Tuesday, May 19, 2009

From Roseann - Gary Update

Gary has a torn rotator cuff and will have surgery soon. He will be down for at least 10 days recovering at home and then 3 months of light duty at work. I'm very worried about both of us being down at the same time. We will need lots of help during his 10 days of recovery. Please keep him in your prayers for a successful surgery and complete recovery.

Love, R


Almighty God our heavenly Father, graciously comfort your servant Gary in his suffering, and bless the means made use of for his cure. Fill his heart with confidence that, though at times he may be afraid, he yet may put his trust in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From Roseann's blog, Give Peace A Chance.

Dangerous Times

The Louisiana Legislature is in session, always a dangerous time for the citizens of the state. There's no telling what kind of mischievous and stupid bills may be passed during the session.

First though, there is this sad news from yesterday of a dangerous time in Cut Off, Louisiana, from The Advocate:

A 15-year-old boy accused of shooting at a teacher and critically wounding himself apparently worked alone and was intent on killing, Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre said Monday.
....

“He was laughing and joking. Then as we were all getting ready to leave, he stood up and yelled that he was going to kill us and everyone else.”

The suspect, whose identity has not officially been confirmed, shot himself in the head shortly after 9 a.m. Monday. He was taken to Lady of the Sea Hospital in Galliano in critical condition and then transferred to Terrebonne General Medical Center.
....

Macey Cheramie, a seventh-grader at the school, said the teenage boy came into her reading and language arts class.

“He screamed at us to get down, but nobody did,” Cheramie said. “He then pointed the gun at the teacher and told her to get down, but she didn’t.”

The teen aimed a .25-caliber, nickel-plated semiautomatic pistol at a whiteboard and pulled the trigger once, but it did not fire, Webre said.

The youth made some adjustments and then fired the weapon above the teacher’s head, the sheriff said.


As of today the boy is still in critical condition and has been identified as Justin Doucet.

One tragedy took place, but others were averted due to a malfunctioning gun. Keep this news in your mind as we head over the Louisiana Legislature.

Also from The Advocate:

Louisiana should have its own Second Amendment sales tax holiday, two House and Senate committees agreed Monday.

The two bills would exempt the 4 percent sales tax on purchases of firearms during one weekend each year.

However, the much more broad Senate version also would exempt local sales taxes and apply to ammunition and other hunting supplies as well.

State Rep. Roy Burrell, D-Shreveport, and a few other legislators expressed concern about making tax holidays for guns.

“I guess I’m a little bit miffed as to why it’s just firearms,” Burrell said in Monday’s House ways and Means Committee meeting. “Are you using tax-exempt status to support a political issue?

“It’s encouraging putting more guns on the street,” he added.

Bill author and State Rep Cameron Henry, R-Jefferson, said the legislation is simply to support hobbies, recreation and local businesses.

“The whole logic is to bring everyone in to purchase a firearm and then they buy everything else,” Henry said, calling it a “win-win.”

South Carolina started the Second Amendment sales tax holiday trend last year.

Henry’s National Rifle Association-backed House Bill 128 was amended Monday with his approval so the legislation would cost the state nothing, or very little.


Well, of course, "win-win", Rep. Cameron. Everyone wins! It makes perfect sense. Each of us should rush out and buy a gun. We don't have nearly enough guns here in Louisiana. Let's have a holiday for criminal checks on gun buyers, too, so we can get even more guns into more hands. The more, the merrier! Is anyone surprised that the National Rifle Association backs this insanity?

And as the lawmakers propose a tax holiday, the state faces a large budget deficit. Thank you South Carolina for that excellent idea.

Do you see why fear is the default position for at least some of the citizens of the Gret Stet of Loosiana while the legislature is in session?

The Louisiana House did something right today, but they didn't mean to. Or some did, or something. You can't make this stuff up.

The Louisiana House unanimously agreed to override Gov. Bobby Jindal's rejection of $98 million in federal stimulus dollars to expand unemployment benefits. But it's unlikely most representatives even knew what they were voting for.

Rep. Avon Honey, D-Baton Rouge, quietly slipped the language to sidestep Jindal's refusal of the stimulus dollars into a worker's compensation bill on the House floor Monday evening in the final minutes of House work for the day. There was little discussion about what the changes did.

"The amendment is merely adding language for the requirements for ARRA, and I ask for your favorable adoption," Honey told lawmakers, never explaining that ARRA stands for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal stimulus act.

The House adopted the amendment without questions and then quickly approved the bill, sending it to the Senate for debate with a 99-0 vote. During the final vote, House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown, was heard asking an aide, "What does the amendment do?" The aide responded that she didn't know.


Those who have lost their jobs need the stimulus money, but this good thing won't stand, of course. Governor Jindal and the business folks have their principles, after all, and the Senate will likely go along with them.

Doing Other Things

Sorry for no posts yet today. I have, as they say, been doing other things. I'll try to scrape something up for this afternoon. Meanwhile, lunch awaits, a take-out from Western Sizzlin'. Oh, joy! But I ain't complaining. I didn't have to cook it, and I didn't even have to pick it up. Dear, dear Grandpère was kind enough to do the errand.

It's a beautiful spring day here, a little cool, a rare treat in our weather, which usually jumps from winter (such winter as we have) into warm or hot summer. I hear that it's 59 degrees in Panama City, Florida. Brrr... if you're on the beach in your swim suit.

Cheers!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Canine/Feline Sayings

"Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful."
Ann Landers

"In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him."
Dereke Bruce

"Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." Robert A. Heinlein


From Grove Books.

Thanks to Erika for the link.

The Chickens Going Home To Roost?

From Anglican Mainstream:

On May 15, Christ Church Virginia Water hosted + Wallace Benn, Bishop of Lewes and President of the Church of England Evangelical Council. + Wallace spoke on Confessing Anglicans in Global and Local Mission.
....

THE launch in the UK and Ireland of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (FCA), an orthodox Anglican movement for mission at global and local level, is to take place on July 6 in London.

The Fellowship is the outworking of last year’s GAFCON conference in Jerusalem, at which 1200 delegates signed up to the Jerusalem Statement. Those attending Gafcon 2008 represented some 40 million Anglicans world-wide, 70% of the total active membership of 55 million.

The launch event, entitled ‘Be Faithful! – Confessing Anglicans in Global and Local Mission’ will be held at Westminster Central Hall from 10.30am-5.30pm. The aim is to encourage and envision Anglicans who are committed to the orthodox teachings of the Anglican Church and who are passionate about global and local mission. It will be the first of regular ‘fellowship’ events both in the UK and across the world.


Perhaps, the Archbishop of Canterbury didn't foresee the launching of FOCA or FCA, as they now call themselves, on his turf, but I surely did. Once the group sets up in England, I wonder if it might occur to them to want their own province.

Speakers at the event in England will include:

Bishops Keith Ackerman, President of Forward in Faith North America
Wallace Benn, Bishop of Lewes
John Broadhurst, Chairman of Forward in Faith UK
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali
Dr Chik Kaw Tan
Archbishop Peter Jensen, secretary of the Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans

PS: 1200 delegates representing 40 million Anglicans and 70% of the active membership seems an unrealistic estimate to me. Of course, I could be wrong.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

AWAC Retreat Featured Archbishop Orombi

The Association of Western Anglican Congregations, is now a diocese in the Anglican Church in North American, or ACNA, according to Fr. Bill Thompson. Well, maybe not quite yet. It may instead be poised to become a diocese in ACNA.

DIOCESE OF WESTERN ANGLICANS TO BECOME A REALITY

"Dear Brothers and Sisters, I write this from the Provincial Council meeting in Dallas/Ft. Worth. As of 11:45 a.m. CDT on April 24 the Diocese of Western Anglicans is now a diocese of the Anglican Church in North America. May God's Name be praised. In fact we were the first diocese to be so approved. Please forward this information to your parish's delegation to Western Anglican and to the congregation as a whole. I want you all to know what a privilege it is to be the Collegiate Vicar of Western Anglicans during this exciting time. Your brother in Christ, Fr. Bill Thompson+"


Is it "to become" or "is now"? I report; you decide. Or is it "ever shall be. Amen."

AWAC (I'm guessing at the acronym) sponsored a men's retreat this weekend. The special guest speaker for the retreat was Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi of Uganda. Here's the page showing the schedule and the contact person for the retreat. A reader sent me the link and pointed out that the contact person used the email address from his workplace to do religious business for AWAC. Isn't it rather unusual to use one's workplace email for this sort of religious activity?

The Girl Wins The Preakness



From The Huffington Post:

Girls rule! The best 3-year-old in the land just happens to be a filly named Rachel Alexandra.

Jockey Calvin Borel all but guaranteed victory in the Preakness Stakes and, boy, did she deliver, becoming the first filly in 85 years to win the second leg of the Triple Crown.

A rangy bay _ as big as most of the horses she beat _ Rachel Alexandra shot to the front Saturday and wasn't seriously challenged until a late close by Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird.

By beating him she ended any chance that thoroughbred racing would have a Triple Crown winner this season. Affirmed was the last Triple Crown winner in 1978.


That's our Calvin (The Cajun) Borel, from Catahoula, Louisiana, riding the winner once again. There may not be a Triple Crown horse winner, but our Calvin may be the Triple Crown jockey. I wonder if Mine That Bird would have won, had Borel been the jockey.

Calvin says: "I'm not worried about nothing....It's going to take a racehorse to beat her."

I hope so, but the Belmont is the long race. It will be a test of both horse and jockey.

Geaux Rachel Alexandra! Geaux Calvin!

How To Plant Your Garden

First, you Come to the garden alone,
while the dew is still on the roses....

FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING,
PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS:

1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH:

1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness

PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE:

1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another

NO GARDEN IS WITHOUT TURNIPS:

1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another

TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME:

1. Thyme for each other
2.. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends


WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE. THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW. NOT BAD, HUH?!

My instructions were to send this to people that I wanted God to bless and I picked you!


From Doug. I am honored that he chose me. This one arrives right on time.

And now, I choose you, my readers. May God bless you.

More Prayers, Please - From Margaret

From Margaret's blog:

Please pray for my beloved --he's in the hospital. They think he's had a series of small strokes.

The episodes started last night --we thought they were a food allergy or something, because he couldn't control his speech and his tongue was like a rubber band. Nothing else but that. We were with our neighbor Ben, who is a big time brain doctor... last night he showed some concern. But the episode passed quickly.Today, Joel lost his speech again while talking to Ben, and Ben called me and said that I was going to spend the next six hours in the emergency room and either hate him because it was allergies or love him for saving Joel's life.

I love Ben... he saved my husband's life.

So after about two hours in the ER waiting room, I asked to see Joel and they let me back in the ER, and this is what I saw--


--an empty ER room, except for his shoes.... That is just so wrong.... so I figured I could cry or take a picture.... I did both.

He was brought back shortly--they had been running some tests. So, Joel is where he needs to be--he is safe and in a very good hospital.

So, g'wan. Go to church. If for nothing else but to pray for my beloved Joel.... Please.


Lord God, bring healing to Joel; give strength, comfort, and consolation to Margaret, and give wisdom to those caring for Joel that he may be restored to full health and strength, in Jesus' name in unity with the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

UPDATE: From Margaret in the comments:

Grandmere--thank you so very much for this. Joel is better today--he knows what year it is and is not as red as a lobster --and he can turn a pun on its heel.

I am deeply grateful for your prayers. Will keep you posted.

And Elizabeth --you are in my prayers, as is your brother John.

blessings all.

Prayers Please - From Elizabeth And Roseann

From Elizabeth Kaeton:

Bad news just in: My brother John was just diagnosed with temporal lobe deterioration and early Alzheimer's Disease. He's 55 years old. Yes, that's 55. His wife, Mary, is the primary caretaker for their granddaughter and her aged parents who live with them. Needless to say, she is quite overwhelmed. I am too stunned at the moment to know how I feel, exactly, except terribly, terribly sad and deeply concerned for my brother. Of my three siblings, he and I have been the closest.

Prayers, please.


Elizabeth, My heart goes out to you and to your brother and his family. That is devastating news! I join you in your grief. It's a sad situation. I commit this whole matter into the hands of the all-loving God and pray that you all experience God's powerful and healing presence.

From Roseann in the comments:

Just want to let you all know I am feeling better. The stuff that goes in my feeding tube is working like a charm. My main issue now is I am having trouble with dialysis. I am suddenly unable to breathe and they have to put oxygen on me. It is a horrible feeling, like a panic attack. Right now they don't know what is causing it. Could be an insulin surge or who knows.

I know I ask for prayers a lot but please pray that this is cleared up quickly. Right now it feels like one of the last hurdles.

Love, Roseann


Thanks be to God that you feel better, Roseann. We pray that the doctors find the problem with the oxygen and the dialysis and correct it. Day by day, each problem as it comes, we pray. For each and every improvement, we give thanks.

Don't ever concern yourself with asking for too many prayers, my dear.

...pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.