Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Jackie Mason on Doctors
It's Wednesday, we've made it half way through the week, so it's time to lighten up a little. Here's a short routine from Jackie Mason. Enjoy!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Miscellaneous Musings, January 18, 2011
From No Man is An Island, Thomas Merton
This discovery of Christ is never genuine if it is nothing but a flight from ourselves. On the contrary, it cannot be an escape. It must be a fulfillment. I cannot discover God in myself and myself in Him unless I have the courage to face myself exactly as I am, with all my limitations, and to accept others as they are, with all their limitations. The religious answer is not religious if it is not fully real. Evasion is the answer of superstition.
I've known a number of people in my life, non-believers, who insist that religion is a crutch. Unfortunately, at the time I knew most of them, I didn't know how to answer such an assertion. Merton gives us some idea in the above quote. Having faith, believing what God says and taking Him at His word, requires the strength to walk without crutches. It takes the most difficult thing of all, the courage to admit to ourselves who and what we are, sinners, fallen, weak human beings. Then it takes accepting that truth. I'm learning that only then can one begin to grow in faith. It ain't easy.
This discovery of Christ is never genuine if it is nothing but a flight from ourselves. On the contrary, it cannot be an escape. It must be a fulfillment. I cannot discover God in myself and myself in Him unless I have the courage to face myself exactly as I am, with all my limitations, and to accept others as they are, with all their limitations. The religious answer is not religious if it is not fully real. Evasion is the answer of superstition.
I've known a number of people in my life, non-believers, who insist that religion is a crutch. Unfortunately, at the time I knew most of them, I didn't know how to answer such an assertion. Merton gives us some idea in the above quote. Having faith, believing what God says and taking Him at His word, requires the strength to walk without crutches. It takes the most difficult thing of all, the courage to admit to ourselves who and what we are, sinners, fallen, weak human beings. Then it takes accepting that truth. I'm learning that only then can one begin to grow in faith. It ain't easy.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
From the Desert Fathers, Sunday, January 16, 2010
Repentance is the renewal of baptism. Repentance is a contract with God for a second life. A penitent is a buyer of humility. Repentance is constant distrust of bodily comfort. Repentance is self-condemning reflection, and carefree self-care. Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair. A penitent is an undisgraced convict. Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins. Repentance is purification of conscience. Repentance is the voluntary endurance of all afflictions. A penitent is the inflicter of his own punishments. Repentance is a mighty persecution of the stomach, and a striking of the soul into vigorous awareness.
St. John Climacus
Monday, January 10, 2011
Miscellaneous Musings, January 10, 2011
Detroit Pride
I’ve been watching the new TV series, Detroit 1-8-7. I’ve had special interest in this show since I’m a native of Detroit, even though I haven’t lived there in many, many years. One thing that comes through on the show, something that I think common to many Detroiters, is a certain defensive pride in the city, even now. While I was growing up there in the 1950’s and ‘60’s it was a good place to live. Jobs were plentiful, the economy good and the schools were good, we had a World Series baseball team and, yes it’s hard to believe, a decent football team; things were pretty good. But even though Detroit was a good place to live back then, Detroiters were defensive about it. It was only the 5th largest city in the country at that time and couldn’t compete with places like New York or Chicago for cultural cachet and all that goes with it. People would defend the town on it’s merits but, I think, often felt a little inadequate. I never was sure why.
All this changed, of course, with the riots that took place in 1968. That’s when many people began to think about leaving and the city has never recovered. I hope all this is turning around and Detroit can, once again, attract people with the beauty of the surroundings and all the attractions the city still offers. We’ll see.
Which brings me to my next topic and a bit of a rant, for which I apologize in advance.
The Arizona Shootings
The tragic events of this past weekend remind us that there are crazy people out there. The shooter in the Tucson violence was a deeply troubled individual who needed help and never received it. The really sad thing is that many on the left are, in an equally nutty move, trying to pin this guy’s insanity on the Tea Party. Not only is this move nutty, it’s a rather despicable and desperate attempt to make political gains out of a completely tragic and unnecessary event. It disgusts me. It makes me even more upset when I think of the violence that destroyed my home town.
Anyone who is familiar with the violence that took place in Detroit in the summer of ’68 knows that violence was spurred on by the left. In fact, most of the political violence in this country over the last 150 years has be of leftist origination. Just think of the Haymarket Riots in Chicago which left 8 policemen dead, the result of socialist labor agitation. In our own time, the assassin who shot JFK was a Russian/Cuban sympathizer. Anyone familiar with the history of this country would know about these things and see through the ruse the left is trying to foist off on the country. The only reason they can be even partly successful is because they have succeeded so well in destroying the educational systems in the US.
It’s a shame those on the left, beginning with the NY Times feel the need to use a tragedy the way they have, but the rest of us don’t have to listen to it.
I’ve been watching the new TV series, Detroit 1-8-7. I’ve had special interest in this show since I’m a native of Detroit, even though I haven’t lived there in many, many years. One thing that comes through on the show, something that I think common to many Detroiters, is a certain defensive pride in the city, even now. While I was growing up there in the 1950’s and ‘60’s it was a good place to live. Jobs were plentiful, the economy good and the schools were good, we had a World Series baseball team and, yes it’s hard to believe, a decent football team; things were pretty good. But even though Detroit was a good place to live back then, Detroiters were defensive about it. It was only the 5th largest city in the country at that time and couldn’t compete with places like New York or Chicago for cultural cachet and all that goes with it. People would defend the town on it’s merits but, I think, often felt a little inadequate. I never was sure why.
All this changed, of course, with the riots that took place in 1968. That’s when many people began to think about leaving and the city has never recovered. I hope all this is turning around and Detroit can, once again, attract people with the beauty of the surroundings and all the attractions the city still offers. We’ll see.
Which brings me to my next topic and a bit of a rant, for which I apologize in advance.
The Arizona Shootings
The tragic events of this past weekend remind us that there are crazy people out there. The shooter in the Tucson violence was a deeply troubled individual who needed help and never received it. The really sad thing is that many on the left are, in an equally nutty move, trying to pin this guy’s insanity on the Tea Party. Not only is this move nutty, it’s a rather despicable and desperate attempt to make political gains out of a completely tragic and unnecessary event. It disgusts me. It makes me even more upset when I think of the violence that destroyed my home town.
Anyone who is familiar with the violence that took place in Detroit in the summer of ’68 knows that violence was spurred on by the left. In fact, most of the political violence in this country over the last 150 years has be of leftist origination. Just think of the Haymarket Riots in Chicago which left 8 policemen dead, the result of socialist labor agitation. In our own time, the assassin who shot JFK was a Russian/Cuban sympathizer. Anyone familiar with the history of this country would know about these things and see through the ruse the left is trying to foist off on the country. The only reason they can be even partly successful is because they have succeeded so well in destroying the educational systems in the US.
It’s a shame those on the left, beginning with the NY Times feel the need to use a tragedy the way they have, but the rest of us don’t have to listen to it.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
From the Desert Fathers, Sunday, January 9, 2011
O strange and inconceivable thing! We did not really die, we were
not really buried, we were not really crucified and raised again,
but our imitation was but a figure, while our salvation is in
reality. Christ was actually crucified, and actually buried, and
truly rose again; and all these things have been vouchsafed to us,
that we, by imitation communicating in His sufferings, might gain
salvation in reality. O surpassing loving-kindness! Christ
received the nails in His undefiled hands and feet, and endured
anguish; while to me without suffering or toil, by the fellowship
of His pain He vouchsafed salvation.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem, On the Christian Sacraments.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Founders Friday, January 7, 2011
A fondness for power is implanted, in most men, and it is natural to abuse it, when acquired.
Alexander Hamilton, The Farmer Refuted, February 23, 1775
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Wacky Wednesday, January 5, 2011 -- Dean Martin & George Gobel
It's Wednesday, we've made it half-way through another week, so it's time to kick back and enjoy a brief laugh. Enjoy!
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