What if there is no one to speak for you?

I still have fellow parishioners who are voting for the incumbent president in 2012. The last three-plus years have not seeped any information they care to acknowledge into their brains. If you try to argue, they rant on about how President Bush ruined the country. When you tell them that President Bush isn't on the ballot, they stomp off in rage that you would dare malign their president if only speaking the truth. Pastor Martin Niemoller's saying is famous and speaks to us today . . . if we will listen.

Here is what Pastor Martin Niemoller said. He survived seven years in a Nazi concentration camp. He knows first hand of what he speaks.

First they came for the communists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.

The point isn’t religion. It’s freedom. Whether you are a Christian or not, whether you are pro-life or not, you should to be very concerned about this Obamacare mandate. If you are a citizen who enjoys their freedom, realize that the mandate is just a first step in taking away other freedoms. If you voted for the current president in 2008, perhaps, you need to reconsider your reasons for doing so then and see if they are valid for this upcoming election.

Spicy Almonds

While the weather is still cool, put your oven to good use and make up a reasonably healthy snack for almost guilt-free munching! This is how I like to make them but, as you can see, there is plenty of room to create your own flavor palette. I prefer almonds but can’t see how you could go wrong using any other kind that is a favorite.

Spicy Almonds
1 pound shelled almonds (don’t need to be blanched.)
1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons salt (I substitute 1 teaspoon for smoked salt)
1 teaspoon chili flakes
1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon black pepper

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place almonds in a large mixing bowl. Whip the egg white, water, and vanilla together. It should be frothy not like making meringue. Pour the mixture over the nut and add the rest of the ingredients and mix well to coat and distribute the spices/pepper, etc.

Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes. Check every few minutes to prevent burning and to stir around the nuts for even toasting. Remove from oven and cool thoroughly. They keep well at room temperature in a sealed container.

Real hope is in the here after . . .

Death is the gate of life.

- Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

A time to pray . . .

To change the world
ONE MINUTE EACH NIGHT...

This is the scariest election we as Christians have ever faced, and
from the looks of the polls, the Christians aren't voting Christian
values. We all need to be on our knees. Do you believe we can take God
at His word? Call upon His name, then stand back and watch His wonders
unfold. This scripture gives us, as Christians, ownership of this land
and the ability to call upon God to heal it. I challenge you to do
that. We have never been more desperate than now for God to heal our
land.

This election is the scariest I remember in my lifetime. 2 Chronicles
7:14. 'If my people, which are called by my name shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal
their land.'

During WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill, who organized a group
of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed
hour for one minute, to collectively pray for the safety of England,
its people and peace. This had an amazing effect, as bombing stopped.
There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in
America. The United States of America, and our citizens, need prayer
more than ever! If you would like to participate, each evening at 9:00
P.M. Eastern Time (8 PM Central, 7 PM Mountain, 6 PM Pacific), stop
whatever you're doing, and spend one minute praying for the safety of
the United States, our troops, our citizens, for peace in the world,
the upcoming election, that the Bible will remain the basis for the
laws governing our land, and that Christianity will grow in the U.S.
If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this
along. Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the
power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our
prayers are the most powerful asset we have.
Thank you.

Please pass this on to anyone who you think will want to join us. God
Bless You!

I think I figured it out . . .

I'm usually amazed at how people who don't practice a religion are so harsh and disrespectful when speaking of it. They make fun of the evangelists. They insult the Pope in the name of humor. They don't know or understand the principles of being religious or having a deep Faith. Their Sundays are, indeed, days of rest as they don't ever venture forth for a Sunday Mass or service.

Suddenly the attitude reminded me of the old playground days at school. We didn't have counselors for bullies at school. We figured out ways to cope with the situation. Yeah, I go back that far. Some of the children were either bigger or smarter and they  let what they considered the lesser species know where they stood in the playground social group by word or action.

Now, as it is reasonable to assume, the 'lesser species' on the playground scene were just as clever, intelligent, popular, or smart in their own way. Being one of these underlings on the recess circuit, I did my best to avoid the confrontations and lived my school life to my own benefit. Now the bully faction didn't like this. They knew they were actually in the minority and didn't want the majority to figure them out. Instead of finding out what make others 'click', they resorted to loud words, insults, and physical threats.

It is kind of the same scenario today as our government has lost sight of the basis of our country which was founded on Christian values. They have lost the heart of this and the only way they can maintain their idea of control is to bully the majority and disrespect their values. Christianity in all religions is a threat to sin. The world wants to enjoy the 'delight' of sin in pursuing whatever, whenever without recourse to the complications of conscience. The majority says NO so they turn on the bully tactics. Unfortunately, unlike the playground days, we can't avoid them for our protection or we lose our freedoms. Today, we have to face our aggressors to faith and freedom or, as we saw by the Senate vote yesterday, we begin our spiritual demise with the first step towards loss of religious freedom.

Words to the wise . . . with a grin . . .

"Take the diplomacy out of war and the thing would fall flat in a week."
-- Will Rogers

"Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future."
-- Niels Bohr

"He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever."
-- Chinese Proverb