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

Citizenship

What is a citizen?

1) an inhabitant of a city or town; exp: one entitled to the rights and privileges of a freeman

2) a member of a state

3) a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it

4) a civilian as distinguished from a specialized servant of the state

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary

Why should we practice good citizenship?

Good citizenship should be practiced in every community. The good order of society comes from its citizens. The order of society is not necessary the voice of the people depending of the established government of that country. 

Citizenship in practice demonstrates loyalty to your country or state.

How does it apply in everyday life?

In applying citizenship we should:

.... looking out for our neighbor

.... being good neighbor

.... doing what is right

.... good moral standards

.... obeying the laws

.... volunteer in the community

Achieve

I recently watched a program about the human reaction to fight or flight. The test subjects were a SWAT team from the LA Police Dept. 

In the study, They monitored each team members heart rate, and breathing. The scenario was a simulated hostage situation.  The Team Leader was injected with Adrenalin to increase his heart rate to add stress to the simulation.

Once the exercise started, each members heart rate and breathing immediately increased. The team went through a realistic situation with loud noises, smoke, dark rooms and two assailants.

In the end the good guys win, but in reviewing the monitors, heart rates increased, but breathing leveled off and remain stable.  The SWAT team is continually trained on regulating breathing. This helps the oxygen flow to the blood enabling them to think clear and make quick decisions.

The exercise demonstrates the human ability to go beyond physical and emotional limits in stressful situations. The SWAT team resisted the flight mode of the human response and took control of their senses to respone to the fight.

The human response is not necessarly an automatic response. There is no limit to the human capaticy to achieve.  An Olimpic Weightlifter in their mind has no limit, just as the SWAT team could overcome fear.

We should always strive to achieve our best.

Leadership

Leadership as defined by Merrian-Webster dictoinary:

  Definition of LEADERSHIP

1: the office or position of a leader

2: capacity to lead

3: the act or an instance of leading

4: leaders - the party leadership

We see leadership in action everyday and the action is not necessarily in a management or lead position.

The role can be filled by anyone that has a positive influence on another person. A co-worker can encourage another employee in helping on a difficult project. Communities as a group demonstrate leadership in efforts to improve their neighborhoods. Leadership in religious activities can provide positive direction in faith. 

 

Leadership as defined - the act or instance of leading - is not a position, it can be a moment in time. 

 

Examples - Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Rosa Parks.  They demonstrated their leadership by their actions.

Arcade Post Office American Flag

The American Flag
Arcade Post Office
Nashville, TN

The American Flag

The American flag represents a nation based on freedom.

I will be posting pictures of the American flag at various locations.

My intent is to demonstrate the honor given to the flag that represents the United States. The locations will be as small as a desk flag to large flags flying over prominent buildings.

The next time you walk pass a flag pole take note and think about what it represents

Time

Time is constant it never changes. Why does time on some days speed up or slow down? In the course of a day the time varies depending on the events of the day.  In my younger days I thought time seem to slow down and nowdays seem much slower.   Why ? 

Faith

Christian faith is not just in the act of going to church on Sunday.  It is the action from your faith. The Grace received from God is what drives us to do good and avoid evil. The Church is a community of faith that bonds us in unity with Christ and his teachings. The Bible is the true guide for all Christians no matter the denomination. The Old and New Testaments are timeless.  The study of Sacred Scripture is now and forever the guidebook for a good and moral life.     

Change

Just some thoughts about change

The only thing constant is change

Every time we think that we are in the same old routine in the background change is taking place.

And then one day it seems as if change happen overnight, but in reality the change happen over a period of months or even years.

Skywarn

Skywarn volunteers for the National Weather Service are activated then large storms move across the United States. This service provides the reports that initiate the watch and warning system that is critical in saving lives.

2010

Planning For The New Year