So first off I want to ask you all for your thoughts in response to what I am about to write. I've been pondering something and I am curious if others see it the way I do or if I am off base. So lets be at it shall we.
Last night I was having a conversation with a female friend and she was talking about how she has a lot to bring to the table and doesn't want to settle for some random guy. Which frankly kinda bugs me. The reason this bugs me is because I feel if a man were to say this he would be considered prideful and arrogant but if a women says this she is just holding her self with high value. But honestly is it any different? Also as I thought about it I began to notice something about myself; I dislike it when men are prideful (side note: I am a prideful person and I know that but I am working on it) but when women appear prideful it really really bothers me. Not really sure why. Do you guys feel the same way or differently? I think what bugs me about it is that it seems so contrary to the nature of women where in men it almost comes off as a natural thing. Now I have little to base this on other than my gut. Am I off base here? Please note I am not making a moral or ethical judgment here considering all pride is bad. Overall what do you guys think?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Reflections on 9/11
So just a quick hit before I go to bed.
I did some reflection today regarding 9/11 and what has occurred since. And something struck me. Rarely do I pray for the families that have been affected here due to that day and the days that have followed. Lives have been lost and people grieve. But something else struck me. Very very rarely do I and others pray for the families on the other side and instantly some verses came to my mind. Matthew 5:43-45 where Jesus instructs us to pray for our enemies, I assume he meant Al Qaeda and the like.
Matthew 5:43-45 - "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
Just a thought.
I did some reflection today regarding 9/11 and what has occurred since. And something struck me. Rarely do I pray for the families that have been affected here due to that day and the days that have followed. Lives have been lost and people grieve. But something else struck me. Very very rarely do I and others pray for the families on the other side and instantly some verses came to my mind. Matthew 5:43-45 where Jesus instructs us to pray for our enemies, I assume he meant Al Qaeda and the like.
Matthew 5:43-45 - "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
Just a thought.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Catholic Brothers
This was issued today by the Archbishop of Denver. I know it is longer than most post but it deserves reading. I am so proud of the Catholic response right now.
Found this at Hugh Hewitt's Blog.
Public Servants and Moral Reasoning:
A notice to the Catholic community in northern Colorado
To Catholics of the Archdiocese of Denver:
When Catholics serve on the national stage, their actions and words impact the faith of Catholics around the country. As a result, they open themselves to legitimate scrutiny by local Catholics and local bishops on matters of Catholic belief. In 2008, although NBC probably didn't intend it, Meet the Press has become a national window on the flawed moral reasoning of some Catholic public servants.
On August 24, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, describing herself as an ardent, practicing Catholic, misrepresented the overwhelming body of Catholic teaching against abortion to the show's nationwide audience, while defending her "pro-choice" abortion views. On September 7, Sen. Joseph Biden compounded the problem to the same Meet the Press audience.
Sen. Biden is a man of distinguished public service. That doesn't excuse poor logic or bad facts. Asked when life begins, Sen. Biden said that, "it's a personal and private issue." But in reality, modern biology knows exactly when human life begins: at the moment of conception. Religion has nothing to do with it. People might argue when human "personhood" begins - though that leads public policy in very dangerous directions - but no one can any longer claim that the beginning of life is a matter of religious opinion.
Sen. Biden also confused the nature of pluralism. Real pluralism thrives on healthy, non-violent disagreement; it requires an environment where people of conviction will struggle respectfully but vigorously to advance their beliefs. In his interview, the senator observed that other people with strong religious views disagree with the Catholic approach to abortion. It's certainly true that we need to acknowledge the views of other people and compromise whenever possible - but not at the expense of a developing child's right to life. Abortion is a foundational issue; it is not an issue like housing policy or the price of foreign oil. It always involves the intentional killing of an innocent life, and it is always, grievously wrong. If, as Sen. Biden said, "I'm prepared as a matter of faith [emphasis added] to accept that life begins at the moment of conception," then he is not merely wrong about the science of new life; he also fails to defend the innocent life he already knows is there.
As the senator said in his interview, he has opposed public funding for abortions. To his great credit, he also backed a successful ban on partial-birth abortions. But his strong support for the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade and the false "right" to abortion it enshrines, can't be excused by any serious Catholic. Support for Roe and the "right to choose" an abortion simply masks what abortion is, and what abortion does. Roe is bad law. As long as it stands, it prevents returning the abortion issue to the states where it belongs, so that the American people can decide its future through fair debate and legislation.
In his Meet the Press interview, Sen. Biden used a morally exhausted argument that American Catholics have been hearing for 40 years: i.e., that Catholics can't "impose" their religiously based views on the rest of the country. But resistance to abortion is a matter of human rights, not religious opinion. And the senator knows very well as a lawmaker that all law involves the imposition of some people's convictions on everyone else. That is the nature of the law. American Catholics have allowed themselves to be bullied into accepting the destruction of more than a million developing unborn children a year. Other people have imposed their "pro-choice" beliefs on American society without any remorse for decades.
If we claim to be Catholic, then American Catholics, including public officials who describe themselvesas Catholic, need to act accordingly. We need to put an end to Roe and the industry of permissive abortion it enables. Otherwise all of us - from senators and members of Congress, to Catholic laypeople in the pews - fail not only as believers and disciples, but also as citizens.
Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Denver
James D. Conley
Auxiliary Bishop of Denver
Found this at Hugh Hewitt's Blog.
Public Servants and Moral Reasoning:
A notice to the Catholic community in northern Colorado
To Catholics of the Archdiocese of Denver:
When Catholics serve on the national stage, their actions and words impact the faith of Catholics around the country. As a result, they open themselves to legitimate scrutiny by local Catholics and local bishops on matters of Catholic belief. In 2008, although NBC probably didn't intend it, Meet the Press has become a national window on the flawed moral reasoning of some Catholic public servants.
On August 24, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, describing herself as an ardent, practicing Catholic, misrepresented the overwhelming body of Catholic teaching against abortion to the show's nationwide audience, while defending her "pro-choice" abortion views. On September 7, Sen. Joseph Biden compounded the problem to the same Meet the Press audience.
Sen. Biden is a man of distinguished public service. That doesn't excuse poor logic or bad facts. Asked when life begins, Sen. Biden said that, "it's a personal and private issue." But in reality, modern biology knows exactly when human life begins: at the moment of conception. Religion has nothing to do with it. People might argue when human "personhood" begins - though that leads public policy in very dangerous directions - but no one can any longer claim that the beginning of life is a matter of religious opinion.
Sen. Biden also confused the nature of pluralism. Real pluralism thrives on healthy, non-violent disagreement; it requires an environment where people of conviction will struggle respectfully but vigorously to advance their beliefs. In his interview, the senator observed that other people with strong religious views disagree with the Catholic approach to abortion. It's certainly true that we need to acknowledge the views of other people and compromise whenever possible - but not at the expense of a developing child's right to life. Abortion is a foundational issue; it is not an issue like housing policy or the price of foreign oil. It always involves the intentional killing of an innocent life, and it is always, grievously wrong. If, as Sen. Biden said, "I'm prepared as a matter of faith [emphasis added] to accept that life begins at the moment of conception," then he is not merely wrong about the science of new life; he also fails to defend the innocent life he already knows is there.
As the senator said in his interview, he has opposed public funding for abortions. To his great credit, he also backed a successful ban on partial-birth abortions. But his strong support for the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade and the false "right" to abortion it enshrines, can't be excused by any serious Catholic. Support for Roe and the "right to choose" an abortion simply masks what abortion is, and what abortion does. Roe is bad law. As long as it stands, it prevents returning the abortion issue to the states where it belongs, so that the American people can decide its future through fair debate and legislation.
In his Meet the Press interview, Sen. Biden used a morally exhausted argument that American Catholics have been hearing for 40 years: i.e., that Catholics can't "impose" their religiously based views on the rest of the country. But resistance to abortion is a matter of human rights, not religious opinion. And the senator knows very well as a lawmaker that all law involves the imposition of some people's convictions on everyone else. That is the nature of the law. American Catholics have allowed themselves to be bullied into accepting the destruction of more than a million developing unborn children a year. Other people have imposed their "pro-choice" beliefs on American society without any remorse for decades.
If we claim to be Catholic, then American Catholics, including public officials who describe themselvesas Catholic, need to act accordingly. We need to put an end to Roe and the industry of permissive abortion it enables. Otherwise all of us - from senators and members of Congress, to Catholic laypeople in the pews - fail not only as believers and disciples, but also as citizens.
Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Denver
James D. Conley
Auxiliary Bishop of Denver
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Out of touch
I have come to the conclusion that I am out of touch with the rest of my generations. Why am I out of touch you ask? The answer is simple, I am unwilling to believe political rhetoric. One thing I want everyone to remember is that Hitler was a good speaker. Good speakers do not make good leaders. Weigh what they say people. Do not blindly accept the rhetoric.
Whose Line is it Anyway - Richard Simmons Living Scenery
Amazing video that my friend Corri shared on Facebook. Thought I should share it with you as well.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
1 Timothy 5:8
Currently I am trying to write a paper on which came first, The Gospel of Matthew or The Gospel of Mark. So I decided I would procrastinate.
Today I was listening to a podcast about Men and Women in the church. And the pastor reference 1 Timothy 5:8 which states "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (NIV). His point was that it was the man's job to provide for his family, even if it requires major sacrifice on his part, including having two jobs.
Now I am not going to interpret this verse for you as I don't feel like it and I feel the verse is pretty straight forward; which means I hope ya'll are smart enough to figure it out for yourselves (yes I just used ya'll and referenced smart people, no I do not see this as an issue). Any how, what I find interesting is I was just talking with a buddy last week about this exact topic and what is the man's responsibility according to the bible.
One issue we came across was that our current society primarily functions as a dual income environment. As we discussed this we wondered if that is due to the fact that we feel the need to have things that we really do not need.
Just some thoughts as I procrastinate.
I encourage you to read that verse and allow the Holy Spirit to move you to action, what ever that action looks like.
Today I was listening to a podcast about Men and Women in the church. And the pastor reference 1 Timothy 5:8 which states "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (NIV). His point was that it was the man's job to provide for his family, even if it requires major sacrifice on his part, including having two jobs.
Now I am not going to interpret this verse for you as I don't feel like it and I feel the verse is pretty straight forward; which means I hope ya'll are smart enough to figure it out for yourselves (yes I just used ya'll and referenced smart people, no I do not see this as an issue). Any how, what I find interesting is I was just talking with a buddy last week about this exact topic and what is the man's responsibility according to the bible.
One issue we came across was that our current society primarily functions as a dual income environment. As we discussed this we wondered if that is due to the fact that we feel the need to have things that we really do not need.
Just some thoughts as I procrastinate.
I encourage you to read that verse and allow the Holy Spirit to move you to action, what ever that action looks like.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Tertullian and Ad Martyras
So I tonight I was working on a one page Historical Illustration for Christian History to 1517. For the illustration we have to find a primary source quote and illustrate the importance of the quote. As I was stumbling around I found a quote by Tertullian, a Christian apologist in the 2nd century who coined the term Trinity. One of his writings is called Ad Martyras which is means To the Martyrs in Latin. The thing that struck me the most was his perspective found in chapter III.
Grant now, O blessed, that even to Christians the prison is unpleasant; yet we were called to the warfare of the living God in our very response to the sacramental words. Well, no soldier comes out to the campaign laden with luxuries, nor does he go to action from his comfortable chamber, but from the light and narrow tent, where every kind of hardness, roughness and unpleasantness must be put up with. Even in peace soldiers inure themselves to war by toils and inconveniences--marching in arms, running over the plain, working at the ditch, making the testudo, engaging in many arduous labours. The sweat of the brow is on everything, that bodies and minds may not shrink at having to pass from shade to sunshine, from sunshine to icy cold, from the robe of peace to the coat of mail, from silence to clamour, from quiet to tumult. In like manner, O blessed ones, count whatever is hard in this lot of yours as a discipline of your powers of mind and body. You are about to pass through a noble struggle, in which the living God acts the part of superintendent, in which the Holy Ghost is your trainer, in which the prize is an eternal crown of angelic essence, citizenship in the heavens, glory everlasting. Therefore your Master, Jesus Christ, who has anointed you with His Spirit, and led you forth to the arena, has seen it good, before the day of conflict, to take you from a condition more pleasant in itself, and has imposed on you a harder treatment, that your strength might be the greater.
This quote reminds me of Paul's encouragement to Timothy in 2 Tim 2:3-6 to be a good soldier. It also encourages me to be present to what I have and not expect a life of comfort or protection for those are things of this world and this current kingdom, not the kingdom of the King.
If you would like to read Ad Martyras in its entirety it may be found here.
Grant now, O blessed, that even to Christians the prison is unpleasant; yet we were called to the warfare of the living God in our very response to the sacramental words. Well, no soldier comes out to the campaign laden with luxuries, nor does he go to action from his comfortable chamber, but from the light and narrow tent, where every kind of hardness, roughness and unpleasantness must be put up with. Even in peace soldiers inure themselves to war by toils and inconveniences--marching in arms, running over the plain, working at the ditch, making the testudo, engaging in many arduous labours. The sweat of the brow is on everything, that bodies and minds may not shrink at having to pass from shade to sunshine, from sunshine to icy cold, from the robe of peace to the coat of mail, from silence to clamour, from quiet to tumult. In like manner, O blessed ones, count whatever is hard in this lot of yours as a discipline of your powers of mind and body. You are about to pass through a noble struggle, in which the living God acts the part of superintendent, in which the Holy Ghost is your trainer, in which the prize is an eternal crown of angelic essence, citizenship in the heavens, glory everlasting. Therefore your Master, Jesus Christ, who has anointed you with His Spirit, and led you forth to the arena, has seen it good, before the day of conflict, to take you from a condition more pleasant in itself, and has imposed on you a harder treatment, that your strength might be the greater.
This quote reminds me of Paul's encouragement to Timothy in 2 Tim 2:3-6 to be a good soldier. It also encourages me to be present to what I have and not expect a life of comfort or protection for those are things of this world and this current kingdom, not the kingdom of the King.
If you would like to read Ad Martyras in its entirety it may be found here.
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