State Fair

The State Fair is one of those places that I attend every year. The memories of my childhood on the midway rides to dating my wife.

This time of year reminds me that the fall season is approaching and the end of summer.

The Fair is a time to connect with the past when a work day might have consisted of working in the fields during harvest time. It also gives me a chance to learn about the future of farming.

I always look forward to the month of September.

Stamps - US Merchant Marine

Just some observations

I went to the store the other day to look for a get-well card, for a friend recovering from an operation. The first four cards were offensive.

What happen to the Hallmark cards?

I was wondering if I would ever find the right card. 

Have we come to a point in society where being offensive in a good thing?

I eventually found a card. No one should have to wonder about the contents of a simple card.


And another observation...



Driving around town sooner or later you will hear a car radio blasting away. But, I have noticed lately people with smart phones are blasting music either from the phone speaker or ear buds.

Why must I be forced to listen to someone’s music from their mobile phone?

And again some of the music is offensive.
 
Society is accepting this behavior. If any of my two observations had happen in the past I believe society would not have tolerated such behavior.

God's Will

To exist is actually to possess our own natural form; to know actually to possess the form of what we know. When things haven't got their natural form and perfections they seek them and do not rest till they have them; and in things lacking awareness we call this tendency towards their natural good their natural desire. In the same way things with understanding have a natural tendency to seek whatever they understand as good, not resting till they possess it; and this tendency we call will. So anything that has understanding has will, just as anything that has sense-perception has animal desire. We call will a desire or an appetite, through it doesn't only desire what it doesn't have but also loves and takes delight in what it does have. And this is how will exists in God, who eternally possesses the good which delights his will, since it is nothing other than his substance.

Summa Theologiae
A Concise Translation
Edited By Timothy McDermott

Football

Intercollegiate Football Centenary

September 26, 1969 in New Brunswick, NJ

Stamps Issued - 129,860,000

Courthouse American Flag

Courthouse Nashville

Moderation

We are all aware that "moderation" is a good rule for health - exercise moderately, eat the same way - drink in moderation but moderation should be taken in moderation. For example - should a man be moderately faithful to his wife? How about your banker - is he moderately honest? That school bus driver - moderately good driver? Somehow I hope the plane I take to L.A. is more than moderately safe. How about in the operating room- the man with the scalpel in his hand - does he have a moderately good record of success with this type of op.? Have you met your son's fiancee - she insists she's a moderately virtuous young woman.

From Ronald Reagan - The Notes (2011) 

Free Will

Free will is like forks in a road. When we come to a juncture in our life where we have to make a decision. All the roads are clearly marked with both good and bad. God has his signs posted along with the others. Our decisions to which path will ultimately take will give results to the wrong or right decision. When we take the wrong road we realize we must change directions. And that is when the signs from God are the most obvious. The more we practice understanding our strengths and weakens of our free will the ability to see the signs of God will be clear.

Mail

I have been following the news lately on the status of the US Postal Service. The last update was that within the next 10 years the US Postal Service would be delivering only 3 days a week.

How did this happen? Historically, it started with the telegraph and overtime faxes and e-mails.

I'm the first to acknowledge that e-mail is very convenient. But, if I receive a hand-written letter in the mail I'm more apt to open it immediately, where as the flood of e-mails I'm more selective in what I open.

I can't image what it would be like not to have regular mail delivery or even worst no postal system as we know it today.

Think about it. We rely heavily on our infrastructure and if there is a total collapse meaning no electricity and no phones. Our only means of distant communication would be the mail system.

The next time you go to your mailbox think about how it would be if this was your only means of communication.

Making New Memories

Memories, yes I know he is going to talk about something that happened a long time ago and this is a sure sign of old age.

I think for this post it will be about making new memories.

Once we stop thinking about the present day we stop making new memories. If we dwell in the past we can never create new memories. Think about the course of your day, for most of us it can be routine. Now take a day or even a week and review it, did you create any new memories? The routine of everyday life can be the small moments that we will reflect back on one day. Technology can help. Mobile phones have both camera and camcorder. History can be recorded at your fingertips and make those new memories.   

 Try to look at everyday day as a new adventure.

James 1: 26-27

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Ethical Politics

Is this even possible?

Should we hold politicians to a higher standard?

Should we accept unethical practices in government?

In a democracy this should not be an acceptable practice. The politicians that represent the people should be of the highest standard. Moreover the people that vote should consider the candidates ethical practices.

If politicians do not hold themselves to a higher standard and fall to corruption and unethical practices, it is our right to take them out of office.      

Yorktown

2 cent - Surrender at Yorktown

First Day - October 19, 1931

Issued 25,006,400

Farming the West

2 cent - Farming the West

Earliest Date Used - June 19, 1898

159,720,800 issued

South Pittsburg, TN - American Flag

1939 John Adams

2 cent - John Adams

2 cent - John Adams

 January 27, 1939

Issued about 360 million

Sirach 4:20-24

20 Use your time well; guard yourself from evil, and bring upon no shame. 21 There is a sense of shame laden with guilt, and a shame that merits honor and respect.  22 Show no favoritism to your own discredit; let no one intimidate you to your own downfall. 23  Refrain not from speaking at the proper time, and hide not away your wisdom; 24  For it is through speech that wisdom becomes known, and knowledge through the tongue's rejoinder.

The Sounds that Move Us

Music can move us in many ways:

It can make you happy or sad

It can instill pride as a national anthem is playing

It can go the depths of our inner soul by the sound of Church hymns

It can change the way we think by the meaning of the lyrics

It can unite us by hearing the chants for your favorite sports team

It can have links to our heritage by the songs and melodies of a homeland

The Magisterium of the Church

85    The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living, teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.  86    Yet this Magisterium is not superior to the Word of God, but is its servant. It teaches only what has been handed on to it. At the divine command and with the help of the Holy Sprit, it listens to this devotedly, guards it with dedication, and expounds it faithfully. All that it proposes for belief as be divinely revealed is drawn form this single deposit of faith.

Catechism of the Catholic Church - Second Edition
                             

Courage

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.

Ambrose Redmoon