Gospel of John - The Movie

Every generation - every person, really - finds their own way to connect to Jesus Christ and his teachings. "The Gospel of John" stars actor Henry Ian Cusick who young people will surely recognize from the ABC monster hit show "LOST." This is a loyal retelling of the Book of John and, refreshingly, it takes its time getting its religion teachings across. But, with the help of Cusick and a talented director this is the perfect movie to show young people or in class. They will surely enjoy it and the teachings will come through.

Watch The Gospel of John - The Movie or visit Documentary-Log.com to watch documentaries online.

Garbage Can Lessons: A Study

Last summer, debris was piling up near St. Claud Chapel on Beaconsfield north of 14 Mile Road in Clinton Township, MI., near my residence.

So, I put a large garbage can where people passing could deposit the debris.

They did, thanks be to God, who I think, likes good stewards and security with a quality of life.

It was filled to the brim for me to empty periodically, and, return.

When hybernation time came with Winter, however, I thought that the can could be stored in the garage.

Wrong!

Pizza boxes, plastic and paper piled up where the can sat all summer.

Listen to the garbage can, or, at least, to the will of the people, who learned to keep the area clean as creatures of habit.

The garbage disposal is back ready to be filled to the brim again, thanks to the people of God!

Common sense.

And, a lesson I learned in this study of people, and, how they behave.

Thank you!

Threats to freedom of religion, conscience

What of the threat to freedom of religion and one's conscience?

U.S. prelates were warned of "radical secularism" threatening core values of the culture in America, according to reports.

Powerful new cultural currents have press ahead, wearing away the country's traditional moral consensus, Pope Benedict the XVI was to have told bishops visiting him Jan. 19.

Militant secularists strive to stifle the Church's proclamation of "unchanging moral truths,"
Benedict said.

Bishops told the pontiff of "concerted efforts" against the "right of conscientious objection...to cooperation in intrinsically evilpractices" - an apparent reference to proposals by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, opposed by the U.S. bishops, that all private health insurance plans cover surgical and artificial birth control.

New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference, addressed this and other matters in an op/ed piece in the Wall Street Journal this week.

An "engaged, articluate and well-formed Catholic laity" with the courage and critical skills to articulate the "Christian vision of man and society" is the proposed response to such threats, the pope stated.

Education of Catholics is essential to the "new evangelization," a highlight of Benedict's pontificate.

A pause and a prayer

The liturgy of the hours are the official prayer for Christians since the second Vatican Council in 1962-65.

When one's own words limp and fail to engage the Maker, conventional prayers, like the psalms that are a large part of the liturgy of the hours each day are clearly a big help to each of us.

Withe the penitential 40-day season of Lent starting Feb. 22nd, praying the liturgy of the hours would be a routine that merits the commitment, followed by the 50-day Easter season through Pentecost Sunday, a bigger celebration since Resurecction is BIG!

Intercessions, psalms, additional scriptural citations, a gospel canticle, and more, comprise the liturgy of the hours, that are ideally set to music since psalms are meant to be sung.

Luke 1:46-55 is a gospel canticle used during evening prayer, for example:

My soul proclaims the greeatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their consent.

You may want to open you bible for the remaining verses.

Prayer and pauses thorughout the day diminish stress and keep people connected with God.

To Life!

This memorial of the four decades since Roe v. Wade, January 22, 1973, merits mentioning,especially in light of the 40 million babies who have experienced death since that fateful decision.

To life!

Since World War II, neighbors seemed to have stopped being neighborly when front porches were deleted, and attached garages these days afford anonymity.

Similarly, life is on the wane since Roe v. Wade, sad to admit.

The quality of life ebbs.

"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal prtoection of the laws," the 14th Amendment clearly notes for us.

To life!

Ron Paul said in one of the debates that he was taught in medical school that he was dealing with two persons, mother and child, at birth. Yet, passion for life is little, and, the fight for life, and overturning of Roe v. Wade is met by many with a yawn.

The slippery slope of the preciousness of life in and outside the womb is alarming.

I'm for life in the womb and outside it!

Liberty and the right to life.

This foundational right to life merits defense today and always as the quality of life has been cheapened no end without the clarion call TO LIFE with enthusiasm, from the Greek, "God within."

My Motown, Michigan, Marriage, and, America Coming Apart

Division is in the land.

And, in my Motown of metropolitan Detroit, Michigan, and beyond, in America's marriages also.

In 2010, marriage was down 36 percentage points, one source notes.

In 1960, 94 percent of white upper middle class people between the age of 30-49 with at least a college education and working in managerial jobs, or, in high-status professions, were married.

Quite a drop among white working class people age 30-49 with no more than a high-school education in blue-collar, low-skill or service jobs.

And, secularism is up 21 percentage points among people who profess no religion or attend a worship service no more than once a year.

Is an American way of life in trouble as the working class seems less attracted to foundational institutions like marriage and religion?

I think so.

In fact, Macomb County, marriage and family advocates, are observing the third anniversary of the signing of a Community Marriage Policy (CMP) that numerous counties and city across the United States have endorsed.

On Monday, March 5th, for example, at 6 pm with a pot luck supper in Sacred Heart Church in Roseville, suburbanites are supporting the City of Detroit with a meal for the needy to promote neighborliness in a Love God/Neighbor Initiative that began in December. A 7 pm round table discussion on the state of marriage and family follows the meal donated by area restaurants.

And, the Macomb Community Marriage Policy (CMP) that was issued by a crowd of civic, clergy and citizens, March 6, 2009, will mark its anniversary when Roseville Mayor John Chirkun, among others gathered in Sacred Heart Church in Roseville, for strengthening marriage and family.

What's up with the statistics that show a new divide in the United States?

The research of Charles Murray, the W.H. Brady Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, merits close study in his new tome, Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010
(Crown Forum) out January 31, 2012.

Welcome Winter Wonderland

With snow in the metropolitan Detroit area, it seems that the winter wonderland we are known for is finally arriving.

What do you make of this weather?

Strange that it hass been so warm, isn't it?

Michigan's economy relies on the snow for the ski industry and more, so I'm grateful.

And those who ski down hill must appreciate it also.

Who is the patron saint of those who ski, do you know?

That vigorous sport needs all the help it can get you know.

Let me know if you are aware of that saint's name, please.

And, in the menatime enjoy this white wonderfland puff!