Amanda and I went to a little church today (very little, there was a total of 15 people).
The pastor talked about pride and humility. One point I remember is that our pride will be dealt with. Outside the family of God, it will be dealt with by the Righteous Judge. Inside the family of God, it will be dealt with by the Loving Father.
"...Wait till your father gets home..."
Message to the Sick; Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II gave his “Message to the Sick” in 1999, in Mexico. Diagnosed in 1996 with Parkinson’s disease, he did not write words of mere platitudes, he wrote with real meaning in his life. He would have had a taste of the progression of his own illness and the words were borne out of his own painful experience.
The pope’s questions, “Why do we suffer? For what purpose do we suffer? Is there any meaning in human suffering? Can physical or moral suffering be a positive experience?” were not rhetorical for him…he asked real questions and they had real meaning in his life.
This man, the most visible religious figure on the planet, did not hide from life or to live a life of complaint…his suffering pointed him to the basis of his faith – Christ, who died for the sins of the world, was now with His servant who suffered.
Each person who suffers, whether physical pain, or emotional or mental, has the opportunity to use their suffering in positive ways, or to wallow in negativity. The pope chose the positive, ever pointing to the source of his hope.
A man, dying of cancer, had spent years turning away from God. He found hope in the Psalms of David and turned to Christ in the last days of his life. When he wrote his own funeral, it pointed others to the source of his hope. After that funeral, his widow found comfort in the message that her brother, who had also spent years in rebellion, had returned to the church because of the way her husband’s suffering had pointed to Christ.
That widow looks back at life, seeing years of infertility, the losses of pregnancies and the pain of her premature child…she finds comfort in the knowledge that beyond the grave, there is peace and fullness of life. She understands now that she would not have the strength and compassion if she had not felt the suffering in her life.
Pope John Paul had a greater understanding than most people – when we suffer, we partake in the sufferings of Christ. He died in April, 2005 – 12 years after his diagnosis. He spent those years pointing others to the source of his hope.
It is in this pointing to Christ that we find meaning of pain and suffering in our human existence.
With these thoughts, I have wanted to arouse in each one of you the feelings which will lead you to live your current trials with supernatural sense; discovering in them an occasion to see God in the midst of darkness and doubt; and to gaze at the broad horizons which are visible from atop the crosses of our everyday lives – Pope John Paul II, January 24, 1999
Umm...if this is all the PDS crowd has to complain about - funny.
I'm reading about how scary it is that Sarah Palin cannot remember her "core issues" without writing them on the palm of her hand.
It apparently hasn't occurred to any of of them that it might not have been the words she was noting, it might have been the order she wanted to address them in.
I know that when I've given speeches or talks, I can't do it without pages of notes. This was a 45 minute speech done without dual teleprompters.
And they're making a fuss about 7 words written on a hand?
Palin must be scaring the pants off of somebody.
Spinning again...
I've got a fine thread going and a thicker thread that is a lovely violet/green combo from Zweeliger's (I know I got the spelling wrong) in Frankenmuth.
Spinning is pretty mindless for me, so I can listen to podcasts while I spin. I don't have a niddy-noddy to skein the yarn (I'm going to Home Depot tomorrow to pick up the PVC pipe to make one - I made a smaller one but I want a 2-yard skein for this yarn. I know I made one that size but I think it's at work.)
I've got a few dozen yards plyed (three stands of thread twisted together) that I can make into a skein as soon as I have the niddy-noddy made.
Next weekend I'm taking a little field trip to Frankenmuth to drop off alpaca fiber to have it made into roving - I don't want to spend the money on a drum carder that I'll use only a few times - besides, Zwellinger's will wash the fiber for me.
which doesn't look like those sorts of days that belong to most people.
I can live by my kitchen timer (which has 3 timers - set for 10, 20 and 30 mintues). Today I have to do reading for my classes, I want to read the book of Galations (format it into a Word document to take notes on) and then listen to White Horse Inn (Galations part 2).
I'm spinning again and Saturday is the day that I either ply or skein yarn so I'm going to do that. It's a mindless job so I listen to podcasts while I do that. Expect photos.
"Running"
Lots of laundry - digging through closets and sorting "give away", "throw away", "put away".
Packing books and "stuff", sorting craft notions.
Make coffee for next week (involves a coffee press)
Update craft blog -a list of what I need to buy or make (love that PVC pipe)
You Cant Live the gospel. He has already done it. Live for His Gospel
Discuss whether you see a way around exclusivism, pluralism, and inclusivism that might still keep integrity of each particular religion in place. Discuss how religious language might or might not play a role in your conclusion.
Exclusivism (the doctrine that only one religion is “true”) is the foundation of many religions. If Scripture is correct, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Whatever a person believes passionately will come out of his or her mouth. People who believe that their belief system has the only means to salvation; if they believe that souls depend on the truth of that system, that belief will be shared with others. They can fully respect the dignity of other people, and understand the depth of the beliefs of others; they want to share the truth so that all will come to salvation. One can “witness” or “evangelize” by simply stating one’s belief, while allowing others to share their own beliefs in the same way.
Inclusivism may be compatible with exclusivism, in that (in Christianity, for example) inclusivism maintains that Jesus Christ is the only means of salvation, but salvation (through Christ) can be obtained without a specific belief in Christ for salvation, but through the “general revelation” of nature. People who embrace inclusivism have an understanding that people who have never heard the gospel of Christ, may (through general revelation) may come to a saving faith without ever hearing of Christ).
Pluralism maintains that all religions are equally valid and that any religion may bring a person to salvation. This cannot be compatible with exclusivism (within a person) but may coincide with inclusivism. Once cannot simultaneously believe that there is only one means of salvation and believe that there are many ways to salvation.
Within a group of people, discussions can take place that allow sharing and debates of beliefs. These discussions can get passionate and even heated at times, and they depend on the ability of others to present their convictions and listen to other people and maintain respect and civility for the other people, even if they do not respect the other religion. If respect and civility are not present, the “doctrine of ‘just shut up’” might come into play.
Looking back at Tiger Woods
One of the "bad" things about reading blogs the way that I do is that I end up with a lot of open tabs. The upside is that I end up with different perspectives and/or a running commentary from different sources.
Truth in Advertising (Parchment and Pen)
If You Can Find a Better Deal, TAKE IT! (Ann Coulter)
There May Be More Errors- can we please stop calling them "errors"? If you repeat a lie, it doesn't make it an "error", it makes a lie that you're repeating.
I Knew the Data Hadn't Been Verified - can we stop calling it "not verified"?
What Pat Robertson Should Have Said
Who Will Be Left...? (I love the Hillbuzz guys!)
Why I believe the Canon is Fallible and Am Fine With It (Reclaiming the Mind)
In one of the worst economies in the country...our Senator Levin says that "unemployment has not been his focus." Thanks for all the "help", Senator.
Yeah.
Really had a tough time this week.
- I am learning that allergens do really bad things to me.
I overloaded on wheat yesterday and I'm having a really hard time with respiratory stuff.
- I learned that I should not even put 1 quarter in the candy machine
because that leads to putting 3 quarters in the candy machine.
- I learned that I need to fix my lunch the evening ahead of time
or else I'll put stuff in it that's quick, but not terribly healthy.
- I learned that I need to attach my keys to my lunch...
Or I leave it hanging on the door knob (which leads to the overload of wheat and quarters...