the sick, anyone who’se at the door.
She has protected life that was saved in the Ark’s berths.
She has warmly embraced the children of this world,
Keeping them warm in her arms, tight to her bosom curled.
Infirm, weak of body and mind she’d never dislike,
She has always bent low and stretched a way up high
in search of the rich, the poor, the brash and the shy.
Imagine the energy that it takes to keep going this long
And still be frowned upon with disdain ever so strong
By those who, rather than enjoy her charms ever divine,
From their cold margins the warmth of her love do malign.
No doubt that the ability to attract this tsunami of vitriol
While remaining attractive, loving, kind and above it all,
Is without a doubt a sign that she is indeed the faithful bride
Of the God-Son whose Spirit in her great soul doth abide.
It is this accomplishment ever so miraculous
That in their proximity ever so perilous
The gates of Dante’s great inferno quite sulfurous
Will never, ever take Her away from any of us.
Friday, February 24, 2012
SHACKING UP vs TYING THE KNOT -- WHAT'LL YOU HAVE?
Attack against marriage? Really? Not mine, for sure. Those who shack up don't do it in my house, so I'm safe. What about yours? Do you feel attacked? It all depends.
These days the language is not quite so crude as that which appears in the title. These days we are more evasive with our language if not with our morality. We rarely use the words "cohabitate"or "concubinage" or even just plain old "shack up." We hear, "Living together." "Yeah, she and I decided to move in together." Actually, they moved in under the sheets. After all, it was Winter. 98.5 degrees of body heat comes free and you have to pay for gas and electric. It's cohabitation also when two people of the same sex do it together. That's always interesting, but believe me, it is not an attack on MY marriage. Nope. Not for one single minute. Better than that though is when you hear that two pages from the grammar book move in together. You know, you have two same gender beings snuggled together on a cute, quiet library shelf. I wonder what it feels like to have to iron out the wrinkles from the English feminine page so that the Italian pagina feminina won't be rubbed the wrong way? That is not an attack on my marriage because in my house we are hot blooded animals with sex on our minds, not grammar. Ouch! I forgot to mention, we are married too. None of that cohabitation stuff for us. Uh, Unh, we have settled down. It's nice now too, we have the house all to ourselves. We don't even have to wrap our towel around our wrinkled bodies on the way to the shower. That's not cohabitation. That's not concubinage. That's pure, outright conjugal community life. Pure sex. Devoid of grammar. Morally acceptable, even according to majority community standards. Not only that, even Catholics can do it and still not feel guilty. Now ain't THAT something? Yep. No scandal there. Except, of course, if you're against misogynistic matrimony.
That's what we have. Big word that only means that I "glow in the dark" and she doesn't.
The point here, boys and girls, feminines and masculines, is that any housing arrangement that is not marriage is immoral. That means that it is wrong. In Catholic terms, it is a sin. It is a habitual sin, so it leaves you out of the church's sacramental life.
The attack on marriage is a myth. The real attack is on the conscience of the population at large. So many people of good faith are forced to live in the condition of "loving the sinner and hating the sin" that after a while the moral fabric of the entire world starts to wear thin. That's the attack.
The attack is not even the government's legalizing same sex [same gender?] marriage. That's a taxation issue on the one hand, and, as such, innocuous enough. On the other hand, the vicious and dangerous part of it is that the population then forms a conscience about this legalized cohabitation that confuses the righteousness of real marriage with the insane immorality of legalized cohabitation. [The technical religious moral word for cohabitation is concubinage.] So, the attack is not on marriage. That's the wrong language. The real attack is essentially against the collective conscience of the world.
I know. I communicate with people in several countries. Slowly but surely the ability to recognize the difference between right and wrong is weakening. This is true of the ability to recognize objective right and wrong as well as the ability to recognize and accept community standards of right and wrong and match them up in order to manage human life effectively and stay on the path of justice and righteousness.
So, don't try telling me that as a married guy I cohabitate with my wife. That is pure bullshit. I am married to my wife. Twice. Once in city hall and once in church. That's enough to confirm me in my community life and save me from concubinage. it also is enough to confirm us as male and female, not as masculine and feminine.
These days the language is not quite so crude as that which appears in the title. These days we are more evasive with our language if not with our morality. We rarely use the words "cohabitate"or "concubinage" or even just plain old "shack up." We hear, "Living together." "Yeah, she and I decided to move in together." Actually, they moved in under the sheets. After all, it was Winter. 98.5 degrees of body heat comes free and you have to pay for gas and electric. It's cohabitation also when two people of the same sex do it together. That's always interesting, but believe me, it is not an attack on MY marriage. Nope. Not for one single minute. Better than that though is when you hear that two pages from the grammar book move in together. You know, you have two same gender beings snuggled together on a cute, quiet library shelf. I wonder what it feels like to have to iron out the wrinkles from the English feminine page so that the Italian pagina feminina won't be rubbed the wrong way? That is not an attack on my marriage because in my house we are hot blooded animals with sex on our minds, not grammar. Ouch! I forgot to mention, we are married too. None of that cohabitation stuff for us. Uh, Unh, we have settled down. It's nice now too, we have the house all to ourselves. We don't even have to wrap our towel around our wrinkled bodies on the way to the shower. That's not cohabitation. That's not concubinage. That's pure, outright conjugal community life. Pure sex. Devoid of grammar. Morally acceptable, even according to majority community standards. Not only that, even Catholics can do it and still not feel guilty. Now ain't THAT something? Yep. No scandal there. Except, of course, if you're against misogynistic matrimony.
That's what we have. Big word that only means that I "glow in the dark" and she doesn't.
The point here, boys and girls, feminines and masculines, is that any housing arrangement that is not marriage is immoral. That means that it is wrong. In Catholic terms, it is a sin. It is a habitual sin, so it leaves you out of the church's sacramental life.
The attack on marriage is a myth. The real attack is on the conscience of the population at large. So many people of good faith are forced to live in the condition of "loving the sinner and hating the sin" that after a while the moral fabric of the entire world starts to wear thin. That's the attack.
The attack is not even the government's legalizing same sex [same gender?] marriage. That's a taxation issue on the one hand, and, as such, innocuous enough. On the other hand, the vicious and dangerous part of it is that the population then forms a conscience about this legalized cohabitation that confuses the righteousness of real marriage with the insane immorality of legalized cohabitation. [The technical religious moral word for cohabitation is concubinage.] So, the attack is not on marriage. That's the wrong language. The real attack is essentially against the collective conscience of the world.
I know. I communicate with people in several countries. Slowly but surely the ability to recognize the difference between right and wrong is weakening. This is true of the ability to recognize objective right and wrong as well as the ability to recognize and accept community standards of right and wrong and match them up in order to manage human life effectively and stay on the path of justice and righteousness.
So, don't try telling me that as a married guy I cohabitate with my wife. That is pure bullshit. I am married to my wife. Twice. Once in city hall and once in church. That's enough to confirm me in my community life and save me from concubinage. it also is enough to confirm us as male and female, not as masculine and feminine.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
AUTO DEALER OFFER / I COUNTER OFFER
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| THIS OFFER WAS IN THE COFFIN FROM THE TIME I OPENED IT |
Thursday,
February 16, 2012
Paul Dion
23820 Ironwood
Avenue 166
Moreno Valley, CA
92557
Spreen Honda
25050 Redlands
Boulevard
Loma Linda, CA
92534
Hello:
Here’s the
deal. I own a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid
which is in better than excellent Condition.
It has 151,300
miles on it.
Cracked
windshield
Some body dings
and dents
Same “baling
wire” fixes
The IMA light is on
The air bags went
out at 16,000 and Honda refused to replace them at no cost to me
It still gets 40
miles to the gallon
It never got the
advertised 50 MPG except with a tail wind while going downhill
It has just
passed the 150,000 maintenance exercise for $700.00
Now that I have
told you the truth, I dare you to tell me the truth. You have absolutely no intention of ever paying
anybody $8,379.00 for a car of this vintage.
It is clear to the discerning reader when along with the numerous
disclaimers and caveats you put the cap on your offer with the absolute
champion of all oximorons better than excellent. On the day when you set eyes on anything
better than excellent, I suggest that you join the circus or contact Mr.
Ripley, or maybe even God Himself.
Bottom line. Give me $10,000.00 and a 0% loan for $7,000
for 60 months and we can talk. Maybe.
Oh yes, I kept
the fake check as a souvenir, suitable for framing.
Paul Dion
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
I AM ANTI-ABORTION
It was about Rick Santorum and his family choosing to keep a baby that they knew had a condition that would be worse than Down Syndrome and cut the life of the child to very few years, if not months. The author of the blog accused the parents of egoism. Making themselves feel better because they had kept the baby. The author insisted that this was the type of baby that should have been aborted to save the baby from such a short and pain-filled life. I am still disturbed by the thoughts put forward by the blogger. I just feel that I have to stake out my position on this matter.
I have blogged before on this topic. I made some short comments about it here. My argument is simply that I tell everybody that I am anti-abortion and make no bones about it. I don't have to cave in to the political jargon. I am pro-choice because the freedom to make choices is what makes us human. Take away the reminder that I have a choice to make and you take away my humanity. Therefore, choose life over death, every time, and you will be making the right choice.
The blogger from this morning was saying that the Santorum baby should never have been left to come to term. He should have been spared the suffering of such a short life. I say BULLSHIT! Let me state two [yeah, only two for now] reasons.
1. Love. Children are procreated in love. They are a fruit of love. Even the fruit of rape is kept out of love. Not egoism, religious or otherwise.
2. Love. Children are born into love. No one is going to tell me that a mother who accompanies her child during a short, warm cuddly life close to her soft, velvety smooth breasts and her safe, warm, embracing arms is not normal, or an egoist. She is providing a warm welcome to life and celebrating saving her baby from the cruelty of having been sucked out of her womb by the abortionist's vacuum cleaner. Now, that is a true love choice. That is true anti-abortion, pure and simple. If the baby could, he would be celebrating too. Better to die in my mother's arms than to be sucked out of her womb. Life sure is great out here!
I am not a single issue moralist or activist. I am anti-abortion and I despise the clowns who call it "woman's health care services." It's too bad that I don't have too much longer to make life uncomfortable for the demoniacs who make this stuff up.
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