THE REAL REPUBLICAN PLEDGE TO AMERICA

Voters should know what the GOP candidates actually propose. Forget the "Plague" on America; what are the candidates saying?

The Real Republican Pledge To America

If voters knew this, would they vote any differently?

They will never get the truth listening to Faux News, of course. Sigh.

h/t to Shel at FB

--the BB

Shamelessly lifted verbatim from Paul's website.

If you can't steal from a friend, from whom can you steal? The others will have you arrested.

MAXINE'S SATURDAY MESSAGE

Don't blame me. Blame Paul A.'s mother-in-law.

PS: More to come later.

THE SWINGING AXE

Bishop Mark Lawrence of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina in The Living Church.

It may well be true that “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Unfortunately, it has not always been mightier than the axe. As that eloquent environmentalist Aldo Leopold wrote: “A conservationist is one who is humbly aware that with each stroke [of the axe] he is writing his signature on the face of his land.” Far too many of the leaders in our church have never learned this lesson.

There is much axe swinging these days in the Episcopal Church. I have grown sad from walking among the stumps of what was once a noble old-growth Episcopalian grove in the forest of Catholic Christianity. It may surprise some, but I write not to bemoan the theological or moral teaching that is in danger of falling to the logger’s axe. I have done that elsewhere. My concern here is that as the church’s polity is felled only a few bother to cry “timber.”

I have space to raise three concerns, and these briefly: the presiding bishop’s threat to our polity —litigious and constitutional; the revisions to the Title IV canons; and, finally, a passing word about inhibitions and depositions to solve our theological/spiritual crisis.

Bishop Lawrence never calls Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefforts Schori by her name, but rather refers to her as "the presiding bishop" or "she" or "her". He likens Bishop Katharine to a "rapacious lumberjack" who fells trees indiscriminately, rather than a conservationist, concerned about renewal of the forest - er - church. Yet he says:

I hasten to add my concerns are not with her personally. My problem is with how she and her chancellor are felling our polity.

It seems to me that the manner in which Bishop Lawrence speaks of Bishop Katharine and his failure to refer to her by name indicates a level of disdain bordering on contempt.

Bishop Lawrence does not write about the Episcopal Church's false theology, nor does he write about the church tearing "the fabric of the Anglican Communion". He speaks not of the Episcopal Church's mistaken stance on "profound questions of doctrine, morality and discipline". No, he's already covered those issues at great length. And don't I know it, for I've read a good many of his speeches and writings. Now Bishop Lawrence challenges Bishop Katharine's "axe swinging" manner of exercising her office. He references the "national" church with scare quotation marks, for the dioceses are "independent" (my scare quotes!) of the "national" church.

At his ordination service, Bishop Lawrence said,

"I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Episcopal Church."

Would this be the "national" church that Bishop Lawrence now references with scare quotes?

I'll leave it to others to take up the questions of whether Bishop Katharine has exceeded her authority or performed unconstitutional acts, or whether "we have entered into a new era of unprecedented hierarchy and autocratic leadership." Others far more knowledgeable than I will take up the question of whether "all of these are strokes of the axe hacking at the stately grove of TEC."

The disrespectful tone of this piece about the leadership of the Episcopal Church, from a supposedly loyal son of the Church, distracted me greatly from any rational points that Bishop Lawrence may have been attempting. I hope that one day, as he stands amongst the stumps of what was once a stately grove of trees, Bishop Lawrence may choose to consider his tone as composes his next public message, but the time is not now. Bishop Lawrence's address to the South Carolina diocesan Convention, which is presently taking place, can be read here in its verbose and bombastic entirety.

Note: On the diocesan web page, "Episcopal" does not appear in the name of the diocese. However, the Google search for "Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina" calls up the home page for the diocese in which the word "Episcopal", the church which, along with its Presiding Bishop, must not be named.

For further commentary, read the words of Bishop James R. Mathes, of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, at the Daily Episcopalian.

UPDATE: "The Lumberjack Song" thanks to Ann.



UPDATE 2: Andrew Gerns at The Lead continues with updates on the activities at the diocesan convention of the Diocese of South Carolina.

PLEASE PRAY FOR KATZIE

From Mark at Enough About Me:

I had to take Katzie back to the vet today. There was blood in his urine.

He had developed a bit of an external infection around the area of the surgery, but that seemed to be responding to the antimicrobial cream. I didn't mention it, because it was not an unexpected complication in skin that has not previously been exposed to urine and uric acid.

The vet was very upfront: Katzie will be observed this weekend, but, if they can't get him to heal up, he will have to be euthanized.

Sad news. Please pray that the worst won't happen.

"A PASTORAL LETTER TO GAY YOUTH"

From John W. Vest, who is Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry at the Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago:

Dear LGBT Youth:

My name is John Vest and I am a pastor at a large Presbyterian Church in Chicago. In recent days there has been much news coverage of the recent suicides of gay teens. While theses stories have received widespread national attention, I know that the problem of homophobic bullying and the tragedy of gay youth (and adults) driven to the point of suicide is much larger than these few individuals that have made headlines. Commentators are right to point out that religious leaders share much of the blame for a cultural climate that does little to prevent such bullying and in many cases encourages the ignorance, prejudice, and hatred that fuels it. As a pastor, I want you to know that not all Christians are like this. I want you to know that not all churches consider you a sinful abomination. There are many of us who know that God loves you as you are, and we do too.
....

It may take us a long time to redeem Christianity in the eyes of those we have hurt the most. But I refuse to give up trying, and I hope and pray that you will not give up on us. There are churches that will love and accept you as God does. There are churches that will support you as you grow into yourself and discover the person God created you to be. There are churches that will stand up to bullying and name it and the factors that contribute to it as the real sin in this situation, not the sexuality you have been given as a gift of God.

Please read John's fine letter in its entirety. John includes his personal story of transformation from "the culture of homophobia and discrimination", which is quite similar to my story.

It's way past time for Christians who are not part of "the culture of homophobia and discrimination" to speak out, to proclaim, again and again, that "JESUS WELCOMED AND LOVED EVERYONE!", as John's plaque, pictured above, states. As Jesus did, so we should do, also.

And as John asks forgiveness, church folk amongst us, including me, who have contributed to the hurt inflicted on LGTB children of God, so we should do, also.

And as John does not give up trying to redeem Christianity in the eyes of those who have been wounded by gross distortion of the central message of love in the Gospel of Jesus, so we should do, also.

Thanks to Julie for sending the link to John's letter.

GOOD-BYE TO ALL THAT

From the Catholic Herald:

The Anglican bishop of Fulham and the chairman of Forward in Faith International has announced he will resign before the end of the year to join an Ordinariate.

Speaking at Forward in Faith’s National Assembly today, Bishop John Broadhurst, who is a senior figure in the Anglo-Catholic movement, said he intended to tender his resignation before the end of the year and join the Ordinariate in Britain when it is established. He has said that he will remain the chairman of Forward in Faith, which he says is not an Anglican organisation.

Bishop Broadhurst is a suffragan bishop of the Diocese of London. He said the Bishop of London would likely appoint someone new to fill the post Bishop Broadhurst is vacating.

He is the first senior Anglo-Catholic to announce publicly that he will join an Ordinariate when it is founded.

Adios, Obispo Broadhurst. Vaya con Dios.

There you are. The thought came to me in Spanish, and that's how I wrote it.

Groups of Anglicans wishing to take up an Ordinariate must first write to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith formally requesting the canonical structure to be erected.

The Personal Ordinariate most resembles a military diocese and is thought to range over the territory of individual Episcopal conferences.

Get out your pens and papers, lads, and get your letters out to the Vatican, after which the queue forms on the right.

Among the largest worry for Anglicans considering taking up Anglicanorum coetibus is the fact that they are unlikely to be able to take buildings with them when they cross the Tiber.

Ah well, good-bye to all that.

H/T to Simon Sarmiento at Thinking Anglicans.

GOLDEN ACRE PARK - LEEDS, ENGLAND

The captain on the bridge.

Ah well, Doorman-Priest was captain for the day, and a beautiful day it was, as you will see from the pictures. When I woke up in the morning, it was raining. By the time DP and I left my hotel and reached the Abbey House Museum, a light rain still fell, but, when we left the museum and walked over to tour Kirkstall Abbey, the rain had stopped, and the sun was shining.



Bottoms up.

After touring the Abbey, our next stop was Golden Acre Park, where the beautiful weather continued. We walked the paths and raised bridges and enjoyed the breathtaking beauty in the park.

Around and in the lake were geese and ducks. Before we approached, DP asked me if I was afraid of geese, and, since I have never experienced an attack from an angry goose, I said, "No", and, indeed, the geese let me be. Of course, I had to have a picture of the ducks ducking for food with their little bottoms up in the air. The duck on the right is nearly perpendicular.



The beautiful lake.

DP told me that horticulturists planted an experimental garden in the park with plants that usually grow only in warmer climates, to see if they will grow in the North, in preparation for coming climate change, which may bring warmer weather to northern England. Good thinking and planning, I say.



And the lovely flowers.

I don't know their name, but the blooms make a beautiful display in red and yellow. If any of you know the names of the flowers, I will post them under the pictures.



No names again.

We stopped for refreshments at the café in the park, tea and a sweet for me, and a fruit drink with a sweet for DP.

The park covers 137 acres, so we saw only a small portion.



Cosmos beauties (Thanks to Susan S.)

From the Golden Acre Park website:

Distinctive features of the park are the areas surrounding the lake, arboretum and picnic area, where the local flora is encouraged to go wild. Reduced mowing has seen a vast increase in the biodiversity. In the low-lying wet meadows of the picnic site, Ragged Robin and sways of wild Orchid flourish. In the higher dry meadows of the arboretum, Scabious and Harebells abound. In contrast a network of shaded woodland pathways lined with many species of Rhododendron and Azaleas provide pleasing areas for visitors to explore.

Now the dahlias, hot pink above.

The flowers were gorgeous in rainbow colors, every color you can imagine.



Reds.



Yellows.



Pink peach.



Pretty dahlias all in a row.



Flowers outside Haley's Hotel.

I love lobelia, the tiny purple flower with the white center.

After our visit to the park, DP took me to his house for a delicious meal with his lovely wife and two beautiful daughters. And I forgot to take pictures of my hosts. I'm an absent-minded photographer, when I'm enjoying the company. I have just the one picture, the captain on the bridge from the rear.

UPDATE: I reposted the pictures. Now if you click on them, you can get the enlarged view.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DWIGHT EISENHOWER

From Eisenhower's farewell address, January 21, 1961:

Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions.
....

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence – economic, political, even spiritual – is felt in every city, every Statehouse, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

A Republican president, a former general, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during WWII, spoke the words. Sadly, and to our detriment, we have not heeded Eisenhower's advice.

WAKING UP IS HARD TO DO

The newest Music Video from the Laryngospasms. Also for more music by the Laryngospasms be sure to check out their web music at www.Laryngospasms.com

I like doctors certified nurse anesthetists with a sense of humor.

Yes, I know that some of you may have seen the video already. Over 6 million people have viewed it on YouTube.

From Not Totally Rad.

Thanks to Ann.

HEAVEN AND HELL

While walking down the street one day a corrupt Senator was tragically hit by a car and died. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the Senator..

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really? I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They played a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and the finest champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who is having a good time dancing and telling jokes.

They are all having such a good time that before the Senator realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens in heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him, "Now it's time to visit heaven..."

So, 24 hours passed with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The Senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell...

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulders.

"I don't understand," stammers the Senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"