Rand Paul Challenges Department of Energy on Denying Consumer Choice

I couldn't agree more. I hate the coiled fluerescent lightbulbs. I stocked up on the old bulbs but when my supply gives out I'll be stuck with those awful bulbs that don't give enough light. And who, pray tell, is going to come out and clean up the mercury spill if any of them break? Ms. Hogan?

Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan: a Cold Reminder of Man's Fragile Hold on Life

On Ash Wednesday, priests all over the world signed Catholic faithful with ashes in the sign of the cross saying, "Remember, Man, that you are dust and unto dust you must return." What could be a more graphic reminder that death is our final end and no one escapes it? That the terrible tragedy in Japan should occur only two days later is a cold reminder of man's fragile hold on life. Like the people in Genesis who were "eating and drinking, marrying and being married" right up until the day of the flood, we do not know the day of our death. It can overcome us in the blink of an eye like those who saw the reality of death in the approaching waves of the tsunami.

We need to be prepared at every moment. Life is fragile. One will live a long life and die in his bed. Another will be snatched in the instant of a massive heart attack or stroke or auto accident. We are guaranteed nothing except the inevitability of death.

My niece's husband used to work for a car rental agency. One day thieves came into the office with ski masks on their faces and guns in their hands. They forced all the employees to kneel on the floor and put their jackets over their heads. John anticipated death at that moment and began to say the Act of Contrition out loud. The gunmen took the money and left. Were they planning to kill the employees? Did John's humble act change their hearts?

Life is fragile and uncertain. Death is often sudden and always certain. When was the last time you went to Confession? If the Lord called you today would your spiritual house be in order?

Pray and sacrifice for the poor people of Japan. And ask the Lord to bring great good out of this terrible tragedy.

The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven!

Many saints had amazing experiences: apparitions and locutions, visions of hell, visits to Purgatory and conversations with the poor souls. Now here's the story of a badly injured little boy, Alex Malarkey, who "saw" things happen at the scene of an accident that left him a quadriplegic. He saw his dad fly out of the car and be caught by angels and saw the ambulance take him away. But Alex had already been airlifted from the scene of the accident. I just ordered this book and can't wait to read it. Angels really exist and some special souls are given the gift of meeting them: Abraham, Tobiah, Joshua, and Mary all had encounters with angels. Padre Pio and Jean Vianney both had special relationships with their guardian angels. Why not a little boy today?

Same-Sex Marriage Fails in Maryland!

The House of Delegates sent the bill back to the Judiciary Committee effectively killing it for this year. Praised be to God!

But watch for this monster to rise up again next year. Keep up the fight, Maryland! African-American Delegates from Prince Georges County cited religious opposition in their districts for their voting against this abomination. One black legislator, Emmett Burns told the press he was called the "N" word for voting contrary to the wishes of urban white liberals.

Hey, that's what happens when you try to unshackle your chains and walk off the Democrats' plantation. The only good black is a party-controlled black. You dare to disagree and you're an Uncle Tom. Just ask Clarence Thomas about the treatment of conservative blacks by rich white liberals. More here....

A Great Article on a Great Bishop!

There are some good bishops in the U.S. and here's an article below about one of them. Bishop Vasa is one of my heroes. Interestingly he came out of the diocese of another, Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz. I've had the pleasure of meeting both of these men and praise God for giving us shepherds who are not afraid to stand up for the truth. Pray for the Lord to give us more bishops like them.

Bishop Vasa in Santa Rosa

Another Way to Save Money: Defund NPR!

I listen to NPR but often turn it off when their liberalism starts to nauseate me. In the video below note the hypocrisy of this NPR executive who spouts biased comments about the "racist" tea party movement (probably never met a grassroots tea party person in his life) and then spouts racist comments against Jews. It's almost a comedy routine. So let's defund NPR and save the $90 million plus that goes into their liberal coffers every year. Like the man says -- they'd be better off without it and so would the rest of us!



To read the Media Research Center's statement on NPR and sign their defunding petition go here. Let them pay their own way like conservative radio does. Why should NPR be funded by the taxpayers to spout their liberal line? You sure don't see Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingraham getting public funding -- nor do they expect it. So cut off the tax dollars to the liberal mouthpiece!

Public Unions are Bankrupting the States

The article below from a year ago predicted what's happening today. The question is will the tactics of the union thugs invading state capitols with their horns, whistles, and bells - surrounding and terrorizing those with whom they disagree - prevail? Where is Obama decrying the lack of civility by his Organizing America cronies? He's AWOL, because those tactics are only uncivil when their opponents use them. (Come to think of it, I can't remember any time they've been used by the tea party patriots. I was in D.C. for two events where people stood in long lines waiting to get in to see their representatives and senators. It was an orderly and respectful group. The crowd was filled with flags and patriotic costumes. Big difference from these thugs trained in Alinsky tactics where the end justifies the means.

Public-sector pay, private-sector backlash

Union Thugs in Wisconsin Invade the State House

One more example of Obama's "civility" in politics. If these thugs are able to win by these tactics the country is in big trouble! Did the major media report this?

Bible Quiz on Friendship

The Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) is one of my favorite pieces of wisdom literature. I especially love it's description of friendship:

A faithful friend is a strudy shelter;
              he who finds one finds a treasure.

A faithful friend is beyond price,

              no sum can balance his worth.

A faithful friend is a life-saving remedy
              such as he who fears God finds;
For he who fears God behaves accordingly,
              and his friend will be like himself.

The Bible is filled with stories of faithful friends and some who were not such faithful friends. So here's a Lenten challenge. St. Jerome said "Ignorance of scripture means ignorance of Christ." Make the Bible your friend this Lent. You can start by answering these questions and looking up the Bible references. Answers at the end after the break.

1) At his lowest moment, while he sat in jail falsely accused of attacking his master's wife, Jacob's son Joseph, was released because this fair weather friend he met in jail finally (after two years) told Pharoah about Joseph's gift for interpreting dreams. (Genesis Chapter 40)

2) This faithful follower of Moses received from him the responsibility of leading the people into the promised land with the secure knowledge that the Lord would never forsake him. (Deuteronomy 31)

3) Ruth was such a faithful friend to her mother-in-law Naomi that, when her husband died, she left her own country to follow Naomi back to Judah and support her by gleaning in the fields. Because of her faithfulness, Ruth found a second husband and friend and became one of only a few women (besides Mary) mentioned in Matthew's geneology of Jesus. Who was her second husband? (Ruth 2 and 3)

4) This prophet was not afraid to speak truth to power. When King David sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and having him killed, he went to David with a story about a rich man with great flocks who stole the one sheep of his neighbor. He so touched the heart of David that when he revealed it was a parable about David's own actions, the king immediately repented. Who was this courageous prophet and true friend of the king? (2 Samuel 12)

5) This poor man had so many troubles he is still referred to today when people are experiencing pain, suffering, and trials. A bunch of fair weather friends assailed him in his suffering insisting he must have done something bad to deserve what he got. In the end, his faithfulness was vindicated, but he got a good scolding from God for his questioning. The book that tells his story is named after him.

6) Elijah the prophet threw his cloak over this friend passing the mantle of his prophetic ministry on to the younger man. (2 Kings 2)

7) These three apostles were special friends of Jesus. They were with him at the Transfiguration. In the garden, they failed to keep watch with Jesus, falling asleep instead. (Matthew 17 and 26)

8) St. Paul went on his first missionary journey with this friend, but later they had a falling out and went their separate ways. (Acts 13)

9) Pontius Pilate tried to save Jesus but lost his nerve and sent him to the cross knowing He was innocent. This treachery resulted in his embracing friendship with the man Jesus called "that fox." (Luke 23:12)

10) This heavenly friend accompanied Tobiah on his journey to seek a wife and cured his father Tobit of blindness. (Book of Tobit)

11) And here's a bonus question. It's hard and if you get it without looking it up give yourself a big pat on the back. These two kings showed themselves to be special friends of the Israelites! After the Babylonian exile, two pagan kings (who ruled over 100 years apart) helped the Israelites rebuild the temple of Jerusalem and the city walls. One returned all the utensils from the house of the Lord that King Nebuchadnezzar stole.  The other allowed Nehemiah to go up to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around the city because it was undefended. Who were these two pagan kings of Persia? (Books of Ezra and Nehemiah)

A Beautiful Conversion Story for Ash Wednesday: Pray, Fast, Give Alms, and Share Your Faith!

My Friend Art sent this (Thanks, Art!) and I could almost feel this lovely woman's heart leap in her breast like the little John the Baptist leaping in Elizabeth's womb. That's what being touched by the Holy Spirit does. I'm rejoicing in this woman's faith today and asking God to increase mine that I might run to do His holy will. Are you excited about your faith? Pray this Lent to have a spirit of joy at being a Catholic. We are so blessed to have the fullness of the faith. And pray for our Protestant brothers and sisters to come home. It's what Jesus prayed for when He asked the Father that all might be one.

_______________________________

WHO WILL GO FOR ME


by Terry Fenwick

It is exciting to have found the Catholic Church before I died – almost missed it because I was 70 – almost 71 - in 2003 on that morning of February 2nd, when we, my husband, Tom, and I first went to a Mass and said, “We want to be Catholics!” We knew that day – both at the same moment. What a joy for two very sound Christian Protestants – Bible Study people – to have ‘finally’ found, in one single minute, that one piece we had always missed! The piece we found was the beauty of the fullness of the worship in the Mass.

Now, here I am – 73 almost 74. Older by the second – that is the way it happens – and so much to do. So many places to go, so many people to tell, so many things to read, so many things to study, so many Saints to get to know, so many things to write, so many things to pray for so many people – yet not enough time and surely not enough energy left.

Who will run the streets for me? Who will run out and say, “The Catholics were right all the time!” Who will run about and say, “They DON’T worship Mary! They love the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary but they don’t worship her!” Who will say to those who need to know, “They DON’T worship the Saints! No! They ask them to pray for them because they are with the Lord and they are part of a huge prayer group in the heavens.” Who will tell people that? Who will love these wonderful Protestants who love God and worship Him but don’t know about the Eucharist and who will tell them, “Read John 6 again! No!!!! Read John 6 again and again! See what it says! See what Jesus said? Don’t be those who leave Jesus when he says that without eating his body and drinking his blood you will have no part of me!” Who will say that to the hundreds who need to know? Who will love them enough to tell them the Truth?

Who will stand in line at the market and tell them, “I am a new Catholic and I love Confession. I just love Confession. Let me tell you how wonderful it is to go into a little brown box – almost crawl into the box with the heaviness of sins - and many other things that have just not been right - and come out almost floating because you left the sins with the Lord and had the witness of a priest who, after hearing our confession for God, said, “I absolve you of your sins.’” Who will do that for me? Who will do that for God for me? Who can make sure they know that it was God who forgave the sin – not the Priest. Who will tell them, “The Catholics believe only God can forgive sins!” Who will remember to tell them that? Will you?

Who will do it for me? I hear my body say, “Almost time to fold your tent, little lady. Almost time to fold your tent.” I have been ready to do that since 1971 when I first met the Savior but now that I am Catholic I have so much to do. Are there a few people who will say for me, “Let me run the streets for you, Terry! Let me be the one who says, ‘They were right all the time! The Catholic Church was the Church Jesus started – the only Church started by Jesus – with all the other churches started by a man with a name other than Jesus. It is the pillar and foundation of TRUTH.’”
Who will go for me? Will you?

Terry Fenwick
March 30, 2006