So happy for these girls now free and safe, God bless them and Charles Ramsey, My thoughts & prayers….

So happy for these girls now free and safe, God bless them and Charles Ramsey.

Amanda Berry is now known as a hero after escaping from where she has been held for ten years, rescuing her daughter and two other women from the same home.

I heard of Amanda’s story, she went missing when she was 16 years old in 2003 while on her way home from Burger King where she worked. She was never seen or heard from again. Until now. It is awful what happened to these girls, but i am glad they are safe now.

Gina DeJesus went missing when she was 14, a year later while walking home from school.

Michelle Knight vanished first in 2002, when she was 20 years old. She was considered a runaway and her case received less media attention than the other women.

Neighbor Charles Ramsey heard cries for help coming from Ariel Castro’s house just before 6 p.m., and when he went to investigate, he helped kick open the door of the home to get the women out.

Berry, police said, “broke out of the lower part of screen door” to freedom with her daughter. Frantically, she called 911 using the neighbor’s phone. “I’ve been kidnapped, and I’ve been missing for 10 years,” Berry told a 911 operator. “And I’m here. I’m free now.”

She asked police to hurry before Castro returned.
Both Gina and Michelle were also rescued and Castro is in custody.

To think of all they have been through, is unimaginable. Amanda Berry’s mother died without knowing her daughter was alive. That is so sad. May the girls find comfort and love in the ones around them. Lets all say prayers for their healing. I pray for all those that are missing, in danger, hurt, in pain. Pray for all the victims, the families. Pray that we soon see a world with less evil and more love and more people treasuring human life, caring about people in general.

Amen.

Pope Francis: Pro-Abortion Politicians Ineligible for Communion

A letter Pope Francis sent to the bishops of Argentina in late March is encouraging pro-life advocates because it says pro-abortion politicians should not be eligible for communion in the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis directed the Argentinean bishops to govern the Church there following the Aparecida Document.
The text states, in part, “[people] cannot receive Holy Communion and at the same time act with deeds or words against the commandments, particularly when abortion, euthanasia, and other grave crimes against life and family are encouraged. This responsibility weighs particularly over legislators, heads of governments, and health professionals.”

“These are the guidelines we need for this time in history,” the pope wrote to the bishops.

Judie Brown, president of American Life League, a U.S.-based pro-life group, and Michael Hichborn, director of Defend the Faith for American Life League, sent a letter to all U.S. Catholic bishops alerting them to what Pope Francis wrote.

“We are renewed in our joy over the election of Pope Francis. One of the reasons for our happiness is the Holy Father’s reiteration of Catholic teaching as enunciated in canon 915,” the letter reads.

“We pray that these words will be an encouragement to you as well because, like Argentina, the United States has her share of Catholics in public life who persist in their support of abortion while, at the same time, receiving Christ in the sacrament of Holy Eucharist,” it continues. “We write to ask you, in view of this recent news report, to act on Pope Francis’ call and deny the sacrament of Christ’s real presence-body, blood, soul, and divinity-to every pro-abortion Catholic in public life who has not repented of his support for the heinous crime of abortion.”

The communion issue was exacerbated when, despite their pro-abortion views, Vice President Joe Biden and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi both received communion at the Mass to celebrate Pope Francis’ inauguration. Biden’s office confirmed to the Washington Times that he had received communion and reporters in the White House presidential reporting pool confirmed in an email to LifeNews that Pelosi had received it as well. Pope Francis did not administer the sacrament.

Father Frank Pavone told the LifeNews he opposed the two pro-abortion politicos receiving communion since their pro-abortion views are outside the teachings of the Catholic Church

The Priests for Life leader said, “At a Mass during which our new Pope emphasized the duty public officials – and all the rest of us – have to protect the weakest among us, Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi have the audacity to receive Communion while publicly renouncing their responsibility to protect the weakest among us.”

“Some Church leaders mistakenly think we are advocating the use of the Eucharist as a ‘weapon.’ In fact, we are defending the Eucharist from being used as a political tool. These politicians have no respect for what the Eucharist means: an integral, consistent union with Christ and with all our brothers and sisters. To receive Christ while rejecting the unborn is a slap in the face to both,” he added.

Article originally from Life News

Pope Francis: Pro-Abortion Politicians Ineligible for Communion

NRA Convention 2013 Sparks Hate From The Left via The Brenner Brief

NRA Convention 2013 Sparks Hate From The Left (via http://www.thebrennerbrief.com)

The NRA Convention 2013 over the weekend was jammed packed with a line-up of speakers including Gov. Sarah Palin – Glenn Beck – NRA CEO, Wayne LaPierre – NRA-ILA Exec. Dir., Chris W. Cox – Sen. Ted Cruz R-TX – Asa Hutchinson – Former U.N. Ambassador, John Bolton – Texas Gov. Rick Perry…

---

‘In Defense of Sports’ A great article from Desiring God by Barnabas Piper

In Defense of Sports
by Barnabas Piper April 25, 2013

Last week I had the chance to sit down with some of the team at Desiring God to talk about how Christians should interact with sports. During the conversation we briefly touched on how easily sports can become an idol, whether it’s as an athlete or fan or a parent of an athlete. Overall, though, we explored how Christians can be involved in sports and the goodness of sports in culture as an expression of God’s creativity and the gifts he’s given people.
One Facebook commenter responded to the podcast with a perspective that many people share — sports seems “like a whole other religion.” He went on to describe the amount of excitement and money people pour into sports and how that ought to be poured into “the true battle we live in,” such as healing the sick, feeding the poor, and saving souls. He makes the point that sports clearly aren’t as important as these things.
This perspective is quite common and deserves a thoughtful response. At first blush it has merit, but it is not entirely accurate. Let me take his objections one by one.
“Sports is its own religion”
As we discussed on the podcast, sports can easily become an idol. But that does not make it an inherently bad thing. Money can be an idol. So can music; attend any concert and you will find worshippers there. Or family. Anything that we devote ourselves to can become an idol which can then become a religion; that is, it can become something which gives structure to our lives and determines our values. But the human ability to make idols out of anything does not make those things bad. And sports contain enormous good as a reflection of God’s creative power and the unique abilities he has poured into people as athletes, coaches, strategists, broadcasters, journalists, and more.
“People should devote their excitement and energy to things of eternal value”
Taken at face value, this sentence is true, but when you use it to parse sports (or other forms of entertainment) out of life it creates a false dichotomy. Sports offer rest and refreshment. The energy poured into them is not draining a person from doing things that “matter” — it is restoring them for work. Sports also offer a kind of community and connection to people that is difficult to duplicate. Whether it’s regular pick-up basketball games, rooting for the same team, or being softball teammates, sports bring people together. And people together is where real eternal ministry is done best.
“The money and time devoted to sports are better spent elsewhere, serving those in need”
Such an objection is worthy of consideration as a matter of conscience at the personal level, but it is not a black and white issue. It is always wise to ask whether I am giving what I ought, helping who I ought, and being generous as I ought. Am I misallocating my own resources to serve my idol? This idol could be sports or it could be lattes or books or cars. In most cases, this is not a question anyone can clearly answer from the outside. It is not wrong to spend money on any of the things I’ve listed, but it could be a poor choice. Usually only God and the spender know whether it was wise or not.
The money in sports (and all entertainment industries) is enormous. It is so because we as a culture demand to be entertained. Cost and demand is a basic economic principle. We are better off examining our own lives to see if there is inequity or inconsistency than in haranguing about the system as a whole.
I believe sports are a gift, a good gift, that God gave through human creativity for our enjoyment. They should be participated in at every level and in every way as such. And just like all of life, we ought to approach them with thoughtfulness, discernment, and intentionality.

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/in-defense-of-sports

Review: Sea Salt Caramel Talenti Gelato

So I have been a Talenti fan ever since that first delicious bite. I remember it was Blood Orange Sorbetto. Its yummy stuff, but I really love that its all natural. And healthier than regular ice cream. Have tried several ( not all, yet) flavors. Just tried Sea Salt Caramel. Oh. My. Stars. I cannot, repeat, cannot…. express just how delicious this is. The best sweet/ dessert/ ice cream I hav EVER tried. Im hooked on Sea Salt Caramel. But dont just take my word for it. Read all of the good things about it and go out and try it for yourself 🙂

Talenti gelato is made with fresh, hormone-free milk and only pure cane sugar. Not only is it delicious, but with 30% less fat than regular ice cream, it’s also a healthier alternative. Their sorbetto is dairy free and 100% fat free and also made with pure cane sugar—never high-fructose corn syrup. Talenti provides wholesome, all-natural frozen desserts that taste amazing.

Disgusted with the lack of service and quality of Lexington TN Walmart

Walmart on Church St in Lexington, TN. In recent trips I’ve been dispointed with quality of things. Too name a few, bought milk and got home to find that even though it was weeks awayfrom expiration date, it was spoiled. Another time wanted garlic, it was all blackened. Another time wanted avocados but the entire bin was rotten and all were mushy. Three weeks ago bought Hi-C juiceboxes and was in a hurry, get home to see the bottom was mushy, wet, and covered in mold residue. I returned them to the store and they let me exchange them. Didnt apologize or seem too worried. I told the customer service desk that i saw three more packs the same way on the self and didnt seem to care, they said ‘ok’. Same day wanted Kale, it was ALL moldy and blackened. Also saw perishable fruit smoothie juices on shevles that expired a month ago! The other day i had to run in for one (non food) item, went to the juice isle to see if they were still gross, the shelves were dripping hi-c juice, the packs smelled really bad and strong and mold was on the packs. I am beyond frustrated and disgusted at this store and
have a good mind to never spend a penny there again.

Cute little joke i found on iCatholic

I came across this on an iCatholic post and had to share it:

A couple had two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble and their parents knew that, if any mischief occurred in their town, their sons were probably involved.

They boys’ mother heard that a clergyman in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The clergyman agreed, but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8-year-old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the clergyman in the afternoon.

The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, “Where is God?”

They boy’s mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there with his mouth hanging open, wide-eyed. So the clergyman repeated the question in an even sterner tone, “Where is God!!?” Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy’s face and bellowed, “WHERE IS GOD!?”

The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, “What happened?”

The youngest brother gasped for breath and replied, “We are in BIG trouble this time dude. God is missing and they think WE did it!”

 

 

Preparing for Holy Week and Holy Thursday dinner

Palm Sunday Celebrates Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. It is on the Sunday before Easter Sunday and marks the beginning of the Holy Week.

Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entrance of Christ into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-9), when palm branches were placed in His path, before His arrest on

Holy Thursday and His Crucifixion on Good Friday. It thus marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final week of Lent, and the week in which Christians celebrate

the mystery of their salvation through Christ’s Death and His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

　

Holy Thursday is the day on which Christ celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples, four days after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

Only hours after the Last Supper, Judas would betray Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, setting the stage for Christ’s Crucifixion on Good Friday.

　

Good Friday, the Friday before Easter Sunday, commemorates the Passion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross.

On Good Friday no mass is attended but account of the Passion according to the Gospel of John is read : John 18:1-19:42

 

 

On Holy Thursday we will be reading Exodus 12:1-20 (the story of the first Passover).

Then reading about the Last Supper.

Our dinner will consist of

Meatloaf shaped into a cross. (Reminder of the Passoer lamb, and Christ the Paschal Lamb)

Cooked spinach and raw celary (reminder of the  bitter herbs)

Applesauce (reminder of the Charoses, the bricks and mortar in Egypt)

Bread (I will be making unleavened bread, reminder of the bread and the Eucharist)

Grapes (reminder of the wine of the Last Supper which becomes the Blood of Christ)

Round angel food cake for dessert (Because its a festive day in the eyes of the church and its round to symbolize eternal life)

Having unleavened bread and grape juice or wine reminds us of his sacred gift.

 

Holy Saturday is the final day of Lent, of Holy Week, and of the Easter Triduum, the three days (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) immediately preceding Easter, during which Christians commemorate the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ and prepare for His Resurrection.
As on Good Friday, there is no Mass offered for Holy Saturday. The Easter Vigil Mass, which takes place after sundown on Holy Saturday, properly belongs to Easter Sunday, since liturgically, each day begins at sundown on the previous day. (That is why Saturday vigil Masses can fulfill our Sunday Duty.) Unlike on Good Friday, when Holy Communion is distributed at the afternoon liturgy commemorating Christ’s Passion, on Holy Saturday the Eucharist is only given to the faithful as viaticum—that is, only to those in danger of death, to prepare their souls.
Easter is not only the greatest Christian feast; it is the fulfillment of our faith as Christians. Through His Death, Christ destroyed our bondage to sin; through His Resurrection, He brought us the promise of new life, both in Heaven and on earth. His own prayer, “Thy Kingdom come, on earth as it is in Heaven,” begins to be fulfilled on Easter Sunday.

May everyone have a blessed and joyous Holy Week, let us not forget the love he’s shown us by his sacrifice for us.

Why everyone is outraged at Seth MacFarlane over the Oscars.

While introducing “Django Unchained,” he got gasps from the audience by referencing Chris Brown’s (past?) tendency to physically abuse off-now-on-again girlfriend Rihanna: “This is the story of a man fighting to get back his woman, who’s been subjected to unthinkable violence. Or as Chris Brown and Rihanna call it, a date movie.”

He thinks domestic violence is a joke.

He made light of a rape scene, with him making jokes in reference to womens breasts. But he usually does trashy comedy, like his cartoon for instance. Wont watch anything of his but i hear it references disturbing stuff and rape jokes all the time.

He even drew 9-year-old Oscar-nominee Quvenzhané Wallis into the uncomfortable sex-object references, saying, “To give you an idea of how young she is, it’ll be 16 years until she’s too old for Clooney.” How disgusting?!

He also called Jennifer Aniston a stripper, described Zero Dark Thirty as a tribute to “every woman’s innate inability to never ever let anything go.”, And said “And those of you [beautiful women] who gave yourselves the flu two weeks ago to ‘get there’? It paid off.”

 

http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/not-just-another-sexist-night-at-the-oscars–nope–this-one-took-the-cake–thanks-to-host-seth-macfarlance–155352960.html

For this Friday’s fast: Intention and Reflection (2-22-13)

Intention
For the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the selection of the next Holy Father: that the next pope may be granted wisdom and strength in leading the faithful into deeper relationship with Christ, that through our own continual conversion, we may witness to the sanctity of all human life through our words and actions.

Reflection
Today is the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus names Peter the rock and foundation of his Church and declares that “the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” As we await the transition of a new pope, the successor of St. Peter, let us pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, trusting in the Lord’s Providence, and thankful for the pastoral care of Pope Benedict XVI over the last eight years. He has consistently presented the invitation of Christ to each of us as to an ever deeper and more personal friendship with Himself, a friendship which is transformative: “Christians are people who have been conquered by Christ’s love and, accordingly, under the influence of that love… they are profoundly open to loving their neighbor in concrete ways. This attitude arises primarily from the consciousness of being loved, forgiven, and even served by the Lord, who bends down to wash the feet of the Apostles and offers himself on the Cross to draw humanity into God’s love” (Pope Benedict XVI, Message for Lent 2013). Let us then continue our Lenten journey faithfully, responding to the Lord’s tender love and allowing Him to transform us, that we may bring His light to the world, witnessing to the sanctity of each human life.

Let us then continue our Lenten journey faithfully, responding to the Lord’s tender love and allowing Him to transform us, that we may bring His light to the world, witnessing to the sanctity of each human life.