In our City of Rialto, California, we have an election slated for March 5th to either extend an 8% Utility User Tax for another five years or to rescind it. Since the city has also gotten into some deal to double our water rates in the next four years to basically lure in and keep a housing developer, this seems to be a bad time to ask for and keep more of our small city's taxpayer money. Yet, they are and the voter guides and booklets have hit the mailbox and the powers that be that are in favor of the 8% extension is hoping this 'small' election results in a small turn out with only those in favor coming out to barter our future money for another five years. A nice move during a time when are told to tighten our belts and get through the turmoil . . . and they add to the turmoil.
Okay, cities seldom have the most honest of 'rulers' and usually don't see past the dollar signs. I'm fine with letting all my friends know about this and praying for the best result. Many of us could use a decrease in utility costs. The voter pamphlet is by the door and our calendar is marked to vote aggressively against this measure. End of subject . . .
Well, not quite as the city has yet another trick up their sleeve. Today, we get another voter pamphlet in the mail for a special primary election for a State Senate seat. Said voting is scheduled for exactly a week after the one mentioned above. You have to wonder at the minds behind this. Just the cost, alone, in printing and mailing a second ballot should have given our city politicians pause. The cost of hiring staff to man the voting places should have given our city politician pause. Why would they go to double the expense to have two small elections scheduled like that? Could it be that they hope the first voting for the Utility User Tax might slip by the voters so they can make sure all those in favor of keeping the eight percent increase can cast their affirmative vote and seal the deal?
At a time when money is a problem for everyone, shouldn't the citizen be given ample time and opportunity to make a decision . . . the democratic way? Seems like democracy, today, can be adjusted to meet governing criteria.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Truly, my first loaves of gluten-free bread!
Although I've been baking gluten-free bread for the last couple of months, I've been going by recipes. With any new adventure, you have to learn the ropes before you can cast off on your own. I finally have an idea of the ingredient interaction minus the boost of wheat and went off on my own with baking, yesterday. It wasn't planned so much as I didn't have the ingredients called for in the recipe so made up my own baking mix to see what happened! Hey, it 'happened good'! The baking mix used sweet sorghum flour along with oat flour. The combination baked up smelling very much like a great loaf of bread. Since there is half a loaf gone by this morning, I'd say it worked out.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Sex and Marriage is the Cure?
As usual, when there is a change in the air, everyone starts declaring the changes that need to be made in order to keep up with the times. No different is the fact that the Catholic Cardinals will soon be electing a new pope to guide our Church. I found a lot of this article offensive as the concentration of attention was on the materialistic side of how the Church should be run as opposed to what has actually worked for centuries. The Catholic Church is the only church that has stood the test of time. Jesus said the church would not fail even in the midst of difficult times because of Faith.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/opinion/2013/02/14/new-pope-new-doctrine-archaic-catholic-church-should-allow-priests-to-marry/
Don't people realize that having to sacrifice to reach a level of spirituality is the way to Heaven and that making things easier and allowing a softening towards sin and the current ways of the world isn't conducive to a faithful participation in the Church.
The author seems to feel that we'd have more vocations if we raised the salaries and had married priests. Interesting . . . I used to live in a small town where the Protestant church and our Catholic Church had a good relationship and shared in social events and such. This was years ago but the subject of allowing priests to marry was brought up then, too. The Protestant minister said Catholic priesst were crazy to entertain that thought because it is difficult to minister to a congregation and when you add the needs and care of a family, neither job can be 100 percent done. A friend knew a Greek Orthodox priest whose wife was very miffed when she had to deliver their first child alone because he had to be about church business that day. It reminds me of women who claim they are full-time mothers and work full time, too. There are only 24 hours in a day and when push comes to shove, something gets neglected.
Personally, I don't think it is the celibacy rule that is keeping priestly vocations down but the lack of real Catholic instruction from the pulpit to teach and inspire Catholics that turns young people away from a more spiritual inclination in their lives. If you don't know your Faith, how can you want to make it your entire life.
When Jesus told Peter that He was building His Church upon 'this rock', he didn't mean one of sandstone.
The author cites the problem of child abuse in the Church over the last few years. Yes, we have had sinful people taking advantage of children. Yes, it has made headline news and marred the reputation of good and holy priests who are being tarred by the same brush. Meanwhile, your child has a greater chance of abuse in the public school system but they have the teachers' unions protecting them. Many of these people were married and that didn't stop or minimize their desire to do harm.
In our society today, everything comes down to 'sex' and how the lack of it causes all these problems. What happened to self control?
The author seems to feel that economics and a changing world should be revered over dogma. Dogma is an official belief of a religion. Why should the Church change religious views to accommodate the modern world in these respects? Many of the mores of the modern world are not in line with good, Church teaching. Shouldn't people adhere to spiritual truths rather than sully the truth to fit in with their materialistic wants in this world? Making it easier won't make it better.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/opinion/2013/02/14/new-pope-new-doctrine-archaic-catholic-church-should-allow-priests-to-marry/
Don't people realize that having to sacrifice to reach a level of spirituality is the way to Heaven and that making things easier and allowing a softening towards sin and the current ways of the world isn't conducive to a faithful participation in the Church.
The author seems to feel that we'd have more vocations if we raised the salaries and had married priests. Interesting . . . I used to live in a small town where the Protestant church and our Catholic Church had a good relationship and shared in social events and such. This was years ago but the subject of allowing priests to marry was brought up then, too. The Protestant minister said Catholic priesst were crazy to entertain that thought because it is difficult to minister to a congregation and when you add the needs and care of a family, neither job can be 100 percent done. A friend knew a Greek Orthodox priest whose wife was very miffed when she had to deliver their first child alone because he had to be about church business that day. It reminds me of women who claim they are full-time mothers and work full time, too. There are only 24 hours in a day and when push comes to shove, something gets neglected.
Personally, I don't think it is the celibacy rule that is keeping priestly vocations down but the lack of real Catholic instruction from the pulpit to teach and inspire Catholics that turns young people away from a more spiritual inclination in their lives. If you don't know your Faith, how can you want to make it your entire life.
When Jesus told Peter that He was building His Church upon 'this rock', he didn't mean one of sandstone.
The author cites the problem of child abuse in the Church over the last few years. Yes, we have had sinful people taking advantage of children. Yes, it has made headline news and marred the reputation of good and holy priests who are being tarred by the same brush. Meanwhile, your child has a greater chance of abuse in the public school system but they have the teachers' unions protecting them. Many of these people were married and that didn't stop or minimize their desire to do harm.
In our society today, everything comes down to 'sex' and how the lack of it causes all these problems. What happened to self control?
The author seems to feel that economics and a changing world should be revered over dogma. Dogma is an official belief of a religion. Why should the Church change religious views to accommodate the modern world in these respects? Many of the mores of the modern world are not in line with good, Church teaching. Shouldn't people adhere to spiritual truths rather than sully the truth to fit in with their materialistic wants in this world? Making it easier won't make it better.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Ready, set, TREAT!
My dogs are always interested when one of us come outside and look up with interest and kindly thoughts. However, if the visiting person has a TREAT in hand, their calm demeanor changes drastically.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Prayer is always a good gift . . .
Passing along a great idea . . .
novena for the Pope and our 50,000 novena
goal.
would like to join us in prayer asking them to sign
up
It's Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. I pray that you
are able to use this liturgical season to come closer to
Jesus!
Right now, there are 37,437 people who are signed up to pray
the novena for Pope Benedict XVI!
That's a pretty good start, but I was hoping we could give
the Holy Father an even greater gift of prayer.
If we get 50,000 people praying this novena together for the
Pope - I will personally write a letter to the Holy Father to tell him of this
'retirement gift' that we're giving him.
So, here's what you can do to help:
1 - Copy this link into a new email:
2 - Write a message about why you are praying
this
3 - Send it to anyone and everyone who you
think
Don't forget, we need them to sign up by Tuesday the 19th of
February.
Taking just a couple minutes to do that is a big
help!
Thank you so much for joining me in prayer for the Holy
Father in this important time.
God bless you!
John-Paul - PrayMoreNovenas.com
Another reminder on Lenten fasting . . .
Let
the mouth fast from disgraceful and abusive words, because, what gain is there
when, on the one hand we avoid eating chicken and fish and, on the other, we
chew-up and consume our brothers? He who condemns and blasphemes is as if he has
eaten brotherly meat, as if he has bitten into the flesh of his fellow man. It
is because of this that Paul frightened us, saying: "If you chew up and consume
one another be careful that you do not annihilate yourselves.”
St.
John Crysostom
These Forty Day of Lent . . . begin today!
February 13, 2013 - Ash Wednesday! This marks the beginning of the Lenten Season for Catholics and some other denominations. Unlike the olden days, we have things a whole lot easier as our only days of Fast are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The lenient ‘no meat' rule of recent times is rescinded and all Fridays in Lent are ones of abstinence. Although I have heard a few priests, over the years, remind the congregations about this, I don't think the message actually gets through to the majority. I remember taking my children to Costco one Friday during Lent for a meatless snack. The snack area was packed with people and I'm sure a majority of them were Catholic yet every person sitting there was having something with meat.
Ash Wednesday is also the day everyone comes out of the woodwork and even if they haven't attended Mass the rest of the year, they show up for the ‘free' ashes. Some people actually think that you will have bad luck if you don't receive the ashes on Ash Wednesday. Seems to me, one would face worse than bad luck to only attend Mass once a year. I remember shopping one Ash Wednesday after Mass and a woman ahead of me in line at the check out kept staring at me. When she walked over, I was prepared to explain and defend the ashes on my forehead. Surprisingly, she asked, "Where did you get those and did you have to attend Mass to get them?"
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. According to the Church year, it occurs 46 days before Easter and is a ‘moveable' feast which can be on the calendar as early as February 4th our as late as March 10th.
According to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert. Ash Wednesday is our 40-day liturgical period of fasting and prayer. We get the name Ash Wednesday by the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the people. This reminds us of our mortality and of our repentance. The ashes used are gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday.
The one aspect I dislike about the Ash Wednesdays of recent years are the untrained extraordinary ministers distributing ashes. The solemnity of the occasion is often marred by the female ministers who grin and greet people they know as they haphazardly smear on ashes. I guess that it might be God's way of getting us ready for offering up sacrifices for the duration of Lent!
Just remember that if you are a Catholic, know that Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation. You will not have bad/good luck depending on whether you receive ashes or not. One person actually told me that when I wiped off ashes that had gotten into my eyes and nose that I had to turn in the used tissue to the priest as it had to be burned in respect. Not so. No meat today or on the Fridays of Lent. If you are an adult, fasting today and Good Friday. And since this is the beginning of a penitential season, try not to trample other people in line for ashes. I'm sure the priest has enough to go around!
Ash Wednesday is also the day everyone comes out of the woodwork and even if they haven't attended Mass the rest of the year, they show up for the ‘free' ashes. Some people actually think that you will have bad luck if you don't receive the ashes on Ash Wednesday. Seems to me, one would face worse than bad luck to only attend Mass once a year. I remember shopping one Ash Wednesday after Mass and a woman ahead of me in line at the check out kept staring at me. When she walked over, I was prepared to explain and defend the ashes on my forehead. Surprisingly, she asked, "Where did you get those and did you have to attend Mass to get them?"
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. According to the Church year, it occurs 46 days before Easter and is a ‘moveable' feast which can be on the calendar as early as February 4th our as late as March 10th.
According to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert. Ash Wednesday is our 40-day liturgical period of fasting and prayer. We get the name Ash Wednesday by the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the people. This reminds us of our mortality and of our repentance. The ashes used are gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday.
The one aspect I dislike about the Ash Wednesdays of recent years are the untrained extraordinary ministers distributing ashes. The solemnity of the occasion is often marred by the female ministers who grin and greet people they know as they haphazardly smear on ashes. I guess that it might be God's way of getting us ready for offering up sacrifices for the duration of Lent!
Just remember that if you are a Catholic, know that Ash Wednesday is not a holy day of obligation. You will not have bad/good luck depending on whether you receive ashes or not. One person actually told me that when I wiped off ashes that had gotten into my eyes and nose that I had to turn in the used tissue to the priest as it had to be burned in respect. Not so. No meat today or on the Fridays of Lent. If you are an adult, fasting today and Good Friday. And since this is the beginning of a penitential season, try not to trample other people in line for ashes. I'm sure the priest has enough to go around!
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