i appreciate the support I've received on becoming a Catechumen. I know I have made the right decision.
I'm afraid I can't let my thoughts wander off the issues at hand however, regarding Christianity in this country. Examining Orthodoxy has opened my eyes to some very serious things going on, things I can't just let escape into some foggy recesses. So I'm going to continue to post my thoughts and feelings on these matters.
First, anybody who wants to post a response here about this can do so, but I'm not going to get into any more arguments about religion. Period, end of story. The Bible and Church traditions stand on their own and do not need to be the source of petty arguments, or relegated into any other category (i.e. mythology) other than for what they are, plain and simple, The Bible and Church Tradition.
Second, I reject atheism and deny the teachings of Richard Dawkins and any others that want to place themselves above God. If people can publicly say that they deny the Holy Spirit and the resurrection of Jesus, then I can publicly say that I deny atheism, humanism, optihumanism, secularism, etc. etc. I can also put on my blog that I denounce any attempts to dissolve Christian standards and beliefs in this country, and the attempts to relegate us to the "idiot" corners of society. We're not going to go away, and we're not going to be silenced by litigation. I stand for God, freedom and the United States of America. That used to be the rule rather than the exception 50 years ago. Yes, I am a Bill OReilly and Rush Limbaugh fan and yes, I agree with just about everything they say about the secular progressives and "drive by" media trying to take over this country. I'm not happy about it, and I will not pretend to be.
Third, I'm not targeting any specific group or individual for personal attack. I'm not opposed to anyone in this country being an atheist, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, etc, if that's what you choose to be. So if someone feels compelled to personally attack me here on this website for expressing my free speech, then by all means, go for it. But I'm done arguing religion. I stand by what I said.
Fourth, I spent this afternoon reading a European website dedicated to restoring faith in the Bible and science. It is called The Creation Science Movement. It is located at http://www.csm.org.uk
Yes, it is founded by European Christians in the UK. I encourage everyone to read this. I also encourage people to remain "open minded" about religion as Christians are asked to be, over and over in today's day and age.
You believe in your god, I'll believe in mine.
But let me say this:
Christianity is a beautiful thing. Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to the human race. His teachings have withstood the test of time. I firmly believe that, and always will. So if that makes me stupid, an idiot, intellectually dishonest, scientifically illiterate, whatever, you fill in the blank, then I guess I am all those things according to secularist dogmatic teachings. But honestly? I don't care.
I'm going to go ahead and just uh...throw that Pascal's Wager out there and go with the safe bet that there is a God that has made a place for me when it is my time to go. I think I might just get the lucky dice.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
An Official Catechumen
I was received as an official Catechumen of the Orthodox Church tonight. It was a very emotional ceremony, and afterwards, everyone came up to congratulate me, hug me and give me the customary kisses on the cheek that Orthodox do. I feel like I am joining part of a big wonderful family.
I did cry a little because it was very emotional. It's not something you do every day, just decide you're going to go through something like this.
With God's grace and guidance, soon I will be baptized and complete this initial beginning. But the journey is never complete.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and Earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in form this time on and forevermore.
-Psalm 121
I did cry a little because it was very emotional. It's not something you do every day, just decide you're going to go through something like this.
With God's grace and guidance, soon I will be baptized and complete this initial beginning. But the journey is never complete.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and Earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in form this time on and forevermore.
-Psalm 121
Friday, September 28, 2007
The Ugaritic Text of the Myth of Baal
Psalm 104 - Discovered at the site of Ras Shamra (ancient Ugarit) the Myth of Baal is one of the longest literary works of the western Semitic peoples in the second millenium B.C. It begins with a conflict over kingship between Baal, the storm god and Yam, the sea god. Although Baal is victorius in this battle, he is later defeated and killed by Mot, the god of grain and death. After Baal's sister, Anat, mourns and buries him, she kills Mot in revenge for her brother's death. She then grinds up his body and sows it as seed. Subsequently, Baal and Mot come back to life and vie for power once again, with the result that Mot eventually capitulates to Baal. The incident with Yam is interpreted as Baal's victory over the sea, while the struggle between Baal and Mot is equated to the fertility cycle, with Baal seasonally "disappearing" from the earth. Psalm 104, a creation psalm, uses some of the imagery known from the Myth of Baal. The Lord's power over the sea in creation is described. While Baal is the "cloud rider," the Lord "makes the clouds his chariot." Unlike Baal, however, the Lord is neither killed nor needs help in making the earth produce food. The attribution of aspects of Baal to the Lord, along with a demonstration of his superiority to Baal, served to exalt and praise the Lord as the true King and God of creation in an environment in which the temptation to worship Baal was rampant.
-From the Archaeological Study Bible
-From the Archaeological Study Bible
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The Cave of Machpelah
Machpelah
Meaning: portion; double cave
the cave which Abraham bought, together with the field in which it stood, from Ephron the Hittite, for a family burying-place (Gen. 23)
It is one of those Bible localities about the identification of which there can be no doubt. It was on the slope of a hill on the east of Hebron, "before Mamre." Here were laid the bodies of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah (Gen. 23:19; 25:9; 49:31; 50:13). Over the cave an ancient Christian church was erected, probably in the time of Justinian, the Roman emperor. This church has been converted into an Islamic mosque. The whole is surrounded by the el-Haram i.e., "the sacred enclosure," about 200 feet long, 115 broad, and of an average height of about 50. This building, from the immense size of some of its stones, and the manner in which they are fitted together, is supposed by some to have been erected in the days of David or of Solomon, while others ascribe it to the time of Herod. It is looked upon as the most ancient and finest relic of Jewish architecture.
On the floor of the mosque are erected six large cenotaphs as monuments to the dead who are buried in the cave beneath. Between the cenotaphs of Isaac and Rebekah there is a circular opening in the floor into the cavern below, the cave of Machpelah. Here it may be that the body of Jacob, which was embalmed in Egypt, is still preserved (much older embalmed bodies have recently been found in the cave of Deir el-Bahari in Egypt, see PHARAOH), though those of the others there buried may have long ago mouldered into dust. The interior of the mosque was visited by the Prince of Wales in 1862 by a special favor of the Islamic authorities. An interesting account of this visit is given in Dean Stanley's Lectures on the Jewish Church. It was also visited in 1866 by the Marquis of Bute, and in 1869 by the late Emperor (Frederick) of Germany, then the Crown Prince of Prussia. In 1881 it was visited by the two sons of the Prince of Wales, accompanied by Sir C. Wilson and others. (See Palestine Quarterly Statement, October 1882).
Meaning: portion; double cave
the cave which Abraham bought, together with the field in which it stood, from Ephron the Hittite, for a family burying-place (Gen. 23)
It is one of those Bible localities about the identification of which there can be no doubt. It was on the slope of a hill on the east of Hebron, "before Mamre." Here were laid the bodies of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah (Gen. 23:19; 25:9; 49:31; 50:13). Over the cave an ancient Christian church was erected, probably in the time of Justinian, the Roman emperor. This church has been converted into an Islamic mosque. The whole is surrounded by the el-Haram i.e., "the sacred enclosure," about 200 feet long, 115 broad, and of an average height of about 50. This building, from the immense size of some of its stones, and the manner in which they are fitted together, is supposed by some to have been erected in the days of David or of Solomon, while others ascribe it to the time of Herod. It is looked upon as the most ancient and finest relic of Jewish architecture.
On the floor of the mosque are erected six large cenotaphs as monuments to the dead who are buried in the cave beneath. Between the cenotaphs of Isaac and Rebekah there is a circular opening in the floor into the cavern below, the cave of Machpelah. Here it may be that the body of Jacob, which was embalmed in Egypt, is still preserved (much older embalmed bodies have recently been found in the cave of Deir el-Bahari in Egypt, see PHARAOH), though those of the others there buried may have long ago mouldered into dust. The interior of the mosque was visited by the Prince of Wales in 1862 by a special favor of the Islamic authorities. An interesting account of this visit is given in Dean Stanley's Lectures on the Jewish Church. It was also visited in 1866 by the Marquis of Bute, and in 1869 by the late Emperor (Frederick) of Germany, then the Crown Prince of Prussia. In 1881 it was visited by the two sons of the Prince of Wales, accompanied by Sir C. Wilson and others. (See Palestine Quarterly Statement, October 1882).
Laus Deo
I thought this might just be an urban legend, so I checked it out on Snopes.com and here is what I found:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/monument.asp
It's really very interesting and is yet another piece of evidence that shows we are, in fact, a Christian nation.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/monument.asp
It's really very interesting and is yet another piece of evidence that shows we are, in fact, a Christian nation.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Mr. Ahmadinejad goes to Columbia
My quick thoughts on the Iran's presidential visit to Columbia U:
1) What an insult to this country and the students of Columbia U. There are plenty of other worthwhile speakers they could have had, why did they have to invite this guy? Clearly the man is an idiot and has no business even being on American soil, being that he is a sponsor of terrorism.
2) He conveniently dodged just about everything they threw at him. "Our women are the freest in the world." WHATEVER. I think I'd like a little of what he is smoking.
3) I didn't see anyone storming the stage in protest like they did when the minutemen showed up several months ago. Was this because of some civil ordinance, or out of some misguided "respect" for this idiot?
4) I'm sure that Iran will respond in kind by inviting President Bush to speak at one of their Universities very soon. Stay tuned.
1) What an insult to this country and the students of Columbia U. There are plenty of other worthwhile speakers they could have had, why did they have to invite this guy? Clearly the man is an idiot and has no business even being on American soil, being that he is a sponsor of terrorism.
2) He conveniently dodged just about everything they threw at him. "Our women are the freest in the world." WHATEVER. I think I'd like a little of what he is smoking.
3) I didn't see anyone storming the stage in protest like they did when the minutemen showed up several months ago. Was this because of some civil ordinance, or out of some misguided "respect" for this idiot?
4) I'm sure that Iran will respond in kind by inviting President Bush to speak at one of their Universities very soon. Stay tuned.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
An article about Orthodoxy
I came across this today and it's very interesting. It's an article by Frederica Mathewes-Green. She's been on NPR, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, etc. It has some references to Orthodox not being exactly an "organized religion," the details on how it approaches Evangelism, salvation, and even makes reference to the OT book of Habakkuk. (Gabriel's word to Mary that the Holy Spirit would "overshadow" her is seen to be foretold in Habakkuk 3:3, the Holy One coming forth from a "dark and shadowed mountain".)
http://www.precipicemagazine.com/frederica_mathewes-green_interview.html
http://www.precipicemagazine.com/frederica_mathewes-green_interview.html
Saturday, September 22, 2007
God must be weeping
Thought I would post this. It conveys so much of what is wrong with our world today.
http://www.serfes.org
http://www.serfes.org
Friday, September 21, 2007
Redefining Christianity
Christianity must be redefined if we are to live in a politically correct society. There is no God. There is no Jesus. He's just a myth and we're all just deluded, so let's give secular humanism a try and be our own God for once. Wow, why didn't I just get this sooner???
Christianity has to be relegated to the back burner once and for all and redefined to make everyone feel comfortable with its teachings. No accountability, no rules, no faith. It just has to be stamped out people! Why aren't any of us getting this????
Wow, what am I supposed to do when I want to read my Bible or recite the Jesus prayer? Or give Glory to my Creator?
"You have no Creator. God didn't do any of this."
Wait, you're a faulty human being. How can you be so arrogant and tell me that?
"Because science tells me it's true. Now put away your Bible now and stop believing in all of that supernaturalist nonsense and start learning to think for yourself."
"But I am thinking for myself. I see all this around me and I can't just believe it came from some matter."
"Well, it did, and every scientist thinks so, and the media and the schools teach it that way, so put away your Bible and stop reciting those prayers or else I might have to commit you to a mental institution for being crazy. By the way, that bible is just mythology anyway. Did you know that? I bet you didn't know that."
"Poor human reason, when it trusts in itself, substitutes the strangest absurdities for the highest divine concepts”
-St John Chrystostom
Christianity has to be relegated to the back burner once and for all and redefined to make everyone feel comfortable with its teachings. No accountability, no rules, no faith. It just has to be stamped out people! Why aren't any of us getting this????
Wow, what am I supposed to do when I want to read my Bible or recite the Jesus prayer? Or give Glory to my Creator?
"You have no Creator. God didn't do any of this."
Wait, you're a faulty human being. How can you be so arrogant and tell me that?
"Because science tells me it's true. Now put away your Bible now and stop believing in all of that supernaturalist nonsense and start learning to think for yourself."
"But I am thinking for myself. I see all this around me and I can't just believe it came from some matter."
"Well, it did, and every scientist thinks so, and the media and the schools teach it that way, so put away your Bible and stop reciting those prayers or else I might have to commit you to a mental institution for being crazy. By the way, that bible is just mythology anyway. Did you know that? I bet you didn't know that."
"Poor human reason, when it trusts in itself, substitutes the strangest absurdities for the highest divine concepts”
-St John Chrystostom
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Long live the Hydra!!!!
This is actually an inside joke from my younger days that nobody is going to get but that's okay. The Hydra was a cartoon character (yes THE Hydra) drawn by a friend of mine who is now a famous trombone player on the New York Scene. His name is David Gibson and his website can be found here.
http://www.jazzbone.org/
I'm not surprised to see Greek themes prevalent in his "Path to Delphi" CD just released. It's totally awesome. And to think I actually played bass trombone sitting next to this fellow at one time in my life. Very humbling. Maybe one day he'll be in KC touring or I'll have the chance to go back to the Big Apple and see him perform.
Here's a review on allaboutjazz.com for "Path to Delphi"
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=19153
Dude, if I picked up my horn now I would sound like SHIT. No dancing around that statement. There it is.
http://www.jazzbone.org/
I'm not surprised to see Greek themes prevalent in his "Path to Delphi" CD just released. It's totally awesome. And to think I actually played bass trombone sitting next to this fellow at one time in my life. Very humbling. Maybe one day he'll be in KC touring or I'll have the chance to go back to the Big Apple and see him perform.
Here's a review on allaboutjazz.com for "Path to Delphi"
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=19153
Dude, if I picked up my horn now I would sound like SHIT. No dancing around that statement. There it is.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Rebuilding after 9/11
I found this very touching story about a tiny Greek Orthodox Church that was shattered after 9/11 and wanted to post it on my blog:
http://wcbstv.com/911/local_story_254181435.html
http://wcbstv.com/911/local_story_254181435.html
Resort of the Day- Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge
This is a dream destination for me right here, Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge in South Africa. It's one of those places you put on a travel canvas, a picture you want painted on your "portrait of your life."
I got this from their website:
Earth Lodge is a sanctuary symbolising a new era in luxury South African safari lodges. Sculpted into a slope of the earth, almost invisible in the landscape, the lodge uses texture, light and space to present a lodge like no other. Taking its cue from the surrounding environment, it has been described as the most environmentally sensitive lodge in Africa.
Earth Lodge reveals itself in a series of sensory revelations. On arrival a hidden corridor leads you down on a journey to a unique and unforgettable experience. The unexpected entrance opens to a panorama of uninterrupted bushveld. As in nature everything at Earth Lodge exists in harmony and you are immediately aware of a sense of calm and a restoring spirit. Home to 13 ultra-luxurious suites including the Amber Presidential Suite, the lodge breaks with traditional bush lodge style to create a masterpiece of artistry and innovation. Each of the suites at this luxury lodge features individually designed furniture, private plunge pool, en-suite glass fronted bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower and butler services. The natural wooden sculptures by renowned South African artist Geoffrey Armstrong add a powerful magic.
The Amber Suite is a glorious celebration of generous size and space. Beyond belief in its beauty, from the magnificent carved wooden headboard to the deep egg-shaped bath, the suite boasts its own exercise room, steam room, study and kitchen. It captures the spirit of nature and luxury in one unique experience.
The outdoor boma, its walls sculpted from tree roots and piled up piece by piece, captures the drama of the African night and evokes the power of the wilderness.
An indoor/outdoor dining area overlooking a waterhole and unending bushveld, a secluded library, art gallery, meditation garden; and an underground wine cellar with a collection of over 6000 bottles of rare wines, the venue for an unforgettable dining experience - everything at this luxury lodge has been created for your indulgence.
While on safari renew your spirit at the Earth Nature Spa and Exercise Centre where massages, natural therapies or classic spa treatments are on offer.
Each morning and evening you will depart from this luxury safari lodge into the wilderness, either by open Land Rover or on foot for a walking safari, accompanied by your armed and knowledgeable Game Ranger and Shangaan Tracker. Close enough to share in a thrilling encounter with Africa's beautiful wild creatures.
http://www.sabisabi.com/lodges/earthlodge;jsessionid=3772F4E2353F30BE6D0EDE27BFD2C226
And as always, please go to tripadvisor.com to read the latest reviews.
I got this from their website:
Earth Lodge is a sanctuary symbolising a new era in luxury South African safari lodges. Sculpted into a slope of the earth, almost invisible in the landscape, the lodge uses texture, light and space to present a lodge like no other. Taking its cue from the surrounding environment, it has been described as the most environmentally sensitive lodge in Africa.
Earth Lodge reveals itself in a series of sensory revelations. On arrival a hidden corridor leads you down on a journey to a unique and unforgettable experience. The unexpected entrance opens to a panorama of uninterrupted bushveld. As in nature everything at Earth Lodge exists in harmony and you are immediately aware of a sense of calm and a restoring spirit. Home to 13 ultra-luxurious suites including the Amber Presidential Suite, the lodge breaks with traditional bush lodge style to create a masterpiece of artistry and innovation. Each of the suites at this luxury lodge features individually designed furniture, private plunge pool, en-suite glass fronted bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower and butler services. The natural wooden sculptures by renowned South African artist Geoffrey Armstrong add a powerful magic.
The Amber Suite is a glorious celebration of generous size and space. Beyond belief in its beauty, from the magnificent carved wooden headboard to the deep egg-shaped bath, the suite boasts its own exercise room, steam room, study and kitchen. It captures the spirit of nature and luxury in one unique experience.
The outdoor boma, its walls sculpted from tree roots and piled up piece by piece, captures the drama of the African night and evokes the power of the wilderness.
An indoor/outdoor dining area overlooking a waterhole and unending bushveld, a secluded library, art gallery, meditation garden; and an underground wine cellar with a collection of over 6000 bottles of rare wines, the venue for an unforgettable dining experience - everything at this luxury lodge has been created for your indulgence.
While on safari renew your spirit at the Earth Nature Spa and Exercise Centre where massages, natural therapies or classic spa treatments are on offer.
Each morning and evening you will depart from this luxury safari lodge into the wilderness, either by open Land Rover or on foot for a walking safari, accompanied by your armed and knowledgeable Game Ranger and Shangaan Tracker. Close enough to share in a thrilling encounter with Africa's beautiful wild creatures.
http://www.sabisabi.com/lodges/earthlodge;jsessionid=3772F4E2353F30BE6D0EDE27BFD2C226
And as always, please go to tripadvisor.com to read the latest reviews.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
A moment of silence for the 9/11 victims
Okay, here I go being a pain in the ass about this again. But today is 9/11, and I can't think of a more universal and appropriate way to honor those killed on this day than with a moment of silence to reflect on what those events meant to each and every one of us as Americans.
I'm not praying, I'm not asking for God's intervention, I'm not even asking that others pray about it!!!! I'm not even going to pray in front of you!
Seriously, what were we each doing when we found out what had occurred? I was at home and got a phone call that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. At first I thought it was just a Cessna or small craft that got off course somehow. I didn't want to believe the caller on the other end of the line when she told me, "No, it was a commercial jet."
I always thought that someday something might happen like that, so when I turned on the TV, my worst fears had been realized. When I saw the chaos and imagined what was going on at ground zero, it hit me. I know this from experience having been involved in Oklahoma City. I cannot even begin to put into words the things that went through my mind.
You just can't turn emotions like that on and off like a water faucet.
Yes, having a moment of silence for the purpose of merely singling out someone so you can prosletyze them later about whether or not they are saved is completely wrong. I do not believe that is right. But is that really that prevalent an issue here in this case?
TODAY is why I believe in the moment of silence. A moment of silence to honor, respect and remember people like the firefighters, policemen, rescue workers, and the passengers and flight crew of United 93 is NOT wrong. It's NOT making you pray or subject you to someone else's prayer. You're honoring other human beings who have just so happened to die a horrible death and suffer the most horrible and painful of situations (i.e. the torture of realizing that the plane you're on is headed toward a building like the White House or Pentagon and there's nothing you can do about it.)
We can't compartmentalize grief, and fear, and the need for support during a trying time. I know this because I've tried to do it. And failed miserably.
So why NOT remember these people publicly in this manner? Or are we just ashamed?
Yep, I'm now going to put up a conservative transcript here about the moment of silence issue from the Glenn Beck show. Yes, this is a conservative viewpoint.
Aired Aug 9th 2007
PAGLIARULO: This week, we learned that people in New York City are attempting as to ban the "B" word. And you know, we can`t say the "F" word, or the "N" word. Actually, there are two "F" words you cast say.
But according to David Wallace Croft of Dallas, Texas, a self- proclaimed militant atheist, you shouldn`t be using the "P" word either, "pray." Well, at least when it comes to public education, anyway.
A state law in Texas, established in 2003, requires each school morning begin with a moment of silence. The law says students may, quote, "reflect, pray, meditate or engage in any other solemn activity," end quote. Croft claims this is unconstitutional and the word in question implies religious intent.
To help me understand where Croft is coming from is Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists.
Hi, Ellen.
ELLEN JOHNSON, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN ATHEISTS: Hi, Joe.
PAGLIARULO: Well, you know, it`s good to have you on. And I`m wondering, how exactly is a moment of silence where you have no idea of what I`m doing, how does that indicate that I`m praying? Or how does that institute religion in school? Please help me out.
JOHNSON: But that`s not what it`s all about. The people who want this moment of silence want prayer. That`s always been the reason behind it. In fact, they can`t have you not doing anything. They can`t have children opting to do something else. It has to be about prayer.
So if they find that students aren`t praying, they`re going to encourage them to do it. The teacher`s going to pray, and other kids who do pray are going to do it loudly. And those who don`t pray are going to be identified as non-believers, as atheists. And they`re going to be set up for proselytizing and harassment, which is what usually happens.
But this is not about being fair and giving students the opportunity to do something else.
PAGLIARULO: Well, I can appreciate where you`re coming from. But absolutely -- you`re absolutely wrong here. And here`s why. I actually do a morning show in San Antonio. I do another show in Houston, Texas.
This is law in -- since 2003 in Texas. And if anybody is proselytizing or forcing kids to pray -- you and I are on the same side here -- that should not be happening. And if you`ve got individual instances where that did happen, that teacher should be reported, because there is -- that should not be establishing any religion in school.
JOHNSON: We hear these things all the time, Joe...
PAGLIARULO: Hold on. I was very calm and listened to you. Here`s the problem with your whole entire argument. If my kid, my children, I`ve got three daughters in Texas schools.
JOHNSON: Right.
PAGLIARULO: If they`re standing there silently for a moment, and they are every morning, because they do this moment of silence. And if they decide to say, "Please, God, help me with this test." Or if they decide to say, "Man, I love my iPod." If they decide to say, "Boy, that guy is pretty cute back there in the other row," that`s up to them. This is the moment of silence for them to get themselves ready for the day.
Nobody but nobody has yet in the years my kids have been in those schools, has told them to pray. Now tell me where you got that somebody is telling them to pray?
JOHNSON: Why don`t your children take care of their personal needs before they go to school? Why do we have to stop everybody -- see, this is all about having everybody see your children pray, and hear your children pray.
PAGLIARULO: No, no, it`s a moment of silence.
JOHNSON: Let me talk. Everybody`s going to stop what they do while your children pray.
PAGLIARULO: It`s a moment of silence, though. I let you talk. I promised this is going to be a nice -- a nice conversation. But...
JOHNSON: It is.
PAGLIARULO: But you just -- you`re throwing up things that are absolutely...
JOHNSON: But your children should take care of their personal business before they get to school.
PAGLIARULO: You`re throwing out patently untrue things. This is a moment of silence. I don`t know if you`ve looked up the definition lately, but silence does not mean you`re overtly, loudly and along with your teacher holding hands and praying out loud. It just doesn`t happen.
JOHNSON: You have to sit in my shoes and hear from people around the country. This is part of what goes on in the public schools. The religious -- the public schools are under siege by the religious who have to get to the kids. Nobody really seriously wants a moment of silence. They don`t want them to meditate. They want them to pray.
PAGLIARULO: I`m going to tell you what I think this is about. Ellen, I can appreciate where you`re coming from. I understand the argument. I understand the debate point.
JOHNSON: OK.
PAGLIARULO: But you`re way off base here. Here`s why.
JOHNSON: No.
PAGLIARULO: If my children are standing there silently, it`s none of your business to try to legislate what`s going on in their mind. You can`t tell me that their constitutional right to free thought is somehow affecting you or your kids and the fact that you don`t believe in God.
JOHNSON: It`s not...
PAGLIARULO: That`s your choice. I don`t want you to believe in God if they don`t want to. I don`t want you telling my kids what they can or can`t do in the classroom silently.
JOHNSON: It`s not about your kids. It`s about the ones who are praying.
PAGLIARULO: That`s the key word here.
JOHNSON: It`s not about your children, because they can pray all they want on their own.
PAGLIARULO: It is about my children. Ellen, thank you. Appreciate it. Back after this.
Now a definition from wikipedia:
A moment of silence is the expression for a period of silent contemplation, prayer, reflection, or meditation. Similar to flying a flag at half-mast, a moment of silence is often a gesture of respect, particularly in mourning for those who have recently died or as part of a commemoration ceremony of a tragic historical event. One minute is a common length of time for the commemoration, though other periods of time may be chosen, normally connected in some way with the event being commemorated (there might be a minute given for every death commemorated, for example). During the moment of silence, participants may typically bow their heads, remove hats, and refrain from speaking or moving places for the duration. A person officiating or presiding over the gathering will be responsible for the declaring and timing of the period of silence.
A moment of silence may be accompanied by other acts of symbolic significance, such as the tolling of bells, the release of doves or balloons, or a performance of the Last Post.
In recent years a trend has developed (particularly within English sports fans) to fill the traditional minute of silence with a minute's applause. Psychologically this is seen by many to convey a fond celebration of the deceased rather than the traditional solemnity. Recent recipients of the minute's applause include international footballers George Best and Alan Ball
and now we go to
"The Third Gore-Bush Presidential Debate"
MODERATOR: Good evening from the Field House at Washington University in St. Louis. I'm Jim Lehrer of the News Hour on PBS. And I welcome you to this third and final Campaign 2000 debate between the Democratic candidate for president, Vice President Al Gore, and the Republican candidate, Governor George W. Bush of Texas. Let's welcome the candidates now. Before proceeding tonight we would like to observe a moment of silence in memory of Governor Mel Carnahan of Missouri, who along with his son and his former chief of staff, died in a private plane crash last night near St. Louis.
I'm not praying, I'm not asking for God's intervention, I'm not even asking that others pray about it!!!! I'm not even going to pray in front of you!
Seriously, what were we each doing when we found out what had occurred? I was at home and got a phone call that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. At first I thought it was just a Cessna or small craft that got off course somehow. I didn't want to believe the caller on the other end of the line when she told me, "No, it was a commercial jet."
I always thought that someday something might happen like that, so when I turned on the TV, my worst fears had been realized. When I saw the chaos and imagined what was going on at ground zero, it hit me. I know this from experience having been involved in Oklahoma City. I cannot even begin to put into words the things that went through my mind.
You just can't turn emotions like that on and off like a water faucet.
Yes, having a moment of silence for the purpose of merely singling out someone so you can prosletyze them later about whether or not they are saved is completely wrong. I do not believe that is right. But is that really that prevalent an issue here in this case?
TODAY is why I believe in the moment of silence. A moment of silence to honor, respect and remember people like the firefighters, policemen, rescue workers, and the passengers and flight crew of United 93 is NOT wrong. It's NOT making you pray or subject you to someone else's prayer. You're honoring other human beings who have just so happened to die a horrible death and suffer the most horrible and painful of situations (i.e. the torture of realizing that the plane you're on is headed toward a building like the White House or Pentagon and there's nothing you can do about it.)
We can't compartmentalize grief, and fear, and the need for support during a trying time. I know this because I've tried to do it. And failed miserably.
So why NOT remember these people publicly in this manner? Or are we just ashamed?
Yep, I'm now going to put up a conservative transcript here about the moment of silence issue from the Glenn Beck show. Yes, this is a conservative viewpoint.
Aired Aug 9th 2007
PAGLIARULO: This week, we learned that people in New York City are attempting as to ban the "B" word. And you know, we can`t say the "F" word, or the "N" word. Actually, there are two "F" words you cast say.
But according to David Wallace Croft of Dallas, Texas, a self- proclaimed militant atheist, you shouldn`t be using the "P" word either, "pray." Well, at least when it comes to public education, anyway.
A state law in Texas, established in 2003, requires each school morning begin with a moment of silence. The law says students may, quote, "reflect, pray, meditate or engage in any other solemn activity," end quote. Croft claims this is unconstitutional and the word in question implies religious intent.
To help me understand where Croft is coming from is Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists.
Hi, Ellen.
ELLEN JOHNSON, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN ATHEISTS: Hi, Joe.
PAGLIARULO: Well, you know, it`s good to have you on. And I`m wondering, how exactly is a moment of silence where you have no idea of what I`m doing, how does that indicate that I`m praying? Or how does that institute religion in school? Please help me out.
JOHNSON: But that`s not what it`s all about. The people who want this moment of silence want prayer. That`s always been the reason behind it. In fact, they can`t have you not doing anything. They can`t have children opting to do something else. It has to be about prayer.
So if they find that students aren`t praying, they`re going to encourage them to do it. The teacher`s going to pray, and other kids who do pray are going to do it loudly. And those who don`t pray are going to be identified as non-believers, as atheists. And they`re going to be set up for proselytizing and harassment, which is what usually happens.
But this is not about being fair and giving students the opportunity to do something else.
PAGLIARULO: Well, I can appreciate where you`re coming from. But absolutely -- you`re absolutely wrong here. And here`s why. I actually do a morning show in San Antonio. I do another show in Houston, Texas.
This is law in -- since 2003 in Texas. And if anybody is proselytizing or forcing kids to pray -- you and I are on the same side here -- that should not be happening. And if you`ve got individual instances where that did happen, that teacher should be reported, because there is -- that should not be establishing any religion in school.
JOHNSON: We hear these things all the time, Joe...
PAGLIARULO: Hold on. I was very calm and listened to you. Here`s the problem with your whole entire argument. If my kid, my children, I`ve got three daughters in Texas schools.
JOHNSON: Right.
PAGLIARULO: If they`re standing there silently for a moment, and they are every morning, because they do this moment of silence. And if they decide to say, "Please, God, help me with this test." Or if they decide to say, "Man, I love my iPod." If they decide to say, "Boy, that guy is pretty cute back there in the other row," that`s up to them. This is the moment of silence for them to get themselves ready for the day.
Nobody but nobody has yet in the years my kids have been in those schools, has told them to pray. Now tell me where you got that somebody is telling them to pray?
JOHNSON: Why don`t your children take care of their personal needs before they go to school? Why do we have to stop everybody -- see, this is all about having everybody see your children pray, and hear your children pray.
PAGLIARULO: No, no, it`s a moment of silence.
JOHNSON: Let me talk. Everybody`s going to stop what they do while your children pray.
PAGLIARULO: It`s a moment of silence, though. I let you talk. I promised this is going to be a nice -- a nice conversation. But...
JOHNSON: It is.
PAGLIARULO: But you just -- you`re throwing up things that are absolutely...
JOHNSON: But your children should take care of their personal business before they get to school.
PAGLIARULO: You`re throwing out patently untrue things. This is a moment of silence. I don`t know if you`ve looked up the definition lately, but silence does not mean you`re overtly, loudly and along with your teacher holding hands and praying out loud. It just doesn`t happen.
JOHNSON: You have to sit in my shoes and hear from people around the country. This is part of what goes on in the public schools. The religious -- the public schools are under siege by the religious who have to get to the kids. Nobody really seriously wants a moment of silence. They don`t want them to meditate. They want them to pray.
PAGLIARULO: I`m going to tell you what I think this is about. Ellen, I can appreciate where you`re coming from. I understand the argument. I understand the debate point.
JOHNSON: OK.
PAGLIARULO: But you`re way off base here. Here`s why.
JOHNSON: No.
PAGLIARULO: If my children are standing there silently, it`s none of your business to try to legislate what`s going on in their mind. You can`t tell me that their constitutional right to free thought is somehow affecting you or your kids and the fact that you don`t believe in God.
JOHNSON: It`s not...
PAGLIARULO: That`s your choice. I don`t want you to believe in God if they don`t want to. I don`t want you telling my kids what they can or can`t do in the classroom silently.
JOHNSON: It`s not about your kids. It`s about the ones who are praying.
PAGLIARULO: That`s the key word here.
JOHNSON: It`s not about your children, because they can pray all they want on their own.
PAGLIARULO: It is about my children. Ellen, thank you. Appreciate it. Back after this.
Now a definition from wikipedia:
A moment of silence is the expression for a period of silent contemplation, prayer, reflection, or meditation. Similar to flying a flag at half-mast, a moment of silence is often a gesture of respect, particularly in mourning for those who have recently died or as part of a commemoration ceremony of a tragic historical event. One minute is a common length of time for the commemoration, though other periods of time may be chosen, normally connected in some way with the event being commemorated (there might be a minute given for every death commemorated, for example). During the moment of silence, participants may typically bow their heads, remove hats, and refrain from speaking or moving places for the duration. A person officiating or presiding over the gathering will be responsible for the declaring and timing of the period of silence.
A moment of silence may be accompanied by other acts of symbolic significance, such as the tolling of bells, the release of doves or balloons, or a performance of the Last Post.
In recent years a trend has developed (particularly within English sports fans) to fill the traditional minute of silence with a minute's applause. Psychologically this is seen by many to convey a fond celebration of the deceased rather than the traditional solemnity. Recent recipients of the minute's applause include international footballers George Best and Alan Ball
and now we go to
"The Third Gore-Bush Presidential Debate"
MODERATOR: Good evening from the Field House at Washington University in St. Louis. I'm Jim Lehrer of the News Hour on PBS. And I welcome you to this third and final Campaign 2000 debate between the Democratic candidate for president, Vice President Al Gore, and the Republican candidate, Governor George W. Bush of Texas. Let's welcome the candidates now. Before proceeding tonight we would like to observe a moment of silence in memory of Governor Mel Carnahan of Missouri, who along with his son and his former chief of staff, died in a private plane crash last night near St. Louis.
Resort of the Day-Couples Negril
I'm going to start adding "Resort of the Day" to my blog to add a different element to things. Just whatever suits my fancy. Today I will feature "Couples Negril"
in Negril, Jamaica.
Owned by Couples Resorts, this is one of the most laid back and chic places to stay in Negril. It's all inclusive and couples only. I found some things on their website to help tie everything in. This is a very bohemian style place, perfect for those that just want to chill out and have "no worries mon." Couples does away with the big flashy "cookie cutter" resort feel and offers a little more of the real Jamaica in their hotels.
18 acres of lush tropics and white beaches
234 exquisitely appointed rooms & suites
Three unique restaurants The Cassava Terrace Restaurant
Beach Grill restaurant
Otaheite Caribbean restaurant
Four bars, including swim-up and piano
Shuttle to Pirates Cave
Shuttle to Margaritaville
Shopping excursions to Downtown Negril
Watersports & Scuba
Glass-bottom Boat Tour
Catamaran Cruise
Unlimited Golf (transfers and green fees included. Caddy mandatory at a nominal charge)
You've got to take a look at their inclusions page to get a feel for the real value here.
http://www.couples.com/01-inclusionsPage.htm
I used to sell Couples honeymoons as a travel agent. I have not personally been to Jamaica yet, but it's definitely on my list. What's great about Couples is that if you are a scuba diver, it's all included. And that's a HUGE value.
There's another famous resort chain that does the same thing, but my focus today is on Couples.
http://www.couples.com
You can also go to tripadvisor.com to read the latest reviews from people who have stayed there.
in Negril, Jamaica.
Owned by Couples Resorts, this is one of the most laid back and chic places to stay in Negril. It's all inclusive and couples only. I found some things on their website to help tie everything in. This is a very bohemian style place, perfect for those that just want to chill out and have "no worries mon." Couples does away with the big flashy "cookie cutter" resort feel and offers a little more of the real Jamaica in their hotels.
18 acres of lush tropics and white beaches
234 exquisitely appointed rooms & suites
Three unique restaurants The Cassava Terrace Restaurant
Beach Grill restaurant
Otaheite Caribbean restaurant
Four bars, including swim-up and piano
Shuttle to Pirates Cave
Shuttle to Margaritaville
Shopping excursions to Downtown Negril
Watersports & Scuba
Glass-bottom Boat Tour
Catamaran Cruise
Unlimited Golf (transfers and green fees included. Caddy mandatory at a nominal charge)
You've got to take a look at their inclusions page to get a feel for the real value here.
http://www.couples.com/01-inclusionsPage.htm
I used to sell Couples honeymoons as a travel agent. I have not personally been to Jamaica yet, but it's definitely on my list. What's great about Couples is that if you are a scuba diver, it's all included. And that's a HUGE value.
There's another famous resort chain that does the same thing, but my focus today is on Couples.
http://www.couples.com
You can also go to tripadvisor.com to read the latest reviews from people who have stayed there.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Consecration of an Eastern Orthodox Church
On Oct, 6, 2007, my parish will be consecrated as a Temple by His Eminence Job, Archbishop of Chicago. We're also going to be celebrating 90 years of service to the community. It's a lifetime opportunity to witness such an event. Relics from a Polish martyr killed by the Nazis will be placed at the altar and it will be officially named as a "Holy Place" until the Second Coming of Christ.
I found an article detailing the process of consecration here:
http://www.mellenpress.com/mellenpress.cfm?bookid=6295&pc=9
I found an article detailing the process of consecration here:
http://www.mellenpress.com/mellenpress.cfm?bookid=6295&pc=9
Help preserve the Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago
I received an email from an Orthodox parishioner in the Chicago area today. The "Partners in Preservation in Chicago" has a list of places they are allowing people to vote on for a portion of money for restoration projects.
Here is the link if you wish to vote on this. There are many projects available to vote on.
http://www.partnersinpreservation.com/
From their website:
An architectural gem and Chicago landmark, Holy Trinity was designed by architect Louis Sullivan and constructed with funds from Czar Nicholas II to serve Chicago’s Russian Orthodox community. It is currently a place of worship for 185 parish families of Orthodox and non-Orthodox Christians. Roofing problems and deferred maintenance have damaged much of the decorative sheet metal ornamentation on the exterior.
Here are some stories from its parishioners. Very heart felt:
"Being born in an atheistic society, I came to this country and began attending Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral. This is my spiritual home: I worship here, my children were baptized here, several members of my family were buried here. In my heart, this is the premiere cathedral in the country, and we need to beautify her, and care for her so that she may continue serving God. God bless America!"
"Windows are the 'eyes' of any building. Now, our beautiful Cathedral, the last example of Louis Sullivan's religious architecture, has 'black eyes.' We need to fix the windows to once again show the genius of Sullivan, and appreciate the beauty of God."
"Form follows function' is one of the guiding principles set forth by Louis Sullivan. The synthesis he achieved following not only the traditional canons of Orthodox architecture, but also being true to his own vision of architecture is simply awe inspiring."
- Archpriest John S. Adamcio
"Holy Trinity Cathedral is where I truly met God. Louis Sullivan's artistry is exceptional, and deserves preservation. The spiritual beauty and message of the Cathedral is particularly expressed in its architectural beauty. Help us preserve it!"
Here is the link if you wish to vote on this. There are many projects available to vote on.
http://www.partnersinpreservation.com/
From their website:
An architectural gem and Chicago landmark, Holy Trinity was designed by architect Louis Sullivan and constructed with funds from Czar Nicholas II to serve Chicago’s Russian Orthodox community. It is currently a place of worship for 185 parish families of Orthodox and non-Orthodox Christians. Roofing problems and deferred maintenance have damaged much of the decorative sheet metal ornamentation on the exterior.
Here are some stories from its parishioners. Very heart felt:
"Being born in an atheistic society, I came to this country and began attending Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral. This is my spiritual home: I worship here, my children were baptized here, several members of my family were buried here. In my heart, this is the premiere cathedral in the country, and we need to beautify her, and care for her so that she may continue serving God. God bless America!"
"Windows are the 'eyes' of any building. Now, our beautiful Cathedral, the last example of Louis Sullivan's religious architecture, has 'black eyes.' We need to fix the windows to once again show the genius of Sullivan, and appreciate the beauty of God."
"Form follows function' is one of the guiding principles set forth by Louis Sullivan. The synthesis he achieved following not only the traditional canons of Orthodox architecture, but also being true to his own vision of architecture is simply awe inspiring."
- Archpriest John S. Adamcio
"Holy Trinity Cathedral is where I truly met God. Louis Sullivan's artistry is exceptional, and deserves preservation. The spiritual beauty and message of the Cathedral is particularly expressed in its architectural beauty. Help us preserve it!"
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Ancient Christian message in Ogham
I learned something new today. While at the Greek Festival in Kansas City, I took a tour of the Orthodox Church, and while there, Father Mark gave a lecture on early missionaries to the Americas. He touched upon something I'd never even heard of before:
Christian messages found in West Virginia written in Ogham, an old Irish script from 6th-8th centuries A.D.!
I've always thought that there were people here before Columbus, or before the English landed at Jamestown.
I'll put a link up. Now this source says at the top that it does not give credence to the conclusions found, but the article is written by Dr. Barry Fell, professor emeritus at Harvard. So I'd say this article might be at the very least, worth considering as a valid source, right?
This message is thought to be like a "Christmas card" left on a rock. It's absolutely fascinating stuff no matter how you choose to look at it.
http://cwva.org/wwvrunes/wwvrunes_3.html
http://cwva.org/wwvrunes/wwvrunes_2.html
But then, you have to consider the other side.
http://cwva.org/ogam_rebutal/wirtz.html
This last article is great at trying to attack Fell's standing and credibility, but provides no translation of their own or an independent idea for what they think it might be, so I have to think it's just some sort of smear tactic. I don't know. You decide.
Christian messages found in West Virginia written in Ogham, an old Irish script from 6th-8th centuries A.D.!
I've always thought that there were people here before Columbus, or before the English landed at Jamestown.
I'll put a link up. Now this source says at the top that it does not give credence to the conclusions found, but the article is written by Dr. Barry Fell, professor emeritus at Harvard. So I'd say this article might be at the very least, worth considering as a valid source, right?
This message is thought to be like a "Christmas card" left on a rock. It's absolutely fascinating stuff no matter how you choose to look at it.
http://cwva.org/wwvrunes/wwvrunes_3.html
http://cwva.org/wwvrunes/wwvrunes_2.html
But then, you have to consider the other side.
http://cwva.org/ogam_rebutal/wirtz.html
This last article is great at trying to attack Fell's standing and credibility, but provides no translation of their own or an independent idea for what they think it might be, so I have to think it's just some sort of smear tactic. I don't know. You decide.
Feast of the Theotokos Sep 8
From goarch.org website:
The Feast of the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on September 8 each year. The Feast commemorates the birth of the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
The birth and early life of the Virgin Mary is not recorded in the Gospels or other books of the New Testament, however this information can be found in a work dating from the second century known as the Book of James or Protevangelion.
According to the story found in this book, Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna, were childless for many years. They remained faithful to God, but their prayers for a child were unanswered. One day, when Joachim came to the temple to make an offering, he was turned away by the High Priest who chastised him for his lack of children. To hide his shame, Joachim retreated to the hill country to live among the shepherds and their flocks.
As Joachim was praying, his wife Anna was praying at the same time at their house in Jerusalem. An angel appeared to both of them and announced that Anna would have a child whose name would be known throughout the world. Anna promised to offer her child as a gift to the Lord. Joachim returned home, and in due time Anna bore a daughter, Mary.
The Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom which is conducted on the morning of the Feast and preceded by a Matins (Orthros) service. A Great Vespers is conducted on the evening before the day of the Feast. Scripture readings for the Feast are the following: At Vespers: Genesis 28:10-17; Ezekiel 43:27—44:4; Proverbs 9:1-11. At the Matins: Luke 1:39-49, 56. At the Divine Liturgy: Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28.
The Feast of the Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on September 8 each year. The Feast commemorates the birth of the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
The birth and early life of the Virgin Mary is not recorded in the Gospels or other books of the New Testament, however this information can be found in a work dating from the second century known as the Book of James or Protevangelion.
According to the story found in this book, Mary's parents, Joachim and Anna, were childless for many years. They remained faithful to God, but their prayers for a child were unanswered. One day, when Joachim came to the temple to make an offering, he was turned away by the High Priest who chastised him for his lack of children. To hide his shame, Joachim retreated to the hill country to live among the shepherds and their flocks.
As Joachim was praying, his wife Anna was praying at the same time at their house in Jerusalem. An angel appeared to both of them and announced that Anna would have a child whose name would be known throughout the world. Anna promised to offer her child as a gift to the Lord. Joachim returned home, and in due time Anna bore a daughter, Mary.
The Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom which is conducted on the morning of the Feast and preceded by a Matins (Orthros) service. A Great Vespers is conducted on the evening before the day of the Feast. Scripture readings for the Feast are the following: At Vespers: Genesis 28:10-17; Ezekiel 43:27—44:4; Proverbs 9:1-11. At the Matins: Luke 1:39-49, 56. At the Divine Liturgy: Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Sooner Football
After that awesome win last week against North Texas, 79-10, the Sooners take on the University of Miami tomorrow in Norman. It's the first time in 22 years since the Hurricanes have been on the OU campus. We're now 5th ranked!! Weee!
(The same spot Michigan held before that disappointing loss to Appalachian State)
OUCH! OH...SNAP!!!
It will be an interesting game. The last time I was at an OU-Miami game, it was the 1987 Orange Bowl and we were playing for the National Championship. We lost. The band got soaked with beer from their lousy fans. Time for some payback....
Go Sooners! WOOOO!!!
(The same spot Michigan held before that disappointing loss to Appalachian State)
OUCH! OH...SNAP!!!
It will be an interesting game. The last time I was at an OU-Miami game, it was the 1987 Orange Bowl and we were playing for the National Championship. We lost. The band got soaked with beer from their lousy fans. Time for some payback....
Go Sooners! WOOOO!!!
My dream job
If I was given the opportunity of a lifetime, it would have to be either A) Samantha Brown's job on The Travel Channel or B) an elite position as a travel journalist with Conde Nast Traveler or some other well read travel publication.
I think I would prefer B over A though. I enjoy letting the destination sink into my pores and writing about it more than I would standing in front of a camera and dealing with all the issues surrounding that.
I'm not a big fan of the typical workweek in a cubicle, 9-5 banker hours. Ho hum. The travel industry is tough and it's even tougher to make any money working in it. But boy, the rewards are awesome. I wasn't meant to sit in a gray cubicle all day but instead, to be out among others, getting to know a place and its culture, experimenting with its language, food, etc. I actually feel like I'm withering as a person when I haven't been somewhere in a while, and it's not just the "vacation blues" for me. It's much more intellectual than that. I draw my energy from stepping off a plane and being in another place aside from where I live for a time. Maybe in my former life I was an explorer. (I don't really believe in former lives I just say that lol) but I always think about what it must have been like for the 16th and 17th century explorers to cross the Atlantic and Pacific, into the scary unknown. Those guys had some serious balls. We have all the creature comforts now whenever we travel, but they sure didn't back in their day. We owe a lot to those guys.
Africa is a place I'm just dying to go to. Not some fancy crystal and white linen in the bush for 10 days blitz, although a day or two of that with a massage would be quite nice. But a real tented safari, where you can get up close and hear the sounds of the lions at night. Sure there are armed guards nearby, but wow, how cool would that be? Knowing at any moment, in theory, you could be dinner.
Or how about a cage dive with a great white? I dunno....jury's still out on that for me, but if I'm in the right mood, I might try it, if the shark has already eaten for the day :)
There's also Antarctica. Imagine being on an ice crushing old Russian cruiser just barreling through ice several feet thick. Wow. Penguins. Whales.
Of course, making a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands or Greece would leave me speechless.
Touring Celtic Haunted Castles, enjoying Europe's waterways by cruise, Tuscany's wine country....I want to do it all.
I've done a lot already, but it will never be enough. My bag is packed and ready.
I think I would prefer B over A though. I enjoy letting the destination sink into my pores and writing about it more than I would standing in front of a camera and dealing with all the issues surrounding that.
I'm not a big fan of the typical workweek in a cubicle, 9-5 banker hours. Ho hum. The travel industry is tough and it's even tougher to make any money working in it. But boy, the rewards are awesome. I wasn't meant to sit in a gray cubicle all day but instead, to be out among others, getting to know a place and its culture, experimenting with its language, food, etc. I actually feel like I'm withering as a person when I haven't been somewhere in a while, and it's not just the "vacation blues" for me. It's much more intellectual than that. I draw my energy from stepping off a plane and being in another place aside from where I live for a time. Maybe in my former life I was an explorer. (I don't really believe in former lives I just say that lol) but I always think about what it must have been like for the 16th and 17th century explorers to cross the Atlantic and Pacific, into the scary unknown. Those guys had some serious balls. We have all the creature comforts now whenever we travel, but they sure didn't back in their day. We owe a lot to those guys.
Africa is a place I'm just dying to go to. Not some fancy crystal and white linen in the bush for 10 days blitz, although a day or two of that with a massage would be quite nice. But a real tented safari, where you can get up close and hear the sounds of the lions at night. Sure there are armed guards nearby, but wow, how cool would that be? Knowing at any moment, in theory, you could be dinner.
Or how about a cage dive with a great white? I dunno....jury's still out on that for me, but if I'm in the right mood, I might try it, if the shark has already eaten for the day :)
There's also Antarctica. Imagine being on an ice crushing old Russian cruiser just barreling through ice several feet thick. Wow. Penguins. Whales.
Of course, making a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands or Greece would leave me speechless.
Touring Celtic Haunted Castles, enjoying Europe's waterways by cruise, Tuscany's wine country....I want to do it all.
I've done a lot already, but it will never be enough. My bag is packed and ready.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Evolution is like a box
Evolution is like a box. I cannot replace humanist thought with all that is within my spiritual being. I cannot believe that the Bible is mythology. I cannot believe that Christ is a myth, not when I see the wonders of the Earth around me. To take the worldly gifts I have been given by God and replace them with the teachings of a mere man seems to me to be going backward.
"Unfortunately, the origin of the cell remains a question that is actually the murkiest aspect of the whole theory of evolution."
-Alexander Oparin, Origin of Life, pg. 196
"Can matter organize itself? No! Today there is no known circumstance under which one could affirm that microscopic beings have come into the world without parents resembling themselves."
-Louis Pasteur, Fox & Dose, Origin of Life, pg. 4-5
The American scientist, Stanley Miller, tried to conduct experiments in 1953. He triggered a reaction in gases he claimed would have been primitive to Earth's early atmosphere. At the time, this was regarded as scientific proof for evolution. It was false. Later discoveries showed that the gases used were different than the ones that would have been present in the early atmosphere of the world. He had to confess his error.
There is nothing wrong with admitting error! We are humans and make mistakes.
Jeffrey Bada even admits that we don't have all the answers.
"Today, as we leave the 20th century, we still face the biggest unsolved problem that we had when we entered the 20th century: how did life originate on earth?"
Jeffrey Bada, February 1998 issue of Earth Magazine
How could complex cell systems be derived from just some matter? Are we so arrogant? I just don't think a living cell from non living matter will ever be done in a laboratory as part of some experiment, by man, with all his intelligence, technology and scientific advances, even though evolutionists keep claiming this is how we came to be.
"The chance that higher life forms might have emerged by chance is comparable with the chance that a tornado sweeping through a junk-yard might assemble a Boeing 747 from the materials within."
-Fred Hoyle, Nature, Nov 1981
The scientists that discovered the DNA strand, James Watson and Frances Crick, acknowledged that life was much more complex than previously thought. Frances Crick, an evolutionist, and Nobel Prize winner, confessed that the DNA structure could never have emerged by chance.
We are wowed by the large hard drive spaces we can purchase for our computers, yet there is no way it can compare to the vast amount of DNA stored in one single cell. It is said that if you took a teaspoon and filled it with DNA, it would be the same as storing the amount of all the books ever written.
How can a human being ever duplicate this?
How could this just come from some matter, and we could come from one common ancestor? Not by chance or haphazard happenings.
Creation=Creator with eternal power and wisdom maybe?
"Natural selection can do nothing until favorable variations chance to occur."
-Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, 1 ed. p. 177
"No one has ever produced a species by mechanisms of natural selection. No one has ever got near it. And most of the current argument in neo-Darwinism is about this question."
-Colin Patterson, BBC, Cladistics, March 1982
So we supposedly came from the common ancestor, or Milyar Yil, a common cell that evolved into marine invertebrates, then fish, then they evolved onto land, and turned into reptiles. Birds and mammals then evolved from reptiles. There should be intermediary species right? Linking one living species to another. Half birds, half reptile creatures would exist, with half developed organs.
"if my theory is true, numberless intermediate varieties, linking most closely all the species of the same group together must assuredly have existed...consequently, evidence of their former existence could be found only amongst fossil remains."
-Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, 1st. ed. pg. 179
There are no fossil records containing any of these intermediary forms.
"Why, if species have descended from other species by fine gradations, do we not see everywhere innumerable transitional forms? But, as by this theory, innumerable transitional forms must have existed, why do we not find them embedded in countless numbers in the crust of the earth?"
-Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, 1st. ed. pg. 172
For 140 years, geologists have looked for these missing fossils. But these fossils remain figments of Darwin's imagination. British evolutionist Derek Ager admits this.
"The point emerges that if we examine the fossil record in detail, whether at the level of order or of species, we find over and over again, not gradual evolution, but the sudden explosion of one group at the expense of another."
-Derek Ager, Proceedings of the British Geological Association, Vol 87, p. 133
The Cambrian species of marine life came to life all of a sudden according to fossil records estimated to be 530 million years old.
"It is as though the species of the Cambrian were just planted there, without any evolutionary history."
-Richard Dawkins, The Blind Watchmaker, 1986, pg 229
What does this do to Darwin's theory?
"If numerous species belonging to the same genera of families have really started into life all at once, the fact would be fatal to the theory of descent with slow modification through natural selection."
-Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, 1 ed. pg 302
"A major problem of proving the theory has been the fossil record. This record has never revealed traces of Darwin's hypothetical intermediate variants. Instead, species appear and disappear abruptly. and this anomaly has fueled the creationist argument that each species was created by God."
-Mark Czarnecki, McLean's, January 1981
A 400 million year old shark and a modern day shark share the same structure. Similarly a 100 million year old ant and a modern ant are the same. A million year old dragonfly and a modern dragonfly are the same. The same with a 100 million yr old turtle=modern day turtle. 55 million year old bat=modern day bat.
For years, Coelacanth was touted as one such transtionary fossil. It ended up just being a modern day fish unable to make the leap to land.
Australopithecus, a man-like creature used to help advance the theory of man's evolution, is nothing more than an extinct ape species
Other skulls used to advance this theory, Homo Erectus, Homo Ergaster, or Homo Sapiens Archaic, in fact, belong to different human races, not one evolved race. The fossil differences of these skulls are not much different than what we have found today.
"These differences are probably no more pronounced than than we see today between the separate geographical races of modern humans.
-Richard Leakey, the Making of Mankind, 1981, p. 62
The missing link? Propaganda. Drawings in magazines, depicting large hairy ape and human like creatures. They give the impression that these half man/half ape have always existed. These are planted into the subconscious of society.
"You can with equal facility model on a Neanderthaloid skull the features of a chimpanzee or the lineaments of a philosopher. These alleged restorations of ancient types of man have very little if any scientific value and are likely only to mislead the public."
-Earnest Hooten, Up from the Ape, 1931, p. 332
Then there is the "Piltdown Forgery." How embarrassing THAT must have been!
A fossil was produced in 1912 by Charles Dawson, He attached an orangutan's jaw to a human skull and it was debunked as a forgery in 1949. This was presented as fast as the "missing link!"
The Nebraska Man - 1922 based on a single fossil tooth
complete with Latin name and imaginary drawing
The tooth belonged to a wild pig!!!!
Neanderthal Man, advanced as evidence in 1856, dismissed in 1960
Piltdown Manm advanced as evidence in 1912, dismissed in 1953
Zinjanthrohopus, advanced as evidence in 1959, dismissed in 1960
Ramapithecus, advanced in 1964, dismissed in 1979
Still these findings make their way into magazines and textbooks as fact. Much of it is still presented to schoolchildren in their textbooks.
The truth that evolutionists try to hide is there for all to see, that species appeared abrubtly and without error. They were created.
I won't live in a box built by evolutionists. I won't be fed their bunk every day. They want to call my faith delusion? Fine. They want to call my Bible mythology? Fine. You could come to my house and tell me I have to believe in evolution or you're going to take my bible away. No matter. I would still believe. There's nothing an evolutionist can do, now that I have seen and read this, to ever convince me that their teachings are far superior to what my faith has taught me. Not in 530 million years.
"Unfortunately, the origin of the cell remains a question that is actually the murkiest aspect of the whole theory of evolution."
-Alexander Oparin, Origin of Life, pg. 196
"Can matter organize itself? No! Today there is no known circumstance under which one could affirm that microscopic beings have come into the world without parents resembling themselves."
-Louis Pasteur, Fox & Dose, Origin of Life, pg. 4-5
The American scientist, Stanley Miller, tried to conduct experiments in 1953. He triggered a reaction in gases he claimed would have been primitive to Earth's early atmosphere. At the time, this was regarded as scientific proof for evolution. It was false. Later discoveries showed that the gases used were different than the ones that would have been present in the early atmosphere of the world. He had to confess his error.
There is nothing wrong with admitting error! We are humans and make mistakes.
Jeffrey Bada even admits that we don't have all the answers.
"Today, as we leave the 20th century, we still face the biggest unsolved problem that we had when we entered the 20th century: how did life originate on earth?"
Jeffrey Bada, February 1998 issue of Earth Magazine
How could complex cell systems be derived from just some matter? Are we so arrogant? I just don't think a living cell from non living matter will ever be done in a laboratory as part of some experiment, by man, with all his intelligence, technology and scientific advances, even though evolutionists keep claiming this is how we came to be.
"The chance that higher life forms might have emerged by chance is comparable with the chance that a tornado sweeping through a junk-yard might assemble a Boeing 747 from the materials within."
-Fred Hoyle, Nature, Nov 1981
The scientists that discovered the DNA strand, James Watson and Frances Crick, acknowledged that life was much more complex than previously thought. Frances Crick, an evolutionist, and Nobel Prize winner, confessed that the DNA structure could never have emerged by chance.
We are wowed by the large hard drive spaces we can purchase for our computers, yet there is no way it can compare to the vast amount of DNA stored in one single cell. It is said that if you took a teaspoon and filled it with DNA, it would be the same as storing the amount of all the books ever written.
How can a human being ever duplicate this?
How could this just come from some matter, and we could come from one common ancestor? Not by chance or haphazard happenings.
Creation=Creator with eternal power and wisdom maybe?
"Natural selection can do nothing until favorable variations chance to occur."
-Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, 1 ed. p. 177
"No one has ever produced a species by mechanisms of natural selection. No one has ever got near it. And most of the current argument in neo-Darwinism is about this question."
-Colin Patterson, BBC, Cladistics, March 1982
So we supposedly came from the common ancestor, or Milyar Yil, a common cell that evolved into marine invertebrates, then fish, then they evolved onto land, and turned into reptiles. Birds and mammals then evolved from reptiles. There should be intermediary species right? Linking one living species to another. Half birds, half reptile creatures would exist, with half developed organs.
"if my theory is true, numberless intermediate varieties, linking most closely all the species of the same group together must assuredly have existed...consequently, evidence of their former existence could be found only amongst fossil remains."
-Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, 1st. ed. pg. 179
There are no fossil records containing any of these intermediary forms.
"Why, if species have descended from other species by fine gradations, do we not see everywhere innumerable transitional forms? But, as by this theory, innumerable transitional forms must have existed, why do we not find them embedded in countless numbers in the crust of the earth?"
-Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, 1st. ed. pg. 172
For 140 years, geologists have looked for these missing fossils. But these fossils remain figments of Darwin's imagination. British evolutionist Derek Ager admits this.
"The point emerges that if we examine the fossil record in detail, whether at the level of order or of species, we find over and over again, not gradual evolution, but the sudden explosion of one group at the expense of another."
-Derek Ager, Proceedings of the British Geological Association, Vol 87, p. 133
The Cambrian species of marine life came to life all of a sudden according to fossil records estimated to be 530 million years old.
"It is as though the species of the Cambrian were just planted there, without any evolutionary history."
-Richard Dawkins, The Blind Watchmaker, 1986, pg 229
What does this do to Darwin's theory?
"If numerous species belonging to the same genera of families have really started into life all at once, the fact would be fatal to the theory of descent with slow modification through natural selection."
-Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, 1 ed. pg 302
"A major problem of proving the theory has been the fossil record. This record has never revealed traces of Darwin's hypothetical intermediate variants. Instead, species appear and disappear abruptly. and this anomaly has fueled the creationist argument that each species was created by God."
-Mark Czarnecki, McLean's, January 1981
A 400 million year old shark and a modern day shark share the same structure. Similarly a 100 million year old ant and a modern ant are the same. A million year old dragonfly and a modern dragonfly are the same. The same with a 100 million yr old turtle=modern day turtle. 55 million year old bat=modern day bat.
For years, Coelacanth was touted as one such transtionary fossil. It ended up just being a modern day fish unable to make the leap to land.
Australopithecus, a man-like creature used to help advance the theory of man's evolution, is nothing more than an extinct ape species
Other skulls used to advance this theory, Homo Erectus, Homo Ergaster, or Homo Sapiens Archaic, in fact, belong to different human races, not one evolved race. The fossil differences of these skulls are not much different than what we have found today.
"These differences are probably no more pronounced than than we see today between the separate geographical races of modern humans.
-Richard Leakey, the Making of Mankind, 1981, p. 62
The missing link? Propaganda. Drawings in magazines, depicting large hairy ape and human like creatures. They give the impression that these half man/half ape have always existed. These are planted into the subconscious of society.
"You can with equal facility model on a Neanderthaloid skull the features of a chimpanzee or the lineaments of a philosopher. These alleged restorations of ancient types of man have very little if any scientific value and are likely only to mislead the public."
-Earnest Hooten, Up from the Ape, 1931, p. 332
Then there is the "Piltdown Forgery." How embarrassing THAT must have been!
A fossil was produced in 1912 by Charles Dawson, He attached an orangutan's jaw to a human skull and it was debunked as a forgery in 1949. This was presented as fast as the "missing link!"
The Nebraska Man - 1922 based on a single fossil tooth
complete with Latin name and imaginary drawing
The tooth belonged to a wild pig!!!!
Neanderthal Man, advanced as evidence in 1856, dismissed in 1960
Piltdown Manm advanced as evidence in 1912, dismissed in 1953
Zinjanthrohopus, advanced as evidence in 1959, dismissed in 1960
Ramapithecus, advanced in 1964, dismissed in 1979
Still these findings make their way into magazines and textbooks as fact. Much of it is still presented to schoolchildren in their textbooks.
The truth that evolutionists try to hide is there for all to see, that species appeared abrubtly and without error. They were created.
I won't live in a box built by evolutionists. I won't be fed their bunk every day. They want to call my faith delusion? Fine. They want to call my Bible mythology? Fine. You could come to my house and tell me I have to believe in evolution or you're going to take my bible away. No matter. I would still believe. There's nothing an evolutionist can do, now that I have seen and read this, to ever convince me that their teachings are far superior to what my faith has taught me. Not in 530 million years.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Diet fads
The Atkins diet, South Beach diet, Slim Fast, etc etc. are all fads that come and go. Here's something interesting I found today:
Better Nutrition, Sept 2003:
It doesn't matter whether you're religious or not--even atheists can benefit from the "fasting" regime followed in the Greek Orthodox Church, according to a new study.
Strict Greek Orthodox Christians avoid specified foods three times a year: 40 days before Christmas, 48 days at Easter and 15 days in August for Assumption.
Each fast is associated with a different holiday. For example, at Christmas, the faithful are advised to avoid meat, eggs and dairy products, and eating fish is not allowed on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Since all other foods are permitted, this is not a fast in the traditional sense of avoiding all food. "The Orthodox Christians' diet, which is based on vegetables, legumes, fruit, cereals, bread and olive oil, is a Mediterranean-type diet with periodic abstinence from meat and other products during the fasting periods," the study states, as published in the May 16, 2003 issue of BMC Public Health, published by BioMedCentral.
University of Crete scientists discovered that those who followed the regimen to the letter had lower levels of total cholesterol and lower levels of the cholesterol-binding proteins called low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, in their blood after fasting.
Other Christians who did not follow the fasting regimen did not exhibit this lowering of "bad" cholesterol. Those who stuck to the temporary diet experienced no change in the blood levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol.
I'm sure though, that secularists would find something wrong with this diet and find some argument to say that it is not "good enough" for their scientific findings, or whatever, then pick a diet made by a secular doctor and promote that over this one in the media.
Better Nutrition, Sept 2003:
It doesn't matter whether you're religious or not--even atheists can benefit from the "fasting" regime followed in the Greek Orthodox Church, according to a new study.
Strict Greek Orthodox Christians avoid specified foods three times a year: 40 days before Christmas, 48 days at Easter and 15 days in August for Assumption.
Each fast is associated with a different holiday. For example, at Christmas, the faithful are advised to avoid meat, eggs and dairy products, and eating fish is not allowed on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Since all other foods are permitted, this is not a fast in the traditional sense of avoiding all food. "The Orthodox Christians' diet, which is based on vegetables, legumes, fruit, cereals, bread and olive oil, is a Mediterranean-type diet with periodic abstinence from meat and other products during the fasting periods," the study states, as published in the May 16, 2003 issue of BMC Public Health, published by BioMedCentral.
University of Crete scientists discovered that those who followed the regimen to the letter had lower levels of total cholesterol and lower levels of the cholesterol-binding proteins called low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, in their blood after fasting.
Other Christians who did not follow the fasting regimen did not exhibit this lowering of "bad" cholesterol. Those who stuck to the temporary diet experienced no change in the blood levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol.
I'm sure though, that secularists would find something wrong with this diet and find some argument to say that it is not "good enough" for their scientific findings, or whatever, then pick a diet made by a secular doctor and promote that over this one in the media.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
The Bible in TX Public Schools
I am originally from Ector County, TX and my understanding is that they are trying to get a bill passed to offer an elective bible class in the public school system in the Odessa area. Elective is supposed to mean that they can vote on it? But I guess that's not allowable. You see, if the right tried to say, "We're GOING to teach the Bible, the CUARTO crowd says, "Oh no you're not that's a violation!" But then they say, "Wait, we'll offer it as an elective and students can decide if they want to take it and then vote on it."
Um...oh no you can't!!! That's also a violation, and we're going to make it so!
So any way they try to go about it, they are totally screwed, am I right on this?
If the TX public school system wanted to integrate comparitive religion courses like they do at community colleges, would that be okay?
For some reason, if they did, I kind of think that the CUARTOS would not try to impose such strict guidelines for teaching the Bhagavad Gita as they would on teaching the Bible, as I will illustrate in the following point:
From bibleinschools.net:
The Texas Freedom Network, a self-admitted adversary of any biblically conservative movement, calling themselves "a mainstream voice to counter the religious right." The TFN, for example, is requesting five unnecessary changes to the Texas bill, which is intended to assure students are taught this classic text:
Mandate that teachers have appropriate academic qualifications and sufficient training on legal and constitutional issues surrounding instruction about the Bible in public schools.
Require rigorous, scholarly reviewed textbooks and other curriculum materials for all courses.
Include strong and specific language that protects the religious freedom of students and their families by barring the use of Bible classes to evangelize or promote personal religious perspectives.
Require the Texas Education Agency to regularly monitor and report on the content of public school Bible courses to ensure that they are academically and legally appropriate.
Uh huh. Interesting. I see the writing on the wall there. Okay, so here is what I want to know:
This is just a side point, but if the CUARTO crowd is so concerned about the quality of education that's going into teaching the bible in public school, then answer me this:
Why in the HELL does Texas go to Mexico to recruit Spanish teachers when there are plenty of Spanish speakers in the United States that can teach the language????? I'm sure there are UTA, TT, Sam Houston U, A&M, etc. graduates (some that have even spent a year abroad in a Spanish speaking country or more) that would give their right arm for a job teaching Spanish somewhere in the school districts listed below. I'm still trying to connect the dots here. If I wanted to teach Spanish where I live, I'd have to fork out several thousands of dollars for a teaching certificate. (I don't have one.) They won't even take me on a conditional basis without a certificate. I fail to understand, if there is such a shortage of "qualified candidates"among U.S. Citizens, why can't they just assist these people, take them on a conditional basis, let them get certified and that be it? Why do they have to go to Mexico and spend all that money to get people to come here? My theory: V-O-T-E-S. Excellent pool of voters for the next round of elections! These people get way more money than they'd ever get in Mexico, so it's a win-win deal for them, and a win-win deal for our policitians.
TEXT OF STORY
Scott Jagow: For most school kids, this is the best of time of year. I mean, there's no school. But while the kids are out, the adults who run the schools are probably not.
School administrators spend their summers looking for teachers. People who teach math and science are always in short supply — and in Texas, so are bilingual teachers. Joy Diaz reports from KUT in Austin.
Joy Diaz: The Lone Star State has more than 4 million students in grades K through 12. Some 700,000 are English learners.
Georgina Gonzales leads the Texas Department of Bilingual Education. She says more than 90 percent of students learning English in the state have Spanish as their first language.
Georgina Gonzales: Our whole goal is the minute that a student walks into a classroom here in Texas, they must start learning English. So while they're learning their oral language proficiency skills in English, their content area will not be behind. So based on that, the bilingual teachers are needed everywhere.
That need is more evident in the state's fastest-growing areas such as Dallas, Houston, Austin and along the U.S.-Mexico border. These places attract a lot of Latin American immigrants.
Richard Batlle is principal of Bluebonnet Elementary School about 25 miles East of Austin. He says more than half his students are Hispanic. Most are English learners.
Batlle says it's so tough to find bilingual teachers that this year, he went south of the border and hired some teachers in Monterrey, Mexico.
Richard Batlle: We're looking for fluent bilingual teachers. I mean, because our assessments are so rigorous and the Spanish is so formal, we require teachers that have a very good vocabulary and the literature. (University of Texas at Austin has one of the BEST Spanish language immersion programs in the U.S.! And the labor pool is right there dude!)
Those teachers can help students pass the state's standardized tests since for the first two years students can be tested in their native languages.
Teacher Reyna Araceli Perez preps fourth grade English learners at Blue Bonnet Elementary for the state's math test.
[Sound: Perez instructing students]
Perez and Batlle were connected through Region 4, one of the 20 state-approved organizations that recruit bilingual teachers. Most come from Mexico.
Luz Maria de Los Angeles Loyola teaches in Mexico City, but is gearing up to move to Texas later this summer.
At a Starbucks in the Mexican capital, Loyola, her husband and their three teenage girls pile out of their SUV. Loyola says she views her move to Texas as a mission.
Angeles Loyola: It's a very worthwhile challenge. I think these children deserve the opportunity to get an education. If they couldn't have it here in their own country, it is really nice that some other country's offering them the chance.
Bilingual teachers have different reasons for coming to the U.S., but they all pay a hefty price out of their own pockets. The cost of immigration procedures, remedial courses and taking the test for a Texas teaching license comes to around $8,000. Loyola also has to pay for her entire family to move.
But salaries are higher in Texas than in Mexico. Teachers start out earning around $40,000 a year — and most districts offer $5,000 stipends to bilingual teachers. That's about three or four times what they made back home.
In Austin, I'm Joy Diaz for Marketplace.
Not that it's any comparison, but even if I wanted to get a high paying job as an Events Coordinator for the Ritz Carlton in Cancun on a contractor basis, I couldn't. I'm not a Mexican Citizen.
When I lived in Guadalajara years ago, I was approached about "working under the table" for extra money teaching English. I wouldn't do it because it's not fair to the Mexican labor pool, and it's not fair to the U.S. Plus it's illegal!
From what I understand, these people also get grant money as part of their salaries. From our taxpayer pool. Money that could be used to pay U.S. Citizens to do the same job. The same thing has happened in Georgia too.
Now I understand that teaching Spanish and the Bible are two very separate curriculums. But my point is that the CUARTO crowd wants to impose all these restrictions on teaching the bible class when they really could care less about it to begin with (most of them believe that the bible is greek mythology anyway) but it's OK to go and recruit non citizens and just pay them a liberal salary to teach a foreign language when we have border issues that need to be addressed first. Sounds to me like the priorities aren't exactly in order there. You may think my argument is weak, and without any merit, but there it is and I'm sticking to it. Oh yeah, and just so we don't lose perspective on this, please see my post from September 1 on "Russian Christians in a Godless Society."
Um...oh no you can't!!! That's also a violation, and we're going to make it so!
So any way they try to go about it, they are totally screwed, am I right on this?
If the TX public school system wanted to integrate comparitive religion courses like they do at community colleges, would that be okay?
For some reason, if they did, I kind of think that the CUARTOS would not try to impose such strict guidelines for teaching the Bhagavad Gita as they would on teaching the Bible, as I will illustrate in the following point:
From bibleinschools.net:
The Texas Freedom Network, a self-admitted adversary of any biblically conservative movement, calling themselves "a mainstream voice to counter the religious right." The TFN, for example, is requesting five unnecessary changes to the Texas bill, which is intended to assure students are taught this classic text:
Mandate that teachers have appropriate academic qualifications and sufficient training on legal and constitutional issues surrounding instruction about the Bible in public schools.
Require rigorous, scholarly reviewed textbooks and other curriculum materials for all courses.
Include strong and specific language that protects the religious freedom of students and their families by barring the use of Bible classes to evangelize or promote personal religious perspectives.
Require the Texas Education Agency to regularly monitor and report on the content of public school Bible courses to ensure that they are academically and legally appropriate.
Uh huh. Interesting. I see the writing on the wall there. Okay, so here is what I want to know:
This is just a side point, but if the CUARTO crowd is so concerned about the quality of education that's going into teaching the bible in public school, then answer me this:
Why in the HELL does Texas go to Mexico to recruit Spanish teachers when there are plenty of Spanish speakers in the United States that can teach the language????? I'm sure there are UTA, TT, Sam Houston U, A&M, etc. graduates (some that have even spent a year abroad in a Spanish speaking country or more) that would give their right arm for a job teaching Spanish somewhere in the school districts listed below. I'm still trying to connect the dots here. If I wanted to teach Spanish where I live, I'd have to fork out several thousands of dollars for a teaching certificate. (I don't have one.) They won't even take me on a conditional basis without a certificate. I fail to understand, if there is such a shortage of "qualified candidates"among U.S. Citizens, why can't they just assist these people, take them on a conditional basis, let them get certified and that be it? Why do they have to go to Mexico and spend all that money to get people to come here? My theory: V-O-T-E-S. Excellent pool of voters for the next round of elections! These people get way more money than they'd ever get in Mexico, so it's a win-win deal for them, and a win-win deal for our policitians.
TEXT OF STORY
Scott Jagow: For most school kids, this is the best of time of year. I mean, there's no school. But while the kids are out, the adults who run the schools are probably not.
School administrators spend their summers looking for teachers. People who teach math and science are always in short supply — and in Texas, so are bilingual teachers. Joy Diaz reports from KUT in Austin.
Joy Diaz: The Lone Star State has more than 4 million students in grades K through 12. Some 700,000 are English learners.
Georgina Gonzales leads the Texas Department of Bilingual Education. She says more than 90 percent of students learning English in the state have Spanish as their first language.
Georgina Gonzales: Our whole goal is the minute that a student walks into a classroom here in Texas, they must start learning English. So while they're learning their oral language proficiency skills in English, their content area will not be behind. So based on that, the bilingual teachers are needed everywhere.
That need is more evident in the state's fastest-growing areas such as Dallas, Houston, Austin and along the U.S.-Mexico border. These places attract a lot of Latin American immigrants.
Richard Batlle is principal of Bluebonnet Elementary School about 25 miles East of Austin. He says more than half his students are Hispanic. Most are English learners.
Batlle says it's so tough to find bilingual teachers that this year, he went south of the border and hired some teachers in Monterrey, Mexico.
Richard Batlle: We're looking for fluent bilingual teachers. I mean, because our assessments are so rigorous and the Spanish is so formal, we require teachers that have a very good vocabulary and the literature. (University of Texas at Austin has one of the BEST Spanish language immersion programs in the U.S.! And the labor pool is right there dude!)
Those teachers can help students pass the state's standardized tests since for the first two years students can be tested in their native languages.
Teacher Reyna Araceli Perez preps fourth grade English learners at Blue Bonnet Elementary for the state's math test.
[Sound: Perez instructing students]
Perez and Batlle were connected through Region 4, one of the 20 state-approved organizations that recruit bilingual teachers. Most come from Mexico.
Luz Maria de Los Angeles Loyola teaches in Mexico City, but is gearing up to move to Texas later this summer.
At a Starbucks in the Mexican capital, Loyola, her husband and their three teenage girls pile out of their SUV. Loyola says she views her move to Texas as a mission.
Angeles Loyola: It's a very worthwhile challenge. I think these children deserve the opportunity to get an education. If they couldn't have it here in their own country, it is really nice that some other country's offering them the chance.
Bilingual teachers have different reasons for coming to the U.S., but they all pay a hefty price out of their own pockets. The cost of immigration procedures, remedial courses and taking the test for a Texas teaching license comes to around $8,000. Loyola also has to pay for her entire family to move.
But salaries are higher in Texas than in Mexico. Teachers start out earning around $40,000 a year — and most districts offer $5,000 stipends to bilingual teachers. That's about three or four times what they made back home.
In Austin, I'm Joy Diaz for Marketplace.
Not that it's any comparison, but even if I wanted to get a high paying job as an Events Coordinator for the Ritz Carlton in Cancun on a contractor basis, I couldn't. I'm not a Mexican Citizen.
When I lived in Guadalajara years ago, I was approached about "working under the table" for extra money teaching English. I wouldn't do it because it's not fair to the Mexican labor pool, and it's not fair to the U.S. Plus it's illegal!
From what I understand, these people also get grant money as part of their salaries. From our taxpayer pool. Money that could be used to pay U.S. Citizens to do the same job. The same thing has happened in Georgia too.
Now I understand that teaching Spanish and the Bible are two very separate curriculums. But my point is that the CUARTO crowd wants to impose all these restrictions on teaching the bible class when they really could care less about it to begin with (most of them believe that the bible is greek mythology anyway) but it's OK to go and recruit non citizens and just pay them a liberal salary to teach a foreign language when we have border issues that need to be addressed first. Sounds to me like the priorities aren't exactly in order there. You may think my argument is weak, and without any merit, but there it is and I'm sticking to it. Oh yeah, and just so we don't lose perspective on this, please see my post from September 1 on "Russian Christians in a Godless Society."
Saint Vassa of Edessa
Saint Vassa & Her Children
Daily we are met with experiences that present challenges to our Christian identities. Popular culture, the media, our occupations, our peers and even our families to some extent may present obstacles that can hinder our ability to walk in the way of righteousness. Fortunately, we have a rich Christian tradition that provides us numerous examples of hope, commitment and courage, even in the most awkward and disheartening of times. This Thursday, August 21 we commemorate Saint Vassa and her children: Theognios, Agapios, and Pistos who serve as such pious followers of Christ.
Persecution and oppression was commonplace by the pagan Roman state for such Christians in the third century. But, who would think that the pagan condemnation that fell upon this woman and her three sons would come from Vallarian, her husband? This act of wretchedness was unsurpassed, even for a pagan.
Vallarian looked upon his entire family as turncoats who betrayed not only his wishes but those of the Roman state. In turn, he turned his family into the city of Edessa's prefect, Vicarius known for his ruthless persecution throughout Mesopotamia of anyone who claimed to be a Christian. Vicarius, in an act of mercy afforded the family the opportunity to ironically choose whether they would denounce Christ and receive life or remain committed to Him and suffer the penalty of death.
The family members chose a similar fate. All remained committed to the fullness of life that is ultimately and eternally identified in Christ. The boys were first tortured and then finally put to death. Vassa, on the other hand, was imprisoned and suffered great indignities and indescribable punishments that ended in her beheading in the public square.
May the pious examples of Vassa and her children: Theognios, Agapios, and Pistos inspire us in our own commitments to Christ!
Daily we are met with experiences that present challenges to our Christian identities. Popular culture, the media, our occupations, our peers and even our families to some extent may present obstacles that can hinder our ability to walk in the way of righteousness. Fortunately, we have a rich Christian tradition that provides us numerous examples of hope, commitment and courage, even in the most awkward and disheartening of times. This Thursday, August 21 we commemorate Saint Vassa and her children: Theognios, Agapios, and Pistos who serve as such pious followers of Christ.
Persecution and oppression was commonplace by the pagan Roman state for such Christians in the third century. But, who would think that the pagan condemnation that fell upon this woman and her three sons would come from Vallarian, her husband? This act of wretchedness was unsurpassed, even for a pagan.
Vallarian looked upon his entire family as turncoats who betrayed not only his wishes but those of the Roman state. In turn, he turned his family into the city of Edessa's prefect, Vicarius known for his ruthless persecution throughout Mesopotamia of anyone who claimed to be a Christian. Vicarius, in an act of mercy afforded the family the opportunity to ironically choose whether they would denounce Christ and receive life or remain committed to Him and suffer the penalty of death.
The family members chose a similar fate. All remained committed to the fullness of life that is ultimately and eternally identified in Christ. The boys were first tortured and then finally put to death. Vassa, on the other hand, was imprisoned and suffered great indignities and indescribable punishments that ended in her beheading in the public square.
May the pious examples of Vassa and her children: Theognios, Agapios, and Pistos inspire us in our own commitments to Christ!
Are you thinking about God today?
Today is an appropriate day to think about God. It does not violate the public arena. Therefore, you can do it. Yay! You can even talk about it without fear of persecution.
But come Monday, or Tuesday after Labor Day, when you step back on the the bus or enter your workplace, you better not talk about God, ot dedicate one moment to Him. Not one.
I've decided to change my acronym from C.A.R.T.U. (Citizens Against Religious Thought Unite)
to C.U.A.R.T.O (Citizens United Against Religious Thought Organization)
They want to stamp out Creationism taught alongside the Theory of Evolution in schools. This is a way they can prevent God from being taught in the schools. So here's my idea:
They could make up T Shirts with their own C.U.A.R.T.O logo on the front with an appropriate little animal on the fron (maybe an ape?)
and on the back, it could say:
"It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid, or insane (or wicked, but I'd rather not consider that)."
-Richard Dawkins
I'll have to come up with some violations for thinking and mentioning God that C.U.A.R.T.O can implement into their by-laws but right now I have to go to church.
But come Monday, or Tuesday after Labor Day, when you step back on the the bus or enter your workplace, you better not talk about God, ot dedicate one moment to Him. Not one.
I've decided to change my acronym from C.A.R.T.U. (Citizens Against Religious Thought Unite)
to C.U.A.R.T.O (Citizens United Against Religious Thought Organization)
They want to stamp out Creationism taught alongside the Theory of Evolution in schools. This is a way they can prevent God from being taught in the schools. So here's my idea:
They could make up T Shirts with their own C.U.A.R.T.O logo on the front with an appropriate little animal on the fron (maybe an ape?)
and on the back, it could say:
"It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid, or insane (or wicked, but I'd rather not consider that)."
-Richard Dawkins
I'll have to come up with some violations for thinking and mentioning God that C.U.A.R.T.O can implement into their by-laws but right now I have to go to church.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Russian Christians within a "Godless" Society
Let's take a look at a government that had God forcefully removed from it for several decades. This has absolutely nothing to do with the Crusades. Different time period. Just so we clarify that up front. And no, the argument that the Orthodox Church was friendly with the Czars does not justify the slaughtering of priests, nuns and bishops merely for their faith. It simply does not.
From "The Twentieth Century"
1917 The first phase of the persecution of the Orthodox Church in Russia began. Much of the persecution in this period was conducted in a non-systematic manner by individual Bolshevik “war lords.” Lenin intended to destroy the Church by abolishing private property, and thus eliminating the Church's income.
Between 1917 and 1935, 130,000 Orthodox priests were arrested. Of these, 95,000 were put to death, executed by firing squad.
1921 The second phase of the persecution of the Church in Russia. The Orthodox Church was stigmatized as a subversive element loyal to the old tsarist regime, while other religions were tolerated. (Which religions? We never hear about those. I am in doubt that they were Christian based.)
1928 Third phase of the Soviet persecution of the Church. The New Economic Policy was discontinued in April, with the result that the Orthodox Church was considered a private enterprise, subject to excessive taxation. Clergy were not allowed to vote or serve in the armed forces, but were taxed for failing to do so. These taxes, in addition to the tax (up to 81%) on private enterprise, often resulted in taxation of the clergy in excess of their income.
1928 As an example of Soviet persecution of the Church, the Raifa monastery in Kazan, Tartarstan was shut down in this year. The monks were executed. The monastery itself became a labor commune.
1929 The Soviet government began a serious crackdown on religion. All forms of religious “propaganda” were forbidden. The expression of religion was restricted to the space within the church structure. Clergy with incomes in excess of 3000 rubles per year were forced to vacate nationalized urban housing. Clergy and their families were disenrolled from state insurance programs, including medical care. A five-day work week was introduced in order to prevent worship on Sunday. (Do you know how much 3000 rubles is??? In today's exchange, that's about $120. Can you imagine what it was in 1929? Probably less than the average family would have had to live on during the depression in the United States!!!)
In the period between 1927 and 1940, the number of Orthodox Churches in the Russian Republic fell from 29,584 to 200-300. Approximately 40,000 Orthodox clergy and millions of laymen were killed for their faith between 1917 and 1940.
2000 Some historians estimate that as many as 50 million Christians were put to death during the twentieth century, primarily in Communist Russia and China.
I think this should make every American stop and reexamine ourselves. Is this what we want for our country? If I was a person wanting religion banned here, these numbers would make me feel ashamed. Really!
"During the Bolshevik Revolution, millions of Russian Priests, Bishops, Nuns, Monks, and faithful were slaughtered by the Communists. Among the martyrs was Patriarch Tikhon who died for Christ in the wake of being tortured and beaten by Leninist thugs. The reemergence of the Russian Orthodox Church after having been completely eradicated under the rule of Stalin proves that Orthodoxy will triumph over any crisis. In our own day, Serbian Orthodox Christians are being slaughtered in Kosovo."
-Theodoros Georgiou Karakostas, Orthodoxytoday.org
From "The Twentieth Century"
1917 The first phase of the persecution of the Orthodox Church in Russia began. Much of the persecution in this period was conducted in a non-systematic manner by individual Bolshevik “war lords.” Lenin intended to destroy the Church by abolishing private property, and thus eliminating the Church's income.
Between 1917 and 1935, 130,000 Orthodox priests were arrested. Of these, 95,000 were put to death, executed by firing squad.
1921 The second phase of the persecution of the Church in Russia. The Orthodox Church was stigmatized as a subversive element loyal to the old tsarist regime, while other religions were tolerated. (Which religions? We never hear about those. I am in doubt that they were Christian based.)
1928 Third phase of the Soviet persecution of the Church. The New Economic Policy was discontinued in April, with the result that the Orthodox Church was considered a private enterprise, subject to excessive taxation. Clergy were not allowed to vote or serve in the armed forces, but were taxed for failing to do so. These taxes, in addition to the tax (up to 81%) on private enterprise, often resulted in taxation of the clergy in excess of their income.
1928 As an example of Soviet persecution of the Church, the Raifa monastery in Kazan, Tartarstan was shut down in this year. The monks were executed. The monastery itself became a labor commune.
1929 The Soviet government began a serious crackdown on religion. All forms of religious “propaganda” were forbidden. The expression of religion was restricted to the space within the church structure. Clergy with incomes in excess of 3000 rubles per year were forced to vacate nationalized urban housing. Clergy and their families were disenrolled from state insurance programs, including medical care. A five-day work week was introduced in order to prevent worship on Sunday. (Do you know how much 3000 rubles is??? In today's exchange, that's about $120. Can you imagine what it was in 1929? Probably less than the average family would have had to live on during the depression in the United States!!!)
In the period between 1927 and 1940, the number of Orthodox Churches in the Russian Republic fell from 29,584 to 200-300. Approximately 40,000 Orthodox clergy and millions of laymen were killed for their faith between 1917 and 1940.
2000 Some historians estimate that as many as 50 million Christians were put to death during the twentieth century, primarily in Communist Russia and China.
I think this should make every American stop and reexamine ourselves. Is this what we want for our country? If I was a person wanting religion banned here, these numbers would make me feel ashamed. Really!
"During the Bolshevik Revolution, millions of Russian Priests, Bishops, Nuns, Monks, and faithful were slaughtered by the Communists. Among the martyrs was Patriarch Tikhon who died for Christ in the wake of being tortured and beaten by Leninist thugs. The reemergence of the Russian Orthodox Church after having been completely eradicated under the rule of Stalin proves that Orthodoxy will triumph over any crisis. In our own day, Serbian Orthodox Christians are being slaughtered in Kosovo."
-Theodoros Georgiou Karakostas, Orthodoxytoday.org
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