Epiphany and Letting Its Message Inform Us This Coming Year

May God and His angels watch over us all this coming year. May we walk in obedience to Christ in Faith.

“It’s a highway to heaven! None can walk up there but the pure in heart. I am walking up the King’s Highway. If you’re not walking start while I’m talking. There’ll be a blessing you’ll be possessing, walking up the King’s Highway. “

Traditional Epiphany is January 6, but we celebrate this Sunday, tomorrow.

It centers on the visiting of the Magi to the baby Jesus. Epiphany is from the Greek from Koine Greek (ἡ) ἐπιφάνεια, epiphaneia "appearance", "manifestation", and this is when God manifests as human. So amazing that God enters his own creation. We know the story of them, their travels, meeting with Herod. We don’t know how many of them there were.

When they find baby Jesus, they prostrate themselves. At the time such a thing was a religious exercise, and I can’t help but notice they had to know that this was God incarnate or they wouldn’t have done such a thing. The three gifts they brought carry such a profound message.

Gold represents our possessions. They give this, a symbol of our own laying of our possessions with God. Frankincense is the symbol of prayer and worship, and we should do this at all times; keep His name on our lips. Myrrh was a burial ointment. Jesus will die for us later in this story, and so we must let ourselves die to Him, and have His spirit dwell fully in us, and inform us in all we say and do.

By giving our possessions into His keeping and trusting Him, by praising Him and worshiping Him constantly (I repeat the ‘Jesus Prayer’ as often as I’m mindful), and surrendering ourselves to Him completely, then we will live better lives, others will live better lives as a result of that, and then we’re on the highway to heaven, and maybe, through discipleship, bring some people along. 

We'll All Be Chicks

I bought my brother Adam Corolla’s In Fifty Years We'll All Be Chicks for Christmas. Hilarious stuff, and probably true.

Take the case of the NFL, the No Fun League. Growing up we played football in rain and mud, and if it weren’t the Southwest desert I lived in, would have played in sleet and snow. We grew up watching college and pro-football played in the worst conditions possible. Freezing sleet and snow, a gazillion degrees below zero, foot deep mud, and that was the game; play no matter what. Then came indoor football on fake turf. We all bemoaned that.

This past Sunday I turned on the game at 5 PM, and it was canceled due to snow. WTF!?!?!? A football game? It was expected to snow a whole 11 inches! Oh well then, lets all go home and get in our snuggles! The Minnesota Vikings can’t play in a snow storm any more? I appreciate the skill and the pain those great big guys womping on each other experience, but really, what a bunch of wimps. (I’ve done a lot of major dangerous manly stuff so I have the pedigree to call ‘em wimps, I don’t care how big their muscles are.)

Speaking of which, in addition to being ‘fraidy cats, do they know when they make all those booty shakin’ moves after a touchdown how gay they look? Just shut up gay people, you know what I mean.  

Fans in Green Bay sit in what? Screamin’ ice storms! Horizontal snow! So freakin' cold the thermometers shiver. The fans are tougher than the woosies taking to the field; and they can’t run around and keep the blood flowing.  Bud Grant, who used to coach the Vikings when the NFL had real men, didn’t let his players use hand warmers no matter how cold.  

I guess now snuggles should be part of the equipment issue. Good grief.

Hat tip for my tirade. Will Bunch article here. 

Believing in Impossible Things

From an article by Roger Hedgecock:

"There is no use trying," said Alice, "one can't believe in impossible things."

"I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the queen. "Why, sometimes I've believed six impossible things before breakfast."   – "Alice in Wonderland"

To believe in Obama's America, it's good to be a queen. You must be prepared to believe impossible things.

You must believe that Obama's indefinite detention of terrorists at Gitmo is different than Bush's indefinite detention of terrorists at Gitmo.

You must believe that Obama is committed to border security even though he sued Arizona when that state wanted to actually enforce the federal laws on immigration.

You must believe that openly homosexual U.S. soldiers will win the war with radical Islam when Islamic Shariah law punishes open homosexuality with death.

You must believe that "tolerance" demands your approval of a triumphal mosque at Ground Zero, but respect for "diversity" requires you to understand why Muslims were so offended by a Christian church near Baghdad they killed 68 parishioners attending mass.

You must believe that you are safer on an airplane flight from radical Muslim terrorists if the TSA can take your nude X-ray picture and/or grope your genitalia.

You must believe that FCC restrictions on the Internet will enhance free speech.

You must believe that Sarah Palin is a nutcase for talking about "death panels" in Obamacare when everyone at the New York Times knows that no such thing exists. You must also believe the New York Times article last week describing limitations on "end of life care" in Obamacare and not see the contradiction.

You must believe that the antidote to an economic recession caused by too much debt – is more debt.

You must believe that America gets stronger by borrowing from the Chinese.

You must believe that leaking 250,000 secret papers from the U.S. Departments of Defense and State promotes transparency and accountability, but that revealing Obama's birth records, college transcripts and college financial aid sources would not.

"I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day" Casting Crowns

Wishing all a holy happy joyous Christmas sharing love with all friends and family. It starts there and may that love spread to all, and there be peace on earth.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel {Robert Shaw}

Oh my!

God is a Republican and Santa Claus is a Democrat

I have only one firm belief about the American political system, and that is this: God is a Republican and Santa Claus is a Democrat.

God is an elderly or, at any rate, middle aged male, a stern fellow, patriarchal rather than paternal and a great believer in rules and regulations. He holds men accountable for their actions. He has little apparent concern for the material well being of the disadvantaged. He is politically connected, socially powerful and holds the mortgage on literally everything in the world. God is difficult. God is unsentimental. It is very hard to get into God's heavenly country club.

Santa Claus is another matter. He's cute. He's nonthreatening. He's always cheerful. And he loves animals. He may know who's been naughty and who's been nice, but he never does anything about it. He gives everyone everything they want without the thought of quid pro quo. He works hard for charities, and he's famously generous to the poor. Santa Claus is preferable to God in every way but one: There is no such thing as Santa Claus

Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U. S. Government | 1991 | P. J. O'Rourke

Ronald Reagan Christmas Address (12/23/81)

The Christmas Pageant

THE CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

My husband and I had been happily married (most of the time)
for five years
but hadn't been blessed with a baby.

I decided to do some serious
praying and promised God
that if he would give us a   child,
I would be a perfect mother,
love it with  all my heart
and raise it with His word
as my guide.

God answered my prayers
and blessed us with a son.
The next year God blessed us 
with another son.

The following year,
He blessed us with
 yet another son.

The year after that we
were blessed with a daughter.

My husband thought we'd
been blessed right into poverty.
We now had four children,
and the oldest was onlyfour years old.

I learned never to ask God
for anything unless I meant it
As a minister once told me,
"If you pray for rain,
make sure you carry an umbrella."

I began reading a few verses
of the Bible to the children
 each day as they lay in their cribs..

I was off to a good start.
God had entrusted me
with four children and
I didn't want to disappoint Him.

I tried to be patient the day
the children smashed
two dozen eggs on
the kitchen floor searching
for baby chicks.

I tried to be understanding...

when they started a hotel for
homeless frogs in the spare bedroom, although it took me nearly two hours
to catch all twenty-three frogs.

When my daughter poured
ketchup all over herself and
rolled up in a blanket to see
how it felt to be a hot dog,
I tried to see the humor
rather than the mess..

In spite of changing over
twenty-five thousand diapers,
never eating a hot meal
and never sleeping for more
than thirty minutes at a time,
I still thank God daily for my children.

While I couldn't keep my promise
to be a perfect mother -
I didn't even come close...
I did keep my promise
to raise them in the Word of God.

I knew I was missing the mark
just a little when I told
my daughter we were going
to church to worship God,
and she wanted to bring
a bar of soap along to
"wash up" Jesus, too.

Something was lost
in the translation when
I explained that
God gave us everlasting life,
and my son thought it was
generous of God to give
us his "last wife."

My proudest moment came
during the children's
Christmas pageant.

My daughter was playing Mary,
two of my sons were shepherds
and my youngest son was a wise man.
This was their moment to shine.

My five-year-old shepherd
had practiced his line,
"We found the babe wrapped
in swaddling clothes."

But he was nervous and said,
"The baby was wrapped
in wrinkled clothes."

My four-year-old "Mary" said,
"That's not 'wrinkled clothes,' silly.

That's dirty, rotten clothes."
A wrestling match broke out
between Mary and the shepherd
and was stopped by an angel,
who bent her halo and lost
her left wing. 
I slouched a little lower
in my seat when Mary
dropped the doll representing
Baby Jesus, and it bounced
down the aisle crying,
"Mama-mama."
Mary grabbed the doll,
wrapped it back up
and held it tightly as
the wise men arrived.
My other son stepped forward
wearing a bathrobe 
and a paper crown,
knelt at the manger 
and announced,
"We are the three wise men,
and we are bringing gifts
of gold, 
common sense
  and fur."

The congregation
dissolved into laughter,
and the pageant
got a standing ovation. 
"I've never enjoyed a Christmas 
program as much as this one,"
laughed the pastor, 
wiping tears from his eyes
"For the rest of my life,
I'll never hear the
Christmas story without
thinking of
gold,
common sense
and fur."

"My children are my pride
and my joy and my greatest
blessing," I said as I dug
through my purse for an aspirin.

Jesus had no servants,
yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree,
yet they called Him Teacher .
Had no medicines,
yet they called Him Healer.

Had no army,
yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles,
yet He conquered the world.
He committed no crime,
yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb,
yet He lives today.

Feel honored
to serve such a Leader who loves us.

Christmas Now and Then

This has entered the NPR annual Christmas rotation, beginning in in 2007.


The Secularist bigots at National People's Radio join in the bashing of Christmas and Believers in the Baby Jesus. Of course they are open minded and tolerate people.

The true meaning of Christmas

You Better Not Be Spreadin' Any of That Christmas Cheer

Secularists and Statists working to make everyone as miserable as they are. They impoverish financially by reducing income through fees and taxation, and impoverish joy and happiness with stunts like this.

 “The candy canes could be used as weapons by sucking on them and making them have sharp points,” says administrator.

 Administrator to parent “…not everyone wants Christmas cheer. That suicide rates are up over Christmas, and that they should keep their cheer to themselves, perhaps.”

This cost the kids detention and they had to pick up the candy canes some of the students dropped.

The Digital Story of the Nativity

Mary, Mother of Jesus

A great showing of Mary from a theological perspective. (A little over 10 min, but well worth it.)

Has Church Become Effeminate?

From an article by Doug Giles. Full article here.

Have you ever asked yourself, “Self, why do some churches look more like the bra and panty aisle at Wal-Mart rather than a battalion of men poised to plunder the powers of darkness?”  

Certainly, the lack of men in church is not difficult to see.  Just go to church on any given Sunday and count the number of ladies in the pews versus the number of men.  The result?  Well, you’re suddenly slapped in the face with the cheap whiskey-like reality that men are avoiding church like Pelosi avoids reason.

 So why do most men avoid church? 

Here’s the veneer stripped-away answer: going to church for the majority of men is lame and sports about the same appeal as being asked to go rollerblading with Adam Lambert.  Yep, church, for most men, has not only become irrelevant—it has also become effeminate.  Hanging out in church for most extra-Y chromosomes seems unmanly and most men more than anything wannabe a cowboy. 

The current lack of strong men within the Church, both in the numeric and leadership sense, has crippled our churches and has helped devastate our nation.  

 Some suggestions to bring men back into the church:

Put an end to the Nicer-Than-Christ pastors.

Ditto regarding the worship/music leader.

Lose the Church’s “I’m in therapy for ever” feel.

Bed Intruder

Original story


The rap (most viewed vid 2010)

Merry Christmas from Achmed the Dead Terrorist

Tribute to Captain Beefheart

Captain Beefheart was of the Frank Zappa school of avant garde of rock (if there is such a thing). He recorded from the late 1960's to early 1980's. His name was Don Van Vliet, and he definitely marched to his own drummer. Dead at 69.



RIP

Cool Marching Band

I was in marching band, and did floating formation halftime shows, but nothing this cool. 

Social Networking Internationally

Using site stat company Alexa and Google Trends for Websites traffic data, Vincenzo Cosenza put this map together showing the most popular social networking sites by country.


Looks like Myspace fell off the map. 


Hat tip to The High Definite

Gateway

The Anti-Christmas Federal Reserve

We do know that our current government, run by secularist Democrats and a President that, at best, detests Christianity, will do pretty much anything to put the kibosh on all thing Christian, including Christmas.

Ugly National Christmas Tree

In addition to what may be the ugliest Christmas tree ever, the National Christmas Tree, Obama’s recent takeover of much of the banking system lent itself to trying to remove any Christmas symbols from a bank.

The bank is the Payne County Bank, Perkins, Oklahoma, and the Federal Reserve abused its power by telling the bank it couldn’t use any religious symbols in the bank. Using a clause of Regulation B of the bank regulations: "...the use of words, symbols, models and other forms of communication ... express, imply or suggest a discriminatory preference or policy of exclusion," was its justification for its act of intolerant bigotry.

The people, who are supposed to be the government last I looked, didn’t find any problem with the Christmas symbols in the bank.  The self important knuckleheads from the Federal Reserve come around to banks every four years to inspect and had told the bank it must remove their Christmas decorations.  

No bank employee had a problem with it, no customer had a problem with it, and no town citizen had a problem with it.

Who did have a problem with it were anti-Christian bigots that represent the secularist Washington DC elites, not the people.  When the Democrats and Obama took over most of the banking system, controlling the financial structure of the country wasn’t the only thing on the agenda. Part of it is controlling the culture and making people submit to the State.

Fortunately, the people were able to overrule the Federal Reserve anti-Christmas thugs, and the bank was able to keep their Christmas decorations. 

Fearsome Alliance~Russia, Hugo Chavez, Missiles, and Weak US President

In an earlier post about Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez, his crush and worship of Simon Bolivar and his steady take over of the government, a commenter denied Chavez was a dictator because they still had elections and a constitution etc. Well, that’s true enough, but so did the Soviet Union and so does Communist China.

Venezuela’s parliament, like our congress, is in lame duck session. The opposition party there, like the opposition party here, made huge gains. What Chavez’s socialist party has done is an pass an “Enabling Law” which gives Chavez powers of decree to take over anything he wants. Bet our own socialist party and president are just drooling over this maneuver.

Chavez had asked for a year of dictatorial powers and the lame duck parliament gave him eighteen months. There was a flood that displaced about 140,000 people, and Chavez used this as an excuse to ask for new powers of decree. The legislation also gives Chavez more decree power over the banking system. Obama has pretty much accomplished that here, but I’m sure he’d like to have a little more Chavez-like decree power.

Part of the increased dictatorial powers given to Chavez is national security, and nothing a dictator loves more (with power itself) is a compliant military. In 2009 Russia tried to sell missiles to Chavez, and the US tried to block it, unsuccessfully; Venezuela has bought about 1800 missiles from Russia. Now, with a weak and cowardly US president, Russia has loaned $4 billion to Venezuela to buy more missiles, ones that could reach the US. Chavez says he needs them to protect Venezuela from US aggression. Obama has done nothing.

We do know that our Chavez sympathizing US president will not enforce the Monroe Doctrine like JFK did. Because of that, we will soon have a South American dictator with new military powers and Russian missiles than can reach the US.

Beauty

~ “LETTERS FROM EUROPE” - by Rob (Wind Rose Hotel) ~

Fra Angelico, Nativity, Convento di San Marco, Florence

It’s really true that, as Pablo Picasso once said, with age, art and life become one and the same. I mean, as you grow older you learn to understand life a little better, but since art and life are inseparable, then if you understand one you understand the other, and therefore you become aware of how much of your life is … art! Ars vivendi, of course, and not only this, but also art per se, that is an endless search for beauty.

But what is beauty? Well, it’s not an easy question to answer, so let’s start more modestly with the meaning of the word itself. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term beauty indicates “the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit.” But, apart from the effects of beauty (“gives pleasure,” etc.), what is beauty in itself? This is clearly a philosophical question, and a very wide one, indeed. A bit too wide for a blog post! So, let’s just simplify and say that Greek philosophers Plato and Socrates were the first at attempting to define beauty. They thought of objects or nature as being inherently beautiful: beauty is inside us and all around us. In their attempt to define characteristics of a beautiful thing they focused on “simplicity” and “symmetry.” Their concrete and simple concept of beauty was enlarged by Plotinus, according to which beauty cannot be described as just symmetry, but rather as a quality that “irradiates” and moves us. Let’s also say that, in general, according to the traditional Western thought, beauty is a supreme value and a constitutive element of the cosmos, associated with order, harmony, truth, goodness, love, being, and the divine. Modern philosophy, in turn, shifted the study of beauty from ontology to the sphere of human faculties. Hence the “emancipation” of art from traditional religious and social bonds, namely from the constraints and the burden of demonstrating a moral truth or of bearing a moral message, as it was used in the Middle Ages, until just before the Renaissance. And finally the arts themselves were separated from the traditional concept of beauty (but in the Twentieth Century metaphysical discussions of beauty were revived by German philosophers Martin Heidegger and Hans-Georg Gadamer).

Yet, with all due respect for philosophy (and Aesthetics, which is the branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty), for us believers one thing is certain: there is no real beauty but that which God has bestowed around us and upon our lives. As it is written, “He hath made everything beautiful in its time” (Eccles. 3:11). That’s why beauty draws us back to the Creator, who is the very source and essence of beauty, back to the deep core of things. This beauty emanates from the self-giving love of God, love that pours out of the heart of God into ordinary, everyday people and relationships and circumstances.

Unfortunately, in our time beauty has become reduced, both at the popular level and among elites, to being fit or young or rich and glamorous—not to mention other and far worse perversions and aberrations. Thus, beauty leads to lifestyles that are, in the best cases, vain, self-centered, wasteful, and personally destructive in the worst. Thus, art has sometimes become synonymous with corruption and artist with “decadent”—morbidity is a characteristic of the so-called Decadent movement... That’s not the kind of art I was talking about at the beginning of this post. So, what is art for me? Well, art is for me one of the most straightforward and effective ways of worshipping God, showing our gratitude for His gifts, and at the same time of experiencing His presence.

That’s why I have a predilection for the kind of art of which the following video is a precious example. This is also my way of reminding you that the Fourth Sunday of Advent is quickly approaching…

The Catholic Church~An Observation

Excerpts of an article written by non-Catholic Sam Miller - a prominent  Cleveland  Jewish businessman:

"Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church?

Do you know - the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion  dollars. The graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%.

The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the  U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students..

The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just Catholics - in the  United States today.

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.

Let me give you some figures that Catholics should know and remember.  For  example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the  United  Methodist  Church , 41.8% of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior;  17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed.

Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of  pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic Problem.

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the  choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.

The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds.  The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of  the Church.  You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.

Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher.  Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the  United States .

Then remember what Jeremiah said:  'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls'.   Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions.

Full Blog here.

SSgt Sal Giunta Receiving the Medal of Honor~An Observation

A hero, a man, a warrior. SSgt Sal Giunta receiving the Medal of Honor

Obama, no hero, no man, no warrior.

Spoken by Michael Berry

Grains of Liberty

One of the ancient and less known Greek philosophers, Eubulides, made an observation about a heap of sand. If one took away a single grain from the heap, it would still be a heap. Take away two grains, and you’ve still got a heap. The question becomes how many grains of sand have to be removed from the heap before it's no longer a heap of sand?

How many grains of liberty have to be taken away before we have no liberty?

Energy, the life blood of our liberty. The grains being taken away? No oil refining plants built in decades. One grain. No nuclear energy allowed. Two grains. No offshore drilling. Three grains. No new oil wells allowed. Four grains. Those and all the unemployed energy workers equal how many grains? No processing of shale for oil is a grain. No Alaska north shore drilling is a grain.

ObamaCare and all the limitations on choice are how many grains of liberty taken away? The legislation requires a citizen to purchase health insurance whether he/she wants it or not, under penalty of imprisonment, fine, or both. One grain. One can go through this legislation that was passed a year ago, around midnight on Christmas Eve by one political party, and find lots of grains of liberty being taken away.  

Sales tax, property tax, income tax, usage taxes and fees totaled together removes about half of each citizen's income and redistributes it to the government. How many grains of liberty do we loose? How much more liberty could you have if your income were say, 35% more, allowing the government a much smaller portion of the grains that give you economic liberty? How many grains of liberty are lost when those tax dollars are given to multi-$trillion companies, their CEO’s and boards, that take that money, turn it around and finance the political campaigns of the politicians that gave them that money?

How many grains of liberty are lost when citizens give up our forth amendment rights against unlawful search and seizure when we want to fly?

How many grains of liberty are lost when children come out of the government education monopoly not knowing about mathematics, literature, history, the Constitution, or how to be a free thinker?

How many grains of liberty are lost when the government tells us what we can eat? The glaring example of this is San Francisco passing legislation telling businesses that stock vending machines what they can put in them, that McDonald’s happy meals are made illegal, or the city council of New York City telling chefs how much salt they can use in their dishes.

How many grains of liberty are lost when an enemy foreign country, China, controls our two and a half $trillion debt, and another enemy bent on our destruction, Russia, comes ever so close to dictating our military strategy and missile defense in Europe? How many grains of liberty are lost when Islamofacist countries build up giant military forces and are close to having nuclear weapons, and nothing is done?

How many grains of liberty are taken away when majority of citizens say to the elites, enough is enough, quit taking so much of our money, stop making so many laws that we can hardly breathe a breath of freedom; and for saying that, vilified and called Nazis, fascists, racists, homophobes and bigots, violent when there is not violence, haters when there is no hate, instead of being listened to.

How many grains are taken away when the right to freedom of religion in the Constitution becomes the tool for the repression of religion; primarily Christianity while giving a pass to Islamofacism?

How many grains of liberty are lost when politicians are voted out of office in protest of their taking away so many of our liberties and so much of our money, and use the last weeks of their power to continue trying to pass legislation that they were thrown out of office for trying to pass in the first place?

How many grains of liberty are lost when states on the border pass legislation to protect themselves because the federal government won't, and the citizens are getting raped, robbed and murdered, and the federal government sues the states for trying to protect themselves? 

At what point does the heap of liberty cease to be a heap? 

ITALIAN CHRISTMAS TIME

Don't Ask Don't Tell~A Religious Observation

What happens when religious people work for the State, in either a professional capacity or as a layman? The paycheck and rules come from the State, so how does one determine how to render unto Caesar?

There’s a component of the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT) that hasn’t been addressed by the Jurassic Press or entered the public discourse. What is a Chaplin, who is commissioned to address the needs of everyone in the military, no matter what faith tradition or of no faith at all, to do?

The DADT commission’s report regarding the consequences or removing DADT noted:

 "Existing regulations state that chaplains 'will not be required to perform a religious role ... in worship services, command ceremonies, or other events, if doing so would be in variance with the tenets or practices of their faith.' At the same time, regulations state that 'Chaplains care for all Service members, including those who claim no religious faith, facilitate the religious requirements of personnel of all faiths, provide faith-specific ministries, and advise the command.'"

Chaplains are endorsed by their denominations, and about 70% of those denominations are opposed to DADT being repealed. If DADT is repealed, will the Chaplains be removed from military service? None of the denominations surveyed indicated they would, and that does create some religion and State conflict. From the report: "A significant portion of the respondents did suggest that a change in policies resulting in chaplains' free exercise of religion or free speech rights being curtailed would lead them to withdraw their endorsement."

Chaplains are not required to do things that would violate their ordination vows, yet at the same time Christians are commissioned to minister to everyone. If a Chaplain refuses to minister to homosexuals, will it be career ending, will he loose his commission?

From the report:

"In the course of our review, we heard some chaplains condemn in the strongest possible terms homosexuality as a sin and an abomination, and inform us that they would refuse to in any way support, comfort, or assist someone they knew to be homosexual. In equally strong terms, other chaplains, including those who also believe homosexuality is a sin, informed us that 'we are all sinners,' and that it is a chaplain's duty to care for all Service members."

I would like to think Christian Chaplains would adhere to Scripture and minister to all; they minister with Christ’s voice, not their own, and Christ ministered to all.

A Dulcimer Merry Christmas

Jesu Joy of Man's Desire

O Come O Come Emanuel 

Storm

Pics taken by amateur photographer Sean Harvey near Glasgow, Montana.

Ron Paul on WikiLeaks and Governmental Lying

Questions to consider:

1. Do the America People deserve know the truth regarding the ongoing wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen?
2. Could a larger question be how can an army private access so much secret information?
3. Why is the hostility mostly directed at Assange, the publisher, and not at our governments failure to protect classified information?
4. Are we getting our moneys worth of the 80 Billion dollars per year spent on intelligence gathering?
5. Which has resulted in the greatest number of deaths: lying us into war or Wikileaks revelations or the release of the Pentagon Papers?
6. If Assange can be convicted of a crime for publishing information that he did not steal, what does this say about the future of the first amendment and the independence of the internet?
7. Could it be that the real reason for the near universal attacks on Wikileaks is more about secretly maintaining a seriously flawed foreign policy of empire than it is about national security?
8. Is there not a huge difference between releasing secret information to help the enemy in a time of declared war, which is treason, and the releasing of information to expose our government lies that promote secret wars, death and corruption?
9. Was it not once considered patriotic to stand up to our government when it is wrong?