RORATE CÆLI: The continuing eradication of Christianity in Iraq

RORATE CÆLI: The continuing eradication of Christianity in Iraq: "An Orthodox Christian priest was killed by unknown assassins on Saturday in the heart of Baghdad according to Iraqi security sources.

Several unidentified armed men traveling in a car opened fire on the priest as he left his home in the central district of Karrada, said the sources who requested anonymity.

The priest died instantly. The incident took place around 12:00 local time (9:00 GMT) and the assailants escaped according to the same source."

Having a baby is equivalent to having a sexually transmitted decease Mr. Obama?

So when will be be able to just accept what a candidate says without waiting to hear what the "Spin Doctors" tell us he or she really meant?

TheHill.com - Obama’s ‘baby’ comment draws fire from conservatives

ZENIT - A Christless Christmas Is Senseless, Says Pope

CLet's take time for Christ this Christmas. So often we here in the news about people trying to take Christmas from us, or a "War on Christmas". There is no way anybody can take it from us if we truly keep it as we should, with Christ and Christ alone at the center.

ZENIT - A Christless Christmas Is Senseless, Says Pope

JIMMY AKIN.ORG: The Nattering Nabobs of Know-Nothingism

The reason this stuff (link below) is so harmful is that so many people get their "facts" from television and Hollywood movies. It seems there is no critical and objective thought out there anymore.

Link to JIMMY AKIN.ORG: The Nattering Nabobs of Know-Nothingism

I guess I'm giving up!

I don't know if I have documented adequately the problems I've been having with my training for the MS-150. The entire thing can be paraphrased in one sentence; I have not been able to get on my bike since April 26th.

I may have mentioned pain in my left ankle, knee, hip and lower back in a previous post or two. Well it got so bad I couldn't even ride on my indoor trainer for more than 15 or 20 minutes!

I went to the guy who did my Lumbar Fusion in 2003. He thinks I have inflammation and possibly nerve damage in my Sacrum. He tells me that when the spine is fused as mine is at the lower Lumbar area it can no longer move in relation to the Sacrum as intended. He said even small changes in a persons gait can over time lead to inflammation and other damage. That could make sense. When I ride I usually ride at a cadence of 90 rpm. That means that in one 60 minute ride my legs revolve 5400 times.

Anyway I'm doing physical therapy now, taking anti inflammatory and using plenty of heat and ice. The bottom line though is I cannot get on my bike and I can only walk about 20 minutes per day. That is NOT where I needed to be by now in my training. I was shooting for 10 hours per week on my bike.

Facts are facts, I just have to accept the ones that tell me this is not going to be the victory I thought it was going to be in my recovery. As it turns out this is something else to recover from.

Catholic Culture : Library : A Closer Look at Centering Prayer

"Pope John Paul II has pointed out to the whole Church the example and doctrine of St. Teresa of Avila who in her life had to reject the temptation of certain methods which proposed a leaving aside of the humanity of Christ in favor of a vague self-immersion in the abyss of divinity. In a homily given on November 1, 1982, he said that the call of St. Teresa of Jesus advocating a prayer completely centered on Christ "is valid even in our day, against some methods of prayer which are not inspired by the gospel and which in practice tend to set Christ aside in preference for a mental void which makes no sense in Christianity. Any method of prayer is valid insofar as it is inspired by Christ and leads to Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life"

I have just finished a fairly short experience with Centering Prayer. I was guided by the book Open Mind, Open Heart by Thomas Keating. I have had this book for years and began reading it recently. I was intrigued by how easy Fr. Keating made it seem to achieve contemplation and/or union with our Lord. I was disconcerted however about how thoughts of our Lord were eliminated by this type of prayer.

When my son was home from college recently I talked briefly with him about it. He presented me with the article I have linked below. Needless to say that as soon as I read the article I discontinued my practice of Centering Prayer.

Fr. Keating and authors like him are able to entrap people like me by the promise of something for literally nothing. I'm seeking a deeper prayer life. In my current condition my cognitive abilities limit what I can understand when I read. I know the writings of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross are correct. However, they are deeper than I can go on my own. It is too bad there are no teachers as anxious to take up teaching the way of these great saints as they are the false promise of Centering Prayer.

Source: Catholic Culture : Library : A Closer Look at Centering Prayer

Planned Parenthood Caught on Tape Covering Up Statutory Rape – Threatens Lawsuit to Hide Evidence

91% of the facilities that admitted that a crime had been committed agreed to conceal it.

This is where millions upon millions of our tax dollars go every year.  It seems to me that even pro-choice people would be disgusted that so much money goes to an organization that looks for ways to break and circumvent the law at every turn.  Lets not also forget the number of young lives that are devastated by the encouragement to protect the predators that prey upon them and the torture of the rest of their lives dealing with the killing of a child.  Rest assured that if Prolife organizations received that kind of tax support pro choicer's would be crawling all over them to look for behavior like this in order to stop the flow of money.

My heart goes out to the daughter of the PPLA worker that said she would have aborted her!  How do you deal with something like that, the daughter and the mother.  Oh yeah, by lying and hiding it.

Source: Planned Parenthood Caught on Tape Covering Up Statutory Rape – Threatens Lawsuit to Hide Evidence

Boulder Colorado: Kids should "balance" drug use and sex.

Michelle Malkin: Another Great Moment in Public Education

“balance with having the fun and experimenting and enjoying what you’re doing, whether it’s learning, or sexually or with drugs or alcohol ... But keep focused.”

If you haven't read the piece by Vincent Carroll of the Rocky Mountain News about the disgusting events at Boulder High School you can find it here.  Michelle Malkin has a lot more information about the background of this.  Basically everyone can be assured that Boulder Colorado continues to show just how out of touch an entire city can become.  Boulder High school is attempting to single handedly role back decades of say no to drugs and illicit sex programs.  The reason is simple the Conference on World Affairs would do this.  If there are no moral or ethical boundaries life becomes a lot easer and a lot more "fun"; in their minds.  It also helps if they can draw others into their liberal, relativistic way of life.  Misery and people who know they are promoting evil, love company.  They get a feeling of justification by having a lot of people around them that are doing the same thing.

Training for the MS-150

Or maybe this post should be titled 'Lack of Training for the MS-150'. 

I have not been able to get on my bike since April 26th.  On that day I began getting what can only be described as excruciating pain in my left ankle, knee, hip and my lower back while riding.  It was so bad I could only pedal for a couple minutes then I would have to get off my bike or if I could coast unclip my left foot and let it hang.

I went to my Doctor and had x-rays of my lower back to make sure my fusion was still intact.  Those were OK.  I then had a bike fit done at the shop where I bought my bike.  Even after that I still couldn't ride.  So... I now have an appointment at the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine with the famous Andy Pruitt.  It is a medical evaluation but I can't get in until May 30th.  That does not leave me a lot of time to get ready for the MS-150 on July 7 and 8.

Stay tuned....

This is NOT a Private Blog

I really don't think anybody looks at my blog.  But if somebody did in the past week or so they would have received the message that it is a private blog.  This is no longer the case.

You see there are unscrupulous people out there that Spam blogs with unwanted (to be nice) comments.  The blog was hit so I made it private until I could at least clean things up.

Basso Said Admits Role in Doping Scandal

Why is it that all crooks, when they get caught, claim they want to crusade against other crooks committing the same crime they did.  Basso is on the same level as a street gang banger that finally gets caught and then claims he wants to help "kids" stay out of gangs.  In some instances these jail house conversions may be genuine but the vast majority of the time they are conversions of convenience; appeasing prosecutors, judges and in this case fans and sponsors who have paid him millions. 

On a sad note it is getting harder and harder for me to stay committed that Lance Armstrong was the only clean guy out there.  It's my understanding that Lance Armstrong has urine samples dating back years.  I think it is time for the guy at the top to stand up and prove himself.  He owes it to millions who have bought into his story.

'Basso said, 'The moment has come for me to assume my responsibilities. I only hope that I will be understood,'' Martelli said, adding the rider would 'plan his future around the fight against doping.'

Source: Basso Said Admits Role in Doping Scandal

Technorati tags: Ivan Basso

Selective Relativism

This is a very interesting article on Relativism, Duh! 

The problem I have with the philosophy of Relativism is that it denies any universal truths, except that is, the universal truth they believe... that everything is relative.  I know it's simplistic but I can't get past the logical error that they make.  They try to prove there is no universal truth by declaring a universal truth.

Link to OpinionJournal - Best of the Web Today

Pope to pay visit to UN | The Daily Telegraph

So, Benedict XVI is going to the UN.  This will be a fun event to follow.  Let's get ready because the Holy Father and the Church are going to be blamed for everything from the spread of AIDS to global warming.  This visit should bring out some of the most entertaining protestors and special interest groups that we have seen in... well since John Paul II visited. 

UN Secretary-General said Pope Benedict XVI has accepted his invitation to visit UN headquarters "at a mutually convenient time".

Technorati tags: Ban Ki-moon, Benedict XVI

Source: Pope to pay visit to UN | The Daily Telegraph

Brain Wave Activity

Today I had an EEG to check out the ole brain waves. The lines were squiggly and not flat so in my book I passed the test.

All this stems from my episode last Easter weekend when I lost memory completely of almost three days. This is the second time it has happened and last time there was nothing physically wrong just like I'm sure is the case this time. Since I have the seizures so frequently they wanted to mainly make sure the medication was holding them in check. Oh well, I lose a nights sleep but I get some peace of mind. That should keep my brainwaves mellow like they are sipping a Pina Colada on a Caribbean beach!

Training Setback

I don't know what is up the last several days but I can't ride my bike more than 25 minutes without getting excruciating pain in my left ankle, knee and hip.  I end up having to "limp" home either getting off the bike every few minutes or if I can coast I can unclip my left foot and let my left leg hang.

This is not good as I was hoping to increase my training days by 1 each week and start increasing my time on the bike to.  I'm set up for a bike fit a week from this Saturday.  We'll see if that helps but if it was something in the fit of the bike I don't think it would come on so suddenly.

Tour de France director Prudhomme praises Discovery team for suspending Basso

There must be some standardization in how the rules of cycling are applied to each team when it comes to doping.  Teams like Discovery that have the will to be ethical should be applauded.  But I wonder if other teams don't take similar stands will the ethical ones simply be drummed out of the sport because they can't compete?

Link to Tour de France director Prudhomme praises Discovery team for suspending Basso - Cycling - Yahoo! Sports

St. Louis Archbishop Opposes Sheryl Crow's Appearance at Children's Charity Due to Abortion Stance

Three cheers for Archbishop Raymond Burke! He gets it! It is more important to save souls than have a PC attitude that "This is about helping kids.". Come on, how can a person who claims to be working for kids accept a person who advocates for killing children. And how serious can Costas be taken when he claims to be for kids but wouldn't include a "litmus test" for somebody advocating killing kids. Are these people for real? Are they that ignorant and caught up in themselves that they cannot see the contradiction?

"It's very painful for me," Burke said during a news conference Wednesday. "But I have to answer to God for the responsibility I have as archbishop.

Source: FOXNews.com - St. Louis Archbishop Opposes Shery Crow's Appearance at Children's Charity Due to Abortion Stance - Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Arts And Entertainment

Beethoven rolling in his grave!

Well, as many may know in my never ending search to find fun and interesting substitutes for my boring and tedious cognitive therapy I took up learning to play the Recorder. Normally it is used with Elementary school kids to get them interested in learning music.

Well it has proved to be a very daunting task for me. I got a book for kids and it has taken me over three months to get to the point that kids get in a couple of weeks. BUT, yesterday was a milestone!

I made it through the first several bars of Beethoven's Ode to Joy. If a person listens carefully, in a abstract sort of way, I'm sure that at least 2 out of 10 listeners would recognize it as Ode to Joy. I'm even more sure that at least half of all listeners would even recognize some notes and a hint of rhythm.

On the serious side it is so cool to actually play something! It has been a long road getting hear but I've had fun and will continue on with my journey in music.

As far as the cognitive value of my learning it has been far greater than I expected. To learn to read music, keep time, finger the Recorder etc. has taxed my cognition greater than 100 of the word search and 'follow the instructions' therapies my therapists give me. I still attempt some every day, but to work on the Recorder and then have tangible results is incredibly gratifying.

In closing I would like to offer apologies to Ludwig. I promise to do better in time.

Ice Cream Headache

This happened about three months ago...

I created the blog post but I never posted it. Awesome Chick and I were talking to some friends and they said I should post it. So here it is......

I love all kinds of hats, even hats that I'm too much of a stiff to actually wear. I recently bought myself an Australian Outback brand Wax Cloth hat that sort of looks like the one Indiana Jones wears. The only problem was that it was a bit too tight. The large was tight but the extra large was way to big. I came up with this idea to really soak it with water and wear it around and see if it would stretch.

So I'm wearing this hat around the house that I'm keeping so wet water is dripping down my face. I don't know why but I decided to go outside. After a while, I'm not sure how long, the strokes took my sense of time, I start to get a headache. It starts to get really bad like my head is in a vice, so bad I'm getting nauseous. I'm thinking "this is the worst ice cream headache I've ever had".

I literally stumbled into the house, feeling like I was going to throw up. I reached up to grab my hat off my head and the darn thing was not only frozen almost solid it was frozen to my head! As awesome Chick and I jokingly say now I had turned my head into an Australian Outback popcycle. I had to lay on the floor with my head in the sun wondering if I had killed more of what brain I have left.

Well just like when you eat ice cream to fast my head thawed out and I went to our computer and logged onto the 9 News web site to check the temperature. It was only 20 friggin degrees outside!

I usually have these "stroke moments" when I'm alone. I can tell Awesome Chick is a bit concerned about the time when the weather warms up and I trade my indoor trainer in for riding outside.

If thy scripture offend one of another faith, pluck it out-Comment-Faith-TimesOnline

Yep Dr. Romain is are right, when things get tough to explain lets ignore and change them, even if they lead to the Truth.  Come on that is spiritually and intellectually week.  Dr. Romain has an ally in the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.  He wants to change Holy Scripture so that people opposed to and for homosexuality can read the same verse and be happy with it.  Boy when he is judged I will be interested to see how our Lord deals with him if his watering down and manipulation of Holy Scripture causes one person to lose their eternal soul.  Of course Hell is a hard and unpleasant teaching to so maybe we should change that in the spirit of everybody feeling good about everything they do.

Are you serious Dr. Romain that "One of the great puzzles today is why there is so much turmoil associated with faith"?  The reason is the rejection of faith and truth that you and many like you propose. 

Link to If thy scripture offend one of another faith, pluck it out-Comment-Faith-TimesOnline