Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.
Herbert George Wells
Monday, March 21, 2011
Time for change?
Trying out a new background for the Blog. On a rainy, cold day this cheers me up. Would make good colors for a vibrant quilt, too.
My rant for the day!
Elections will be coming up, again, and everyone will be busy making their personal decisions for whom to vote. This is the American Way. You vote your conscience. If, however, all Catholics are voting their conscience, according to our Faith, why is it that we have had a pro-death president in the White House? Something isn’t right here.
When I question people about their stand on the pro-life movement, they are all for the sanctity of life . . . until they step into the voting booth. What happens to their conscience when they start to mark their ballots? What happens to saving the unborn when they put their mind to the vote at hand? And one vote does make a difference as the Catholic vote helped put our current president in the White House. Isn’t that sad to think about? Our faith, religion and morals should dictate caring for the unborn, no matter what. People will put their life on the line to show this yet they can’t cross party lines. Of course, everyone has a right to belong to the political party of their choice but have they taken the time over the years to find out what the party of their choice really stands for these days? I don’t think there is any pride to be found in bragging that you have never voted outside your particular political party. It shows a lack of thinking not the virtue of loyalty. There is such a thing as misplaced loyalty and it certainly isn’t anything of which to be proud.
How many parishes advocate pro-life yet the majority of their congregation votes the ticket that puts the very lives of the innocent on the line? Someone once told me that when I reach the Social Security years, I will change my political views dramatically when it comes to my monthly Social Security and related benefits. What a reality check! A living person is worried about a change in dollars and cents when they already have a full life. They vote for added comfort while unborn babies can be murdered brutally and legally even if they would be viable outside the mother’s womb. Perhaps the Social Security Catholics should worry about euthanasia as abortion is surely the precursor to that. If the life of a baby is so unimportant, how much more value would an elderly person have in this day and age?
A friend told me that her family votes for any candidate with a D following his or her name. The Democratic party hasn’t been very kind to the unborn for years. The current administration made sure that partial birth abortion remains a tragic option. I am not here to say that the Republican party is any better or worse. I think it is time to look at all the people running for the various offices and study their moral values and qualifications not their party label in order to bring morality back to the United States.
When I was in school, any time I saw a D following anything on my report card, I knew I was borderline for failure. Many of the candidates sporting that D are helping us head for moral bankruptcy with other political parties following closely in their footsteps. If we are serious in our concern for the unborn, then vote to safeguard the unborn. Wrongs never make rights and too many Catholic votes have deliberately taken away the rights of the unborn.
I like the way the priests and brothers at my son's former high school say the Pledge of Allegiance, “with liberty and justice for all, both born and unborn.” We say we are pro-life. Will the Catholic vote reflect this or will our vote show us to be selfish hypocrites again next election?
“A child is a pledge of immortality, for he bears upon him in figure those high and eternal excellences in which the joy of heaven consists . . .”
When I question people about their stand on the pro-life movement, they are all for the sanctity of life . . . until they step into the voting booth. What happens to their conscience when they start to mark their ballots? What happens to saving the unborn when they put their mind to the vote at hand? And one vote does make a difference as the Catholic vote helped put our current president in the White House. Isn’t that sad to think about? Our faith, religion and morals should dictate caring for the unborn, no matter what. People will put their life on the line to show this yet they can’t cross party lines. Of course, everyone has a right to belong to the political party of their choice but have they taken the time over the years to find out what the party of their choice really stands for these days? I don’t think there is any pride to be found in bragging that you have never voted outside your particular political party. It shows a lack of thinking not the virtue of loyalty. There is such a thing as misplaced loyalty and it certainly isn’t anything of which to be proud.
How many parishes advocate pro-life yet the majority of their congregation votes the ticket that puts the very lives of the innocent on the line? Someone once told me that when I reach the Social Security years, I will change my political views dramatically when it comes to my monthly Social Security and related benefits. What a reality check! A living person is worried about a change in dollars and cents when they already have a full life. They vote for added comfort while unborn babies can be murdered brutally and legally even if they would be viable outside the mother’s womb. Perhaps the Social Security Catholics should worry about euthanasia as abortion is surely the precursor to that. If the life of a baby is so unimportant, how much more value would an elderly person have in this day and age?
A friend told me that her family votes for any candidate with a D following his or her name. The Democratic party hasn’t been very kind to the unborn for years. The current administration made sure that partial birth abortion remains a tragic option. I am not here to say that the Republican party is any better or worse. I think it is time to look at all the people running for the various offices and study their moral values and qualifications not their party label in order to bring morality back to the United States.
When I was in school, any time I saw a D following anything on my report card, I knew I was borderline for failure. Many of the candidates sporting that D are helping us head for moral bankruptcy with other political parties following closely in their footsteps. If we are serious in our concern for the unborn, then vote to safeguard the unborn. Wrongs never make rights and too many Catholic votes have deliberately taken away the rights of the unborn.
I like the way the priests and brothers at my son's former high school say the Pledge of Allegiance, “with liberty and justice for all, both born and unborn.” We say we are pro-life. Will the Catholic vote reflect this or will our vote show us to be selfish hypocrites again next election?
“A child is a pledge of immortality, for he bears upon him in figure those high and eternal excellences in which the joy of heaven consists . . .”
To clarify . . .
Lest anyone think I believed that Catholics are not helping in Japan, that was not my intent. My musing was over the fact that our diocese took so long to initiate something and our parish didn't even put the recent disaster into the prayer petitions at Mass. I wasn't the only one concerned and we were all happy to see a special collection happen and it's been noted in the prayer petitions finally.
Some people I spoke with at our parish figured that since Japan was an Asian country and a weathly one, what would they want with our help. That shocked me, too, as this is a country in dire straits with problems coming from possible nuclear fallout, flood damage, and ongoing earthquake jolts. A need is a need no matter who has the problems and they should never be neglected.
I did hear on the news that the Red Cross over here was informed that the Japanese are grateful for the help and thankfully accept it.
I just wish our own diocese had been quicker and more vocal about the whole matter as disasters fade in the minds of people so quickly. When Chile has their earthquake, it was immediately noted the following Sunday with prayers and a collection.
Some people I spoke with at our parish figured that since Japan was an Asian country and a weathly one, what would they want with our help. That shocked me, too, as this is a country in dire straits with problems coming from possible nuclear fallout, flood damage, and ongoing earthquake jolts. A need is a need no matter who has the problems and they should never be neglected.
I did hear on the news that the Red Cross over here was informed that the Japanese are grateful for the help and thankfully accept it.
I just wish our own diocese had been quicker and more vocal about the whole matter as disasters fade in the minds of people so quickly. When Chile has their earthquake, it was immediately noted the following Sunday with prayers and a collection.
Definitely a bread-baking day . . .
Cold today! Snow in the mountains and enough wind to send a chilling breeze down into the valley. Perfect day for bread baking. I have to feel a little bit sorry for anyone who hasn't tried making bread. It does have a mystery about it as to how it all works out. I mean, you take flour, water, salt, and yeast and in a few hours you have fragrant loaves cooling on the counter or a tray of soft rolls to go with dinner.
My mother liked making sweet yeast pastries, as do it, but a loaf of homemade bread seems like such a wonderful thing to produce. I remember baking bread one Halloween evening and a little Trick or Treater thanked my husband for the candy and then exclaimed, "Boy, Mister, are YOU lucky!" Taken aback, my husband asked, "Why would you say that?" The little boy looked surprised and replied, "Just smell your house!" Homemade bread baking does that to people.
Although I had a basic understanding of bread making when I got married, I really got my expertise from my husband. In his single days, he got interested in making bread mostly from the scientific point of view. He would follow recipes exactly and enjoyed buying bowls and equipment recommended by whatever receipe/book he was reading at the time. He still like making bread but likes gardening better. Sometimes, I will put bread to rise and give him the enjoyment of forming the loaves when he comes home from work.
My favorite, basic recipe for bread is as follows:
6 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons dried yeast
Water as needed
Put the yeast into a large (non-metal) bowl with 1/4 cup water and stir to dissolve. Add the flour and salt. Add water until you have a workable dough and turn out onto a floured surface and knead until the dough is smooth. Round it into a ball and place in a large, greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, place in a warm place, and let rise until doubled. It can take anywhere from an hour to two hours depending on the temperature of your kitchen. The longer the rise, however, the more the taste developes.
When you dough has reached the double mark, form into rolls or loaves and place in greased loaf pans or baking sheets. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise again. Set your oven to 400 degrees. When the bread/rolls are ready, remove the plastic and bake. Rolls take about 15-20 minutes and loaves an hour-plus.
NOTE: Spray vegetable oil spray on the surface of the plastic wrap to avoid sticking and ruining the shape of your rolls/loaves.
With that said, I think I will go make bread!
My mother liked making sweet yeast pastries, as do it, but a loaf of homemade bread seems like such a wonderful thing to produce. I remember baking bread one Halloween evening and a little Trick or Treater thanked my husband for the candy and then exclaimed, "Boy, Mister, are YOU lucky!" Taken aback, my husband asked, "Why would you say that?" The little boy looked surprised and replied, "Just smell your house!" Homemade bread baking does that to people.
Although I had a basic understanding of bread making when I got married, I really got my expertise from my husband. In his single days, he got interested in making bread mostly from the scientific point of view. He would follow recipes exactly and enjoyed buying bowls and equipment recommended by whatever receipe/book he was reading at the time. He still like making bread but likes gardening better. Sometimes, I will put bread to rise and give him the enjoyment of forming the loaves when he comes home from work.
My favorite, basic recipe for bread is as follows:
6 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons dried yeast
Water as needed
Put the yeast into a large (non-metal) bowl with 1/4 cup water and stir to dissolve. Add the flour and salt. Add water until you have a workable dough and turn out onto a floured surface and knead until the dough is smooth. Round it into a ball and place in a large, greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, place in a warm place, and let rise until doubled. It can take anywhere from an hour to two hours depending on the temperature of your kitchen. The longer the rise, however, the more the taste developes.
When you dough has reached the double mark, form into rolls or loaves and place in greased loaf pans or baking sheets. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise again. Set your oven to 400 degrees. When the bread/rolls are ready, remove the plastic and bake. Rolls take about 15-20 minutes and loaves an hour-plus.
NOTE: Spray vegetable oil spray on the surface of the plastic wrap to avoid sticking and ruining the shape of your rolls/loaves.
With that said, I think I will go make bread!
The first one, especially!
You can never underestimate the stupidity of the general public.
- Scott Adams
If you haven't found something strange during the day, it hasn't been much of a day.
- John A. Wheeler
- Scott Adams
If you haven't found something strange during the day, it hasn't been much of a day.
- John A. Wheeler
Necessary rain . . .
My husband is a bit frustrated. He planned to put in his seedlings this weekend and the rain started coming down in torrents. The rain is good for the earth and he didn't lose his seedlings but he still is anxious to get his annual garden going and growing.
We started a real vegetable garden for the first time, last year. It took off wonderfully with more tomatoes than we could hardly use. I made tomato jam, froze slices of tomatoes, and slow baked garlic tomatoes to freeze for later use. We still have a couple bags of tomoatoes in the freezer. The price of tomatoes is often high around here so we had a summer and partial winter of real savings.
Our peach tree is in bloom. We had to trim it back but still hope for a good crop. It was a bumper crop last year. I also froze eight bags of sliced peaches which have come in handy for desserts and smoothies over the winter months.
Our orange and lemon tree still have fruit which we have to finish picking as the blossoms are in full force already. Oh, and I read that a good way to save an over abundance of lemons is to wash them thoroughly and freeze them! According to my information, when you need lemon juice, you take one of your frozen lemons, let it defrost and squeeze it as usual. Because of the freezing, it breaks down the cell walls so the juice is a bit more plentiful and it still tastes fresh. I've done the freezing phase and still have to try the juicing part.
I find the fresh items we enjoy amazing but nothing brings home the miracle of it all as when you see a tiny seed turn into part of your next dinner! God IS good!
Meanwhile, the rain continues . . .
We started a real vegetable garden for the first time, last year. It took off wonderfully with more tomatoes than we could hardly use. I made tomato jam, froze slices of tomatoes, and slow baked garlic tomatoes to freeze for later use. We still have a couple bags of tomoatoes in the freezer. The price of tomatoes is often high around here so we had a summer and partial winter of real savings.
Our peach tree is in bloom. We had to trim it back but still hope for a good crop. It was a bumper crop last year. I also froze eight bags of sliced peaches which have come in handy for desserts and smoothies over the winter months.
Our orange and lemon tree still have fruit which we have to finish picking as the blossoms are in full force already. Oh, and I read that a good way to save an over abundance of lemons is to wash them thoroughly and freeze them! According to my information, when you need lemon juice, you take one of your frozen lemons, let it defrost and squeeze it as usual. Because of the freezing, it breaks down the cell walls so the juice is a bit more plentiful and it still tastes fresh. I've done the freezing phase and still have to try the juicing part.
I find the fresh items we enjoy amazing but nothing brings home the miracle of it all as when you see a tiny seed turn into part of your next dinner! God IS good!
Meanwhile, the rain continues . . .
A Sad Anniversary . . .
Nine years ago, we joined the Christian Foundation for the Children and Aging. It is an organization that makes it possible for you to not only support a child in need overseas but to write them, exchange letters, and get to know them as a person not a charity case. It was after church when we approached the table spread out with photo files of all the children and elderly in need of a sponsor. I was immediately drawn to Lydia. She was eight years old and lived in Kenya. My own son was eight years old, too, so it was like having another daughter.
Lydia started sending me little notes very soon and told me about her dreams, how she was doing in school, and thanking me because our $30 a month was providing her with an education and food for her family. Very humbling when you think how little we stretch $30 over here!
By the time Lydia was sixteen, she had grown into a tall, beautiful girl with such dreams and we felt so proud of her and happy with our ability to have become an asset in her life. She was the oldest of eight so had the double responsibility of being a help to her family and doing well in school.
Last February, I got a telephone call from the foundation with the shocking news that Lydia had died suddenly. She had taken ill at school and went home early. She got worse during the evening and by the time they reached the parking lot of the hospital, she was dead. They think it might have been her appendix but it hardly matters after the fact. I still keep her letters and her picture is still on the refrigerator. It is amazing how a little girl in Kenya made such a difference in our lives.
I was just thinking about Lydia, today. She didn't reach her dreams on earth but I think Heaven will increase in glory having her there!
Lydia started sending me little notes very soon and told me about her dreams, how she was doing in school, and thanking me because our $30 a month was providing her with an education and food for her family. Very humbling when you think how little we stretch $30 over here!
By the time Lydia was sixteen, she had grown into a tall, beautiful girl with such dreams and we felt so proud of her and happy with our ability to have become an asset in her life. She was the oldest of eight so had the double responsibility of being a help to her family and doing well in school.
Last February, I got a telephone call from the foundation with the shocking news that Lydia had died suddenly. She had taken ill at school and went home early. She got worse during the evening and by the time they reached the parking lot of the hospital, she was dead. They think it might have been her appendix but it hardly matters after the fact. I still keep her letters and her picture is still on the refrigerator. It is amazing how a little girl in Kenya made such a difference in our lives.
I was just thinking about Lydia, today. She didn't reach her dreams on earth but I think Heaven will increase in glory having her there!
Thought for a Monday
“What kind of prayer is most efficacious? The most efficacious prayer is that which flows from obedience and obligation. In other words, those rather grim and everyday sources of grace for us and for souls. This does not signify that private prayer is of little value, for it has great value, but only in relationship to those of obligation is it of lesser value.” ~St. Maximilian Kolbe
This really hits home as it is so easy to lose ourselves in the act of prayer while forgetting that the mundane chores of life, done in good spirit, increase the value of our prayer life. I've met a few people who spend hours in church praying while they neglect the everyday job of caring for their family, doing their job, etc. Sometimes, you have to leave the 'church presence' of Jesus to find Jesus.
This really hits home as it is so easy to lose ourselves in the act of prayer while forgetting that the mundane chores of life, done in good spirit, increase the value of our prayer life. I've met a few people who spend hours in church praying while they neglect the everyday job of caring for their family, doing their job, etc. Sometimes, you have to leave the 'church presence' of Jesus to find Jesus.
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