Happy to see that the proposed law amendment in Texas opposing gay
foster parenting is not going to go forward. This law would have even
removed children from their existing homes! http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-foster23apr23,1,4102476.story?coll=la-headlines-politics
The hypocrisy is astounding. The hatred the anti gay religious zealots
spew toward gay makes me shudder. What is this 2005? I find I have to
check the calender and wonder if I'm not back in 1980 all over again. Have
we not moved forward at all on this? I know many gay, loving parents of
small children (that were once married in heterosexual relationships) both
men and women and honestly, I would leave my children with them any time
and have and do.
Listen there are bad parents who happened to gay and there are certainly bad
parents who are HETEROsexual! There are priests that are immoral
and priests that can move me to tears with their virtue and spirituality.
Wake up! Labels in 2005?
But we must protect the "American Family" ideal?! That's another favorite. What
is THAT?! PUHLEEZE! We all know the dysfunction that exists in this country.
The skyrocketing rate of spousal battery and chemical dependency, infidelity, incest
and crimes against children. But what that's okay as long as its a man and a woman
married in a church?!
What about the suburbia lifestyle of Mom and Dad dropping kids off at
a daycare 8 to 5 so they can have a lake home 2.5 vehicles and ritsy lifestyle?
What is the divorce rate doing to the "American Family?"
Many gay couples could run circles around the seperation rate of heterosexuals.
They love to quote their bible verse of man lieing with a man
So I ask are they sin free? Judge lest ye be judged.
The problem is they have never loved a gay person or even known a gay person.
Problem is they don't see that they are beautiful souls made by God just like them.
They are someones Sister. Daughter. Grandson. Brother. Uncle. Friend.
Same with racism, those who are racist have never loved or known a person of different color
or background. I'm so grateful I am not ignorant. I'm so grateful for the blessing and grace
of knowing a black woman amidst a city of mainly 95% caucasians. But guess what, she's not
my "black"friend, she's my friend.
I'm so blessed to know the gays that I have come to know.
They love to quote the so called "wild lifestyle" that children of homosexuals SUPPOSEDLY
have but why don't they also quote the rate of Pedophilia in white male heterosexuals?
The lowest rate of pedophilia is a gay woman followed by a gay man. Honestly!
Look it up! If Jesus were here again, I guarantee you he'd be hanging out with
those who have AIDS and being treated like lepers still in this country. He'd be
having dinner with loving gay couples that go to church services just like these so
called "God experts."
Love one another like I have loved you.
Love your neighbor.
Those who are without sin may cast the first stone.
Ring any bells? Honestly,
Christianity is bankrupt in this country.
It's all about Love. Love, Love and more
Love!
Why does it have to be so difficult for them to understand?
Sad to say all I see from the growing religious-ism and fundamentalists
is divisiveness and hate.
But happy it was defeated.
And happy to know that there is a growing spiritual movement in this country promoting
Unity and Peace and Oneness. Non denomination Interfaithness. And where there is
that Unity there will be God. That's the other side of the chasm folks. Watch it grow.
Be on the winning side of Love. For whereever two shall gather in my name- so to will I be.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Friday, April 22, 2005
More on St.Malachy prophecy
April 8, 2005 (written prior to election of new pope)1:00 a.m. Eastern
Hal Lindsey of WorldNewDaily
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
The death of Pope John Paul II has brought about the most extraordinary outpouring of emotion for a world leader in history. National leaders from almost every nation, religious leaders from all faiths, young people as well as old people, people from every part of the earth – all express some kind of emotional feeling about the passing of this great church leader. Most of the world praise him as one of the greatest forces for peace in history.
Modern communication technology has helped make the pope's death an unparalleled event. The entire world has literally come together to praise this one man. I find that many sense that there will be some important and climactic consequences to follow the death of this pope.
As I studied the many Bible prophecies of the Last Days, I found a most unusual extra-biblical prophecy made by an Irish Catholic bishop in the 12th century. His name is St. Malachy. According to his biographer, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, in his book "Life of Saint Malachy," St. Malachy was known to have the gift of prophecy and even predicted the exact day and hour of his own death. St. Malachy was canonized in 1190 by Pope Clement III.
According to his biographer, St. Malachy was visiting Rome in 1139 when he went into a trance and received a vision. Malachy wrote down this extraordinary vision in which he claims to have foreseen all of the popes from the death of Innocent II until the destruction of the church and the return of Christ. He named exactly 112 popes from that time until the end.
St. Malachy wrote a few prophetically descriptive words in Latin about each one of the popes. He then gave the manuscript to Pope Innocent II and it was deposited in the Vatican Archives where it was forgotten for several centuries. Then in 1590, it was rediscovered and published.
The interesting thing is that scholars have matched the brief 110 descriptive predictions with each of the 110 popes and anti-popes that there have been since Innocent II. Though they are a bit obscure, they have fit the general profile of each of the popes.
Now these are in no way the same kind of predictions we find in the Bible. But they do have certain relevance.
Here are a few examples:
Pope No. 108: Paul VI (1968-78). The prophecy for the 108th pope was, "Flos Florum", which means "Flower of Flowers." Paul VI's coat of arms contained three fleurs-de-lis (Isis blossoms).
Pope No. 109: John Paul I (1978). The prophecy for 109th pope was "De Medietate Lunae," which means "the Half Moon." John Paul I was born in the diocese of Belluno (beautiful moon) and was baptized Albino Luciani (white light). He became pope when there was a half moon (Aug. 26, 1978). He died the next month right after an eclipse of the moon.
Pope No. 110: John Paul II (1978-2005). The prophecy for the 110th pope was "De Labore Solis," which means "from the labor of the sun." John Paul II was born during an eclipse of the sun on May 8, 1920. As the sun rises out of the East, so he came to the Vatican from the east. Wherever on the earth the sun shines, he visited.
Now, if St. Malachy is accurate, there will be only two more popes before the end of this world, as we know it and the Second Coming of Christ. I do know that the whole prophetic scenario of signs that Jesus Christ and the prophets predicted would come together just before His return are now in view. So what St. Malachy predicted is certainly occurring in the right time frame. Pope John Paul II was aware of these prophecies and at least once referred to them with concern.
According to St. Malachy, there will only be two more popes.
The prophecy concerning the 111th pope says of him, "Gloria Olivae," which means "the glory of the Olive." Could it be that he will be from the Order of Saint Benedict, also known as the Olivetans? Could he be an African, a continent symbolized by the olive tree?
The olive tree is also frequently a symbol for the Israelites in the Bible. Could this mean that this pope will be an Israelite who will be seen as the glory of his people? It bears watching as to who will be this pope. Cardinal Lustiger of Paris is a converted Jew and he is in the running for being the next pope.
But it is the prophecy of the 112th and last pope that is most fascinating. St. Malachy predicts, "In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign "Petrus Romanus" (Peter the Roman), who will feed his flock amid many tribulations; after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people."
If any of this is true, then I suspect that the 111th pope will not live very long. We are just too close to the final events before Christ's return for him to reign for a long period.
The most important part of St. Malachy's prophecies has to do with the events he foresees happening during the papacy of "Peter the Roman." He foresees great tribulations during his reign, ending with the destruction of the church and Rome. This is will be done by a dreadful judge who will then judge the world.
In Daniel's great prophecy concerning the 70 sabbatical years allotted to Israel to finish the purpose for which God created them, it predicts something that fits right in with St. Malachy's prophecy concerning "Peter the Roman."
Daniel predicted the exact day that Israel's Messiah would be declared prince and heir apparent to King David's throne. It was 69 sabbatical years from the date Artaxerxes Longimanus of Persia gave the exiled Jews permission to rebuild Jerusalem. (see Nehemiah 2:1-8 where this permission was granted.)
Exactly 69 lunar years of 360 days [or 173,880 days] later, Jesus was proclaimed the Son of David and Messiah. As predicted, He was rejected and had nothing. Then within a week after that, He was put to death.
Daniel predicted:
Know therefore and understand, that FROM the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem UNTIL Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and 62 weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. And after the 62 weeks Messiah shall be cut off [put to death], but not for Himself; and the people of THE PRINCE WHO IS TO COME shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined.
Note that after the end of the 69th sabbatical year, but before the beginning of the 70th sabbatical year, two very important historical events would occur. First, Messiah would be put to death, but not for Himself. Jesus was crucified within a week of His official presentation as Messiah.
Second, the people of the prince WHO IS YET TO COME would destroy the city of Jerusalem and its Temple. The Roman Tenth Legion destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70.
Now one last and extremely important detail. The "Prince who is to come" will be of the same people that destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70. They were Romans. So the coming Prince, who is the antichrist, must be a Roman. Now do you understand why I am so fascinated by St. Malachy's prophecy concerning the last pope who will be called, "Peter the Roman"?
Revelation chapter 17 details the final judgment of the mystical woman symbolically named Babylon The Great. John the apostle identifies the woman, "Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits ..." and "And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth." (Revelation 17:9, 18 NKJ) When John wrote this, there was only one city that reigned over the kings of the earth – Rome, which sits on seven hills.
John Paul II was a great and good man. But the coming popes will seize upon the popularity he created with the world. With the help of the media, it is easy to foresee how "Peter the Roman" will be able to mesmerize the world to follow his counterfeit of Christ.
It is time to make sure where you stand with God.
Hal Lindsey is the best-selling author of 20 books, including "Late Great Planet Earth." He writes this weekly column exclusively for WorldNetDaily.
Be sure to visit his website where he provides up-to-the-minute analysis of today's world events in the light of ancient prophecies. (jillsnote: I've hyper linked active link to his websight on this email -just click on word website to go to)
Hal Lindsey of WorldNewDaily
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
The death of Pope John Paul II has brought about the most extraordinary outpouring of emotion for a world leader in history. National leaders from almost every nation, religious leaders from all faiths, young people as well as old people, people from every part of the earth – all express some kind of emotional feeling about the passing of this great church leader. Most of the world praise him as one of the greatest forces for peace in history.
Modern communication technology has helped make the pope's death an unparalleled event. The entire world has literally come together to praise this one man. I find that many sense that there will be some important and climactic consequences to follow the death of this pope.
As I studied the many Bible prophecies of the Last Days, I found a most unusual extra-biblical prophecy made by an Irish Catholic bishop in the 12th century. His name is St. Malachy. According to his biographer, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, in his book "Life of Saint Malachy," St. Malachy was known to have the gift of prophecy and even predicted the exact day and hour of his own death. St. Malachy was canonized in 1190 by Pope Clement III.
According to his biographer, St. Malachy was visiting Rome in 1139 when he went into a trance and received a vision. Malachy wrote down this extraordinary vision in which he claims to have foreseen all of the popes from the death of Innocent II until the destruction of the church and the return of Christ. He named exactly 112 popes from that time until the end.
St. Malachy wrote a few prophetically descriptive words in Latin about each one of the popes. He then gave the manuscript to Pope Innocent II and it was deposited in the Vatican Archives where it was forgotten for several centuries. Then in 1590, it was rediscovered and published.
The interesting thing is that scholars have matched the brief 110 descriptive predictions with each of the 110 popes and anti-popes that there have been since Innocent II. Though they are a bit obscure, they have fit the general profile of each of the popes.
Now these are in no way the same kind of predictions we find in the Bible. But they do have certain relevance.
Here are a few examples:
Pope No. 108: Paul VI (1968-78). The prophecy for the 108th pope was, "Flos Florum", which means "Flower of Flowers." Paul VI's coat of arms contained three fleurs-de-lis (Isis blossoms).
Pope No. 109: John Paul I (1978). The prophecy for 109th pope was "De Medietate Lunae," which means "the Half Moon." John Paul I was born in the diocese of Belluno (beautiful moon) and was baptized Albino Luciani (white light). He became pope when there was a half moon (Aug. 26, 1978). He died the next month right after an eclipse of the moon.
Pope No. 110: John Paul II (1978-2005). The prophecy for the 110th pope was "De Labore Solis," which means "from the labor of the sun." John Paul II was born during an eclipse of the sun on May 8, 1920. As the sun rises out of the East, so he came to the Vatican from the east. Wherever on the earth the sun shines, he visited.
Now, if St. Malachy is accurate, there will be only two more popes before the end of this world, as we know it and the Second Coming of Christ. I do know that the whole prophetic scenario of signs that Jesus Christ and the prophets predicted would come together just before His return are now in view. So what St. Malachy predicted is certainly occurring in the right time frame. Pope John Paul II was aware of these prophecies and at least once referred to them with concern.
According to St. Malachy, there will only be two more popes.
The prophecy concerning the 111th pope says of him, "Gloria Olivae," which means "the glory of the Olive." Could it be that he will be from the Order of Saint Benedict, also known as the Olivetans? Could he be an African, a continent symbolized by the olive tree?
The olive tree is also frequently a symbol for the Israelites in the Bible. Could this mean that this pope will be an Israelite who will be seen as the glory of his people? It bears watching as to who will be this pope. Cardinal Lustiger of Paris is a converted Jew and he is in the running for being the next pope.
But it is the prophecy of the 112th and last pope that is most fascinating. St. Malachy predicts, "In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign "Petrus Romanus" (Peter the Roman), who will feed his flock amid many tribulations; after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people."
If any of this is true, then I suspect that the 111th pope will not live very long. We are just too close to the final events before Christ's return for him to reign for a long period.
The most important part of St. Malachy's prophecies has to do with the events he foresees happening during the papacy of "Peter the Roman." He foresees great tribulations during his reign, ending with the destruction of the church and Rome. This is will be done by a dreadful judge who will then judge the world.
In Daniel's great prophecy concerning the 70 sabbatical years allotted to Israel to finish the purpose for which God created them, it predicts something that fits right in with St. Malachy's prophecy concerning "Peter the Roman."
Daniel predicted the exact day that Israel's Messiah would be declared prince and heir apparent to King David's throne. It was 69 sabbatical years from the date Artaxerxes Longimanus of Persia gave the exiled Jews permission to rebuild Jerusalem. (see Nehemiah 2:1-8 where this permission was granted.)
Exactly 69 lunar years of 360 days [or 173,880 days] later, Jesus was proclaimed the Son of David and Messiah. As predicted, He was rejected and had nothing. Then within a week after that, He was put to death.
Daniel predicted:
Know therefore and understand, that FROM the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem UNTIL Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and 62 weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times. And after the 62 weeks Messiah shall be cut off [put to death], but not for Himself; and the people of THE PRINCE WHO IS TO COME shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined.
Note that after the end of the 69th sabbatical year, but before the beginning of the 70th sabbatical year, two very important historical events would occur. First, Messiah would be put to death, but not for Himself. Jesus was crucified within a week of His official presentation as Messiah.
Second, the people of the prince WHO IS YET TO COME would destroy the city of Jerusalem and its Temple. The Roman Tenth Legion destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70.
Now one last and extremely important detail. The "Prince who is to come" will be of the same people that destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70. They were Romans. So the coming Prince, who is the antichrist, must be a Roman. Now do you understand why I am so fascinated by St. Malachy's prophecy concerning the last pope who will be called, "Peter the Roman"?
Revelation chapter 17 details the final judgment of the mystical woman symbolically named Babylon The Great. John the apostle identifies the woman, "Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits ..." and "And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth." (Revelation 17:9, 18 NKJ) When John wrote this, there was only one city that reigned over the kings of the earth – Rome, which sits on seven hills.
John Paul II was a great and good man. But the coming popes will seize upon the popularity he created with the world. With the help of the media, it is easy to foresee how "Peter the Roman" will be able to mesmerize the world to follow his counterfeit of Christ.
It is time to make sure where you stand with God.
Hal Lindsey is the best-selling author of 20 books, including "Late Great Planet Earth." He writes this weekly column exclusively for WorldNetDaily.
Be sure to visit his website where he provides up-to-the-minute analysis of today's world events in the light of ancient prophecies. (jillsnote: I've hyper linked active link to his websight on this email -just click on word website to go to)
Papal prophecies
From NEWSMAX:
Eerie Prophecies Predicted Benedict XVI
When Cardinal Ratzinger was chosen to be the next pope, NewsMax did a Web search for "Benedict XVI" and we were surprised how many prophecies – some rather eerie and apocalyptic – had predicted the name this new pope would take.
The Daily News reported Tuesday that the Irish betting house Paddy Power had three odds-on-favorites: Ratzinger would be elected; it would take three days; and he would take the name Benedict XVI.
Two out of three isn’t bad. Chalk it up to the luck of the Irish – or a little Internet prophecy research.
One internet Web site, CatholicPlanet.com, has published a book by Ronald Conte entitled "The Bible and the Future of the World."
The site says it reveals, from a Catholic viewpoint in Sacred Scripture, God's plan for the future of the Church and the world.
"Many specific and startling predictions of events in the near and distant future are revealed," the site says.
The author claims that in 2009 or 2010, "Pope Benedict XVI" will die and be replaced by the last pope.
The selection of this pope seems to be intertwined with an "end times” biblical view.
On the site prophecies.us, a discussion in January 2005 of who might succeed Pope John Paul II had a post by "Dan," who predicted that on February 22, 2005 a new pope "will appear, and will call himself Pope Benedict XVI, the Pope of Peace, who will lead his church, all the faithful followers of the Lord Jesus Christ to their martyrdom, at the foot of the Cross that stands upon the Mount of Olives."
Dan addsed, "Whereupon the Monarch entering Israel, becomes Elijah, the gentile olive tree, and one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11.
"But Gloriae Olivae [The Glory of the Olives] will tear down the walls of the Vatican, auctioning off all the objects within, in order to feed and enlighten those in the 3rd World who have not yet heard the Gospel according to Christ, nor the prophet Pope's message that accompanies it.
"And he will convert hundreds of millions, for the Hand and Spirit of the Lord is upon him to fulfill His Will, for the sake of the Gentile nations, for which innocent must be shed, or there is no salvation for them."
Dan's reference to the The Glory of the Olives comes from St. Malachy.
As Dr. H.T. Spence relates in his "The Death of the Pope":
"An Irish bishop, Malachy in 1139 he went to Rome to give an account of the affairs of his diocese to Pope Innocent II, who promised him two palliums for the metropolitan Sees of Armagh and Cashel.
"While at Rome, he supposedly received a strange vision of the future wherein was unfolded before him the long list of illustrious pontiffs who were to rule the Roman Catholic Church until the end of time.
"History tells us that Malachy gave his manuscript to Innocent II to console him in the midst of his tribulations, and that the document remained unnoticed in the Roman Archives until its discovery in 1590."
Interestingly, writing well before the news that Cardinal Ratzinger had been selected, Spence details the connection between Malachy's prophecy for this pope and why many predicted this pope would call himself "Benedict XVI."
"According to Malachy, the 267th pope is called 'Gloria Olivae,' or 'glory of the olive.' Traditionally, the olive branch has been associated with peace, but in both the Old and New Testaments, it also serves as an emblem for the Jews.
"Putting the two together, some commentators believe that the reign of this pope will be dedicated to peace. However, some believe that Malachy's description may instead refer to St. Benedict's sixth-century prophecy that a member of his order will lead the Church in its fight against evil just before the Apocalypse.
"The Benedictine Order is known by another name, Olivetans.
"Those mystic observers in Rome believe if this is true, the next pope will go by the name of Pope Benedict XVI, in imitation of Saint Benedict and Pope Benedict XV. Benedict XV was a pope obsessed with peace: he sought peace and spoke of peace and wrote documents seeking peace."
Eerie Prophecies Predicted Benedict XVI
When Cardinal Ratzinger was chosen to be the next pope, NewsMax did a Web search for "Benedict XVI" and we were surprised how many prophecies – some rather eerie and apocalyptic – had predicted the name this new pope would take.
The Daily News reported Tuesday that the Irish betting house Paddy Power had three odds-on-favorites: Ratzinger would be elected; it would take three days; and he would take the name Benedict XVI.
Two out of three isn’t bad. Chalk it up to the luck of the Irish – or a little Internet prophecy research.
One internet Web site, CatholicPlanet.com, has published a book by Ronald Conte entitled "The Bible and the Future of the World."
The site says it reveals, from a Catholic viewpoint in Sacred Scripture, God's plan for the future of the Church and the world.
"Many specific and startling predictions of events in the near and distant future are revealed," the site says.
The author claims that in 2009 or 2010, "Pope Benedict XVI" will die and be replaced by the last pope.
The selection of this pope seems to be intertwined with an "end times” biblical view.
On the site prophecies.us, a discussion in January 2005 of who might succeed Pope John Paul II had a post by "Dan," who predicted that on February 22, 2005 a new pope "will appear, and will call himself Pope Benedict XVI, the Pope of Peace, who will lead his church, all the faithful followers of the Lord Jesus Christ to their martyrdom, at the foot of the Cross that stands upon the Mount of Olives."
Dan addsed, "Whereupon the Monarch entering Israel, becomes Elijah, the gentile olive tree, and one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11.
"But Gloriae Olivae [The Glory of the Olives] will tear down the walls of the Vatican, auctioning off all the objects within, in order to feed and enlighten those in the 3rd World who have not yet heard the Gospel according to Christ, nor the prophet Pope's message that accompanies it.
"And he will convert hundreds of millions, for the Hand and Spirit of the Lord is upon him to fulfill His Will, for the sake of the Gentile nations, for which innocent must be shed, or there is no salvation for them."
Dan's reference to the The Glory of the Olives comes from St. Malachy.
As Dr. H.T. Spence relates in his "The Death of the Pope":
"An Irish bishop, Malachy in 1139 he went to Rome to give an account of the affairs of his diocese to Pope Innocent II, who promised him two palliums for the metropolitan Sees of Armagh and Cashel.
"While at Rome, he supposedly received a strange vision of the future wherein was unfolded before him the long list of illustrious pontiffs who were to rule the Roman Catholic Church until the end of time.
"History tells us that Malachy gave his manuscript to Innocent II to console him in the midst of his tribulations, and that the document remained unnoticed in the Roman Archives until its discovery in 1590."
Interestingly, writing well before the news that Cardinal Ratzinger had been selected, Spence details the connection between Malachy's prophecy for this pope and why many predicted this pope would call himself "Benedict XVI."
"According to Malachy, the 267th pope is called 'Gloria Olivae,' or 'glory of the olive.' Traditionally, the olive branch has been associated with peace, but in both the Old and New Testaments, it also serves as an emblem for the Jews.
"Putting the two together, some commentators believe that the reign of this pope will be dedicated to peace. However, some believe that Malachy's description may instead refer to St. Benedict's sixth-century prophecy that a member of his order will lead the Church in its fight against evil just before the Apocalypse.
"The Benedictine Order is known by another name, Olivetans.
"Those mystic observers in Rome believe if this is true, the next pope will go by the name of Pope Benedict XVI, in imitation of Saint Benedict and Pope Benedict XV. Benedict XV was a pope obsessed with peace: he sought peace and spoke of peace and wrote documents seeking peace."
Money will NOT grow!
My bad. I've decided I'm not a daily blogger. Is that acceptable in the blogosphere? Well, I guess I'm
basically writing to myself anyways so what the heck. I find there's not enough to be compelled to write
about every single day or perhaps even in a week.
Today's a bit of contempt for the state of Banking today. My daughter, having done a television commercial through one of my clients, made $75 dollars of the course of an entire day (of which she got out of school for- an added bonus!). When she received the check last year she promptly decided to save all of it. Unlike her brother, she's quite the spending queen so I was pleasantly surprised and impressed! I told her we'd open a savings account at our bank just for her! And I proceeded to teach her about how saving your money actually means your money will "grow" over time and you'll have MORE than when you started. The lower amount, the smaller it would grow however so I encouraged her to continue to add to the account. Following me so far?
Since then I proceeded to put the statements in a file without opening them. Just the other day, Hannah saw her name on the bank envelope and decided to open it to see how her money had "grown" over the last year. Well low and behold she had a mere $52 dollars in her account. Because the amount was lower than the minimum required I'm assuming, she had been charged a $2 a month "fee" every month since opening the account. And occassionally a few other fee's as well. Far more than any minor interest if any gained on the account. What a great lesson for a kid huh? Stick it in your piggy bank and leave it there!
Since she's 8 soon to be 9, I highly doubt she's going to come into a good chunk of money any time soon. And her money may not "grow" but at least her piggy or in this case- her dolphin bank- won't charge her a $2 fee either! Harumph!
basically writing to myself anyways so what the heck. I find there's not enough to be compelled to write
about every single day or perhaps even in a week.
Today's a bit of contempt for the state of Banking today. My daughter, having done a television commercial through one of my clients, made $75 dollars of the course of an entire day (of which she got out of school for- an added bonus!). When she received the check last year she promptly decided to save all of it. Unlike her brother, she's quite the spending queen so I was pleasantly surprised and impressed! I told her we'd open a savings account at our bank just for her! And I proceeded to teach her about how saving your money actually means your money will "grow" over time and you'll have MORE than when you started. The lower amount, the smaller it would grow however so I encouraged her to continue to add to the account. Following me so far?
Since then I proceeded to put the statements in a file without opening them. Just the other day, Hannah saw her name on the bank envelope and decided to open it to see how her money had "grown" over the last year. Well low and behold she had a mere $52 dollars in her account. Because the amount was lower than the minimum required I'm assuming, she had been charged a $2 a month "fee" every month since opening the account. And occassionally a few other fee's as well. Far more than any minor interest if any gained on the account. What a great lesson for a kid huh? Stick it in your piggy bank and leave it there!
Since she's 8 soon to be 9, I highly doubt she's going to come into a good chunk of money any time soon. And her money may not "grow" but at least her piggy or in this case- her dolphin bank- won't charge her a $2 fee either! Harumph!
Monday, April 18, 2005
Tulip surprise!
Well with Spring comes ticks but also the beauty of blooming flowers.
Today I was greeted with a wonderful surprise
as I went to inspect my flower bed on the south side of our twin home.
We moved in here in September and pulled quite a bit of tall blooming weeds
in the front of the bed and added in new dirt.
So when I saw green leafy plant blooming last week, I thought this weed was
again popping up. But much to my surprise,
I was greeted by a lovely assortment
of Tulip bulbs today!
Now I really feel like Spring has indeed arrived in the Red River Valley!
And what a beautiful metaphor for life.
What may sometimes appear to be "weeds"
may indeed by a gorgeous tulip about to bloom!
Today I was greeted with a wonderful surprise
as I went to inspect my flower bed on the south side of our twin home.
We moved in here in September and pulled quite a bit of tall blooming weeds
in the front of the bed and added in new dirt.
So when I saw green leafy plant blooming last week, I thought this weed was
again popping up. But much to my surprise,
I was greeted by a lovely assortment
of Tulip bulbs today!
Now I really feel like Spring has indeed arrived in the Red River Valley!
And what a beautiful metaphor for life.
What may sometimes appear to be "weeds"
may indeed by a gorgeous tulip about to bloom!
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Hopi message
Hopi Message from the Elders
"We have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour..
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered.
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in the right relationship?
Where is your water?
Where is your garden?
It is time to speak your truth; create your community,
be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold onto the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore, and push off and into the river.
Keep our eyes open, and our head above the water.
See who is in there with you and Celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally,
least of all ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that you do now must be done in a sacred manner and in Celebration.
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for …"
"We have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour..
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered.
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in the right relationship?
Where is your water?
Where is your garden?
It is time to speak your truth; create your community,
be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold onto the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore, and push off and into the river.
Keep our eyes open, and our head above the water.
See who is in there with you and Celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally,
least of all ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that you do now must be done in a sacred manner and in Celebration.
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for …"
Friday, April 08, 2005
Seeds of Peace
JERUSALEM — Fox News
Israeli President Moshe Katsav (search) said Friday that he shook hands and chatted briefly with the leaders of Israel's arch-enemies, Syria and Iran, during the funeral of Pope John Paul II (search), but cautioned against reading too much into the gestures.
"I don't think this has any diplomatic importance," he told Israel's Channel Two television. "We are cultured people and say hello nicely and shake hands, but I don't think our differences have disappeared," he told Israel's Channel 2 TV.
Nonetheless, the handshakes represented a small breakthrough. Peace talks between Israel and Syria broke down in 2000 and relations have grown increasingly hostile since then, while Israel and Iran have had no relations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution (search) in Iran.
"There is no doubt that this is a precedent, it was a historic moment and unique opportunity," said Katsav's spokeswoman, Hagit Cohen.
Katsav told Israeli media that he shook hands twice with Syrian President Bashar Assad (search), who sat one row behind him during the service. Dignitaries were seated in alphabetical order, according to their countries.
Katsav, whose position is largely ceremonial, said the first handshake occurred when he turned to shake hands with the nearby Swiss leader. "The Syrian president also stood there. We exchanged smiles and shook hands," Katsav told the Web site of the Maariv daily.
He said a second handshake occurred during Christian prayers. "During this, it was the Syrian president who extended his hand to me and we again shook hands," he said.
Syrian officials in Damascus refused to comment. But the Arab satellite station Al-Arabiya said a member of Assad's delegation confirmed the handshake, though he denied any political meaning.
The first handshake came when Katsav offered his hand and introduced himself, the Syrian official told Al-Arabiya's correspondent covering the funeral in Rome. The second came as part of the Roman Catholic Mass rituals, when people shake hands with those to the right and left, front and behind, the official said.
Iranian officials, meanwhile, declined to comment after Katsav said he spoke briefly with Iranian President Mohammed Khatami (search) in Farsi.
The Iranian-born Katsav said that as he was leaving, "the Iranian president held his hand out to me. I shook his hand and greeted him in Farsi."
Katsav said the men conversed about Yazd, the region in central Iran where both men were born. "The two of us were born in the same region in Iran, two years apart," he told the TV.
Israel accuses Syria and Iran of backing Palestinian militants in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel has also been a leading critic of Iran's nuclear program.
Katsav was also embraced by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Cohen said. Israel does not have relations with any of the countries.
Cohen also said that the president used the opportunity to congratulate Britain's Prince Charles on his upcoming wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles .
Remember if YOU do not believe it can happen you are contributing to the lack thereof.
Did you see the Funeral was shown on Al Jazeerah Televison? And many other parts of the country that have never been introduced to a Catholic mass or the liturgy that explains that ALL people are welcome to the Kingdom of God and eternal life if they believe in Jesus Christ.
Pray for Peace. Believe.
Israeli President Moshe Katsav (search) said Friday that he shook hands and chatted briefly with the leaders of Israel's arch-enemies, Syria and Iran, during the funeral of Pope John Paul II (search), but cautioned against reading too much into the gestures.
"I don't think this has any diplomatic importance," he told Israel's Channel Two television. "We are cultured people and say hello nicely and shake hands, but I don't think our differences have disappeared," he told Israel's Channel 2 TV.
Nonetheless, the handshakes represented a small breakthrough. Peace talks between Israel and Syria broke down in 2000 and relations have grown increasingly hostile since then, while Israel and Iran have had no relations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution (search) in Iran.
"There is no doubt that this is a precedent, it was a historic moment and unique opportunity," said Katsav's spokeswoman, Hagit Cohen.
Katsav told Israeli media that he shook hands twice with Syrian President Bashar Assad (search), who sat one row behind him during the service. Dignitaries were seated in alphabetical order, according to their countries.
Katsav, whose position is largely ceremonial, said the first handshake occurred when he turned to shake hands with the nearby Swiss leader. "The Syrian president also stood there. We exchanged smiles and shook hands," Katsav told the Web site of the Maariv daily.
He said a second handshake occurred during Christian prayers. "During this, it was the Syrian president who extended his hand to me and we again shook hands," he said.
Syrian officials in Damascus refused to comment. But the Arab satellite station Al-Arabiya said a member of Assad's delegation confirmed the handshake, though he denied any political meaning.
The first handshake came when Katsav offered his hand and introduced himself, the Syrian official told Al-Arabiya's correspondent covering the funeral in Rome. The second came as part of the Roman Catholic Mass rituals, when people shake hands with those to the right and left, front and behind, the official said.
Iranian officials, meanwhile, declined to comment after Katsav said he spoke briefly with Iranian President Mohammed Khatami (search) in Farsi.
The Iranian-born Katsav said that as he was leaving, "the Iranian president held his hand out to me. I shook his hand and greeted him in Farsi."
Katsav said the men conversed about Yazd, the region in central Iran where both men were born. "The two of us were born in the same region in Iran, two years apart," he told the TV.
Israel accuses Syria and Iran of backing Palestinian militants in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel has also been a leading critic of Iran's nuclear program.
Katsav was also embraced by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Cohen said. Israel does not have relations with any of the countries.
Cohen also said that the president used the opportunity to congratulate Britain's Prince Charles on his upcoming wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles .
Remember if YOU do not believe it can happen you are contributing to the lack thereof.
Did you see the Funeral was shown on Al Jazeerah Televison? And many other parts of the country that have never been introduced to a Catholic mass or the liturgy that explains that ALL people are welcome to the Kingdom of God and eternal life if they believe in Jesus Christ.
Pray for Peace. Believe.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Solar Eclipse Friday
To illustrate even more how profound April 8th is, the day of the Pope's funeral and unprecedented gathering of more than 200 religious and political leaders, there is a SOLAR ECLIPSE that day!
A partial eclipse of the Sun will be visible on the afternoon of Friday,April 8th, if you live south of a line from southern New Jersey to Southern California, including much of Latin America. The eclipse is total over parts of the South Pacific and annular over parts of Costa Rica,Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela. Get your solar filter ready!
Details:http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/objects/eclipses/article_1445_1.asp
--------------------------ECLIPSE WEBCASTS
Wish you could watch the eclipse from its centerline? Lots of people will be webcasting live from places where the eclipse will be total or annular. links:http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/highlights/article_1492_1.asp
THE APRIL 8TH SOLAR ECLIPSE
A partial eclipse of the Sun will be visible on the afternoon of Friday,April 8th, if you live south of a line from southern New Jersey to Southern California, including much of Latin America. The eclipse is total over parts of the South Pacific and annular over parts of Costa Rica,Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela. Get your solar filter ready!
Details:http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/objects/eclipses/article_1445_1.asp
--------------------------ECLIPSE WEBCASTS
Wish you could watch the eclipse from its centerline? Lots of people will be webcasting live from places where the eclipse will be total or annular. links:http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/highlights/article_1492_1.asp
Gathering of World Leaders
Pope John Paul II's funeral is set for this Friday. It is not surprising that there will be an unprecedented gathering of leaders. Yet it is daunting when you see actually read who will be in attendance. Let alone viewing this on Friday. We must always keep the possibilities of Peace in our hearts. To think it is not possible is to contribute to the lack thereof. If you don't pray- then put out good, happy thoughts as it works same way. Put your cynical hat in the close just for now. Because what better time to pray for World Peace and "On earth as it is in heaven" then this Friday? These world leaders of immense political and religious power will be honoring a remarkable man of peace who traveled the globe throughout his papacy. And now, the fruits of that travel are evident as all these leaders gather upon the Vatican to celebrate what Pope John Paul II stood for. The love of ALL of mankind no matter your religion, language, background or social standing. Love of God. He once said I answer to no political system, not communism,but surely not capitalism either for I only have to answer to God. Way to walk the walk. First pope ever to enter a mosque in Syria! Put that in our cynical pipe and smoke it!
And so it is that I ask my friends and family and anyone else who comes upon this blog to pray for their protection and pray that the seeds of Peace to be planted on this remarkable day. The funeral will be at 3 am central U.S. Time. 10 A.M. Rome time. When all the world is watching. When all the power struggles cease in celebration of the life of this man of Peace. Amazingly a solar eclipse is occuring same time! And the date 4/08/2005= 1 in numerology (you don't count 0's) What does 1 mean? New beginnings! Surely, at the very least that is fitting for John Paul the Great who I'm sure had a most fitting welcome up there and is now writing poetry and laughing and smiling down upon us all.
XXOO JILL
Kings, queens and heads of state and government will join pilgrims for the funeral of Pope John Paul II on Friday in what is expected to be the biggest gathering at the Vatican in its history.
US President George W Bush will head the delegation from the United States, the White House said. Britain's Prince Charles postponed his wedding for a day in order to attend.
The following is a list of some of the dignitaries who have said they will attend:
ALBANIA - President Alfred Moisiu, former presidents Sali Berisha and Rexhep Meidani, Prime Minister Fatos Nano.
ARGENTINA - Vice President Daniel Scioli, Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa.
AUSTRALIA - Governor-General Michael Jeffery.
AUSTRIA - President Heinz Fischer, Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel.
BANGLADESH - Food and Disaster Management Minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf.
BELGIUM - King Albert II and Queen Paola, Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.
BOSNIA - Chairman of the state presidency, Borisav Paravac.
BOLIVIA - President Carlos Mesa.
BRAZIL - President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
BRITAIN - Prince Charles, Prime Minister Tony Blair.
BULGARIA - President Georgi Parvanov.
CANADA - Prime Minister Paul Martin.
CHILE - Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker. President Ricardo Lagos cannot attend as his 108-year-old mother is very ill.
CROATIA - President Stjepan Mesic, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader.
CUBA - National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon.
CYPRUS - President Tassos Papadopoulos.
CZECH REPUBLIC - President Vaclav Klaus, Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - President Joseph Kabila, Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba.
DENMARK - Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
EGYPT - Culture Minister Farouk Hosni.
ESTONIA - President Arnold Ruutel.
EUROPEAN UNION - European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner, Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini and External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Also European Parliament president Josep Borrel.
FINLAND - Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.
FRANCE - President Jacques Chirac.
GERMANY - President Horst Koehler, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
GREECE - President Karolos Papoulias.
HUNGARY - President Ferenc Madl, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.
INDIA - Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
INDONESIA - Social Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab, Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni.
IRAN - President Mohammad Khatami.
IRELAND - President Mary McAleese, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.
ISRAEL - President Moshe Katsav, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.
ITALY - President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
JAPAN - Former foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi.
KENYA - Foreign Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Local Government Minister Musikari Kombo.
KOSOVO - President Ibrahim Rugova.
LATVIA - President Vaira Vike-Freiberga.
LEBANON - President Emile Lahoud (Maronite Christian), Prime Minister Omar Karami (Sunni Muslim) and parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri (Shiite Muslim).
LITHUANIA - President Valdas Adamkas.
MACEDONIA - President Branko Crvenkovski.
MALAYSIA - Bernard Dompok, minister in charge of the civil service, Abdullah Mohamad Zin, minister in charge of religious affairs.
MEXICO - President Vicente Fox.
MOZAMBIQUE - President Armando Guebuza.
NETHERLANDS - Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.
NEW ZEALAND - Governor-General Silvia Cartwright.
NORWAY - Queen Sonja, Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik (King Harald is in hospital recovering from heart surgery).
PHILIPPINES - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
PORTUGAL - President Jorge Sampaio.
ROMANIA - President Traian Basescu, Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu.
RUSSIA - Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.
PAKISTAN - Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz ul Haq.
PALESTINIANS - Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie.
POLAND - President Aleksander Kwasniewski. Lech Walesa and Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Poland's first post-communist president and prime minister.
SERBIA - President Boris Tadic.
SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO - President Svetozar Marovic.
SEYCHELLES - Ambassador to France and Italy Callixte d'Offay.
SINGAPORE - Deputy Prime Minister Professor S Jayakumar.
SLOVAKIA - President Ivan Gasparovic, Parliament Chairman Pavol Hrusovsky.
SLOVENIA - President Janez Drnovsek, Prime Minister Janez Jansa, Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, who will represent the head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
SPAIN - King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
SOUTH AFRICA - Deputy President Jacob Zuma.
SRI LANKA - Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse.
SWEDEN - King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia.
SYRIA - President Bashar al-Assad.
TURKEY - Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
UKRAINE - President Viktor Yushchenko.
UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-general Kofi Annan.
UNITED STATES - President George W Bush, former presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Snr, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Religious leaders
:
Metropolitan Kirill, head of external relations for the Moscow Patriarchate. (Patriarch Alexiy II - who repeatedly refused to meet the Pope - will not attend).
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I.
Spiritual head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
Chief Rabbinate Director-General Oded Viner.
Greek Orthodox leader, Archbishop Christodoulos.
Turkey's Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II.
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.
Romania's Orthodox patriarch, Teoctist.
Bulgaria's Orthodox Rousse Bishop Neofit and Vidin Bishop Domitian.
Norwegian Bishop Finn Wagle of the Protestant state church.
Swedish Lutheran archbishop, KG Hammar.
Head of Uganda's Catholic Church, Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala.
Albanian religious leaders: Selim Muca of the (Sunni) Muslim community, Rrok Mirdita, the Catholic Archbishop, Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi of the (Shiite) Bektashi Muslim sect and Orthodox Archbishop Anastasios of the Orthodox community.
-Reuters
And so it is that I ask my friends and family and anyone else who comes upon this blog to pray for their protection and pray that the seeds of Peace to be planted on this remarkable day. The funeral will be at 3 am central U.S. Time. 10 A.M. Rome time. When all the world is watching. When all the power struggles cease in celebration of the life of this man of Peace. Amazingly a solar eclipse is occuring same time! And the date 4/08/2005= 1 in numerology (you don't count 0's) What does 1 mean? New beginnings! Surely, at the very least that is fitting for John Paul the Great who I'm sure had a most fitting welcome up there and is now writing poetry and laughing and smiling down upon us all.
XXOO JILL
Kings, queens and heads of state and government will join pilgrims for the funeral of Pope John Paul II on Friday in what is expected to be the biggest gathering at the Vatican in its history.
US President George W Bush will head the delegation from the United States, the White House said. Britain's Prince Charles postponed his wedding for a day in order to attend.
The following is a list of some of the dignitaries who have said they will attend:
ALBANIA - President Alfred Moisiu, former presidents Sali Berisha and Rexhep Meidani, Prime Minister Fatos Nano.
ARGENTINA - Vice President Daniel Scioli, Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa.
AUSTRALIA - Governor-General Michael Jeffery.
AUSTRIA - President Heinz Fischer, Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel.
BANGLADESH - Food and Disaster Management Minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf.
BELGIUM - King Albert II and Queen Paola, Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.
BOSNIA - Chairman of the state presidency, Borisav Paravac.
BOLIVIA - President Carlos Mesa.
BRAZIL - President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
BRITAIN - Prince Charles, Prime Minister Tony Blair.
BULGARIA - President Georgi Parvanov.
CANADA - Prime Minister Paul Martin.
CHILE - Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker. President Ricardo Lagos cannot attend as his 108-year-old mother is very ill.
CROATIA - President Stjepan Mesic, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader.
CUBA - National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon.
CYPRUS - President Tassos Papadopoulos.
CZECH REPUBLIC - President Vaclav Klaus, Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - President Joseph Kabila, Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba.
DENMARK - Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
EGYPT - Culture Minister Farouk Hosni.
ESTONIA - President Arnold Ruutel.
EUROPEAN UNION - European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner, Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini and External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Also European Parliament president Josep Borrel.
FINLAND - Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.
FRANCE - President Jacques Chirac.
GERMANY - President Horst Koehler, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
GREECE - President Karolos Papoulias.
HUNGARY - President Ferenc Madl, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.
INDIA - Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
INDONESIA - Social Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab, Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni.
IRAN - President Mohammad Khatami.
IRELAND - President Mary McAleese, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.
ISRAEL - President Moshe Katsav, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.
ITALY - President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
JAPAN - Former foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi.
KENYA - Foreign Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Local Government Minister Musikari Kombo.
KOSOVO - President Ibrahim Rugova.
LATVIA - President Vaira Vike-Freiberga.
LEBANON - President Emile Lahoud (Maronite Christian), Prime Minister Omar Karami (Sunni Muslim) and parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri (Shiite Muslim).
LITHUANIA - President Valdas Adamkas.
MACEDONIA - President Branko Crvenkovski.
MALAYSIA - Bernard Dompok, minister in charge of the civil service, Abdullah Mohamad Zin, minister in charge of religious affairs.
MEXICO - President Vicente Fox.
MOZAMBIQUE - President Armando Guebuza.
NETHERLANDS - Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.
NEW ZEALAND - Governor-General Silvia Cartwright.
NORWAY - Queen Sonja, Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik (King Harald is in hospital recovering from heart surgery).
PHILIPPINES - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
PORTUGAL - President Jorge Sampaio.
ROMANIA - President Traian Basescu, Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu.
RUSSIA - Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.
PAKISTAN - Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz ul Haq.
PALESTINIANS - Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie.
POLAND - President Aleksander Kwasniewski. Lech Walesa and Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Poland's first post-communist president and prime minister.
SERBIA - President Boris Tadic.
SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO - President Svetozar Marovic.
SEYCHELLES - Ambassador to France and Italy Callixte d'Offay.
SINGAPORE - Deputy Prime Minister Professor S Jayakumar.
SLOVAKIA - President Ivan Gasparovic, Parliament Chairman Pavol Hrusovsky.
SLOVENIA - President Janez Drnovsek, Prime Minister Janez Jansa, Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, who will represent the head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
SPAIN - King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
SOUTH AFRICA - Deputy President Jacob Zuma.
SRI LANKA - Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse.
SWEDEN - King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia.
SYRIA - President Bashar al-Assad.
TURKEY - Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
UKRAINE - President Viktor Yushchenko.
UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-general Kofi Annan.
UNITED STATES - President George W Bush, former presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Snr, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Religious leaders
:
Metropolitan Kirill, head of external relations for the Moscow Patriarchate. (Patriarch Alexiy II - who repeatedly refused to meet the Pope - will not attend).
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I.
Spiritual head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
Chief Rabbinate Director-General Oded Viner.
Greek Orthodox leader, Archbishop Christodoulos.
Turkey's Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II.
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.
Romania's Orthodox patriarch, Teoctist.
Bulgaria's Orthodox Rousse Bishop Neofit and Vidin Bishop Domitian.
Norwegian Bishop Finn Wagle of the Protestant state church.
Swedish Lutheran archbishop, KG Hammar.
Head of Uganda's Catholic Church, Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala.
Albanian religious leaders: Selim Muca of the (Sunni) Muslim community, Rrok Mirdita, the Catholic Archbishop, Haxhi Dede Reshat Bardhi of the (Shiite) Bektashi Muslim sect and Orthodox Archbishop Anastasios of the Orthodox community.
-Reuters
Monday, April 04, 2005
Native prayer
I met my Apache friend Billy Two Dog on a forum some time ago. When the Red Lake tragedy happened near
here I looked up my email list to see if I couldn't reach him since that Forum is no longer active. I did and I
am so grateful to have not lost contact. I told my kids I had heard from him and they said "Apache Mom- for
real?" Yeah kids- for real! "He's your friend?!" They said. Surely yes, I'd say- and my brother. Good heart.
Please see his comments on the Red Lake tragedy thread. Soon I will tell you some of the wonderful wisdom
he shared with me following a trip to Rapid City a while back. But today I will share a beautiful prayer he sent
today with his permission. And I say Welcome Back friend- I've missed you.
Song For The People
Grandfather, Great Spirit
I give you thanks
That we can sit here
In this circle of Life,
We send Prayers And the very best thoughts
Grandmother Great Spirit
As we raise this sacred pipe
To give thanks to you
And to all of your Creation,
We give thanks
To the spirit helpers
Who came and sat among us.
Grandfather, Most sacred one, These are your prayers
That we send to you
As we sit here together and pray
Grandmother your children are crying.
Grandfather your children are dying.
The hands of greed And the hands of lust for power
Have been laid on them
And all around is death and desolation
The gifts you made, for all your children
Stolen,And laid to waste
In a monstrous desecration.
Grandmother Great Spirit, As we sit and pray together
We send you this prayer of affirmation-We your children
whom you created in your likeness and image-We will reach out,
And we will dry our tearsAnd heal the hurts of each other.
Our sisters and brothers are hurting bad,And our children, they see no future.
We know Grandfather, that you gave us a sacred power,
But it seems like we don't know its purpose
So now we've learned as we sat together,The name of that power is love,
Invincible, irresistible, overwhelming power,
This power you gave us we are going to use,
We'll dry the tears of those who cry
And heal the hurts of them that are hurting.
Yes Grandmother,We'll give you our hands
And in our hearts and minds and bodies
We dedicate our lives to affirmation.
We will not wait nor hesitate,As we walk on this sacred earth
We will learn together to celebrate
The ways of peace, and harmony, and tranquillity,
That come,
And in the world around us.
Thank you Grandfather for this prayer.
~Chumis~
here I looked up my email list to see if I couldn't reach him since that Forum is no longer active. I did and I
am so grateful to have not lost contact. I told my kids I had heard from him and they said "Apache Mom- for
real?" Yeah kids- for real! "He's your friend?!" They said. Surely yes, I'd say- and my brother. Good heart.
Please see his comments on the Red Lake tragedy thread. Soon I will tell you some of the wonderful wisdom
he shared with me following a trip to Rapid City a while back. But today I will share a beautiful prayer he sent
today with his permission. And I say Welcome Back friend- I've missed you.
Song For The People
Grandfather, Great Spirit
I give you thanks
That we can sit here
In this circle of Life,
We send Prayers And the very best thoughts
Grandmother Great Spirit
As we raise this sacred pipe
To give thanks to you
And to all of your Creation,
We give thanks
To the spirit helpers
Who came and sat among us.
Grandfather, Most sacred one, These are your prayers
That we send to you
As we sit here together and pray
Grandmother your children are crying.
Grandfather your children are dying.
The hands of greed And the hands of lust for power
Have been laid on them
And all around is death and desolation
The gifts you made, for all your children
Stolen,And laid to waste
In a monstrous desecration.
Grandmother Great Spirit, As we sit and pray together
We send you this prayer of affirmation-We your children
whom you created in your likeness and image-We will reach out,
And we will dry our tearsAnd heal the hurts of each other.
Our sisters and brothers are hurting bad,And our children, they see no future.
We know Grandfather, that you gave us a sacred power,
But it seems like we don't know its purpose
So now we've learned as we sat together,The name of that power is love,
Invincible, irresistible, overwhelming power,
This power you gave us we are going to use,
We'll dry the tears of those who cry
And heal the hurts of them that are hurting.
Yes Grandmother,We'll give you our hands
And in our hearts and minds and bodies
We dedicate our lives to affirmation.
We will not wait nor hesitate,As we walk on this sacred earth
We will learn together to celebrate
The ways of peace, and harmony, and tranquillity,
That come,
And in the world around us.
Thank you Grandfather for this prayer.
~Chumis~
Spring has arrived in the Red River Valley. Almost 70 degrees here it's almost surreal.
My 7 year old son now getting the hang of his bike to the point that he wants to go mach I at all times.
I don't care how old you are you can remember that moment in your youth now can't you? That is if you
had the luxury of a bike. We took him to the park so he could do laps around the walking track. He and my
almost 9 year old daughter going side by side. He was in heaven. Intensely he said "Mom, I want to come
here to do laps every day. Every single day okay?" Sure I said- even in the rain. I'm game. Joys of Spring
are in full bloom.
My 7 year old son now getting the hang of his bike to the point that he wants to go mach I at all times.
I don't care how old you are you can remember that moment in your youth now can't you? That is if you
had the luxury of a bike. We took him to the park so he could do laps around the walking track. He and my
almost 9 year old daughter going side by side. He was in heaven. Intensely he said "Mom, I want to come
here to do laps every day. Every single day okay?" Sure I said- even in the rain. I'm game. Joys of Spring
are in full bloom.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Getting dimmer in the chasm
Has there been any GOOD news since I started this Blog?
Man, it has sure been getting dimmer in the chasms of change upon the planet.
Another Earthquake in Indonesia following the catastrophic Tsunami that is still
hard to wrap the human mind around, Red Lake shooting, Terri Schiavo case,
and now the rapidly failing health of Pope John Paul II.
All during the Holiest of times for Christians.
Maria Esperanza, the famous and Church-approved Catholic mystic
predicted that the death of an innocent person
would herald a long-expected step-up in purification.
And unfortunately, that's no April Fools.
Purification being to me not just the END of times.
But for those of us in the Light- the Beginning times.
The Emergence of immense spirituality on the other side of the chasm.
On earth as it is in heaven. As above, so below.
The meek shall inherit the earth. And all that happy jazz!
Not just gloom and doom.
But some of that along the way too certainly. We have to get there first remember.
It is I believe still undefined how and when we'll get there.
A Giant recipe of possibility changing rapidly with each step in the coming years.
And yes, we've been through long stretches of darkness like this many times before.
Yet there is no doubt that many deeply spiritual souls
are indeed feeling the precipice of great change.
No matter WHAT side you are on the innocent one that died
could certainly be the death of Terri Schiavo.
The Pope was very vocal in his disdain for America's "culture of death"
in a rare amount of statements
being released from the Vatican as the Schiavo case unfolded.
Difficult to debate whether you are a traditionalist or modernistic Catholic
that changes are need within the church.
Rapidly declining membership in America. The abuse scandal. Lack of priests.
But I will save that for another time.
No Christian of any faith could deny his popularity and legacy.
He is a joyful pope and a beacon for Peace & Human rights.
And once he passes there will be great uncertainty
about where the Church will go without his leadership.
And the chasm will get even dimmer for a time.
As Pope's health continues to deteriorate....I was surprised how emotional I was.
After all his health has been failing for some time now.
I began to recall the very moving visit my family made to Des Moines
"Living History Farms" for one of if not his first visit to the United States over 25 years ago now.
October 4th, 1979.
John Paul II was welcomed by a Roman Catholic choir singing,
"Joy to the world, the Pope has come"
He hadn't been pope for very long. It was an amazing blessing to be there
and something I knew I would always look back fondly upon. I was only 13 at the time.
I felt badly that Grandma was unable to come but I can't remember why she didn't.
Probably because of her knees since we knew we'd have to walk a long way to
the hillside where Mass was to be. There were people as far as the eye could see.
No grass or fields just a sea of people.
I remember it was cloudy and gray and just as the mass began
the sky turned blue and the sun began to shine upon us. It was glorious!
And as he spoke I immediately got teary eyed and goose bumps. His English was
slow but understandable. And I was glad the mass was in Latin
as I had never gotten to experience that before.
We knew we'd be able to get a good look at him because
we were on the side he would depart from the crowd into the helicopter.
He lingered and mingled a long time after mass with the crowd.
What a way to start his long reign as Beacon for peace and human rights.
And following that historic visit to Iowa---100 trips outside Italy in the last 25 years!
XXOO Jill
Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Krakow, Poland, was elected pope Oct. 16, 1978, at the end of the second day of the conclave of cardinals and apparently on the eighth ballot. He succeeded Pope John Paul I — Cardinal Albino Luciani, Patriarch of Venice — who held the office for little more than a month before his sudden death.
He was born May 18, 1920, in the Polish industrial town of Wadowice, second son of a Polish army lieutenant named Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska Wojtyla. His mother died in 1929 while giving birth to a stillborn third child. His older brother Edmund, a physician, died in 1932.
Man, it has sure been getting dimmer in the chasms of change upon the planet.
Another Earthquake in Indonesia following the catastrophic Tsunami that is still
hard to wrap the human mind around, Red Lake shooting, Terri Schiavo case,
and now the rapidly failing health of Pope John Paul II.
All during the Holiest of times for Christians.
Maria Esperanza, the famous and Church-approved Catholic mystic
predicted that the death of an innocent person
would herald a long-expected step-up in purification.
And unfortunately, that's no April Fools.
Purification being to me not just the END of times.
But for those of us in the Light- the Beginning times.
The Emergence of immense spirituality on the other side of the chasm.
On earth as it is in heaven. As above, so below.
The meek shall inherit the earth. And all that happy jazz!
Not just gloom and doom.
But some of that along the way too certainly. We have to get there first remember.
It is I believe still undefined how and when we'll get there.
A Giant recipe of possibility changing rapidly with each step in the coming years.
And yes, we've been through long stretches of darkness like this many times before.
Yet there is no doubt that many deeply spiritual souls
are indeed feeling the precipice of great change.
No matter WHAT side you are on the innocent one that died
could certainly be the death of Terri Schiavo.
The Pope was very vocal in his disdain for America's "culture of death"
in a rare amount of statements
being released from the Vatican as the Schiavo case unfolded.
Difficult to debate whether you are a traditionalist or modernistic Catholic
that changes are need within the church.
Rapidly declining membership in America. The abuse scandal. Lack of priests.
But I will save that for another time.
No Christian of any faith could deny his popularity and legacy.
He is a joyful pope and a beacon for Peace & Human rights.
And once he passes there will be great uncertainty
about where the Church will go without his leadership.
And the chasm will get even dimmer for a time.
As Pope's health continues to deteriorate....I was surprised how emotional I was.
After all his health has been failing for some time now.
I began to recall the very moving visit my family made to Des Moines
"Living History Farms" for one of if not his first visit to the United States over 25 years ago now.
October 4th, 1979.
John Paul II was welcomed by a Roman Catholic choir singing,
"Joy to the world, the Pope has come"
He hadn't been pope for very long. It was an amazing blessing to be there
and something I knew I would always look back fondly upon. I was only 13 at the time.
I felt badly that Grandma was unable to come but I can't remember why she didn't.
Probably because of her knees since we knew we'd have to walk a long way to
the hillside where Mass was to be. There were people as far as the eye could see.
No grass or fields just a sea of people.
I remember it was cloudy and gray and just as the mass began
the sky turned blue and the sun began to shine upon us. It was glorious!
And as he spoke I immediately got teary eyed and goose bumps. His English was
slow but understandable. And I was glad the mass was in Latin
as I had never gotten to experience that before.
We knew we'd be able to get a good look at him because
we were on the side he would depart from the crowd into the helicopter.
He lingered and mingled a long time after mass with the crowd.
What a way to start his long reign as Beacon for peace and human rights.
And following that historic visit to Iowa---100 trips outside Italy in the last 25 years!
XXOO Jill
Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Krakow, Poland, was elected pope Oct. 16, 1978, at the end of the second day of the conclave of cardinals and apparently on the eighth ballot. He succeeded Pope John Paul I — Cardinal Albino Luciani, Patriarch of Venice — who held the office for little more than a month before his sudden death.
He was born May 18, 1920, in the Polish industrial town of Wadowice, second son of a Polish army lieutenant named Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska Wojtyla. His mother died in 1929 while giving birth to a stillborn third child. His older brother Edmund, a physician, died in 1932.
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