Two Hands

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As we extended hands during the sign of Peace this morning, I realized that these hands of mine are gifts I have been given for that very reason - to extend Peace - His Peace.

Two Hands?

This hand I reach for the poor enslaved by poverty, as my other hand reaches for the rich enslaved by their materialism.

One hand is extended to my Catholic family, and the other to my ever splintering Protestant brethren.

Do I use my stronger hand to reach for the unbeliever, or save that for my fellow Christians?

Do I also remember that while one hand can reach for those in need, the other must also reach towards the One who reveals my need for Him?

One hand reaches to bless, and the other holds onto the One from who it truly comes.
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re-post :The Middle - Jimmy Eat World

Jimmy Eat World ,another band of Christians, who's video at first looks a wee bit exploitative, but in the end is actually a rather clever satire of the mob mentality of teenagers, college students, and/or most DC residents.

and if you don't find yerself be-bopping along, please see your local funeral director, as you may in fact be dead (O;

"It just takes some time, little girl
You're in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything will be just fine
Everything, everything will be all right,
all right!"

Tin or Teen, it's all Gus to me

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"It is not that we keep His commandments first,
and that then He loves;
but that He loves us,
and then we keep His commandments.
This is that grace,
which is revealed to the humble,
but hidden from the proud."
St. Augustine
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Truly Rich

"I really struggle with American Christianity. I'm not really sure that people with our cultural disabilities are capable of having souls, or being saved......People who grow up in a culture that worships pleasure, leisure, and affluence.

I think that's where the church is doubly damned
when they use Jesus as a vehicle for achieving all of that.
Like, if you give a tithe, He'll make you rich."

Rich Mullins

"none are stronger than the humble
And few are weaker than the proud "
None are Stronger
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and I ain't talka 'bout da Prez

just a lil' prayer journal scribble I wanted to share

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Coming soon to a bumper near you

.something to hopefully inspire folks as to what might be a good use of that bit of change the Fed lets us have back (o;
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"He is Risen"

"Why do you look for the living among the dead?
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Far, Far Away . . .

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As we wait, a notso great video for a favorite tune of "waiting and watching". I love the last line, reminding us that then, and now, that simple gesture of the sign of the cross, the very sign we take for granted (or are embarrassed by) could mean death for some who would rather die than deny (although, I fear, I am too often like the Peter before the cock crowed).

"Staring at the shoreline
wishing for some hope
the weight of empty fishing nets
is more than twisted rope
And underneath stern faces
they wait with baited breath
with broken hearts from hoping
while casting out their nets
See the figure on the shore
He speaks His words like plain men sing
His hands they still have holes in them
Glory to the King

[Chorus:]
Can you hear the bells are ringing
far, far, away?
Can you hear the voices singing
far, far, away?
I know that one day soon a song shall rise
you'll hear it with the sleep still in your eyes

And Peter was a liar
a traitor just like me
and Judas was a hypocrite
and Paul a Pharisee
When truth can be so distant
and hope evades our reach
Peter swam across the water
and found it on the beach

I hear they'll hang you upside down
stretched across two boards
for hearing distant voices
and crossing to the Lord"
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A Day of Sacrifice

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Not only His great sacrifice, but today I challenge everyone to spend just a few minutes gazing upon a crucifix. Pondering in your heart how much your are loved . . .and how much you are expected to love. Realizing the truth that Christ knew your sins, and still said "yes Father, I will die for him, I will suffer for her".
Look at the nails, the crown of thorns, the puncture wound in our great Lover's side . . .and remember that we hammered those nails, we placed that crown on His head, we tore open His side, . . . and he only replied with "Father forgive them"

So spend a minute before a cross, and know without a doubt, that THIS is true love!

Peace be with you!
D'art

King of the Hill

Friendly Reminder

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"I have told you these things,
so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart!
I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

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Welcome Brother Newt

Only just heard the news that Newt Gingrich and I are now in communion, as that he has just been welcomed into the Church.

"I will say that I found myself deeply comforted, and a deep sense of belonging and of finding a peace in my soul in a way that I just found very, very powerful" read more here

I would like to say that I don't quite care about politics as I once did, as it seems a small thing when compared to God's love and mercy (which I would so rather talk about and share). I would be just as thrilled if it was Hillary Clinton . . .maybe even more so (O:
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Lord, love a duck

Having already attended Palm Sunday service yesterday (no lector, so I subbed last minute), I decided to break my Lenten fast (music) by plopping on the ol' headphones and strolling around Baltimore's Inner Harbor over to Fells Point. Peering from the a pier along side of the USS Torsk, I spied a cute little Mallard couple happily swimming in the sewage, possibly hoping for some pizza bones (them, not me).

The image of the rather plainly adorned female swimming next to the resplendent male reminded me of a common misnomer, that the boy duckie's plumage is colorful so as to attract the female. Truth be told, the beautiful colors are God's design to help poppa duck distract predators so the mommy duck can be safe to care for their young. Yes, even in the animal world the husband often must lay down his life for his bride . . . and me thinks if most human hubby's focused on that aspect of their "animal nature", instead of the other, we might have less divorce.

Being also that this is the day we celebrate Christ's slow parade into Jerusalem, his being greeted with crowds waving palms and chanting of "Hosanna", I wondered if this was more than just prophesy fulfilled. I thought of the simple "sitting duck", and pondered if likewise Jesus allowed this spectacle so as to distract Death itself, who had earlier had his black eyes on each of us. Was our saviour using this event to say "take me, take me, I am the one you really want", so death would indeed take Him, which would allow us foolish sinners to paint His blood on the doors of our hardened hearts so as to be passed over. . .to allow us even today, to claim the victory He won.?

yep, He loves you that much!

who do you love that much?

have ya told'em lately?
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Amazing "Amazing Grace"

Same Apple

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"There are only two kinds of men: the righteous, who

believe themselves sinners; the rest, sinners who believe
themselves righteous".
Blaise Pascal Pensees [1660]

Some things, it would seem, never change, as this statement could just as easily be applied to all the folks today who are "good people".The ones who have decided by their own standard of whim (which changes with the wind, or their blood sugar level), that they are "pretty decent folk", who don't need organized religion to "tell them what's right or wrong"( they have Jon Stewart and "Sex in the City" for that). In the end they don't want religion, because they have in all truth, whether they admit it or not, made them self to be god.

Seems the "progressives" keep falling for the same lie,

"For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil".
Genesis 3:5
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