Two bees met in a field. One said to the other, "How are things going?"
"Really bad," said the second bee. "The weather has been cold, wet and damp, and there aren't any flowers, so I can't make honey."
"No problem," said the first bee. "Just fly down five blocks and turn left. Keep going until you see all the cars. There's a Bar Mitzvah going on and there are all kinds of fresh flowers and fresh fruit."
"Thanks for the tip," said the second bee, and flew away.
A few hours later the two bees ran into each other again. The first bee asked, "How'd it go?"
"Great!" said the second bee. "It was everything you said it would be. There was plenty of fruit and, oh, such huge floral arrangements on every table."
"Uh, what's that thing on your head?" asked the first bee.
"That's my yarmulke," said the second bee. "I didn't want them to think I was a wasp."
I thank you, Doug. This was just what I needed tonight.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
A Word For The Day
Though the fig tree does not blossom,
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold
and there is no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will exult in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Habakkuk gives a good reminder today, on the Thursday after Ash Wednesday, that God is still Emmanuel, no matter what. My distress is not mainly about the car, or the near-missed plane, or the delayed suitcases, or exhaustion. It's about things I can't talk about in a public venue such as a blog. None of it is life-threatening, and the problems, too, shall pass, but a few prayers for the matters of which I cannot speak would not be at all unwelcome, my good readers. Thank you.
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold
and there is no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will exult in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Habakkuk gives a good reminder today, on the Thursday after Ash Wednesday, that God is still Emmanuel, no matter what. My distress is not mainly about the car, or the near-missed plane, or the delayed suitcases, or exhaustion. It's about things I can't talk about in a public venue such as a blog. None of it is life-threatening, and the problems, too, shall pass, but a few prayers for the matters of which I cannot speak would not be at all unwelcome, my good readers. Thank you.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
We're Home!
We're home. I am exhausted. The children had a wonderful time. Our lodgings were lovely, and we ate some great meals.
Before we left, we had a family drama, which I will not go into. We had a hair-raising departure, barely making it on the plane before it took off, and then finding that two of our suitcases had not arrived at our destination with us.
Padre Mickey left a comment saying that he hoped we were not still at Disney having fun because Lent had started. Well, I missed my ashes today, but my Lent has started.
Our brand new car has a leak in the back window that has been leaking for a long time sitting on the lot, and it messed up the trunk and other parts of the car, leaving them rusted and mildewed. The dealer is going to take it back, but now we have to pick out another car, renegotiate for a good price and redo the financing, because we cannot find a 2007 model of the car I want. The 2007 models have 0% financing.
As I left Disney, I said, "Adios", not "Hasta la vista"; "Adieu", not "Au revoir"; and "Addio", not "Arrivederci". I loved seeing the children enjoy themselves, but next time, it will be without me.
Sorry that this first post is such a downer. I guess it's due to exhaustion.
Before we left, we had a family drama, which I will not go into. We had a hair-raising departure, barely making it on the plane before it took off, and then finding that two of our suitcases had not arrived at our destination with us.
Padre Mickey left a comment saying that he hoped we were not still at Disney having fun because Lent had started. Well, I missed my ashes today, but my Lent has started.
Our brand new car has a leak in the back window that has been leaking for a long time sitting on the lot, and it messed up the trunk and other parts of the car, leaving them rusted and mildewed. The dealer is going to take it back, but now we have to pick out another car, renegotiate for a good price and redo the financing, because we cannot find a 2007 model of the car I want. The 2007 models have 0% financing.
As I left Disney, I said, "Adios", not "Hasta la vista"; "Adieu", not "Au revoir"; and "Addio", not "Arrivederci". I loved seeing the children enjoy themselves, but next time, it will be without me.
Sorry that this first post is such a downer. I guess it's due to exhaustion.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Off To The Magic Kingdom
Yes, peeps, tomorrow Grandpère and I are off to Walt Disney World with eight other family members. Don't laugh. It's a sacrificial trip for GP and me. My very own son would not take his children to Orlando without us. Since my daughter and her family were going, my son's two children wanted to go, too. Five cousins will be together. They're close in age, (two age groups) and they enjoy each other's company enormously. Whatever you think about the old folks going, it's a magical place for the children, and that's why we're doing it.
Actually the last time we were there, we had a pretty good time. We relaxed, ate well, sat by the pool, and generally enjoyed ourselves in a mild sort of way.
Before I leave, I'm turning on comments moderation until I get back, so no comments may appear until then. If I have the use of my son-in-law's laptop, comments may appear, and I may put in a word or two. We shall see.
We will have someone stay in our house while we are gone.
UPDATE: Au revoir, mes amis. Que Dieu vous benisse! Attendez! Soyez bon!
Wise Words From Adventus - Ecce Homo
From Rmj:
It isn't war that is hell. It's our acceptance of war. It isn't war that is brutal. It is people who are brutal; and our acceptance of war as a condition of our existence; the same way we accept poverty, and hunger, and homelessness. It doesn't have to be this way. That we let it be this way, is what is brutal.
"We have met the enemy, and he is us."
Read the whole post and look at the picture.
It isn't war that is hell. It's our acceptance of war. It isn't war that is brutal. It is people who are brutal; and our acceptance of war as a condition of our existence; the same way we accept poverty, and hunger, and homelessness. It doesn't have to be this way. That we let it be this way, is what is brutal.
"We have met the enemy, and he is us."
Read the whole post and look at the picture.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Do I Know The Bible!
You know the Bible 100%!
Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!
Ultimate Bible Quiz
Create MySpace Quizzes
Paul linked to this quiz at his site. He is another who scores at 100%. I'm rather surprised that I scored 100%, (I promise I did not steal Paul's results!) since I came to my knowledge of the Bible mainly as an adult, not having memorized Bible verses in Sunday school as a child. I see from Paul's comments that Padre Mickey scored 100%, but I believe that he memorized Bible verses as a child, too.
Having said that, some of the choices in the multiple-choice test were ridiculous, and one would know immediately that they were not the correct answers. It is a silly quiz, as Paul says.
From Bishop Charles Jenkins Of Louisiana
From the Bishop's Blog:
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Prayers and Support on Several Pending Issues
Prayers Needed
Please pray with me. I seek your prayer and support on several pending issues.
Some may know that Case Management across the Gulf Coast will cease in March unless a bill pending in Congress allows FEMA to fund our efforts. Case Management has been heretofore carried on by a coalition of national relief organizations under the stewardship and leadership of the United Methodist Council on Relief (UMCOR). Our coalition is called Katrina Aid Today. Other church groups have included Lutheran World Services, Catholic Social Services and Episcopal Relief and Development. The original funding for Case Management came not from tax dollars but from a gift to the United States from the government of Qatar. We who have been involved in Case Management more than matched this gift. A bill in Congress (S2335) would enable FEMA to continue to fund Case Management. No new taxes are needed because the funding is in the FEMA budget.
Case Management is teaching one to fish. You know the old story of giving a person a fish today and they will be hungry tomorrow. Teach them to fish . . . Case Management is a professional means to enable people to construct a recovery plan, to provide some resources to make the plan feasible, and then for people to stand on their own. The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana alone graduated 325 families in December of last year. So please, pray for a miracle here. I do not want to see this important ministry stop nor do I want to see it sputter to a temporary halt and then try to start up again. We have proven our capacity to do Case Management.
I ask also that you pray about my capacity to continue funding a relationship with a law firm in Washington, Krivit and Krivit. This is a complicated issue (Church and State). The fact is that we would not be so far along in seeking funding for the continuation of Case Management were it not for the hard work and professional knowledge of the good people in this firm. I am out of money to pay them. They are working on faith now. I have many requests “out” for funding but so far, no action. There is more, much more, for us to do with Krivit and Krivit.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Bishop Jenkins [Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana]
Posted by Bishop Charles Jenkins at Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Prayers and Support on Several Pending Issues
Prayers Needed
Please pray with me. I seek your prayer and support on several pending issues.
Some may know that Case Management across the Gulf Coast will cease in March unless a bill pending in Congress allows FEMA to fund our efforts. Case Management has been heretofore carried on by a coalition of national relief organizations under the stewardship and leadership of the United Methodist Council on Relief (UMCOR). Our coalition is called Katrina Aid Today. Other church groups have included Lutheran World Services, Catholic Social Services and Episcopal Relief and Development. The original funding for Case Management came not from tax dollars but from a gift to the United States from the government of Qatar. We who have been involved in Case Management more than matched this gift. A bill in Congress (S2335) would enable FEMA to continue to fund Case Management. No new taxes are needed because the funding is in the FEMA budget.
Case Management is teaching one to fish. You know the old story of giving a person a fish today and they will be hungry tomorrow. Teach them to fish . . . Case Management is a professional means to enable people to construct a recovery plan, to provide some resources to make the plan feasible, and then for people to stand on their own. The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana alone graduated 325 families in December of last year. So please, pray for a miracle here. I do not want to see this important ministry stop nor do I want to see it sputter to a temporary halt and then try to start up again. We have proven our capacity to do Case Management.
I ask also that you pray about my capacity to continue funding a relationship with a law firm in Washington, Krivit and Krivit. This is a complicated issue (Church and State). The fact is that we would not be so far along in seeking funding for the continuation of Case Management were it not for the hard work and professional knowledge of the good people in this firm. I am out of money to pay them. They are working on faith now. I have many requests “out” for funding but so far, no action. There is more, much more, for us to do with Krivit and Krivit.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Bishop Jenkins [Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana]
Posted by Bishop Charles Jenkins at Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Where Has He Been All My Life?
From Slimbolala:
RSfMS(wC):* Heavenly Hairdos
Are their combovers in heaven? Do all angels have full heads of hair? Is your heavenly hairdo your hairdo from when you die or from some other juncture in life? (Or does your hair transcend individuality and become one with all hair? Do such earthly styling considerations cease to exist in the manifold stylistic glory of the afterlife?) What does Thomas Aquinas say?
* Random Stuff from My Sketchbook (with Commentary)
Is this brilliant, or what? And posted on Aquinas' feast day, too!
Slimbolala's profile tells us only that he is from New Orleans. That's recommendation enough for me!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
One Million Iraqis Dead From The War
From Reuters via the New York Times:
LONDON (Reuters) - More than one million Iraqis have died as a result of the conflict in their country since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, according to research conducted by one of Britain's leading polling groups.
That's not counting the wounded, some of them with severe injuries, like our own wounded. That's not counting those living in Iraq in conditions of danger and hardship. That's not counting those who fled the country and are living in refugee camps. What a terrible tragedy for Iraq.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Thanks to Holden at First Draft for the link.
LONDON (Reuters) - More than one million Iraqis have died as a result of the conflict in their country since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, according to research conducted by one of Britain's leading polling groups.
That's not counting the wounded, some of them with severe injuries, like our own wounded. That's not counting those living in Iraq in conditions of danger and hardship. That's not counting those who fled the country and are living in refugee camps. What a terrible tragedy for Iraq.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Thanks to Holden at First Draft for the link.
Ormonde Needs Prayer
Our friend, Ormonde at Through the Dust, the archdeacon who posts so brilliantly on the deacons of church, is in need of our prayers. He has been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and will begin chemotherapy in February. Please pray for him and, perhaps, offer him a word of encouragement at his blog.
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