9-11 First Responders

They went up.

Fireman Mike Kehoe and five other members of Engine 28 survived the collapse of Tower One. 

Six others from his station, Mike Quilty, Rich Kelly, Matt Rogan, Edward Day, Mike Cammarata and John Heffernan, did not.  

God bless the souls of those who did not survive and strengthen those who did and continue to suffer from the attack.

Appeals court upholds part of abortion law.

KRISTI EATON, Associated Press
September 2, 2011

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota can require doctors to tell women who seek abortions that they have an "existing relationship" with their fetus that is protected by law and that they can't be forced to undergo the procedure, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier's ruling two years ago in which she struck down the requirement, which is part of a larger law requiring South Dakota doctors to provide women with certain information before an abortion can be deemed voluntary.

The law mandates that the doctor must tell an abortion seeker that she "has an existing relationship with that unborn human being and that the relationship enjoys protection under the United States Constitution and under the laws of South Dakota."

Schreier found the wording misleading because she said a relationship, in the eyes of the law, can only exist between people and the Supreme Court has ruled that the unborn are not legally considered people.

The appeals court disagreed with Schreier's reasoning, agreeing with the state's argument that doctors would be providing patients with valid legal advice — that they can't be compelled to have an abortion — allowing patients to make more informed decisions.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-us-sd-abortion-ruling,0,5218086.story#start

In Remembrance of Me

by Ragan Courtney and Buryl Red

In remembrance of Me eat this bread
In remembrance of Me drink this wine
In remembrance of Me pray for the time
When God's own will is done

In remembrance of me heal the sick
In remembrance of me feed the poor
In remembrance of me open the door
And let your brother in, let him in

Take eat and be comforted
Drink and remember too
That this is my body and precious blood
Shed for you, shed for you

In remembrance of me search for truth
In remembrance of me always love
In remembrance of me don't look above
But in your heart, in your heart
Look in your heart for God

Do this in remembrance of Me
Do this in remembrance of Me
In remembrance of Me

Preaching

“Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words.” ascribed to St. Francis of Assisi

The Great Commission “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” Matthew 28:19

“…and I by my works will show you my faith.” James 2:18

In many countries of the world, especially in Asia, it is forbidden to proselytize. In India, Mother Teresa could not teach the gospel to anyone unless they asked it of her. In Saudi Arabia, Bibles are forbidden. In China, there is an official, state approved Church and an underground Church in union with Rome. In Western culture, religion is out-of-touch, passé, something not to be considered. For many, there are psychological wounds, which hinder their hearing the words of Jesus or believing them to be true. The sins of Christians work against the spreading of the Gospel. So, it is necessary to live the Gospel. The people converted by Mother Teresa saw the message of the Gospel in her work and wanted the faith. So, as St. Francis saw it, we must show others Jesus’ love in our actions.

Divine Direction

“Take one step at a time, every step under Divine warrant and direction. Ever plan for yourself in simple dependence on God. It is nothing less than self-idolatry to conceive that we can carry on even the ordinary matters of the day without his counsel. He loves to be consulted…Consider no circumstances too clear to need his direction. In all thy ways, small as well as great; in all thy concerns, personal or relative, temporal or eternal, let him be supreme. Who of us has not found the unspeakable ‘peace’ of bringing to God matters too minute or individual to be entrusted to the most confidential ear?… If in true poverty of spirit we go every morning to our Lord, as knowing not how to guide ourselves for this day; our eye constantly looking upward for direction, the light will come down. He shall direct thy paths…. Let the will be kept in a quiet, subdued, cheerful, readiness, to move, stay, retreat, turn to the right hand or to the left, at the Lord’s bidding; always remembering that is best which is least our own doing, and that a pliable spirit ever secures the needful guidance…. No step well prayed over will bring ultimate regret.” ~Charles Bridges

Copied from another blog (thanks Kitty) who copied from another blog.

Anchors (revisited)

Throughout our lives, as we encounter many joys and sorrows, because we are as humans social creatures, we turn to out anchors, family, friends, co-workers. We too often neglect our relationship with the ultimate anchor, God. We change jobs so we lose the anchor of co-workers. Friends may not be there for you because of time or distance. Family may be experiencing the same trouble so cannot be an anchor for you. The only one who can always be counted on is God. But, how can we turn to God if we largely ignore Him in our lives? He is always there ready to enfold us in His love. However, on our part, we may find it difficult to lean on Him if we do not usually include Him in our lives. Imagine calling a friend with whom you haven’t spoken or written to in many years and telling them of a great trial you are going through. It would be awkward at the very least. So it would be with God, on our part. If we wait to be with Him only in times of great need, we will have trouble leaning on Him, listening to Him, accepting His peace and graces. The Church, in its wisdom from being part of the Body of Christ, has required us to maintain a minimal contact with God by saying that is a serious sin if we neglect to worship God once a week through Mass on Sundays. The Mass-where we are compelled to be social, unlike private prayer, to be a member of the communion of saints. The Mass-where we are nourished with the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, compared to a meal with family or friends. The Mass-where we can lay our petitions and thanks before God in union with all in heaven and on earth. The Mass-where we offer to God the ultimate form of worship, Jesus on the Cross. The Mass-heaven on earth.

"So when God wanted to give the heirs of his promise an even clearer demonstration of the immutability of his purpose, he intervened with an oath, so that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope that lies before us.
This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil, where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."  Hebrews 6:17-20

Why Bother?

Why bother being a Catholic? Why bother going to Mass or the sacraments? Why bother living the Ten Commandments and the tenets of the Church? Why Bother?

Doing these things is a part of being in an intimate relationship with Jesus. The being is the important part, but one cannot be without the doing. However, doing things that are 'religious' are not of any value in themselves. Interacting with Jesus must be at the center of our doing. Everything that we may think of as 'religious' ultimately furthers intimacy with Jesus.

The closer we are to Jesus the more we are filled with His Love and Joy. We are meant to be so filled as to be able to say as Mary did, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior." Luke 1:46-47. Isn't that heaven, being intimate with God, as God intended with Adam and Eve? That heaven can start here on earth, with Jesus, the Eucharist.

Bother.

Freedom

What is freedom?  Is freedom the ability to do whatever we want, whenever we want, for whatever reason we want?  No, that is license.  An example of license is the abortion laws of this country.  Our freedom is only has worth if our actions respect the value of others.  When we do not then it becomes license and the freedom of everyone is diminished.