Monday, September 23, 2013

This Week's Picks

POPE FRANCIS

His 12,000 word interview.
http://www.americamagazine.org/pope-interview

Like all your other crushes, Pope Francis will let the radicals down.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2013/09/23/pope_francis_on_abortion_ladies_he_will_let_you_down.html


SPACE AND GOD

...the final frontiers.

Voyager 1 has officially left our solar system.  This little probe (the size of a small car) has traveled where no man has traveled before.  It is the farthest human-made object from Earth in the Universe, traveling away from both the Earth and the Sun.  What an accomplishment! Now if we are able to do something like this, imagine another civilization that is merely 10,000,000 years ahead of us?  Unfortunately, I have a feeling that we will only be left with our imagination. 
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/09/12/voyager-1-has-left-solar-system-nasa-says/ 

PRO-LIFE AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD

More and more abortion clinics are closing down.  This year alone, it was reported that over 50 abortion clinics shut their doors for good.  Thank God and all the people who work tirelessly to bring this horror and scandal to a close.
http://www.catholicvote.org/abortion-clinics-are-closing-at-a-record-pace/

ANSWERED PRAYERS

Miracle Girl and Mystery Priest Meet Up
"Many wondered if the mystery priest was real or an angel?  It turns out he was both." 
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/20/mystery-priest-to-reunite-with-miracle-car-crash-surviver-katie-lentz/

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/guardian-angel-revealed-crash-survivor-meets-mystery-priest-19944826

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND FREEDOM FROM GOVER
NMENT INTERFERENCE (RFFG).


Turns out a little girl cannot write about her true "idol":  Jesus Christ.  So much for freedom of speech.
http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/school-tells-child-she-cant-write-about-god.html

CONVERSION STORIES

Peter Hitchens was once an atheist like his late brother Christopher Hitchens, but he became a member of the Church of England.  In his book, The Rage Against God, Hitchens's describes his personal journey from the militant atheism to Christianity, detailing the influences on him that led to his conversion. The book is partly intended as a response to God Is Not Great, a book written by his brother Christopher Hitchens in 2007.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

This Week's Picks

ALL ABOUT POPE FRANCIS

In another surprise phone call, the Holy Father called a young woman who wrote him a letter explaining to him her situation.  Read this heart-warming story about mercy, compassion, forgiveness and love.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/world/europe/the-popes-on-the-line-and-everyones-talking.html?_r=0

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/pope-francis-the-cold-call-pope-reaches-out-and-touches-a-lot-of-people/2013/09/06/2f3c3db4-1724-11e3-961c-f22d3aaf19ab_story.html       

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2013/09/06/single-mother-says-her-heart-is-filled-with-joy-after-call-from-pope-francis/

As the winds of war begin blowing again, the Holy Father is doing his best to clam them down.  He recently invited all Catholics, religious people and people of good will to pray for peace in Syria.  The Vatican is once again, calling for calmer heads and taking the lead in calling for diplomacy.
http://www.religionnews.com/2013/09/05/pope-francis-peace-appeal-for-syria-marks-vaticans-return-to-global-stage/

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_VATICAN_SYRIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-09-07-14-35-48

PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS

Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Egypt.
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2013/09/06/Morsi-backers-terrorize-christians-in-egyptian-town

CHURCH OF THE POOR

A priest from Rome gave the Pope his 20-year-old car with almost 200,000 miles on it.  The Pope accepted it and took off with it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24036965

Pope Francis called on all nuns and religious to convert empty European monasteries into refugee centers, not hotels.  Now if we would only convert all weapons into plowshares.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/pope-francis-visits-refugees-at-jesuit-center-in-central-rome/2013/09/10/12be0c76-1a3a-11e3-80ac-96205cacb45a_story.html

CONVERSION STORY

A young man who converted to Catholicism through music and the writings of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/features/2013/08/15/my-songs-are-a-humbly-offered-gift-to-catholics/

What leads someone to change their religion?  Great question.  Take a look at someone's answer.
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2013/09/11/what-is-it-that-leads-people-to-change-their-religion/

 




Tuesday, September 3, 2013

First Week In September 2013: This Weeks Picks

KIDS AND TECHNOLOGY

Should children have smartphones?  The question really is:  Why do they want them?  Be careful moms and dads.  If you give your child (in elementary or in middle school) a smartphone, then you are also giving them the drama that goes along with it:  broken hearts; inappropriate texts; flirts from the opposite or SAME SEX; midnight messaging; broken home dramas; a ton of horrible ideas, etc... 

The experts in this article apparently didn't think of all these things.
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/08/16/children-and-smartphones-what-right-age/

ATHEISTS AT IT AGAIN.

American Atheists Inc. are calling a cross at a 9-11 memorial "grossly offensive."  Apparently, they are not so much against God as they are against Christians; that is, Cross, Christmas and Churches. 
http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/atheists-call-9-11-memorial-cross-grossly-offensive.html

Sabrina Sunshine, from Virginia Commonwealth University, wrote the following in the comments section:  "So you're cool with me putting upside down crosses and "Hail Satan" all over your public buildings? Sweet!"  I don't know who she was writing to, but I would say, "Of course!"  Let the world see what (who) Americans believe in:  the good, the bad and the ugly.  Let all the world see what (who) people worship:  the good, the bad and the ugly.  Let them put their own names on their upside down crosses as well.  We  have nothing to fear.  If anything, it helps our cause!  It shows who we are and who they are.

RELIGION AND HOLLYWOOD

Not too long ago, I saw a list of the names of Hollywood stars who call themselves atheists.  Recently, I saw a list of twenty stars who left Scientology.  http://www.hollyscoop.com/galleries/20-stars-who-left-scientology/2033561

Looks like stars leave religion and swap religions as often as they leave and swap spouses.  Oh well.  That's Hollywood.

GOD AND NOTRE DAME

Do you remember him?  That's Jon Bon Jovi.  His son, Jesse Bongiovi, will be playing football this season at the University of Notre Dame.  He must have taught his son well...and maybe some of his childhood faith as well.



Best of luck to you Jesse...and may the Irish be ever in your favor.




http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/bon-jovi-kid-plans-walk-notre-dame-article-1.1326126





Monday, August 26, 2013

This Week's Picks

POPE FRANCIS WATCH

Be careful.  If you write the Pope a letter, you might just get a phone call from him.  That's what happened to one Italian teen.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10259581/Hello-its-Pope-Francis-Italian-teenager-gets-surprise-phone-call.html

And to a rape victim from Argentina.  Just another example of how someone, including God, can be so far away yet close at the same time.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10269017/Pope-calls-Argentinian-rape-victim-with-words-of-comfort.html

The Pope is heartbroken and sickened by the atrocities occurring in Syria.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/25/pope-francis-syria-_n_3812684.html

THE ASSAULT ON RELIGION

We are not in favor of excluding any religious denomination.  We are in favor of never excluding any religious denomination that inspired young men to serve their country.  Join the fight to save the cross.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/aug/22/gop-lawmakers-join-fight-to-save-cross-at-californ/

MUSIC AND CHRISTIANITY

Some songs just have it.  This one has it.  It just lifted up my day to the Lord.  Enjoy!!!
http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2013/07/23/jamie-grace-beautiful-day/

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

The Rise Of The Ignorant Man
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2630605168001/

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

This Weeks Picks

HITCHING A RIDE WITH POPE FRANCIS

The Holy Father is fast becoming a man who feels perfectly comfortable with humanity. 

A beautiful video of a young boy with Down Syndrome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14RKmEJAiDw

A boy who told the Pope he wanted to be a priest.  This is a very emotional video.  Absolutely beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLiiKKOIF_U

Another with a disabled child.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hXWwB-iZ0o

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

This Weeks Picks

THE POPE

Three million Catholics attend World Youth Day Mass! 

Here's a beautiful video from Catholic News Service
http://www.catholicvote.org/swim-against-the-current/

The BBC calls it a "sea of people..."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23483478  (watch the video.  Just spectacular the view)

NPR has an amazing shot of it.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/07/28/206316615/millions-gather-on-rio-beach-to-hear-pope-deliver-sunday-mass

MSN has a photo of the Pope with a halo!
http://news.msn.com/world/pope-wraps-historic-brazil-trip-with-massive-copacabana-mass?ocid=ansnews11

New York Times..."More than a million" 
Really???  More than a million???  Try "More than THREE MILLION!!!"
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/30/world/europe/pope-francis-gay-priests.html?_r=0

"WHO AM I TO JUDGE?"

On his return flight, the Pope answered reporters questions for approximately an-hour-and-a-half.
They were all surprised at how relaxed the Pope was, often smiling and laughing.  He didn't dodge a single question (to their surprise...they're so used to politicians), and he was brutally honest with regards to women priests (no!) but a need for women in higher positions; gay priests (forgive and forget..."Who am I to judge?"), and the Vatican Bank ("I don't know what to do").

His words showed love and compassion, but they did not change a single dot or letter of Catholic teaching.  Some "Catholicphobes" still call the Pope a "homophobe."  They can't seem to love someone unless they agree with them on everything.  How sad.  How very sad.  Imagine if I said to someone, "I will love you only if you agree with me"

On homosexuality
http://news.msn.com/world/pope-opens-up-on-gay-priests-says-no-to-women?ocid=ansnews11

On Women in the Church
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/07/30/pope-francis-is-right-its-time-for-a-theology-of-women/

ANGRY ATHIESTS

It seems like they always have to start a fight with a believer.  The Freedom From Religion Foundation, the notoriously anti-Catholic and bigoted atheist organization, is picking on the Jews this time.  But the Jews are not going to give in and it seems as though the FFRF is starting to get scared. 
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2571127928001/atheist-activists-fight-against-holocaust-memorial/?playlist_id=2114913880001

Stay tuned for more...