For all the non-Latin speakers, the title means, “To Free the Oppressed”.
It is the motto of the U.S. Special Forces.
I saw the movie trailer for “Act of Valor” (posted below) and remembered the tragedy earlier in the year, when we lost 31 U.S. Special Forces soldiers and 7 Afghani allies in a helicopter crash. We need more men like these, dedicated to courage, honor, loyalty and the freedom of others. God make of us true men.
There is a crisis of manhood–and of true courage–in modern America. A part of our culture promotes the message that what it means to be a man is to sleep with as many women as you can, make, take, or fake monetary wealth, and dominate others, whether on the sports field or in the public eye. That isn’t manhood. Truth be told, doing one or more of the aforementioned things really isn’t difficult. Immorality seldom is…
What takes true courage and strength is to be a real man. A man of God. A family man. A man of honor. Few manage to do those things, whether because they’re more difficult than the others, or because they’ve been deluded and deceived into chasing false idols that never truly fulfill. Some never make the attempt, because they’ve not been shown what a true man looks like.
That’s why movies like the one promoted below are so valuable. Catch this one while it’s still in the theaters.
I know a lot of people that are struggling right now, and I thought I might just post an encouraging song, knowing personally the power such music has to lift spirits…
“What you need is an ironclad chastity safeguard!”
“Is this what you wanted?”
Hell yeah!
If you are a family member and are reading this prior to the Christmas party, READ NO FURTHER, lest the Lord smite thee!
*Gift Spoiler Below!
On the eve of Christmas, I thought it apt to share what is perhaps the “most favored” gift I’m bestowing this year: The Action Bible!
One can obtain this stunning book for half-price with the right mix of consumer savvy and patience (cough *Borders Rewards membership*). It is a hefty tome, formidable enough for home defense, and the stopping of bullets. Should Philistines burst through your door as you’re reading to your child, you’ll be as well armed as was Samson when he hefted the first WMD (the jawbone of an ass) and slew a thousand.
I daresay adults may enjoy reading it as much as children, though I’m guessing whole swaths have been judiciously omitted, lest all that biblical “knowing” between men and women result in the wrong kind of Action!
Mayhap a more thorough review will follow, once the gifted tear through the shrink wrap.
Oh, and the whole “Death to Og” thing is a reference to the biblical slaying of the heathen king Og of Bashan, whose name in Hebrew means “Gigantic”. One who the modern “ancient aliens” nutjobs think was the offspring of aliens/nephelim and humanity.
Last night Kerrie Roberts performed her first concert in my city. I heard it was quite something. Unfortunately, I had to be at a meeting for a charity I work with, as I’m responsible for having secured the venue for an upcoming fundraiser. I’ve only heard one song by Ms. Roberts (linked below), but she reminds me of Nichole Nordman. Both women aren’t just gifted vocally, but are talented songwriters whose lyrics have depth and meaning. I have found them to be sources of encouragement in an often frustrating Christian walk.
When great suffering or tragedy greets some people, it can come to dominate their life and leave wounds that last decades. I have seen in some of my students how a betrayal by a parent or other loved one can twist and embitter an entire life. One can become lost in asking “Why?”.
The blessing of being a Christian is that one need not be defined by great tragedy.
Remembering God puts things in their proper perspective. The real answer to suffering is not to be found in a human understanding, but in an awareness of the presence of God. If there is suffering, and it is offered to and born for the love of God, that suffering can have a purpose, though it be not known until years later, or even on this side of death.
Pain is not the end of the story. Not in a universe built by a God of love.
I stood at the precipice today, balanced by a thread between faith and atheism. Unsure of who I am, and what (if anything) can be trusted.
The day has been spent in prayer, and spiritual battle, desperately seeking a Face I was beginning to doubt even existed. He does not disappoint:
“Within our darkest night,
You kindle the fire that never dies away,
That never dies away…”
How the soul can be brought from such turmoil and agony to peace is one of the great mysteries, and a welcome one at that.
I am thoroughly exhausted, but praise be to the Lord most high!
Today’s foray into all things theological, I thought I’d review an application (app) I downloaded last week for my iPod Touch. “Divine Office” costs $9.99, and is well worth every penny. Now instead of fumbling through a print version of the Divine Office (a Catholic prayer tradition originating with the early monastics), it’s all there on your screen, and exceedingly portable.
The app can be set to automatically download the prayers for the day, five days worth at a time. Better still, with the touch of a button you can enable the audio feature, providing you with recordings of men and women praying segments of the Office with you. It is broken into Invitatory, Morning, Midday, Evening, and Night Prayer, though the audio support is provided for everything but Midday Prayer (text is provided for all of them). For nearly ten years I’ve prayed the Office, first in the print pocket edition (Magnificat), then with the clunkier “traditional” tome. It was a great comfort and blessing to have the Office, and I credit it with saving my life and sanity (well, most of it) during a particularly dark time of undergrad.
Having the audio option not only provides you with hymns beautifully sung and performed by true artists, but makes present the tangible comfort of the Church. There have been times, whether during travel or the still hours of late night or early morning, that one can feel profoundly alone. To hear a human voice praying with you can be a great balm to the wound of loneliness.
Other quirky features include a map that will show you the locations of others praying the Office at the same time (you must be on-line for this feature to work properly), and occasional supplemental reflections are provided. I highly recommend this app from Surgeworks.
“Whatsoever we ask which is not for our good, He will keep it back from us. And surely in this there is no less of love than in granting what we desire as we ought. Will not the same love which prompts you to give a good, prompt you to keep back an evil thing? If, in our blindness, not knowing what we ask, we pray for things which would turn in our hands to sorrow and death, will not our Father, out of His very love, deny us? How awful would be our lot, if our wishes should straightway pass into realities; if we were endowed with a power to bring about all that we desire; if the inclinations of our will were followed by fulfilment of our hasty wishes, and sudden longings were always granted. One day we shall bless Him, not more for what He has granted than for what He has denied.”
–H.E. Manning
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For His great love has compassed
Our nature, and our need
We know not; but he knoweth,
And He will bless indeed.
Therefore, O heavenly Father,
Give what is best to me;
And take the wants unanswered,
As offerings made to Thee.
~Anon
Behold, my new favorite blog, an excerpt from which follows:
Remember, the whole idea of the League is to get together with other Bearded Catholics (and beardie sympathizers) of like mind. Now, some may look at The League as probably just an excuse to get together and drink beer, and… okay, they would be right, but, the important thing is that between beers and snacks and all that, we try to devote a few minutes to Saving Western Civilization From Itself. In fact, I believe one strikes a blow for sanity and civilization just by the act of getting together (hopefully over adult beverages and some cheesy comestibles).
Everything’s digital, now… friendships, correspondence, the family photo album… The internet is a varied and marvelous thing, but can it cook? Can it lend you an umbrella? Can it hold your hair while you throw up? I submit that it can not. Remember, The League of Bearded Catholics is not just a blog… it’s an adventure!
Since the latest post is a little lengthy, I suggest you start off with some lighter fair. In the spirit of the punnish “Fence Post”, I offer you some ridiculous artistry of “exotic” medieval fighting. This could easily be entitled “When Peasants Attack”.
Confessions of a Twisted Mind 