From Jack at The World of Doorman-Priest:
There may be sporadic posts......
....as Dad is in hospital! Seventy eight and now with no appendix and a perforated bowel. So prayers for Jack snr. please and for Daphne, left rather adrift and anxious, but with sense of humour intact!
UPDATE from Doorman-Priest: Thanks all. He appears to be a bit perkier and has gone from his own room to a room with three other chaps, which I take to be a good sign. He now also has a radio, so is in touch with the world again.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Pray For Lambeth
MadPriest reminds us to pray for Lambeth. Here is the official prayer from the Lambeth Conference website:
Pour down upon us, O God, the gifts of your Holy Spirit, that those who prepare for the Lambeth Conference may be filled with wisdom and understanding. May they know at work within them that creative energy and vision which belong to our humanity, made in your image and redeemed by your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I confess that I don't have great hope that good will come out of the Lambeth Conference, but perhaps I shall be pleasantly surprised. However, I will join in with all my heart to pray for the bishops and the conference, that God's perfect will may be done, keeping in mind the following passage:
The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
John 3:8
Come, Holy Spirit!
Pour down upon us, O God, the gifts of your Holy Spirit, that those who prepare for the Lambeth Conference may be filled with wisdom and understanding. May they know at work within them that creative energy and vision which belong to our humanity, made in your image and redeemed by your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I confess that I don't have great hope that good will come out of the Lambeth Conference, but perhaps I shall be pleasantly surprised. However, I will join in with all my heart to pray for the bishops and the conference, that God's perfect will may be done, keeping in mind the following passage:
The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
John 3:8
Come, Holy Spirit!
Lindy Has A New Blog Home
Lindy, the guardian of the Rowan, the dog of renown pictured above, the Rowan that we all know and love, has a new blog name and location, Still Fruity. She has all sorts of interesting and amusing add-ons on her sidebar. It's an amazing place. Check it out.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Louisiana Legislators Cut Programs
Back to my own little plot of ground. The members of the Louisiana House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations voted to cut the budget submitted by Governor Bobby Jindal.
From the Advocate:
Lawmakers slashed Gov. Bobby Jindal’s $30 billion state government spending plan by $120 million Sunday.
Most of the cuts in House Bill 1 — the budget legislation for the state spending year that begins July 1 — were to the Medicaid program and public colleges and universities.
For example, lawmakers trimmed $52 million in payments to private doctors and others who treat the poor.
Of course, the poor with no voice and little power for advocacy come first in the cuts. And public education in Louisiana has such a sterling reputation for excellence, that we can surely afford to cut allocations to the universities.
Legislators recommended the cuts in answer to a push by so-called fiscal conservatives to rein in the growth of state government.
....
Another $2.5 million was whittled away from a pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-old students.
Sigh....
These cuts come in the face of a large budget surplus from royalties from the increase in the price of oil. I'm having a hard time finding an exact figure for the size of the surplus, but one estimate was $800 million. Now, the citizens of Louisiana deserve some of that money back in in the form of tax cuts, but in the cause of fiscal conservatism, it's not right to target health care for the poor and education to take the first hits - or so it seems to me.
UPDATE: Meanwhile there's a bill in the Senate to triple the salaries of the legislators.
From the Advocate:
Lawmakers slashed Gov. Bobby Jindal’s $30 billion state government spending plan by $120 million Sunday.
Most of the cuts in House Bill 1 — the budget legislation for the state spending year that begins July 1 — were to the Medicaid program and public colleges and universities.
For example, lawmakers trimmed $52 million in payments to private doctors and others who treat the poor.
Of course, the poor with no voice and little power for advocacy come first in the cuts. And public education in Louisiana has such a sterling reputation for excellence, that we can surely afford to cut allocations to the universities.
Legislators recommended the cuts in answer to a push by so-called fiscal conservatives to rein in the growth of state government.
....
Another $2.5 million was whittled away from a pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-old students.
Sigh....
These cuts come in the face of a large budget surplus from royalties from the increase in the price of oil. I'm having a hard time finding an exact figure for the size of the surplus, but one estimate was $800 million. Now, the citizens of Louisiana deserve some of that money back in in the form of tax cuts, but in the cause of fiscal conservatism, it's not right to target health care for the poor and education to take the first hits - or so it seems to me.
UPDATE: Meanwhile there's a bill in the Senate to triple the salaries of the legislators.
"The English" - Bad News, Good News
Themethatisme on his blog, Conscientisation:
The English
Nothing "so fascinating, beautiful and culturally diverse yet as insular, self-important and irritating as England."
..so saith the writers of the 'Rough Guide' series for world travellers. I am delighted. "England is an irritating and insular country full of overweight, binge-drinking, reality TV addicts, a new guide warns tourists." they go on to say.
Unfortunately they also say some pleasant things too. Unlike several other commentators...
The English think soap is civilisation - Heinrich von Trietschke
Britain is the only country in the world where being 'too clever by half' is an insult. - A.A.Gill
The English have an extraordinary ability for flying into a great calm. - Alexander Woolcott ....
There's more, but the more is "over there" at his blog. As for his blog handle and the title of his blog, I know he chose them deliberately so that they'd be difficult to type. You have to actually THINK while you're typing them, especially with the added complication of the craaaazy English spelling.
The English
Nothing "so fascinating, beautiful and culturally diverse yet as insular, self-important and irritating as England."
..so saith the writers of the 'Rough Guide' series for world travellers. I am delighted. "England is an irritating and insular country full of overweight, binge-drinking, reality TV addicts, a new guide warns tourists." they go on to say.
Unfortunately they also say some pleasant things too. Unlike several other commentators...
The English think soap is civilisation - Heinrich von Trietschke
Britain is the only country in the world where being 'too clever by half' is an insult. - A.A.Gill
The English have an extraordinary ability for flying into a great calm. - Alexander Woolcott ....
There's more, but the more is "over there" at his blog. As for his blog handle and the title of his blog, I know he chose them deliberately so that they'd be difficult to type. You have to actually THINK while you're typing them, especially with the added complication of the craaaazy English spelling.
A New Son - Grandson For Johnieb
johnieb sez:
....
O/T, but family related, it appears my new grandson's birthday will be today; my daughter's water broke last night and the pains are five minutes apart as of 0630 Phoenix time. I request all your prayers and good wishes.
Prayers and good wishes coming right up, Johnieb.
UPDATE: From Johnieb: Daughter just called from Phoenix, , sounding like an old hand, with the new baby crying in the background. Both are fine; he was born about two hours ago: 4:30 Phoenix time.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. 7 lbs. 8.4 oz, 19 inches and something, but the due date was the 25th.
....
O/T, but family related, it appears my new grandson's birthday will be today; my daughter's water broke last night and the pains are five minutes apart as of 0630 Phoenix time. I request all your prayers and good wishes.
Prayers and good wishes coming right up, Johnieb.
UPDATE: From Johnieb: Daughter just called from Phoenix, , sounding like an old hand, with the new baby crying in the background. Both are fine; he was born about two hours ago: 4:30 Phoenix time.
Thank you all for your prayers and support. 7 lbs. 8.4 oz, 19 inches and something, but the due date was the 25th.
Monday, May 12, 2008
What Is Peace?
“Peace is not the product of terror or fear. Peace is not the silence of cemeteries. Peace is not the silent result of violent repression. Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all. Peace is dynamism. Peace is generosity. It is right and it is a duty.” - Oscar Romero, January 7, 1978San Romero de América, Pastor y Mártir Nuestro
by Pedro Casaldáliga
...Y supiste beber el doble cáliz del Altar y del Pueblo,Picture from Wiki.
con una sola mano consagrada al servicio.
América Latina ya te ha puesto en su gloria de Bernini
en la espuma aureola de sus mares,
en el dosel airado de los Andes alertos,
en la canción de todos sus caminos,
en el calvario nuevo de todas sus prisiones,
de todas sus trincheras,
de todos sus altares. . .
¡En el ara segura del corazón insomne de sus hijos!
San Romero de América, pastor y mártir nuestro:
¡nadie hará callar tu última homilía!
...And you knew how to drink from the double chalice of the Altar and of the People,
with one single hand devoted to service.
Latin America has already laid you in its glory of Bernini
in the foamy halo of its seas,
in the angry canopy of the alert Andes,
in the song of all its streets,
in the new calvary of all its prisons,
of all its trenches,
of all its altars. . . .
In the secure altar of the sleepless heart of its children!
San Romero of America, our shepherd and martyr:
nobody will silence your last homily!
Excerpt and translation of the poem from Monthly Review.
Heavy Lifting
Scene from the period during which George and Laura led a cadre of volunteers and rebuilt New Orleans.
Earthquake in China
From the Associated Press:
CHENGDU, China - One of the worst earthquakes to hit China in three decades killednearly 9,000 12,000 people Monday, trapped about 900 students under the rubble of their school and caused a toxic chemical leak, state media reported.
The 7.9-magnitude earthquake devastated a hilly region of small cities and towns in central China. The official Xinhua News Agency said 8,533 people died in Sichuan province and more than 200 others were killed in three other provinces and the mega-city of Chongqing.
Lord, have mercy.
Send help and deliverance to our brothers and sisters in China.
CHENGDU, China - One of the worst earthquakes to hit China in three decades killed
The 7.9-magnitude earthquake devastated a hilly region of small cities and towns in central China. The official Xinhua News Agency said 8,533 people died in Sichuan province and more than 200 others were killed in three other provinces and the mega-city of Chongqing.
Lord, have mercy.
Send help and deliverance to our brothers and sisters in China.
Why I Never Disagree With Tobias Haller
In Tobias' own words:
You are, of course, quite welcome to remain firm in the belief that you are a part of the only true church -- as that is a part of the Orthodox tradition. You can keep lobbing insults at Rome or Anglicans to your heart's content. But where I come from such behavior is seen as a kind of pathology, and at the very least a bit ungracious -- and hardly likely to win anyone to your side of the divide.
Tobias writes at In A Godward Direction, among other places.
UPDATE: I've met Tobias, and he is a lovely man and a wonderful priest. We happen to agree on the big things, but I know that if I crossed swords with him, the outcome would be foreordained.
You are, of course, quite welcome to remain firm in the belief that you are a part of the only true church -- as that is a part of the Orthodox tradition. You can keep lobbing insults at Rome or Anglicans to your heart's content. But where I come from such behavior is seen as a kind of pathology, and at the very least a bit ungracious -- and hardly likely to win anyone to your side of the divide.
Tobias writes at In A Godward Direction, among other places.
UPDATE: I've met Tobias, and he is a lovely man and a wonderful priest. We happen to agree on the big things, but I know that if I crossed swords with him, the outcome would be foreordained.
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