Dash

Brief line behind birth,

wet paste wiped from unfirm scalp,

pubescent toads, divorce disgust,

marriage & more black lines,

thickly short, levitating flower

of gestation longer than love’s lifespan,

as ominous as its end, you bloom

my adoration of living poets;

dead poets have diminished

your boldness, gravity, a natural tear

for the wonder of what color sun

will succumb to your right hip.

- Melanie Henderson

"So much to be thankful for"

Isn’t it funny how God works in this world? Sometimes He is so quiet that we don’t even know He is there. At other times He will put up a billboard in order to get our attention. As we conclude this Thanksgiving I am in awe of all that I have to be thankful for. I have my beautiful family, my friends,  and so many other things. With all that God gives, us you would think that believing in Him would be easy, but sometimes it’s not. Like the poor, doubt is always with us.  Doubt can masquerade as one of our comfort zones.  We get comfortable where we are, whether it is in our believing, or our doubts. We are spiritually stalled and then suddenly there He is,  challenging our doubts and giving us a nudge just when we really need it the most.

Many times do I question these gifts of the Spirit, and each time God patiently shows me my doubts are unwarranted.  I was very blessed the other morning when, after experiencing doubt the previous day concerning the direction of my spiritual path,  I prayed and asked God for His confirmation in what I am doing.  I was reading my morning news and there on one of the websites I view each day, was the story of a person who has almost identical spiritual experiences to mine. Not only did I get to read her story, but I was also blessed in being able to speak with her. She confirmed for me that God is doing this with many people. How very good it felt to believe in it once again.  I shared with her a message which had some “warnings” associated with it. I told her I did not write this message, because I did not want people thinking I was forecasting fear about the end of the world. She reminded me that it’s not mine to hold on to the messages He has given to me, and that I had an obligation to be obedient and share them.

So, I send a heartfelt “Thank You” to my new found sister in the Body of Christ for sharing her story and reminding me to take courage in sharing what I have been given.  I will record for you today what He shared with me. These messages never leave me with a feeling of fear, instead they leave me with a feeling of hope.  As I record what He said to me, you will see that He was also encouraging me to continue being obedient and to do what He has asked of me.  As always, please pray and discern. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

10/15/2009  &  10/16/2009

Lord: Yes my son it is I your Lord and God and Father. Be at peace my child, tell all of my children to be at peace. I am hard at work solving the issues of the world and I do not fail. I am never late. Remember the precepts? It is through obedience that you weaken the devil. Do not worry about him, for I will take care of him. Instead take care of your neighbor. Spread love, not fear. Do not get caught up in the media,  for its job is to keep you entrenched with it, good or bad. My son, spend some time with me in prayer instead. Give up one of your TV programs and instead of watching useless television shows come with me so we can develop your soul. Nurture it for a while and you will be surprised at what will happen to you in your life. My son spend time with me developing virtues and you can change the world. Do not,  and you get what you have now; a ruthless society of selfish and faithless people ( my children). Make time for me, you will be happy you did. That is all, go in peace my son. I love you, amen.

A few minutes later~

Yes my son your mission will begin. To spread my word to my lost children in and out of the church. You are chosen for this work, be at peace. It is a blessing not a curse. You are very special to me in my plan of salvation as I expose to the world the reality of my being and the weight of their sins. My son I love all of my children so much, as only a father could. I have literally given my life for them (in Jesus) and I would do it again in a second. My love knows no boundaries. It’s depths, its heights and its widths are greater than anything known to man. My son,  soon many things will start to happen in this world. Some may see me in them, others will not. It is a gift and a choice. For those who see me there will be no doubt, for those who don’t there will never be enough proof. Until it comes my son, where they stand before me and answer for all that I have given them and all that I have asked of them to do. For no one escapes me. Not here, not anywhere. Learn from Jonah, you cannot hide in this world. I know where you are at all times, as I showed Adam in the garden. My child the time has almost come to reveal to mankind that of which they have chosen not to believe in. That I am God. That I am all-merciful, I am all loving, but I am also a judge. So many will see their sins and not be able to live with what they see. Others will Harden themselves harder than when they began. The chosen few, by their will and my love for them, will answer my call. That is all it will take to turn this world around and back to me their God. My word has been sent, it shall not return to me void. ( personal part omitted at this time) obedience my son, obedience. That is the word I have sent to you. Be obedient and all things shall be done for you. This is, in itself, Matthew chapter 6 verses 25 through 34. If the world was obedient the devil would flee, for nothing would come of his efforts. But the world is disobedient, and because of this you reap what you sow. I allow, I chastise, but most of all I love. I love all of you. No one more than the other, you are all my children. I gave my son’s life for you, which one of you would do the same? Especially for a stranger, or if you could imagine…. your enemies? That is your challenge my children, go out and love. Love with my love, not yours. Yours is wounded, it has missing pieces. Yours is distraught, but mine is pure. Mine is not political. I am love. I am God. So please my children heed my words, for the time is coming and you must be prepared. Be at peace my child, this is a message for all of my children. My son your time is coming as well. The time for you to go out amongst the lost and the chosen and stand up bravely and proudly for what I have given you; the gift of my words which must be spoken. That is why I have called you. Now go my son. Go in peace. I love you, amen.

Here is this letter going around the internet that I thought should be read by as many people as possible.  Levae me your comments on it; Cray I know Huh!!!!

IF THIS TEACHER HAS THE NERVE TO SEND THIS, WE SHOULD HAVE THE NERVE
TO FORWARD IT.  SHE WILL PROBABLY LOSE HER JOB.  

The truth of the matter is thst the unemploymeny shows lower simply because so many have lost or exhausted their benefits or did not qualify for the last extension:

Wary consumers, rising unemployment snag recovery

WASHINGTON – The economy is not growing as fast as the government first thought and the recovery still faces significant obstacles, including households nervous about spending and rising unemployment.

Economists expect new reports Wednesday to give a better picture of how things are shaping up for the final three months of the year.

New filings for unemployment benefits likely will show a slight improvement while consumer spending should post a rebound in October after an auto-related plunge in September. Sales of new homes are expected to grow, propelled by first-time buyers taking advantage of a special tax credit.

Even with signs of strength, economists worry the recovery could falter if consumer spending, which makes up 70 percent of economic activity, drops in the face of unemployment that is already at the highest point in 26 years and is expected to keep rising.

Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect that new applications for unemployment benefits dipped to 500,000 last week, from 505,000 the previous week. The four-week average for claims posted its 11th consecutive decline last week, falling to 514,000, the lowest level in a year.

The number of people receiving continuing claims is expected to fall slightly to 5.58 million for the week ended Nov. 14, from 5.61 million in the previous week.

Still, such slight improvements will not be enough to keep the unemployment rate from rising. The jobless rate hit 10.2 percent in October and many analysts believe it will keep rising to 10.5 percent or higher before starting to improve next summer.

Some employers are continuing to lay off workers. Struggling Internet company AOL last week said it plans to cut up to 2,500 jobs, more than a third of its work force, once it is spun off from the media conglomerate Time Warner Inc. And Hartford, Conn.-based health insurer Aetna Inc. said it will cut 625 jobs, or nearly 2 percent of its staff, and will make similar job cuts in the first quarter of 2010 due to the lagging economy and the potential impact of health care reform.

Federal Reserve policymakers said at their November meeting that the unfolding recovery likely will be gradual with the unemployment rate probably remaining elevated over the next several years, according to minutes of the discussions released Tuesday.

The weak jobs market, which is depressing incomes, is keeping a lid on consumer spending. Economists expect personal incomes rose 0.2 percent in October, better than the flat reading in September. They expect consumer spending to increase 0.5 percent in October, after falling 0.5 percent in September.

The spending rebound likely will reflect that car sales recovered last month after a plunge in September following the end of the government’s popular Cash for Clunkers sales incentives.

While a 0.5 percent rise in consumer spending would get the fourth quarter off to a solid start, economists worry such spending is unsustainable.

On the housing front, sales of new homes likely rose to an annual rate of 410,000 homes in October, from 402,000 in September, according to Thomson Reuters.

But like the rebound in consumer spending, the worry is that the strength in October reflects temporary factors that will fade in the months ahead. Sales of existing homes soared 10.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.1 million units in October, the National Association of Realtors reported Monday.

It was the biggest monthly increase in a decade but reflected a rush by first-time buyers to take advantage of a tax credit of up to $8,000 that had been scheduled to expire in November. Congress earlier this month extended the credit until next spring.

The overall economy grew at an annual rate of 2.8 percent in the July-September quarter, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. That was down from an initial estimate of 3.5 percent growth in the third quarter, as consumer spending was weaker than initially estimated.

Many economists believe that growth will continue at around a 2.5 percent rate in the current quarter but will slip to perhaps 1.5 percent in the first half of next year as the impact from the government’s $787 billion stimulus program begins to fade.

This really funny!! enjoy the laugh for one must laugh for laughter is the key to happiness.

Take a look at this new exposure crazy crazy!!!

The Fed Fears a New Mortgage Crisis
by Claus Vogt

Although the number was just revised downward, the U.S. economy still expanded by 2.8 percent during the third quarter. So it definitely looks like the recession is history.

What’s more, last Thursday the Conference Board published its Leading Economic Indicator (LEI) for October. This indicator has a strong predictive history, having predicted each recession since the early 1960s as well as the one we’ve just gone through.

Right now the LEI is not forecasting a return of the recession. Quite to the contrary … the October reading was again very strong. Year over year the LEI was up by 4.2 percent, the seventh consecutive increase. And the LEI’s historical record strongly supports a continuation of economic growth during the coming quarter.

With so much good news, I have to ask …

What Does the Fed Fear, Then?

Why are Fed members continually reiterating the current zero percent interest rate policy?

Why are they assuring us that this policy will continue “for an extended period?”

What are they afraid of?

Do they see or know something we don’t?

Why are Fed members sticking to their zero percent interest rate policy?

The past few years have clearly demonstrated that the Fed members didn’t have a clue about the consequences of the real estate bubble, which they themselves inflated. And after the crisis hit, they kept underestimating it at each step along the way.

Moreover, if you had listened to Bernanke and his pals in regards to your personal finances, your losses would be huge!

This sad showing obviously did nothing to shake their self-efficacy or arrogance. They still want us to believe that they are the puppet masters behind the economy — at least in boom times. And during a bust they want us to believe that they alone are in possession of a remedy.

It seems as though they totally lack trust in the free market forces. Instead they desperately want to fix things by decree and money printing.

So why do they keep advertising an ultra lax monetary policy even now, after the economy is starting to recover?

Because They Know Another
Mortgage Mess Is in the Offing

The Fed is well aware of the mortgage reset schedule for the coming years. And they’re probably well aware of a major problem out there, too … a problem at least as severe as the subprime mess.

I’m talking about mortgages like Alt-A and Option-ARMs. A huge wave of resets is due to commence soon.

From the second quarter of 2010 until the fourth quarter of 2011, hundreds of billions of dollars in these mortgages will reset to much higher rates! And many of them will end up becoming delinquent.

Here’s why …

Aggravating the situation is the fact that most of these mortgages were taken out when the housing bubble was at its height. So now, the loan-to-value ratios for many homes will be obscenely high.

This means a tsunami of write-downs for the banking sector, probably as huge as the subprime write-downs. And it means a huge wave of foreclosures on borrowers who can’t afford the new, higher monthly payments.

The ability to service a debt does not depend on rising GDP figures. It depends strongly on current income. That’s why high (and rising) unemployment rates are very bad news for the housing market and for the banks — again.

Mortgage resets are bound to increase the number of foreclosures.This investment news is brought to you by Money and Markets. Money and Markets is a free daily investment newsletter from Martin D. Weiss and Weiss Research analysts offering the latest investing news and financial insights for the stock market, including tips and advice on investing in gold, energy and oil. Dr. Weiss is a leader in the fields of investing, interest rates, financial safety and economic forecasting. To view archives or subscribe, visit http://www.moneyandmarkets.com.From Mr. Wes Hopper;  http://www.CreateSuccessSeminars.com/spiritual “As long as I have a want, I have a reason for living. Satisfaction is death.”             George Bernard Shaw Most people are satisfied much too easily. Once they’ve got the basics of life taken care of, they settle in for the long haul. No pesky thoughts of having a purpose, creating an inspiring vision, or making a difference in the world are allowed to disturb their daily routine. As Earl Nightingale once said, “Most people tiptoe through life, hoping to make it safely to death.” That’s satisfaction. When you think that what you have is “good enough” you’ve arrived at spiritual death. The truth is that there is a part of you, the deepest, most eternal part of you, that is never satisfied, but is always for expansion and greater expression. You can, and should be happy and grateful for what you have, but never satisfied. You know you have more to learn, more to give, more to achieve. It’s not about accumulating “stuff” but about following the calling of your heart. There’s something only you can do and the rest of us are depending on you to do it. So be happy and grateful, but never satisfied. Follow that upward urge wherever it leads you. We’ll cheer you on!

“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving.” – Psalm 95:2

 This is a time of year when we use a lot of our words to tell other people what we are thankful for in life. The list includes: food, shelter, employment, family…and goes on and on. But Christians know, that without the love of God, none of those things would be possible.

 On this Thanksgiving Day, remember that God also desires, (and requires), a heart of gratitude and thanks. Give thanks today not for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon you, but also, for all He has been for you; your provider, guider, confidant…

 Take time to realize how much you need to express your gratitude, not just today, but every day. Giving the Lord your thanks, says you know you are not in charge; not self-sufficient. It is the Lord God who enables all of you to be, and makes ways for you to become, all He desires and purposes in you for the furtherance of His kingdom.

 Also remember the every day people in your life today. No one tires of hearing the words “Thank you”.  Some where in the busy-ness of life, we have lost the art of saying and showing how grateful we are for those we see and interact with every day.  Today is a day to find ways, and the words to say how much each person means to you.  I assure you, they will not mind.

 ~ ~ Lord, remind me that giving thanks is an exercise of the heart and truly is a gift to those on the receiving end. Help me to realize how much I need to express my gratitude. You desire it, and it is a requirement of mine. I humble myself before you Lord, and give you thanks and praise for just being the God of my life. AMEN! ~ ~

I often wonder above and beyond all things, what is it that draws people to each other?

Sure certain circumstances cause people to cross paths, strike up conversations, find common ground… but what is it that makes a person stay so linked to another person?

Why do we feel love? affection? adoration?
Why do we find some people smarter? humorous? sensitive?

To each their own too… People are perceived differently by different people.

So why is it that we feel the way we do?

And time is not a factor. That variable doesn’t change anything.

I find it so intriguing.

And it’s not just between the opposite sexes. Platonic friendships can have just as strong a bond.

Why is this? I’d love some insight.

Many thanks to my good friend, Carl Hill,  in Oklahoma City for this simple outline and powerful message!

———————————————————————————————————————————

TEXT: James 5:13-18

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

The people of God pray for many reasons, usually out of a particular need or urgency. James is telling us in this passage that we are to pray for those in the church who are sick or afflicted, and not only pray for them but pray with the faith and power of the prophet Elijah. As the example shows, he was a regular person, just like you and me. Yet his prayers had the power to shut up heaven for 3 1/2 years and call down fire from God as he contested the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (see 1 Kings 18:21-39). The point is that our prayers can possess the same power as we demonstrate our faith in Jesus Christ. Pray for one another, pray often, and pray believing.

WHY DO WE PRAY?

(1) We Pray to Adore and Praise Our Great God

Psalms 150

1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

This is vital to a full and rewarding prayer life. The simple act of recognizing our great God as the supreme creator and ruler places us in an attitude of worship and reveals to God our desire to commune with Him. He is the One we need. He is the only One who can meet our needs. We should begin praying by focusing on how great and powerful He is and understand our place before Him as loved, forgiven, and redeemed through of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

(2) We Pray to Admit Sin and Our Need of Forgiveness

Psalms 86:5

5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

The admission of sin is an agreement with God that we have violated His holiness. We are all born sinners and are forgiven when we ask Jesus Christ to forgive our sins and save us. Obviously, this doesn’t mean that we stop sinning. In fact, we live in a world surrounded by sin and we still have our “old sin nature” within us. We need to confess sin. We need to be reminded just how much we need God every day. As the verse states, when we confess our sins, God is ready to forgive and restore our fellowship with Him. The same idea is conveyed in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

(3) We Pray to Acknowledge His Goodness In Our Lives

1 Thessalonians 5:18

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

How marvelous are the works of our great and loving God in our lives everyday. We should take time, in prayer, to say, “thank you, Lord,” and share with Him how meaningful His provision, protection and care are. As we closely examine our lives, God’s hand will become more and more evident and we’ll soon be thanking Him for things we never truly considered before. This is an important step towards maturing in Christ. Our lives will become a “living testimony” to the goodness of God. Our faith will increase and every day will be a day of thanksgiving in our hearts.

(4) We Pray to Ask For Our Wants and Needs

Matthew 7:7

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Why do we often feel like we’re imposing on God when we ask Him for something? He loves us, much greater than an earthly father or mother could. He wants us to be happy more than we want to be happy. He wants us to succeed more than we want to succeed. He delights in giving His children the desires of their hearts. So don’t be timid, don’t be afraid. Ask God for the things your heart desires.

CONCLUSION:

Adore, admit, acknowledge, and ask – these are important keys to an intimate commune with Holy God. Open your heart and don’t be afraid to be yourself. Leave out the flowery, church-speak and just talk to Him. He loves each of us so much and desires fellowship (a sit-down and talk) time with us every day.

The World Is But The Window To What We Really Want Out of Life So We must Be Able To See The Unseen We Can Do This Even A Glimpse Just Look For It

Dirty Secrets of Black Friday ‘Doorbusters’

by Parija B. Kavilanz
Friday, November 20, 2009provided by

Here are a few things bargain-hungry consumers need to know before they hit stores before dawn the day after Thanksgiving.

Here’s a Black Friday reality check: Of the hordes of pre-dawn shoppers who line up for hours outside stores on the day after Thanksgiving, most will not bag the best bargains that appear in merchants’ circulars.

Look at the fine print that appears next to an advertised “doorbuster deal” at the bottom of the page in this year’s circulars.

It will either say “While supplies last,” “Minimum 2 per store,” “No rainchecks” or “All items are available in limited quantities.”

A quick scan through a few of this year’s Black Friday circulars show quantities as low as a “minimum of 5 per store” on some models of large plasma and HDTVs and popular brands of home appliances such as a washer-dryer pair.

Should Black Friday deal hunters feel cheated? Yes they should, say some retail experts.

“It’s a sleazy practice,” said Craig Johnson, retailing expert and president of retail consulting group Customer Growth Partners.

“I am old school,” said Johnson. “If a retailer is advertising a juicy deal and they are not prepared to have in sufficient quantity, don’t advertise it. Or give consumers a raincheck.”

Johnson said it’s not enough for retailers to mention that they’ll have such limited quantities of a product on one of the most-hyped shopping days of the year.

“Retailers aren’t winning any customers. They are just pissing off people,” he said. “It’s poor retailing practice.”

Unfortunately for consumers, more examples abound.

CNNMoney.com spoke to industry experts to uncover a few dirty secrets of Black Friday deals.

Limited quantities: Advertising a Black Friday deal as “limited quantities” is bogus, said Johnson.

“The only time it makes sense to have only two or three [items] in stock is if the deal is on a $2 million gift product that appears in the Neiman Marcus holiday catalog,” he said.

Edgar Dworsky, a consumer advocate and editor of Consumer World, agreed with Johnson.

“C’mon guys. Give me a break,” said Dworsky. “How can you be the size of a retailer like Sears and only get a minimum of five per store, yet devote big space in your circular to advertise that deal?

Sears (SHLD, Fortune 500) has not officially revealed its Black Friday sales. However, the company confirmed to CNNMoney.com that two of its post-Thanksgiving deals include a Samsung 40-inch 1080p LCD HDTV for $599.99, “Only while quantities last, minimum three per store, no rainchecks.”

The other is a Kenmore 3.5-cubic-foot high-efficiency washer and 5.8-cubic foot dryer pair for $579.98, “Limit four per store, no rainchecks.”

“Sure, you probably have more, but how do you put out a circular to millions of households and only have three?,” Dworsky asked.

When asked for a comment, Sears spokesman Tom Aiello said he was “not comfortable” addressing the issue of limited quantities for some Black Friday deals.

Such short supply on deals are not only annoying but can also be dangerous to Black Friday shoppers.

“We saw the stampede at a Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500) store in New York last year on Black Friday that led to an employee’s death,” said Burt Flickinger, managing director of consulting firm Strategic Resource Group. “The stampede happened because so many of the deals were advertised as limited supply.”

One retailer, while not explaining why its advertised deals are in such limited supplies, said it is taking measures to better handle the Black Friday rush.

“From going down the line and handing out doorbuster tickets that guarantee a purchase in advance of the store opening, to printing the minimum quantities in the circular, we go to great lengths to ensure that the Black Friday consumer knows exactly how many items will be at the store and whether or not they will be able to purchase one prior to entering the store,” Best Buy (BBY, Fortune 500) wrote in an e-mail.

What do you mean this HDTV is a “derivative?” Some of the holiday electronics with those low sale prices are derivatives, models that have a few less features than a standard model in that product line, said Dworsky.

The difference can be subtle. “The image contrast ratio might be 20,000 in a derivative model versus 30,000 in a standard model,” he said. “Most consumers probably won’t even notice the difference.”

A report earlier this month in Consumer Reports called attention to HDTV models from Samsung and Sony advertised in Black Friday deals that appear to be “derivatives.” The report said these one-off TVs “with unfamiliar model numbers” are usually cheaper than the standard model in their class.

Dworsky cautions that retailers usually don’t advertise these models as derivatives. “There’s no way the average consumer will know that the TV model they are buying is not the standard one unless they are savvy enough to compare their model numbers,” he said.

Which Black Friday deals are online? “Many retailers will say that their Black Friday deals are available online,” said Dworsky. “But they’re not nice enough to tell you which ones.”

“How about telling me which exact ones so I can shop online from home and I’m not in my pajamas at 5 a.m. in front of your store,” he said.

Online deals that never get shipped: Case in point: Sears. Last year, one of Sears’ hottest Black Friday doorbuster deal was on a Kenmore washer-dryer pair for $600.

Even though the retailer advertised that deal to be in “limited quantities,” the company decided to honor every customer order made on that deal last Black Friday.

Big mistake. The manufacturer could not ramp up production fast enough. Some customers waited months before their order was shipped. Others were sold a substitute model, that was “comparable or even better” for the same deal price, said Sears’ Aiello.

Lesson learned. “We will not be doing that again this year,” he said.

Be careful if you’re shopping online on Black Friday, said Dworsky.

“Since retailers don’t have a live inventory online you run the risk of getting an e-mail weeks later that your order had been delayed or worse, canceled, because the product is out of stock,” he said.

About those rainchecks: Finally, if a retailer does offer you a raincheck on a deal, it could still turn out to be an empty promise, Flickinger warned.

“A raincheck doesn’t guarantee that you will eventually get that elusive Black Friday deal,” he said. “Consumers can go weeks waiting and hoping, and the retailer may never get more of the product shipped to its stores.” 

Copyrighted, CNNMoney. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.tviexpress.com/santini1

Vaccine system remains antiquated

New production techniques are mostly years away from being implemented

Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Follow up with the previous blog(Our responsibility) I post.

We are imperfect people and we  all have fallen short(Romans 3:23) but that doesn’t give us an excuse to neglect our responsibility and sole purpose. We are to die for ourselves and live for Him(Galatians 2:20). To die is gain and to live is Christ(Philippians 1:21).

Nicole and I go through this cycle all the time and I bet most other Christians. We struggle on our relationship and walk on the Lord because we lack the discipline to build our life around Him. We are trying to build Him around our life when He is supposed to be the center of our very being, our essence.

Nicole texted me this awhile back after not being able to meet for at least 3 weeks: We fail at life

And I responded with: Yes, we are failing so bad

Indeed we are because no amount of success and pleasure can measure to being one  with God.  Being contented in Him. Everything that is God comes from Him. Savoring things without His presence and recognition can only feel good at the surface,it doesn’t last. We can’t experience good without Him because all that is good is created by Him.

Apart from Him we are nothing.

Only a life that is live for Him counts, the rest fades away into comparison.

“We are to live for Christ. We are to pursue Him in every areas of it“. I have to remind myself of that every time.

He should be the end to my every need and desire. He should be enough.

It should be  a complete surrender of my life, take up my Cross and follow Him(Mark 8:34).

We do it all for Him not out of obligation but out of love.We love Him because He first loved us(1 John 4:19).

..Flesh and Bone

LNS was this past weekend, and it was freaking amazing. It wasn’t as emotional as retreats have been for me before, but that’s not necessarily bad..Adoration was so beautiful and peaceful. It was great to meet new people, reconnect with old friends, and get closer to current friends. One of the best things was fixing the somewhat broken bond I had with one of my best friends…

Brian Kim from Sungsam gave us a great idea. Mina, Heidi and I did our very first oovoo Rosary! Tell me if you want to join us next week!

Life is good.

Today is Christ the King Sunday.
Psalm 110:3a ESV
Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments.

We rest in You, dear Lord. We rest in You. Forgive us our sins that we may draw closer and rest in You. Amen.

Today, in our 7th grade Pre-Confirmation class, parents were invited to come to class for orientation of the upcoming year and review of the last 9 classes.  We opened with a review of “incarnation” and the “Angelus” for an opening prayer.  Then I reviewed the different prayer types with B.A.P.T.i.S.M..  Then we played Jeopardy!

“Angelus” Prayer
(The Angel of the Lord)

[Lead:]  The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
[ALL:]  And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
HAIL MARY, full of grace …

[Lead:]  Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
[ALL:]  Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
HAIL MARY, full of grace …

[Lead:]  And the Word was made flesh,   [bow during]
[ALL:]  And dwelt among us.
HAIL MARY, full of grace …

[Lead:]  Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
[ALL:]  That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

[Lead:]  Let us pray.
[ALL:]  Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord,
Thy grace into our hearts;  that we,
to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son,
was made known by the message of an angel,
may by His Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of His Resurrection,
through the same Christ Our Lord.
AMEN.

Types of prayers … B.A.P.T.i.S.M.

• BLESSING – invoke God’s power for a person, place or activity
• ADORATION – the “created” before the Creator
• PRAISE – glory God (for who He is)
• THANKSGIVING – gratitude (for what He does)
• i ASK for ME (petition) + OTHERS (intercession)
• SORRY – ask of forgiveness
• MEDITATION – tuning into God, reflection (through quiet prayer, Sacred Scripture, lectio divina, liturgy of the hours, Rosary, holy icons, imagery, books of daily devotion, lives of saints, works of spirituality, etc.)

The MASS includes ALL these types of prayer

We played Classroom Jeopardy! with teams of parents & kids.  With almost perfect attendance, only 5 kids came without parents and everyone seemed to have a great time playing.  Most categories were facts we’ve covered in class like “Jewish Roots,” “Gotta Have Faith,” “Facebook Jesus,” “Catholic Pop Quiz,” “Catholic Prayers,” “Angels & Demons,” and “A.R.R.R. You Listening?” Then there was the more entertaining categories like “Chronicles of Narnia,” “Anything Goes,” and the favorite “Candy Bars.” A great time for all.  I can’t wait to bring the parents back soon!

"I forgave them... didn't I?"

If you are wondering why I haven’t posted in a while, it’s because I hate writing! This however does not matter, because obedience has nothing to do with whether we like something or not.  We have to do it anyway. So it is with the writing tonight, but before we get started I feel I have to share with you some other things as well.

Spiritual Friendships: A crucial link to survival here

I have been very blessed in the last 15 years to have incredibly spiritually minded friends, as well as an abundance of miraculous happenings that most people only dream of. These spiritual relationships have probably been the saving grace in my life. I usually have between one and two conversations at day regarding God and his work in our lives. Recently I have realized that these conversations are what I would call “food for the soul”.  What happens when we go without food? We gradually weaken, and can eventually starve to death. Without such relationships it is very hard to go through this world understanding God and his mysteries, and trying to follow His will in our own lives. I personally find the conversation amongst spiritual friends to be some of the deepest prayer I’ve ever experienced. This is not to lessen regular prayer, it is only to recognize an interactive way of performing it. The world is far too busy, and far too noisy to always hear God clearly in our daily lives. This is one of the reasons for spiritual friendships. He can communicate and live through us, as we interact with one another in the Body of Christ.  I have to get the message written down now, for it was during one of these conversations today that He interrupted me and told me to write down what He said.

The first message you will read came last night before bed, but had to be picked up earlier today and finished. The second message you will read, or the continuation of the first message, came a few minutes later while in a conversation with a friend. This sense of urgency I felt with the second message was so strong that I told my friend I would have to call back after I had listened and obeyed. I proceeded to write the second message and you can see why this was so important. It sounds like our loving Father is trying to be a good parent and warn his children. This is not doomsday information, but a lesson I believe is necessary for our world that we live in today.  Please read on, and discern for yourself.

11/19/2009    &   11/20/2009

First Message:

Lord: Yes my son it is I your Lord and God and Father. Be at peace my son and know that all is well. I have taken all things into my hands and I am conducting them as I see fit, for I know what is best for you (all). Your lives are a tapestry finely woven by me. Oh my children if you would only allow me to completely envelop you ( By your “yes”) you would see what perfect plans I have for you all. This you do not do my children. Instead you set your own agendas filling your calendars with useless things. Spending time with me in prayer and in front of the blessed sacrament will help you to find that place within your soul where I can commune with you. My children I am asking you ( calling you )… “Wake Up”! See what you have fallen for. The allure of money and material things has helped place you where you are. Oh foolish children, you have chosen a false god. I AM the only way, the only thing that you should worship and pay that sort of tribute to. Remember my children you cannot have two masters. You will love one and despise the other. Which one have you chosen my children? I plead with you for the salvation of your soul to choose wisely. My adversary has done a good job at creating a diversion that keeps you busy almost 24 hours a day. Once again my children…. it is foolish to follow him. Only I can give you peace. He gives you confusion and anger. Come to me and let me put your troubles to rest. Take upon you my yoke and you will see that my burden is light. Ask my children and you shall receive, but be careful what you are searching for, for some things should be left alone ( I took this to mean curiosities with psychics and New Age phenomenon and the likes). I love you my children, Amen.

Second Message: Minutes later

My son write down what I tell you. My people must be prepared for what is coming upon them. Make peace with your brothers and sisters before you stand before me. This is the purpose of your calling, to warn them to be ready. Do not worry if it is going to happen this year or next year, but be prepared now. For in a moment in time you will stand before me and give an account for what you have done with my gifts. Be prepared my children by asking me to give you the grace to forgive one another. This is hard for you because of the coldness of your hearts. Be a warm place for your neighbor to reside. Let them find me in you. Go to confession my children and don’t waste another minute with sin on your soul. So many of you are being prevented from achieving my will for you in your lives due to the sin on your soul. I have sent my word “Forgiveness” and it will be looking for places to rest. Hearts that will accept the “call”. Please my children do as I say for you do not know the hour that I will come; but I do. For each and every one of you there is a time to be called back. Do you think you are ready to see me? I know the state of your soul, and so do your brothers and sisters. It comes out (they see it) in your actions as a symbol of your purity and holiness. Please my children make amends if you can. If you cannot, ask me and I will help you to forgive those that you cannot reach; or those that you shouldn’t. This is more important than you know my little ones. Please I ask you to be ready. Do not be afraid to share this with everyone!  There is no fault in this command…. “Forgive”.  Remember as you do this so shall it be done to you, for the measure in which you measure shall be measured back to you. That is all my son. Go in peace, love and forgiveness. I love you. Amen.

He asked me to get this message to all of His children regardless of who they are. I do not claim to know anything of what is to be in the future, but I do know that this felt like an “urgent” message that had to be passed on. You do with it what you will. I have done my part, now let God inspire you as to what to do with yours. Peace.

The World Will Give You For What You Ask You Just Have To Believe And Focus On All That You Have Dreamed About

http://www.tviexpress.com/santini1

Have you started to think about the holidays and family;

The holidays.

A season all about Family, Faith, and Friends. For many, it’s also a time of Food, Football, Festivities, Fun—and Freedom. Not just the blessing of living in a “free country,” but also maybe—just maybe—a little less tied to our jobs and a little more sleeping, puttering, and simply doing nothing on some days! Sounds great, doesn’t it?

But how about these words? Frenetic—a crazy, stress-filled pace. Finances—jubilant joy leads to dangerous debt. Frustration—things don’t quite go the way we planned. Fear—of being alone, left out. Fatigue—we simply do too much and return in January needing the month just to recover!

The reality is this: The holidays, for lots of people, just aren’t what they’re cracked up to be. Though we want them to stand out—that is, to be outstanding—they often fall short of our expectations. But, with some work, some discipline, and some adherence to fundamental ideas and principles, we can each experience an exceptional season.

By extracting concepts from the book Outstanding!—yes, written for the world of corporations, nonprofits, government entities, churches and schools—and applying them to this time of year, we can make the best of the holidays. And since most holiday celebrations involve families—which are organizations—let’s utilize nine of the 47 Outstanding! chapter titles and their essence to create a stellar season!

Choose to Change: Holiday traditions are great, but remember: Any strength taken to an extreme becomes a weakness. Outstanding families, like outstanding organizations, are willing to set aside “the way we’ve always done things” now and then. Keeping the end goals of joy, fun, and celebration in mind, we might need do things differently. Never forget: Blessed are the flexible, for they cause others to not get bent out of shape!

Keep the Mission Top of Mind: If you believe the “reason for the season” is faith (worshiping God and being thankful) and/or family (traditions and coming together) then don’t forget the “Why” behind the activities. Let purpose come before tasks, otherwise, the tasks can overwhelm the mission—and what’s the sense in that?

Get Actions In Line With Values: If we espouse values like love, caring, and acceptance, let’s ensure that our behaviors support those ideas. Integrity—actions in line with stated values—is a rare commodity in our world, so let’s allow that light to shine at home. Example: If we embrace the word “humility,” let’s avoid boasting, bragging, and topping each other in our interactions. Another: If I say I believe in relaxing and resting, then draw a few boundaries and say NO! if you really want to. It’s okay to not participate in some activities this time of year.

Fight the Fat: And we’re not talking about calories here! As Dave Ramsey says, when it comes to finances, “Bother to bother.” In other words, decide to stay on top of and in control of the dollars. By cutting up the plastic money and living within our means, we’ll experience a far more joyous … January!

Forgive Mistakes: What could be a more perfect way to achieve outstanding holidays than to let some stuff slide? Humans sometimes do say the wrong thing, make mistakes, exercise poor judgment, drop the ball, and forget to act. When these things happen, it’s an amazing opportunity to choose forgiveness. Practice the words, “No big deal. Let’s forget it.”

Let Every Player Count: A little lifting up of each person is a good thing. Careful that one individual’s needs and agenda don’t “rule the roost.” Let’s do our best to help each person—from 2 to 92—feel special. It’s a time to honor everyone on the team!

Speak Well: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1) Oh, so true! As the tension and stress build, make sure that the way we talk to others—both our words and tone—is encouraging, loving, and supportive.

Listen In All Directions: In Outstanding! we write about listening in three ways: Management listening to the people, the people listening to each other, and everyone listening to the customer. My favorite part is where we take “multi-tasking” to task as a very bad habit. During these precious days, let’s set the iPods, laptops, and PDAs aside—cease the Tweeting, status updating, and surfing—and look each other in the eye, saying, “Go ahead, you are the most important person in my world at this moment and I want to hear every word you have to say.”

Someone Needs to Be the Boss: Lastly, parents, I beseech you—please parent! Family gatherings are hurt when the wrong people are in charge: the children. Let’s hold our kids to a new (yet old fashioned) level of respect, manners, and courtesy. The truth is, it’s not all about the children—and sometimes they need to know that. If your young child needs a really long “time out,” then take action. Don’t be afraid to let him or her know that—surprise, surprise!—you are the boss.

So there they are: Nine ways to have an outstanding holiday season. Share this with others—apply them yourself—and see what a difference they can make! And then come back in 2010 ready to make our organizations outstanding, too!

John G. Miller
Author of …

QBQ! The Question Behind the Question ®

http://www.tviexpress.com/santini1

If you want to learn how to do telekinesis, then read on. Almost everyone possesses the power if they will only learn to develop their skills. First let me explain what telekinesis really is. Telekinesis is the ability to use psychic power to literally move an object using the power of the mind. Mental rather than physical strength is required.

 Learning how to do telekinesis means developing the use of a part of your brain that is currently inactive. Much like exercise, practice will strengthen your mental ability. You are about to discover how much power your mind is capable of. Most people have no idea what can be done with the awesome power of the mind.

 Keep in mind it might take years to reach your full potential. With continued dedication and practice you might find you can even raise a window with the amazing power of your mind. Once you learn how much power your mind actually has you will truly enjoy the enrichment this can bring to your life.

 Discover The Greatest Secrets Of The Mind And Reality That Will Get You Anything You Desire, Almost Like Magic! If you want to FINALLY experience the COMPLETE Manifestation of All the Miracles, Success, Wealth, Health, Love and Happiness that you have always dreamed of… then register as member of Mind Reality now!

 Go here now to discover how to become a Mind Reality Member:
==> http://www.MindReality.com/specialoffer.html

Number of Stimulus Jobs Created Called Into Question

By LOUISE RADNOFSKY

The Government Accountability Office, the congressional watchdog, will testify at a House oversight committee hearing Thursday that there are “significant issues to be addressed” in the accuracy of reports about the number of jobs credited to the federal stimulus program because of errors in forms filed by recipients of the money.

Separately, the agency tasked with overseeing the program announced Wednesday evening that it had corrected reports by recipients who appeared to be in non-existent congressional districts, after being asked to do so by the White House.

Discrepancies in the administration’s count of jobs “created or saved” by the $787 billion stimulus program are causing headaches among Congressional Democrats who are trying to craft a new jobs program in the face of the highest unemployment rate in 26 years. Rep. David Obey (D., Wis.), who as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee will have a major role in any new jobs package, released a statement earlier this week calling inaccuracies in the stimulus recipient reports “outrageous.”

The reports were used by the administration to claim that the plan had directly created or saved 640,329 jobs through September. But questions have been raised about the accuracy of the job counts and other details listed on the forms since their release by the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board on its website, recovery.gov, last month.

“Many entries merit further attention,” acting comptroller general Gene Dodaro is expected to say, according to a draft of his testimony received by the Wall Street Journal.

Republicans are seizing on reports of inaccuracies to question the impact and accountability of the stimulus package.

Earl Devaney, chairman of the recovery board, will also be at the House oversight committee hearing. Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.), the ranking Republican on the panel, has called for recovery.gov to carry a disclaimer “warning visitors to the Web site that the information is not accurate and auditable.”

Federal agencies were responsible for reviewing each report filed by a recipient of funds they were administering, and asking recipients to fix mistakes. The recovery board and White House officials also carried out spot checks. Still, many errors appear to have gone undetected in the 156,614 reports released last month.

Recipients of stimulus money ranging from small business contractors and community colleges to large companies and state governor’s offices struggled to accurately fill in the forms. The Wall Street Journal reported two weeks ago that errors by hundreds of recipients appeared to have inflated the total number of jobs attributed to the stimulus by at least 20,000.

Some recipients also failed to correctly enter the number of their congressional district, which has led to a flurry of accusations this week from Republicans that non-existent places were claiming to have created or saved jobs. The National Republican Congressional Committee is encouraging its candidates to send out press releases highlighting the mistakes, with statements that they should undermine confidence in the government’s ability to handle healthcare.

Vice President Joe Biden, appearing on the comedy news program “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” Tuesday, played down the congressional district errors, joking about “bad civics classes.”

“The jobs actually exist,” he said.

On Wednesday evening the recovery board said that it had corrected the mistakes, explaining that it is allowed to do so when there is a “ significant risk that the public will be misled or confused.

Mr. Biden’s assistant for implementing the stimulus plan, Ed DeSeve, told the Wall Street Journal Wednesday that the White House was still confident that it could use the reports to correctly assess “the order of magnitude of the jobs numbers that are out there.” “We think it is sufficiently accurate that it provides a good snapshot of where we are,” said Mr. DeSeve.

The reports come at a tough time for House leaders, who have been floating a new spending program this week, and the White House, which has announced a jobs summit for early December in the wake of a new unemployment figure of 10.2%.

Public confidence in the existing stimulus plan also remains shaky. Only 7% of respondents in a CBS News poll released Tuesday thought that the stimulus package had created jobs. Some 46% thought it would create jobs in future, but that percentage was down from 52% in September.

Write to Louise Radnofsky at louise.radnofsky@dowjones.com

Brushstokes

Lead me into temptation –
and let there be no boundaries to your whisper
as I caress the longing of my inhibition.
It is not enough to love you that I embrace this desire
for my heart is swollen with aspiration.
Might I not be able to hold you within my arms
then I shall hold you in my
- Dreams.

© Charles Coakley Simpson 2009

Sybilia

Such is the study in your eyes –
That I am caught between a dream and a desire.
Have I waited too long to embrace you,
even though every moment I ever wanted was to be with you.
Yet as my heart trembles in want of your whisper
you have made it a better place
- To be.

© Charles Coakley Simpson 2009

Are We Lucky To Be On This Earth Or Is Earth Lucky To Have Humans Like Us Or Is All A Dream That We Must Bring To A Reality

One Must Believe In What One Can Do And Only One Can Make The Choices That Could Change Our Lives Forever

http://www.tviexpress.com/santini1

Updated November 16, 2009

House Health Bill Would Lower Medicare Payments, Report Finds

by  FOXNews.com

Though President Obama pledged health care legislation would bring down the cost of health care “while strengthening the financial health of Medicare,” the chief actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid issued an official analysis that found the House bill breaks both pledges. 

A fresh analysis of the House health care reform plan has sounded a warning about the impact proposed Medicare cuts would have on seniors and could spell trouble for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s effort to pull a unified Senate bill to the floor by the end of the week. 

The House and would-be Senate bills rely on hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicare to keep reform deficit-neutral. 

But even though President Obama pledged as recently as last week that the legislation would bring down the cost of health care “while strengthening the financial health of Medicare,” the chief actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, an agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, issued an official analysis that found the House bill breaks both pledges. 

The report said the reductions in Medicare spending would lower payments to providers such as doctors and hospitals and that they “might end their participation in the program (possibly jeopardizing access to care for beneficiaries).” 

Republicans who have been complaining about the Medicare cuts for months took this as validation of the excessive spending and lack of savings supporters vow will be found in the bills. 

“The administration’s own actuary … has said that it will drive the cost of health care up and that it will hurt seniors,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said on “Fox News Sunday.” “This is a bill that cuts Medicare, raises taxes and raises insurance premiums.”

The study also found that the House bill would not lower healthcare spending overall but national expenditures would actually increase by $289 billion.

The Kentucky Republican said the actuary’s report only strengthens the case to “delay the process” to allow for further review. 

“It’s been in Harry Reid’s office for six weeks and the other 99 senators have not seen it. I think we ought to at least have as much time for the other 99 senators and all of the American people to take a look at this bill as Majority Leader Reid has had,” McConnell said. 

Republicans weren’t the only ones accusing Democrats of breaking promises. Abortion rights advocates were out in force Monday accusing Democratic leaders of breaking pledges by accepting restrictions on abortion. 

“It will be better to dump this entire bill then to allow it to become law with these noxious provisions intact,” said Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State

“This is not the health care reform we were promised,” said Kelli Conlin, president of NARAL Pro-Choice New York. “We were promised time and again that no one would lose existing coverage under health care reform, but the Stupak amendment turns that promise into lie because woman who currently has abortion coverage and joins the exchange will simply not have access to same plan.”

One other complication for lawmakers is the so-called “doctor fix” in Medicare that the House still has to take up. It costs $210 billion and by law, seniors have to cover one-quarter of the cost. That means seniors would be paying $50 billion more in premiums over the next 10 years, an unexpected surprise.

Finally, some 60 percent of the uninsured would get insurance only because the House expands eligibility for Medicaid, government-paid health care for the poor. Critics say that’s not reform, just an expansion of entitlements, which are already straining federal and state budgets.

Fox News’ Jim Angle contributed to this report.

 From Wes Hopper;

“I think what we’re really seeking is an
experience of being alive. To have our life
experiences on the purely physical plane
have resonance within our inner-most
being and reality. So we can actually feel
the rapture of being alive. Follow your bliss.”
               Joseph Campbell

I’ve said before that what we’re really seeking
with our goals and dreams are feelings – joy,
love, achievement, fulfillment, making a
difference.

Campbell calls that “feeling the rapture of
being alive” and it’s really worth seeking.

In fact, it’s our guide to tell us if we’re on the
right path. If you never feel it, you’re lost! Get
out the map.

What map? Your bliss, as Campbell calls it
is your compass. What gives you joy? Not
necessarily while you’re working on it – cause
work is work – but when you’re done.

When you finish something, what do you feel?
Are you just relieved it’s over? Do you feel tired
and cranky? Or do you look at the results and
feel real joy? Can you say, “Yep, that’s why
I’m here” or is it more like, “Why am I here?”

The life we live should resonate with our inner
being. That’s when we give our gift to the world.
Anything less is wasted time. Quit making
excuses and do it.
http://www.HowToCreateSuccess.com/

TODAY’S VERSE
“Honor the LORD for his glory and strength. Honor the LORD for the glory of his name. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.”
Psalms 29:1-2

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What do you think is the most significant purpose God has for us on this earth? You could certainly build a case for loving others. The Apostle John told us that God is love, so loving others is most certainly on God’s agenda. Evangelism must be a priority. Jesus left us with the great commission to go and make disciples of all nations. Personal worship is another purpose God has created us for. God longs for our adoration. He is worthy of all our praise and worship. What a privilege it is to bow down before the Almighty creator of the Universe and know that He cares deeply for our worship. David said to “Honor the Lord” and “To worship Him in the splendor of His holiness.” It is nearly impossible to fathom what it is like to be before God in all His splendor and majesty, but that is what we are invited to do. Take the mountain tops, the streams, sunsets, ocean views, canyons and any other majestic visuals images that you have been privileged to see and let it equal one drop of water. Now put that drop in the ocean and you will begin to see how our paltry earthly images compare to His splendor. So today, no matter where you are, stop and participate in one of the most sacred and special purposes of our human experience. Right this moment, praise Him for who He is. Thank Him for all He has done. Worship Him in all His glory. He has invited you to come and adore Him. Don’t take His invitation for granted. It is a rare gift from God Himself. Worship Him with all your heart, soul and mind.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I come right now to worship You. Thank You for Your love for me. I bow before You this moment and adore You for all Your goodness. You are the true and living Almighty God and I praise You for all You have done for me. Thank You for making me Your Child through the death of Your Son, Jesus, on the cross for me. I love and worship You in Jesus Name.
AMEN

______________________________________________________________

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Peace enter my heart,
dwell there oh glory,
and may grace shower upon me with heaven’s light and cosmic dust.

Tranquility my relish,
what earns my favor is the silence in your smile,
and i melt before your every quiet glance.

Settled am i when you enter your meditations,
such encouragement to my heart,
and you are this burning candle,
a steady light in the night–
my love i adore thee.

It took me a while to catch up with Atom Egoyan’s Adoration. I frequently feel with Egoyan that I am seeing a different film than everyone else; typically his films are celebrated and deprecated for what seem to me the wrong reasons. The fact that he is so good at articulating his intentions doesn’t help, because much of what he has to say is in some sense benign misdirection, geared to flattering the critics who represent his constituency.

I admire greatly Egoyan’s sheer mastery as a director, his ability to compose image and sound into richly textured aesthetic experiences. And while I deeply respect his intention to challenge his audience to question and reflect on narrative, I am also frequently vexed by the artificiality of his constructs. In his more recent work, he has seemed limited by his own artistic persona. Ararat was brilliant in finding a way to approach an historical atrocity without trivializing it, but came crashing to earth when the filmmaker seemed to be imitating his own earlier work; Where the Truth Lies was cinematically ravishing, but somehow quite naïve in its awareness of the particular narrative demands of its genre.

Others have observed that Adoration represents a return to his earlier films, which I did not find encouraging at all. But once again that strikes me as entirely wrong. I was delighted to discover that it is in fact a real step forward. Yes, all the obsessive Egoyan concerns are here. But, delicately, somewhat tentatively, they are infused with a new depth of feeling. The film strikes me as his most deeply personal.

Adoration has a remarkable theme that is profound and vital. It’s about how people project their own personal traumas onto collective ones. How hatred is passed on through false ideas and how false ideas are made real through belief. Like all of Egoyan’s films, it’s also about the fact that the truth is hidden and requires a personal struggle to discover.

Egoyan is the filmmaker as skeptic. Since storytelling relies on belief more than anything, Egoyan pushes his stories right to the edge between the credible and the absurd, and fragments his plot so that we will be engaged by a desire to understand, and in the process reflect on our own activity in making meaning. He wants us to question, not believe.

His persistent foregrounding, in almost all his work, of image-making technology is both metaphor (for the recessive nature of truth) and reflection (of the fact that we are watching a movie and that watching a movie is a process that invokes illusions).

Egoyan his distilled these concerns almost obsessively with each film, and yes, in some ways Adoration brings us back to his first film Next of Kin, which was also an adolescent quest for identity defined by a struggle towards and away from family.

The protagonist here is Simon, an orphaned adolescent. The mystery at the core of the story has to do with his parents’ death, and in particular his father’s role in it. Egoyan’s films have frequently focused on adolescents (Next of Kin, Family Viewing, Exotica, The Sweet Hereafter) and without exception have dealt with individuals trapped by traumatic experiences, trapped by the past. Usually these are private, familial traumas, although in Ararat it was a mass collective trauma (the Armenian genocide). In Adoration we get both, although the collective trauma never actually happened, and the film suggests that, in a way, all trauma is individual.

This may, still, be Egoyan’s most optimistic film. In spite of being critically celebrated, the word on the street about Egoyan’s work has always been that it is “cold,” indeed he has done as much as anyone to form the perception that Canadian cinema is chilly and perverse. But in fact the emotional distance in Egoyan’s films has always reflected a passionate and ultimately compassionate concern for human suffering, and that has never been more clear than in Adoration. One of the factors in the film’s warmth is the wonderful central performance from Dylan Bostick, radiant with a combination of sensitivity and inner strength. He warms the film up in a way that someone like Sarah Polley, for all her tremendous nuance as a performer, doesn’t do. Egoyan is also the father of a boy around the age of this character, and, as myself the father of a boy that same age (and also one a few years older) I was deeply touched by the film’s awareness of the acute ethical and emotional sensitivity that teenaged boys are capable of.

The other rap on Egoyan is that his films reflect Canadian government/institutional imperatives (i.e. Telefilm’s agenda) rather than what audiences actually want to see. It is true that from the mid 80’s to the mid 90’s, “create a cinema that is culturally significant and successful with festivals and critics, and financial success will follow” was the governing dictum of feature film funding in Canada (as a film festival programmer I was part of this system). Egoyan both crystallized this agenda (government agencies badly needed any kind of perceived success – unlike the private sector for which success ultimately is an objective business matter) and benefited from it with a career. But I must say, in a time when the Telefilm agenda has become a largely laughable attempt to imitate Hollywood success without anything like the system that can make that success happen (nor the ability to recognize, nurture and advance talent), the sincere and mature artistry of Egoyan’s work is lookin’ pretty good.

Indeed, while in many corners Egoyan was perceived to have lost his way after The Sweet Hereafter, there is no question that his expressive mastery has grown from film to film and he is now one of the most artistically mature filmmakers now working.

Regret

As I reflect on paths not taken -
I stand remiss of the words I have left unspoken.
It is not that my heart ached more, or that my heart ached less
but that my heart aches now as I never imagined
how much my heart truly ached
- For you.

© Charles Coakley Simpson 2009