The overall quality of our lives is greatly enhanced if we remind ourselves of these many blessings every day.  That act of remembering will help us fend off the normal human tendency to get lost in the little daily things that don’t go our way, and the grumbling that follows.

The two stories of widows, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament can also give us insights into the depths of thankfulness.  In both cases, the widows gave the last tidbit that they had left in the world.  Think about it for a minute, put yourself in that moment of action: they gave all that they had left.  One gave her last morsel of food and one gave her last few pennies with which she would have bought a last morsel of food.

Each was so grateful & thankful for the love & provision of their God that they trusted Him that deeply.  They put themselves completely in his hands for their very life.  If He found a way to save them from their need, fine, if not, fine.

Granted there is a fine line between faith and presumption, still the stories give us a view of the absolute need for us to be thankful.

During this Thanksgiving season as we approach the coming of the Christmas season, let us all examine ourselves to ensure that we are “thankful” at the very core of our being.

Portions taken from homily by Msgr.

Presume: 1. To take for granted, assume or suppose

2. To assume as true in the absence of proof to the contrary.

3. To undertake with unwarrantable boldness.

4. To undertake without right or permission.

Prophetic words and dreams can be dangerous. I have learned that quite clearly in the last three years. Don’t get me wrong. Prophecy is an incredibly valuable gift in the body of Christ and dreams can be a powerful way in which God speaks to us but we can’t base our entire future on our own interpretation of them. We have to hold tight, instead, to God alone and we still have to go through seasons of waiting on God and allowing Him to maneuver situations to come into alignment with His will.

This past year and a half I started to become very disillusioned with my dreams. I was use to having powerful night visions that would later happen but one day, without warning, my dream life was interrupted by a lot of confusion. I started to become afraid of my dreams. Not in a nightmarish way, exactly, but in the sense that I was uncertain if God was really speaking to me. I thought things like, “If I had this dream, why didn’t it happen this way? Why did I feel the presence of God when I woke up but then later see the opposite of what happened?”. I started to doubt prophetic words that had been spoken over me and pleaded with God not to give me anymore dreams.

And then something mysterious happened. A very unlikely and specific prophetic word came to pass last week. And along with that prophetic word, several dreams that I had been confused about started to make sense. As I mentioned in the previous blog, I went on an adventure to the jungle after it had been prophesied over me two years ago. But what I didn’t mention is that there is a second half to that prophetic word which I am unable to share at this moment. As hard as I tried, the second half of that word was on my mind a lot during that trip. Yes, I was focused; I enjoyed ministering to the people and having fun with my friends but that word lurked somewhere in the back of my mind from dawn to dusk. I felt anxious to see it come to pass and at times I felt frustrated. Finally, after talking to my friend Elizabeth, I realized that this was one of those moments when God was going to have to make the arrangements and my only duty was to sit back and let Him. I knew I couldn’t put all of my hope into that word but I knew I could trust in God’s faithfulness.

While the final outcome of that prophecy is yet to be seen, I have decided not to wait around for it to happen. Since my time at IHOP, I have realized that a large portion of my life has been spent waiting and stressing about prophetic words that have been spoken over me. Yes, they have encouraged me and given me hope and even provided some healing but I have made a decision to enjoy the life Jesus has given me in the moment. When these words come to pass, like going on an adventure in the jungle, I will be able to receive the outcome with joy and excitement in God’s fulfilled promises.

Since it is Thanksgiving Day, I would also like to add that as you wait for prophetic words to be fulfilled in your own life, learn to be grateful for what He has given you RIGHT NOW. When we are so focused on the future, we often forget to see the beauty of fellowship around us. God is always giving us little gifts of his affection and if we become distracted by what is NOT happening, we will never notice the beauty He has surrounded us with.

Happy Thanksgiving!

http://www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Court_Of_Appeals/Opinion/2012/10CA1494-PD.pdf

http://www.cobar.org/opinions/opinion.cfm?opinionid=8721&courtid=1

Please…do not assume that, because the country I am from sounds exotic, I can fly a magic-carpet.
Why do you judge people you do not know? Let me explain to you why I wear my native garment.

Even though I grew up in an urban environment, I’m not a drug-dealer.
You would never know that I could be your child’s mentor or teacher.

Even though I’ve got some tattoos, I don’t have to be a gang-member.
We all have skeletons in our closets; so, be kind to me, be a lil’ tender.

Me speaking a different language does not mean that I had hopped over a border.
We don’t all just work at fast-food joints & restaurants, ready to take your order.

Just because I don’t work on Wall Street doesn’t mean that I am on Welfare.
Just because my mother raised me does not mean that my father did not care.

Don’t presume that because I’ve got slanted-eyes that I can cook fried-rice.
Don’t just think that, because I grew up in the hood, I’m not able to be nice.

Think not that just because I’m from a different place that I’m into building-bombing.
Think not that, because my skin-color isn’t like yours, I’m into shooting and robbing.

We all must take the time to look beyond the physical, the superficial.
We need to realize that our variations are what make all of us special.

It is only the internal, and not the external, that defines the quality of any Human being.
When you look skin-deep, we are the same, created by Allah, the Lord of everything.

Gareth Bryant/2012

I say presumably better not because I for an instant think that a younger person could teach these students better than she can but because that is the sort of thing that the majority of employers presume.

You can argue endlessly that college newbies do not have the understanding of the subtleties of the classics that my former acquaintance does, that they lack the insight and skill set that come only from experience, that they have yet to run the character-building gauntlet of abuse that teaching imposes on its practitioners, that they lack the steady dependability of the older worker, and that they have yet to commit to teaching as their lives’ true calling. You can argue ’til your tongue wearies of the effort; employers are deaf to all such contention. They long ago decided that younger employees are better because they can be hired for lower wages, they have not yet learned union activism and institutionalized greed, they are more tractable in accepting the goofy ideas that school administrators love to mistake for progress, and they won’t put in for retirement just as the administration gets them properly trained and obedient to policy.

Also, let’s face it, younger people are generally more attractive, and we all know how strongly attractiveness drives the decisions of people with power.

If the playing field was level, with a fair competition between the cheap and easy younger candidate for the job and the older and more experienced one, then, I would argue, there would be little reason for complaint. But that is not how it works. No amount of anti-age-discrimination legislation will ever get employers to regard the elderly as anything but trash to be disposed of, through mandatory retirement ages for those who have the jobs and no consideration of any kind given to older applicants for openings.

Yes, I know, you can find the occasional exception. In addition to the Latin teacher I once knew, there’s the retired industrial physicist who found employment at a local college as an instructor. Apparently, that is but one level above teaching assistant, but, what the hell, it’s still honest employment at a job worth doing. But what about the elderly who want and need to work, who are still fully capable and are, as I have noted, more reliable than those flighty little twits a quarter or half their age? What reception do they get when they submit their CVs to the employer with job openings?

They don’t even get the discourtesy of a “hit the road, fool”; their applications evaporate into thin air, and there is no response of any kind.

If you are a younger person looking for work, and you have every right to find it, do you regard the older candidates for the job you want as unfair competition? If you are an employer, do you give the older applicant a fair shot at the job, or is he dismissed without consideration, right off the bat?

why was Abiathar the priest put to death by Solomon?

1 kings 4:4

Additional Details

sorry, i meant deposed. i regret the error.

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.  (Isaiah 61:  1-3, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  A House of gods? (08/31/2012); Heaven For Muhammad? (09/01/2012); Some To Rule? (03/31/2012); Exorcism In The Bible (03/24/2012); Melchizedek? (12/22/2010); Free to Eat? (12/23/2010)

     In the plan of GOD for the nations, Israel was to demonstrate to all mankind a proper covenant relationship through law, reverence, and worship.  Such sacred process as divine atonement for sin; the fulfillment of proclamation, promise, and prophecy; the operation of mercy in godly judgment; and the revelation of grace were depicted through a system of governance, and continual sacrificial worship.   The consecrated priesthood established under Moses was not charged with maintenance of civil law and routine social process.  The Aaronic priests were to perform the sacred duties of the Tabernacle.  After the time of Moses, when civic leaders served that were divinely appointed, the judges were understood as agents of GOD who were to function primarily as “deliverers”; however, the judges were not anointed as the priests.

     Saul was anointed to be king by the prophet Samuel (who had previously anointed David).  In carrying out the office of king, Saul immediately responded as a defender of the nation, and one who leads in war (see 1st Samuel 11).  Saul was to wait for the arrival of Samuel before leading the people in offerings and sacrifice.  However, Samuel was delayed; and Saul presumed (i.e., unlawfully exercised authority; took it upon himself) to make policy contrary to the word of GOD (see 1st Samuel 15).

     The priesthood came under condemnation when Eli, through neglect and weakness, encouraged the irreverence and presumption of his two sons.  Saul went into battle no longer having the support and the counsel of GOD.  When the ark of GOD was brought down to the battlefield (as if an idol) to inspire the army, the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain as were Saul and his sons (see 1st Samuel 4:  11).

     David was granted godly counsel through “seers”, and the provisions from the Tabernacle of Urim and Thummim in the regalia of the High Priest were not immediately available to him.  Returning the ark to Jerusalem, and the building of a permanent house of GOD, were priority to David.  Once the Tabernacle was restored and in operation, David instituted courses (schedules) for the service of the priest and Levites.  Additionally, he established a music ministry that also provided the liturgy through his own poems and psalms.  The service of David embraced the anointing of king, priest, prophet and judge.  The dynasty (“house”) granted to David saw an inheritance that was not only civil authority, it also included sacred duty.

     There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, the curse proclaimed against all the men who would come forth from Eli is seen having further fulfillment through Solomon, the son of David.  The treachery of Abiathar, Joab and others (1st Kings 2:  27) could not be seen as politics to grab power over the Tabernacle; and was understood as further obedience to GOD.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

It was whilst having a beer or three

that I heard them say that

that club across the way

smelled of chlamydia.

And I thought it no more than

a witty remark

until their own stench permeated

the air.

From the window, the street sign, aptly

branded out of cold metal

spelled, ‘Love Street.’

Irony lives here, I remember thinking.

The bottom of my glass was visible

as I supped.

The Last Supper. Jesus. That was the

last one, I swear.

So.

I thought about telling them, yelling,

”Hey – you were around in the

seventies”

Or, ”You can’t kid a kidder!” but I’d

had one too many and this was not

about me. Or them. Or anyone.

That girl that they’re pawing over

is clearly

a slut; she’ll be fucked

from pillar to post.

Well, good on you, girl. Wait. Did I just

think that?

Say that?

Fuck

you three. And not in a good way.

Who am I?

Oh, just listening in,

Judging you, Judging them.

Everyone knows their eyes play tricks on them. That’s what makes optical illusions so fun. Our other senses get fooled, too. The earth spins at about 1000 mph but we don’t feel it. The sun neither rises or sets but it sure looks like it. The car next to us slowly moving forward in the parking lot makes it feel like we’re moving backwards.

If our physical senses are so easily misled, why are we so confident about our feelings? For many, if they feel it they think it must be true.

Not so.

Just because something feels true doesn’t make it true

• Feeling ugly doesn’t mean we are ugly.
• Feeling worthless doesn’t mean we are worthless.
• Feeling in danger doesn’t mean we are in danger.
• Feeling compassionate doesn’t mean we are being compassionate.
• Feeling controlled doesn’t mean we’re being controlled.
• Feeling at risk doesn’t mean we are at risk.

Just because something feels untrue doesn’t make it untrue

• Not feeling controlling doesn’t mean we aren’t controlling.
• Not feeling needy doesn’t mean we aren’t being needy.
• Not feeling irritating doesn’t mean we’re not being irritating.
• Not feeling like we need continual reassurance doesn’t mean we don’t need continual reassurance.
• Not feeling critical doesn’t mean we aren’t critical.
• Not feeling loved doesn’t mean we’re not loved.

My point? I want to remind myself to have a healthy skepticism about things. Being confident is not the same as being right. It’s possible to feel certain and yet be certainly wrong.

 
 
Spirit of Prophecy Bulletin

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by MARSHA BURNS:

I call you to come into My rest and to move into an anointing of ease. You may be tempted to run ahead of Me or step out of the flow of My Spirit because of presumption, but you would do well to stay in spiritual reality and not get into fantasy by projecting out into the future. You must live in the moment and stay present with Me, says the Lord. I am your place of safety and stability here and now.

Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

One may have read the Spirit of Prophecy Bulletin for today.  One may have been encouraged.  Thank You Jesus!

One may have entered one’s prayer closet at 3:30 AM.  One may have praised the Lord with song, confessed one’s sins, thanked the Lord and prayed for the sick.

One may have prayed for a passage of scripture for today’s blog.  One may have been led to 2 Chronicles 32.  Thank You Jesus!

One may have logged onto the website to pray for outstanding prayer requests.  Thank You Jesus for answering each prayer request according to Your perfect will.  Amen.

Balances, Integrity and Righteousness – Proverbs 11:1-6

1.  Balances were a means of conducting much agricultural, metals, and other forms of business in days of the past.  Notice that the “False balance” is an “Abomination to the LORD” – something that is disgusting, and wicked in the sight of the LORD.

This proverb (v. 1) can be tied with the command to “Love our neighbor” (Matthew 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31) as ourselves; and the final six of the Ten Commandments.  The Lord delights in a just weight or right balances.

2.  Pride, arrogance, insolence, presumptuousness are words very similar in meaning.  Most people hate arrogance when it is seen in someone else.  The Mirriam/Webster Dictionary defines “arrogant” as being “Offensives exaggerating one’s own importance”;  “insolent” is defined as “contemptuous, rude, disrespectful, or brutal in behavior or language: OVERBEARING, BOLD”; “presumptuous” means “overstepping due bounds; taking liberties: OVERBOLD.”  With this “Pride” comes shame following closely on the heels – see Proverbs 16:18.

In contrast is the “lowly” or the modest individual.  These are usually the thankful person.  The individual who knows they are not alone and trust the Lord for their every need.

3.  “Integrity” equals “Soundness:  adherence to a code of values: utter sincerity, honesty, and candor: completeness.”  These, of course, would be guided by the teachings of God’s word and the Holy Spirit in the Christian.

In this verse as well as verses 2, and 4 through 6 there are contrasting statements:  “The integrity of the upright” and “The perverseness of transgressors”;  Riches and righteousness;  “The righteousness of the perfect… but the wicked shall fall…”

There is destruction awaiting those connected to unrighteousness.

There is deliverance for the righteous; but “transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.”  (Jeremiah 2:19)

-Tim A. Blankenship

So I’ve been back in General Cepeda for about 2 months now. Earlier this week I realized that even amongst all the down time I’ve had from week to week, I’ve not left town a single time. So I decided to come to Saltillo for a few hours, just to get away. Hopped on the bus, and 35 pesos and 2 hours later I arrived. Having been here many times before, I had no desire to do anything touristy. I just wanted to walk around, explore a tiny bit, and relax.

I’d heard that just down the road from where the bus drops you off, there is a mall. Small, but nice. And the added bonus was stumbling upon this coffee shop. After I walked around the mall, I knew that this was where I’d have my chill time. Spending time at coffee houses is one of my favorite things to do back home. This habit first started during my high school days and cemented itself into my life during my college years. It’s a place and an environment where you can read, study, relax, visit, or people watch.

Did morning prayer from the breviary once I sat down with my frappucino. Also read alot from a book by Ralph Martin, a prominent figure within the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. People-watched. Enjoyed the calm, relaxing atmosphere. The soothing hum of the coffee machines, coolers, and various other appliances. Realizing through all of this that we should always have some scheduled down-time, just to relax, refresh, re-energize, and get away for a bit. Also realizing that a key element in living apart from your favorite places and people is to always carry them in your heart. Another key element is to seek out a little taste of home wherever you are. A peaceful coffee shop. A city park. A grocery store. A shopping mall to aimlessly walk around in. These special things and little reminders are a part of who you are and what makes you unique. Embrace them. Rest in the comfort of these little blessings God sends you. They are part of what has made you who you are and gotten you to where you are. I believe in doing this, you will be more genuinely yourself and thus be better able to live and serve where God has you.

Another thing I want to share about is contrition, aka – sorrow for sins. As a Christian the more self-aware I have become, the more I have reflected on this. I feel like I am truly making progress in my spiritual life and that the Lord is helping me to find the proper balance in this area. What follows is a question I posed to several priest friends of mine and their responses. Names have been changed so that you can focus on the answers. And though not worded in exactly the same way, all of the responses essentially and basically say the same thing.

God Bless!
(the following is the question I posed to my priest friends and their responses)

Is it possible to have a healthy fear of sin (a fear that, if healthy enough will get me to the confessional) without feeling sadness or desperation? Another way to phrase the question is, Is it possible to have a healthy fear of sin without being scared of sin?

“My thoughts…Yes. One of the compounding negative effects of sin, especially habitual sin, is despairing emotions/shame. The progress one makes in combating sin is not all lost by a later fall. One truly does get closer to God and grows in his love and grows in trust. A later fall grieves us but our increased trust in God’s mercy dominants our emotional reaction to the sin.” –Fr.K—

“Yes, A healthy fear of sin, is a fear of the distance from God it brings. Being scared of sin means feeling that it’s bigger than God’s Mercy and therefore unforgiveable. count your blessings that you ‘ve been able to move beyond the previous despair. Despair is a trick of the Evil one, to lead you to procrastinate about Confession, to believe less and less in the Mercy of God and more and more of your worthlessness; both are lies. Sin, does not cause you to become worthless in the eyes of God. There’s nothing wrong about you, even if you’ve done something wrong!” –Fr.H—

“I think you are experiencing consolations of seeing some of the progress you’ve made. That is wonderful! I would say: yes, enjoy the good healthy reactions you have but also make sure to guard against the sin of presumption and do not let up in your efforts at self-mastery… Enjoy the consolations AND keep fighting the good fight!” –Fr.S—

“I certainly think so.” –Fr.B—

“I can only give a guess at what’s going on. First, there is a distinction in types of grace. You may have fallen from a state of “sanctifying grace” due to the sin and thus your conscience rightly pricked you making you aware of the fall. Seemingly God has blessed you simultaneously with an “actual grace” of hopefulness and love despite your fallen state. I would guess it was God presenting himself to you through “actual grace” in an attractive manner so that you trust in his future goodness and continue to follow him. You could prayerfully reflect upon this as though you were one of Jesus’ disciples in scripture before his actual death and resurrection. The joy and inspiration they received from his presence would have been more along the lines of “actual grace” (blessings from God) rather than salvific, since he had not yet offered himself in forgiveness of sins. (Of course, Jesus did forgive certain people along the way, but forgiveness was not yet offered to all prior to his death.) [The other alternative interpretation is that the feeling of "being okay" was from another spirit other than God. A way to discern this is reflecting upon whether your impulse at the time was to avoid the things of God (perhaps a subtle sense of joyful passivity and ambivalence to the things of God) or were you being drawn toward God and a deeper awareness of the peace and love that he reveals?]” –Fr.J—

“ the short answer is yes. Feelings are not a necessary part of the spiritual life. The spiritual life resides in “the will,” not “the heart.” And so you ought to have an intellectual fear of the consequence of sin and have the strength of will to avoid sin. If your feelings support those, super good! If they don’t, well that’s not a big deal. It is not necessary to feel sad or even frustrated when you sin. All that is required is contrition – which is an intellectual understanding of the consequence of sin and a disposition of will to make amends. Of course, all that’s very clinical. Unless you’re a robot, your emotions will play a part. Just don’t give them too much power over you. You can be contrite, even when you’re not “feeling it.” And contrition is what you need, not sadness or despair.” –Fr.R—

“Interesting that you ask this because I was talking about it with someone the other day. I think it is possible to have a healthy fear of sin and yet not be given to great sadness or despair in committing sin. Especially with sins that have been habitual to some extent in the past and from which we are trying to purify ourselves, I think we can arrive at a point at which, though we may fall into sin we realize that God is still working with us and trust in His mercy. There’s a book called “Clean of Heart” that is a 50-day meditation on sexual purity. In the introduction it speaks of a similar thing, namely when one falls they ought not too fall into great despair and get overly-consumed with the actions of the past but simply recognize one’s brokenness, bring it before the Lord in confession and continue the battle again. Hopefully that makes some sense.” –Fr.B—

“In a simple answer, it is possible. The more we grow in trust in the Lord the more we also grow in developing a healthy fear of sin. The challenge if one falls though, regardless of the sin, is to never become complacent. In other words, to recognize the seriousness of sin and go to confession as soon as possible, but at the same time not to despair because one has fallen. This comes with developing a healthy fear of the Lord.” –Fr.G—

“First off, I want to congratulate you for cooperating with God’s grace to create ways to protect yourself from sins of impurity. This is the point of confession: not just to shed the guilt of past sins, but (just as importantly) give strength to change these sinful behaviors and to break free from old patterns.

I definitely feel that your new perspective on sin is another a sign of God’s grace affecting your heart and mind.

That “normal” past sense of despair after falling into sin is healthy and necessary in the early stages of spiritual development. As you mentioned, our conscience must be attuned to the evil ugliness of sin and should thrust us into a healthy sense of guilt and remorse as well as compel us to go to confession ASAP. But as we grow and mature in the spiritual life, we should develop a greater sense of confidence in Christ’s victory over our sins.

So… Yes it is possible – and is in fact the goal- “to have a healthy fear of sin (a fear that, if healthy enough will get me to the confessional) without feeling sadness or desperation.” That sense of despair that you used to feel was in some way a lack of confidence in Christ’s power over your sins. This transition in thinking that you’ve described is a transition from worry about what you have done (sin) and what you now have to do (discipline) toward a confidence in what Christ has done (died on the cross/forgiven your sins) and what you and HE together now have to do (cooperate).

So… “Is it possible to have a healthy fear of sin without being scared of sin?”… Yes. Because with Christ by your side there is no reason to fear sin. He has already conquered it. 2000 years ago. It’s done.

This is the transformative power of God’s forgiveness given through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Hope this helps.”

–Fr.M–

“When we realize that sin is not distasteful to God, but that we have messed up our relationship with Him we are usually moved to fix it as soon as possible. Humility tells us that we have more work to do. It is no longer a childish fear, but an adult understanding of what I have to do. We have hurt the One who loves us most and most perfectly. Sorrow is a condition that comes, but in itself does not necessarily give feelings. Instead, it is the movement to get things right.”

–Fr.B–

This makes me very angry, to the point of near incoherence. It’s not just the hypocrisy, it’s the presumptions and the way that emotionally hurtful experiences are written off by the very same people who expect their own irrational, hurtful experiences to be catered to and treated seriously.

I’ve been the nice guy pretty much all my life. The shoulder to cry on, the safe male friend. Not as part of some sort of ‘game’ to try and get women. Not with any sort of expectation but simply because that was who I was. The nice guy hears his female friends problems, sees them fall for bad guys over and over again. He hears what they say they want and pretty often that’s ‘Why can’t he be more like you?’

You want a guy like me?

I’m a guy like me!

Many successful relationships come from friendships and little wonder that through the intimacy of a strong friendship so also romantic affection can spring. This isn’t sinister, or creepy. Its not planned. It doesn’t indicate that the nice guy thinks of the woman as an object or that sex is his due for being a nice guy any more than the lounge lizard necessarily thinks he’s going to get anywhere with his cheesy lines.

Where does the resentment come from? It might be different these days, now that rampant nerdery has a certain cachet, but back in the day that was far from the case. As an introverted nerd with strange hobbies and interests you were a target for scorn and intelligence and humour didn’t get you very far either. Even if you weren’t that bad looking everything else counted against you so much that it didn’t help.

Friendship? Maybe. Anything more? Not on your life.

Again, you don’t necessarily expect it but when you buy into the whole ‘New Man’ thing because it seems to fit you. When you’re taken advantage of. When you’re told over and over again that the qualities you have are desirable but that never turns out to be true. When you do pick up the bravery to make a romantic move and get turned down again and again, banished to the Friend Zone despite all that talk, the hypocrisy and lies understandably get to you.

A broken heart leaves scars.

Apparently though, the nice guy – now once bitten, twice shy – isn’t allowed to dwell on this or to become wary of women, particularly pretty women. He is, instead, blamed for becoming bitter and disenchanted. It’s his fault he was manipulated and disappointed. He should never have been attracted to someone ‘out of his league’. Somehow he’s as much of a  problem as the sexually aggressive swine. Despite having the qualities that many women say they want.

Bollocks.

As men we’re supposed to simply accept that we’re going to be treated as potentially dangerous rapists. Schroedinger’s Rapist is completely irrational and nonsensical and yet we’re supposed to just suck it up and to understand that women are irrationally afraid of us and let it go at that.

What about Schroedinger’s Bitch? Isn’t that just as (in)valid? Maybe we have our ownemotional reasons from bitter, past experience for being wary of women. Especially pretty women. Maybe we’ve been brushed off, lied to, treated like crap, exploited or dumped for the kind of guys you said you didn’t want too many times. How about some respect and understanding for OUR irrational fears eh?

Don’t guess at the nice guy’s motives and them damn him based on you own, insulting presumptions. Somehow, it seems, victim blaming is just fine so long as the guy’s the victim.

Hearings of 27 – 29 August 2012.

This week in “Facing Justice”: Expert Witness Seena Fazel, Civil Party Em Oeun, Defense Counsel Michael Karnavas, Witness Norng Sophang, Expert Witness Chok Thida, Prosecutor Seng Bunkheang, Witness Rochoeum Ton, Guest: Sok Sam Oeun.

I recently picked up a book titled “The Ethical Slut” by Easton and Hardy that has provided me educated fodder in responding to a recent article about the prevailing “hook-up culture” on college campuses. In this initial response, I feel the need to shine the light on prevailing assumptions of mainstream culture. While my blog may focus specifically on the multiple forms of love, an overarching theme is questioning societal norms and discovering personalized paths, regardless of or in spite of the rejection from mainstream society.

Unethical sluts have given us a bad name. By “us” I mean ethical sluts. And I might as well further delineate that by saying female ethical sluts. (Because let’s be honest, single, straight men are in another realm when it comes to hook-up culture since they do not have to succumb to slanderous names like we do. Just think about the dichotomy between Casanova and Salome. While the latter is usually paired with the words “dangerous seductress” the former is defined as “amorous towards women”.)

Unfortunate for us women who value our freedom of choice in all matters are the decisions made by women who carelessly and without recourse open their legs for anything male that moves. These women (unethical sluts, as interpreted by Easton and Hardy), for their own indecipherable reasons, feel the involuntary need or desire to obtain attention from peers (both male and female) by sleeping around. Since I’m no subject matter expert on psychology, I can only surmise that these decisions, made by girls of all ages, relate somewhat to upbringing. The first scenarios that come to my mind are that these girls were raised in a broken home, with or without formative parental figures, subject to abuse or simply lacking in positive attention. And in the worst case scenarios, these girls get pregnant young, contract STDs, or continue to be physically and mentally abused by the men from which they seek attention. I am neither judging nor providing excuses, but simply hypothesizing here. In another life (or perhaps later on in this one), I could see myself as someone who helps these women break the cycle and recognize the difference between ethical and unethical slutdom. And recognizing is the key to making a conscious, rather than forced, decision.

What’s my motivation for wanting to enlighten these women? First, I am aggravated at the realization that all women must overcome the dominating female reputation that derived from the unfortunate decisions made by a significant minority. Second, I’m more specifically frustrated for ethical sluts, who perhaps are less likely to reveal their “out of the box” lifestyle due to the negative reactions already looming around other non-monogamous women, i.e., unethical sluts. What is the difference between the two? Ethical sluts make the conscious decision that mainstream monogamous culture does not coincide with their desired lifestyle. Easton and Hardy discuss a variety of scenarios. But for the sake of my blog, I will limit it to my own, which is that the company of many is more beneficial than just one, as long all parties abide by the rule of open honesty and safety and also harbor no preconceived notions of the familial construct eventually transitioning into mainstream monogamy. And unfortunately, ethical sluts, who have dissected their lives and exercised the freedom of conscious choice to embrace all forms of love, must answer to the common judgment and disgust sprouting from the actions of unethical sluts.

At this point I’m wondering why the prevailing opinion chooses to focus on unethical sluts to make a broad absolute assumption about the whole of the female population while turning a blind side to the lesser-known conscious public that reject a monogamous lifestyle. Can the majority not accept that there are those who would consciously choose such a “disreputable” life and are they only comfortable categorizing such decisions as forced paths due to subconscious preconditioning from disjointed childhoods? Perhaps. It seems to be that way in my eyes. I cannot help but presume that this provides yet another way for traditionalists to raise monogamy and marriage on a high pedestal, as hollow as it may be. It is not my disbelief of marriage that provides a basis for my blog, since I do believe it is the best path for some; but, rather, it is my belief that the preponderate embrace of the inevitability of marriage should be deconstructed.

What I’d like to see happen is more vocal ethical sluts speaking up for their right to choose their own path. Even unethical sluts have the right to be what they are. But I would throw out the caveat that they would need to be as such consciously and not as a victim of their psychosis or pressured environment. Even I would respect someone who consciously chose that path, despite the fact that I disagree with the hurt they would inevitably cause others and themselves. What matters to me most is women not fearing power or agency to choose their own path, no matter how far outside of mainstream it lies. If we embrace our sexual liberation in a healthy way, and not treat it as taboo, perhaps we can overcome the slander that has eaten away at our female identity for thousands of years. And maybe, just maybe, we can define our sexual identity, without it defining us.

Walk for just one minute in their shoes
see life as they do in just one step
before you decide who they are
and what they think and feel

Their hardships may not be what is visible
the minute by minute trials they face
while we presume to know the truth
living the truth is another story

Walk for a moment in their lives
become what they must endure
live as they do each day
for just one moment in time

We have seen this in a concrete fashion this very day, as so many of us here in Southwest Louisiana had plans this Wednesday for our schools, churches, and businesses — and yet those very plans have been cancelled or postponed due to the threat of Hurricane Isaac. We had made our plans, but with a very little effort on His part, the God who controls the winds nullified them all!

This should serve as a very fresh reminder of how dependent we are upon God, and how humble we should be about our “plans” and schemes. As James reminds us in Chapter 4:15, “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live, and also do this or that.’”

It is instructive that it is in this context that we find the famous 12th verse of Psalm 33: “How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” We are blessed if our trust is in the One Who sits enthroned over the universe, and whose plans, unlike ours, are never frustrated.

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MOTHER SPOKE THUS REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING RELIGIOUS VOWS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MADE THEM (i.e. Priests, Sisters, Nuns, Brothers, etc.)

444. … receive (this information) with an appreciative and devout mind, ready to follow it in deed…

he who has made vows to God has bound his own will; so that he has no freedom of acting except according to the will and direction of Him to whom he has bound himself; for he is chained down by the words of his own mouth uttered in the profession of his vows.

Before taking his vows, the choice of his ways was in his own hands; but having once bound and obliged himself, let him know that he has entirely lost his liberty and had delivered himself up to God in his superiors.

The whole ruin or salvation of souls depends upon the use of their free will;

but since most men use it (free will) ill and damn themselves, the Most High has established religious life under the sacred vows.

Thus, the creature, by once using its liberty to make a perfect and prudent choice, can deliver up to his Majesty that very liberty, which so many pervert, if it remains free and unhampered in its choice.

445. By these vows the liberty to do evil is happily lost, and the liberty for doing good is assured.
It is like a bridle, which leads away from danger and directs into the smooth and sure road. The soul is freed from the slavery and subjection of the passions, and acquires a new power over them, resuming her place as mistress and queen in the government of her kingdom and remaining subject only to the law of grace and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit.

If she thus applies her whole will solely to the fulfillment of all that she has promised to God, the Holy Spirit will govern and direct all her operations.

The creature thereby passes from the condition and state of ‘a slave’ to that of ‘a child of the Most High,’ from an earthly to an angelic life, while the corruption and evil effects of sin cannot exert their full power.

It is impossible that thou ever be able in this earthly life to calculate or comprehend, what and how many are the blessings and treasures those souls gather for themselves, who with all their powers and affection strive to fulfill perfectly the vows of their profession.

For I assure thee… that those who are perfect and punctual in their religious obligations can equal and even surpass the martyrs in merit.

446. …thou (you who have taken religious vows) didst happily begin to gather these blessings on the day when thou didst choose the better part;

but remember well that thou hast bound thyself to the eternal and mighty God, to Whom the inmost secrets of thy heart are manifest.

It it is so base and detestable to deceive and disappoint men in ‘just promises,’ how vile is it to be unfaithful to God in the most just and holy promises?

As thy Creator, Preserver and Benefactor, He claims thy gratitude;
as Father, thy reverence;
as Spouse, thy fidelity;
as a Friend, amicable intercourse;
as the most Faithful, He should excite thy faith and hope;
as the highest and eternal Good, He should possess thy love;
as the Almighty, thy entire subjection;
as the most just Judge, He should rouse thy humble and holy fear.

Against all these allegiances and many others thou committest perfidious treason, in failing or hesitating to fulfill what thou has promised according to thy profession.

And, if in all the nuns who have obliged themselves to a spiritual life and conversation, it is such a monstrous and terrible abomination to themselves spouses of Christ, while living as members and slaves of the devil, how much more abominable will it be in thee, who hast received more than they all, and therefore shouldst exceed them in loving and exerting thyself to make a return for such incomparable blessings and benefits.

447. Consider, O soul, how detestable this fault would make thee in the sight of the Lord, of myself, and of the angels and saints.

For we all are witnesses of the love and fidelity, which He has shown toward thee as a generous, loving and faithful Spouse.

Strive then, with all thy heart, to avoid offending Him either in great or in small things; do not force Him to relinquish thee and to deliver thee over to the beastly disorders of sin; for thou knowest that his would be a greater misfortune and punishment than if He consign thee to the fury of the elements, or to the wrath of wild animals, or even to the rage of demons.

If all these were to execute their anger upon thee, and if the world were to heap upon thee all its punishments and insults, all would do thee less damage than one venial sin against God whom thou art obliged to serve and love in all things and through all things.

Any punishment of this life is less dreadful than sin; for it (physical punishment) ends with mortal life, but the guilt of sin, and with it punishment, may be eternal.

448. In this life, any punishment or tribulation fills mortals with fear and dread, merely because it affects the senses and brings them in close touch with it through them, but the guilt of sin does not affect them nor fill them with dread.

Men are entirely taken up by that which is visible, and they therefore do not look upon the ultimate consequences of sin, which is the eternal punishment of hell.

Though this is imbibed and inseparably connected with sin, the human heart becomes so heavy and remis that it remains as if it were stupefied in its wickedness, because it does not feel it present in its senses.

Though it could see and feel it by faith, this itself remains listless and dead, as if it were wanting entirely.

O most unhappy blindness of mortals!

O torpid negligence, that holds so many souls, capable of reason and of glory, oppressed in deceit!

There are not words or sentences sufficient to describe this terrible and tremendous danger.

My (child) haste away, and fly with holy fear such an unhappy state, and deliver thyself up to all the troubles and torments of life, which pass soon, rather than incur such a danger;

for nothing will be wanting to thee, if thou do not lose God.

To be convinced that there are no small faults for thee and for thy state, is a powerful means of saving thyself;

fear greatly the small things, for in despising small faults the Most High knows, that the human heart invites other greater ones.

That is not a blameless love, which does not avoid all displeasure of the beloved one.

449. The order which religious souls should maintain in their desires should be:

that they strive to be punctual in fulfilling the obligations of their vows and all the virtues, which are connected with them.

Afterwards, and secondarily, they may engage in voluntary practices, such as are called ‘supererogatory.’

This order some of the souls (who are misled by the devil to entertain an indiscreet zeal for perfection) are wont to invert;

thus, while they fail seriously in the obligations of their state, they are eager to add other voluntary exercises and practices, which are usually of small use or benefit, or arise from a spirit of presumption and singularity.

They secretly desire to be looked upon as distinguished in zeal and perfection, while in truth they are very far even from the beginning of perfection.

I do not wish to see in thee a fault so reprehensible: but first

fulfill all the duties of thy vows and of community life, and then

thou mayest add what thou canst, according to thy ability and the inspiration of divine grace.

This together will beautify thy soul and will make it perfect and agreeable in the eyes of God.

These excerpts are from the English translation of the original authorized Spanish edition ‘Ciudad De Dios’, translated by Fr. George J. Blattner writing under the pen-name: Fiscar Marison with Imprimatur of the Archbishop of Santa Fe, Edwin V. Byrne, D.D.

Related articles

• Let Us Pray For Those Who Have Taken Professed Vows (credointhecommunionofsaints.wordpress.com)
• “Old-Fashioned” Sisters, “Newfangled” Nuns, Numbers and Habits – UPDATED (patheos.com)
• Pray The Holy Rosary Every Single Day (credointhecommunionofsaints.wordpress.com)
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Continued opposition to this piece of legislation may yet result in it being taken off the statute books.

THE recent amendment to the Evidence Act with the insertion of Section 114(A) basically presumes that a person who is depicted in a publication as owner or administrator is presumed to have published the contents.

This effectively means that those named in publications are presumed guilty of any offending content that may be posted, including those on the Internet where there is no licensing and it is easy to use some other person’s name, photograph and details as the originator.

This presumption of guilt, requiring the accused to prove his innocence, instead of the prosecution having to prove his guilt, is a strange reversal of the rule of law when the entire justice system is based on the assumption of innocence unless guilt is proven.

It is stranger still coming in the wake of moves to liberalise draconian laws such as the Internal Security Act which provided for detention without trial, and the Universities and University Colleges Act which severely curtailed the rights of students to participate in the political process.

When there is such liberalisation taking place, it is strange that the Government should be setting the clock back by introducing legislation that goes clearly against the grain of justice.

Yes, the Internet space is a raucous one and lots of stuff are pasted and posted, and people, including many in the Government, the Cabinet and the Opposition, are regularly blasted for things that they may or may not have done.

But there are laws to deal with them such as the defamation laws. And some of the victims have sought recourse to these with visible success, which includes Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

Why, therefore, should a sledgehammer be given to prosecutors to bring a tonne of weight down indiscriminately on people who may not have committed the offence, but may have a tough time proving that they had not and may become involved in tangled knots with the law for a long time?

Conspiracy theorists, of whom a lot exist in this country due to the nature of the way things are, have immediately seen this as a move to limit criticism. That’s hardly a PR effort by the Government.

When the Centre for Independent Journalism organised an Internet blackout on Aug 14, it met with a tremendous response and many people just did not post anything on the Net during that particular day.

Such support must have had an effect on the decision of the Prime Minister to call upon the Cabinet to review its decision to pass the amendment to the relevant Act.

“Whatever we do we must put the people first,” the PM had tweeted, and who can disagree with that?

But unfortunately, the Cabinet stuck to its guns and backed its previous decision.

Dr Rais said the Cabinet discussed it exhaustively and decided not to make any changes because Parliament was represented by the ruling party and the Opposition and had debated it.

“Once it is officially passed, to do something now is an afterthought,” he said.

Dr Rais added that the Law Minister would explain further.

Later, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the controversial amendment would be explained further by the Attorney-General.

“If explained properly, I believe right-thinking people will know why the amendment was tabled in Parliament and approved. If there still are fears, laws can also be tweaked, amended and abolished, but don’t get emotional about it,” he said.

Those interested will wait for the Government explanation, although Dr Rais had already said that presumption of fact was nothing new in law and there was still room for accused persons to defend themselves.

The converse position is that such a law can be abused.

Those who want to “fix” someone on the Net can post comments and claim that it came from that particular person. And that person will be tied up in knots trying to defend himself.

That is the main fear among Internet users and other publishers.

Inordinate power is in the hands of prosecutors who now don’t have to prove who the real publishers are.

The question is why grant them these additional powers under the amendment when the entire Internet is subject to the laws of the country?

The only difference is that there is no licensing of the Internet compared to conventional media such as print and broadcasting.

Thus, the new laws are seen as a move to bring the Internet under control more quickly than using existing laws, a move which the disinterested would oppose.

Policymakers may actually realise that. As seen by the quote from the Home Minister above, if there is continued strong opposition to the amendment, it could be repealed.

Perhaps it may need another tweet from the Prime Minister to make that happen, and this time he will be at that Cabinet meeting.

That should make a difference to what the Cabinet may think.

Question Time By P. Gunasegaram

> Like most people, P Gunasegaram can’t stand presumptuous people.

Related posts:

 Warning to Malaysian Internet Users: an Amendment to Evidence … 

I remenber a few years ago,I and my friend were going to take a flight from Abuja in Nigeria to Warri,my town and for the first time my seat was just right at the emergency exit and I remenber as the hostess began to give instructions in case of any troubles what we needed to do,cold ran through my body with fear,just as she said,”in the case of a crash landing” someone else said “I reject it in Jesus name,we don’t need it” good prayer,but it was serious for me because I knew I had the responsibility with me to do something,in the case of any trobles,but thank God we landed safe.

An emergency exit in a structure is a special exit for emergencies such as a fire: the combined use of regular and special exits allows for faster evacuation, while it also provides an alternative if the route to the regular exit is blocked by fire, etc.It is usually a strategically located (e.g. in a stairwell, hallway, or other likely place) outward opening door with a crash bar on it and with exit signs leading to it.

Emergency exit is vital for safety in the event of a fire outbreak and for easy evacuation of people out of the building.

This is not a show of fear but wisdom,there are people who believe that when you as a child of God put such things in your building you are only attracting what you are trying to avoid,I would like to help such people think in the right direction.

We say in my country “Prevention is better than cure” it is wisdom to have an emergency exit in your house,its for your safety and the safety of those in your household,not just exits but fire extinguishers and all the other safty equipments in the event of fire.

We also need to build an emergency exit in our lives,this is important for safety in our relationships and businesses.We must learn to apply wisdom and faith in our dealings with other people.

We need to clearly distinguish between faith and wisdom and foolishness.I see people confuse faith a lot for something else,sometimes we act in foolishness and call it faith.But we must have understanding in our dealings we must be wise.

Faith is acting on the word of God.The word of God is the basis of our belief,we act on what we believe and that is the word of God.So it is vital that we understand scriptures clearly before we apply them.

Wisdom is the application of understanding,as we know,knowledge is the acquisiton of information and understanding is the ability to put the information to their right places and wisdom is the actual application of understanding.

So just having knowledge doesn’t make you wise.Experience is important for wisdom,experience can only be developed with time in practice,so as I use the understanding I gathered in reality,experience is built and with time wisdom is developed.Wisdom doesn’t come with prayer but with practice,putting to use what you know.

 Presumption,which is the the act of presuming,the assumption of something as true,but lets understand the word assumption,which is the act of taking for granted or supposing.

Foolishness is resulting from or showing a lack of sense;ill considered;unwise;lacking forethought or caution.

Some practice we call faith is total presumption or foolishness and I would like to give clear examples from scriptures some of the things we do out of lack of understanding but call faith and real life stories to also help;

The bible in mark 16:18 says they shall pickup serpents and it shall not hurt them,some persons have gone on to the streets to start picking up serpents but got bitten by the serpents and some ended up dying that’s foolishness,because the bible never said,go out and pick up serpents,the emphasis was not on the serpent but the power of God that they receive.

I remenber some years ago how a man jumped into a lions den in the name of the lord and the lion ate him up after first taking out his private part,that’s another foolishness because even daniel didn’t opt to be thrown in there.

I remenber years ago,a friend has this dog and the dog was barking in a strange way,so he went out and shouted at the dog,with the finger pointed at the dog,saying in the name of Jesus shut up,and the dog bit his finger,foolishness in display.

I am not saying faith doesn’t work,but all I am saying is that we must be wise at all times,there are some things we can avoid and sort out by our selves,we must learn to use our discretion.

Sometimes we forget that the brain we have in our heads come from the lord and not from the devil.

Our brain is given for use,you can not understand mathematics by praying but by study,the holy spirit will not remind you of what you don’t already have some knowledge of,nobody is dumb,we all have the potentila to be better at anything if we can give ourselves to study,that is not to say we don’t need God but that God has given us all we need for life and Godliness.

We must put everything in its right place.We must be men in application.

Its not a display of fear to have an emergency exit in your life,its not a second plan but a plan with the main plan.Its not a second option but it goes with the original option.

Most people fail in business because they assume that everything will be okay we don’t have to worry about anything.

• You are about to get into partnership with someone you know nothing about,and you are not doing the right things by getting a lawyer and writing the necessary agreements,but you assume he is a good guy and wont give you any problems.
• A lot of people marry without taking certain things about eachother into deep consideration,you just assume he or she will be ok with time.
• You change jobs without checking details about the new company,you just assume without doing the checks and you think its ok,when something goes wrong we cry God help.

Jesus said “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him” Luke 14:28-29 ; starting is not the issue but finishing,some people will say,leave it for the lord or when we get to that bridge we will cross it,well what if the bridge collapse and you can’t cross or crash with it?

• You employ people without necessary qualifications but plenty of sentiments,maybe he is your relative sometimes they are the ones who run down the business,you got to put up your emergency exit.

What causes most accidents on the roads today? because people disobey traffic signs and not care about the traffic lights and drive when they should stop,then an accident,don’t worry lets go by faith,its foolishness.

We got to be wise,wisdom is profitable for all things,add wisdom to your faith,faith doesn’t walk alone there are other virtue that is necessary to add to faith to make it more effective.

Add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge and to knowledge self control and to self control perseverance and to perseverance godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness love,it ends there because love is the totality of the christian life and if all these things abide in you,you will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our lord Jesus Christ,for he who lacks these things is shortsighted,even to blindness.

Faith doesn’t walk alone if you must be a success in life and in your walk with God you must add these things to your faith.

watch out for continuation.