War Memorial Building American Flags

Pic of the War Memorial Building

Memorial Day

Just some thoughts from today.

I think it is strange when people said "Happy" Memorial Day. Its not a happy day, it is a day to honor those who have died for our country. I think this should be a somber day to reflect and to be grateful for those who gave their life for our freedom.

I went with my wife to the National Cemetery as we have constantly done for  at least the last 15 years. The people gathered there was small. I have never understood how people call themselves patriotic but never go to events like today or Veterans Day parades.

Freedom Is Not Free

Months

Wow, time sure does fly. I was thinking it had only been a couple of months since my last post and realized it's been since January. Maybe it was the cold winter hibernation.

I guess with all the news in the last few months it seems a little overwhelming.

I wonder if one day I'll watch the news and maybe somewhere in the broadcast there will be good news.

Star Route Truck

Made in the USA

The United States for a long time was known for its ability to manufacture quality products. I am on a search for those products. I realize that not all products are 100% American made, but that is my goal.

My mission is to promote and recognize companies that are proud to label their product Made in the USA.

Look for these post under Made in the USA  

Hope

Why is the symbol of hope an anchor?

“The anchor, because of the great importance in navigation, was regarded in ancient times as a symbol of safety. The Christians, therefore, in adopting the anchor as a symbol of hope in future existence, merely gave a new and higher signification to a familiar emblem. In Christianity's teachings, the virtue of hope occupies a place of great importance; Christ is the unfailing hope of all who believe in Him. St. Peter, St. Paul, and several of the early Fathers speak in this sense, but the Epistle to the Hebrews for the first time connects the idea of hope with the symbol of the anchor. The writers says that we have "Hope" set before us "as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm" (Hebrews 6:19-20). The hope here spoken of is obviously not concerned with earthly things but with heavenly things, and the anchor, as a Christian symbol, relates only to the hope of salvation. It ranks among the most ancient of Christian symbols.” Hassett, M. (1907).

What does hope mean to you?  Most would say longing for something they want or need, the hope for things in our lives. But what if we take the same question and say, what does hope mean from a spiritual point of view? I believe most would not have a quick answer.

Every new day is the hope of things to come and the hope of being with God. We must be careful not to let everyday needs override our union with God. In Catholicism, hope is one of the three theological virtues; faith, hope, and charity. The virtue of hope comes from the Divine. As we trust in God’s salvation that we will be in heaven one day united with the Trinity. 

What makes this difficult for most is that one can’t imagine what it would be like to live in eternity with God.

When we compare our spiritual hope to our everyday needs, it seems insignificant. This is not to say that our ordinary hopes and dreams should not be a priority, but we just have to put them in perspective. Our earthly hopes come and go, and as we grow older, our priorities change. But, our hope in God should be constant and never change.

“Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.” Doubleday (1989)

With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can remain focused on our ultimate end.

So, what happens when we lose hope? First, we have to look deep inside and ask why?  Being honest with ourselves can usually determine the root of being hopeless. We can start with prayer. Our faith in God is our strength when we are hopeless. And the strength of the people we interact with can build hope. St. Thomas Aquinas states;

“Sometimes it is not we ourselves who have the capacity to make something possible but someone helps us. Perception of difficulty alerts us and perception of achievability quickens our efforts; so hope inspires us to apply ourselves to action and to enjoy it.” Doubleday (1989)

Once the glimmer of hope is in us, it will dwell inside and begin to grow. We have to kindle hope like fire, always feeding it fuel to keep it burning. We must pray along with the fire that comes with the Holy Spirit to keep faith in God for the hope of heaven and our hopes on earth.

Prayer

Jesus, Help Me!

Let me come to You with humble trust in every need, saying, Jesus help me!

In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations, Jesus help me!

In the hours of loneliness, weariness and trials, Jesus help me!

In the failure of my plans and hopes; in disappointments, troubles and sorrows, Jesus help me!

When others fail me, and Your grace alone can assist me, Jesus help me!

When I throw myself on Your tender love as a Brother and Savior, Jesus help me!

 When my heart is cast down by failure to see any good come from my efforts, Jesus help me!

When I feel impatient, and my cross irritates me, Jesus help me!

When I am ill, and my head and hands cannot work and I am lonely, Jesus help me!

Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls and shortcomings of every kind, Jesus help me and never forsake me!

Apostolic (2007)

Photo - pixabay - OpenClipart-Vectors

The Anchor (as Symbol). In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved June 28, 2012 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01462a.htm

Doubleday (1989) Catechism of the Catholic Church. New York , p. 499

Apostolic Publishing Co. (2007) The Catholic Devotional. Oakdale, MN. p. 29

Jim Thorpe

In 1950, Thorpe was named the greatest athlete of the half-century. He excelled in football, and won the pentathlon and decathlon in the 1912 Olympics.

Grand Ole Opry American Flag

Cathedral of the Incarnation Bell Tower

4th of July

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.


John F. Kennedy, Inaugural address, January 20, 1961
35th president of US 1961-1963 (1917 - 1963)

Surrender at Saratoga

Surrender at Saratoga - Issued 1977

Jeremiah 17: 7-8

Blessed is the  man who trust in the Lord, whose hope is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream:It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit  

In the News Good or Bad

What to blog about?  I thought, so I checked Goggles news page. As I scrolled down through the different news stories and found nothing good or positive. So, I looked for something good to come out of something bad. 

I found the news story about Karen Klein, the 68 year old grandmother. She has worked in the school system for more than 20 years as a bus driver and now a bus monitor in Rochester, NY.

The events of her bad day started to unfold as on the children on the bus verbally attack her while video recording to later post on YouTube. 

Now, what good can come from this? To start as of Saturday the fundraising site  http://www.indiegogo.com/loveforkarenhklein  has raised over $600,000. The initial goal was $5,000 to send her on a nice vacation. The money currently raised would have taken her 35 years to save. Karen said in an interview she has no plans to press charges against the kids involved. Hopefully, this will raise awareness about elderly abuse and send the signal to the kids that are good to unite against abusive kids to stop this abuse.

I hope now that one bad thing has now turned into something good and with the money raised she could retire.

God bless her.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/06/22/donations-for-bullied-new-york-bus-monitor-approach-450000/?test=latestnews?test=latestnews#ixzz1ydZDyTCD

Religious Freedom

This stamp was issued in 1957.  

Issued on the 300th anniversary of a demonstration and resulting pact, by settlers at Flushing (now in N.Y.C.)

I wonder is this same stamp were issued today if there would be any arguments or debates about it.

Test of Fire: Election 2012 (Official HD Version - Catholic)

Flag Day

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved the design of a national flag.


Since 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14, Americans have commemorated the adoption of the Stars and Stripes by celebrating June 14 as Flag Day. Prior to 1916, many localities and a few states had been celebrating the day for years. Congressional legislation designating that date as the national Flag Day was signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1949; the legislation also called upon the president to issue a flag day proclamation every year.

Source: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jun14.html

Vote

If you are conservative, live in the United States, and a state that is a primary/caucasus state get out and vote.

Nashville Main Office US Postal Service American Flag

Faith

Faith is the substance of what we hope for, the evidence of what we cannot see, says the letter to the Hebrews. Faith is a disposition we characterize by the activity of believing it disposes us to, and that activity we characterize by the object believed in. Now believing is an assent of mind commanded by the will, so faith's activity relates to its object both as to a good willingly pursued and as to a truth mentally assented to. Moreover, being a theological virtue in which goal and object are identical, the way the object is faith's goal will correspond to the way it is its object. Now faith's object is unseen Truth itself and whatever else we assent to because of that Truth. So faith's goal is also Truth itself as unseen, that is to say unachieved yet hoped for. So Hebrews expresses the way faith relates to Truth as goal, the object willed, by saying Faith is the substance, or seed, of what we hope for, since what we hope for is to see openly the Truth we already assent to by faith. 

From: Summa Theologiae
          A Concise Translation
          Timothy McDermott

Smartphones

Will the Smartphone make us unsociable?

I attended a business class several months ago to accomplish two things, to learn something and to network with business professionals. At our first break I was ready to network. I was ready to discuss the class or to connect with like-minded people, maybe even a job connection. But to my surprise every person in the class turned on their phone. I had a "regular" mobile phone. I wanted to network but it seemed as if I would disturb my classmates if I talked to them while they were using their Smartphone.

I experience often while on the elevator at work the unsociable side of Smartphone’s. People will automatically read their emails or surf the net. No greetings or conversations. Again, interrupting someone almost seems rude. I didn’t quite understand why everyone was so fascinated with their phones. I had a flip phone at the time and I thought I was somewhat current with the latest gadgets, until I decided to upgrade to a Smartphone.

I now have the latest in Smartphone technology. I understand now the fascination with this technology. I have the world at my fingertips. But one thing I will not do is be unsociable. I make conscience effort to not focus my attention on my phone when I'm interacting with people.

Smartphone’s can make us more sociable with Twitter and Facebook, but let’s not forget to turn off the phone and interact with the people around us.

Being sociable and interacting with one another is better when it is done face to face.