Bulletin Page for October 18, 2009 45 Lessons Life Taught Me I thought you would enjoy this list of lessons that were written by a 95 year-old woman, who kept writing these lessons she learned in life over her long life. I am sure there are quite a few that you can apply to your life. 1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step. 3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch. 5. Pay off your credit cards every month. 6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone. 8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. 9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. 10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. 11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present. 12. It's OK to let your children see you cry. 13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it. 15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks. 16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. 17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. 18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger. 19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else. 20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer. 21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. 22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. 23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple. 24. The most important sex organ is the brain. 25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. 26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?' 27. Always choose life. 28. Forgive everyone everything. 29. What other people think of you is none of your business. 30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time. 31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 33. Believe in miracles. 34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do. 35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. 36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young. 37. Your children get only one childhood. 38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. 39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. 40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back. 41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 42. The best is yet to come. 43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 44. Yield. 45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Bulletin Page for October 11, 2009 The First of Everything The arrival of the first snowflakes every September or October reminds me of many firsts in my life, including the first time I saw snow in December 1981 when I was in New York, precisely at a Christmas Altar Society Dinner, where all the 150 women present went crazy when they saw me so excited at the sight of snow. Now looking back at 28 years of ploughing, shoveling, sloshing through tons of snow, I still rejoice when I see those Elkhorn and Wallowa peaks don their winter outfit as they show off their antimacassars for everyone to see. If you've never heard this word before, it's a very descriptive work that happens to contain my last name in it....Cassar! It actually describes the covering one would put on a couch where the head or arms rest, to protect couches and sofas from unnecessary stains and unsightly soiling. It also refers to the white sprinkling you see on mountain tops, especially when the first snow falls. Now I'm sure everyone will think of me whenever you look at those snow-covered peaks, called antimacassars. As you journey with me in this recollection, try to recollect your own firsts. The earliest I remember of my own childhood is at age 4 when I started nursery school. My first day of school was very special as I attended a school run by nuns, who used to pull me out of class during the lunch break and take me with them to the refectory. Later I found out that this was not because I was a trouble-maker, but because some of the nuns had a crush on me! Being an altar-boy for the first time happened in 1956 when I was only 4, where I had to carry the boat with the incense during a Corpus Christi procession. Unfortunately, touching the charcoal that the thurifer had placed in the boat turned my surplice from snow white to chimneysweep black, causing my mother to turn..well, at least gray. Serving my first Mass was a few years later, after learning all the responses in Latin, of course before Vatican II. My first trip outside Malta took place in 1966 when I was chosen as an altar-boy to serve at the Vatican during the summer months. Of course I treasure the photo they took of me kissing the ring of the fisherman, Pope Paul VI. My first day in the Minor Seminary in 1966 saw me being seated on the same bench of another boy who would become the Prime Minister of Malta since 2004. My first days in the Major Seminary and the University of Malta were in 1970, leading to my Ordination in June 1977. My first parish was my own home parish, dedicated to St Julian, and my first trip to the USA was in the summer of 1979, where I served as a supply priest in Massapequa Park, Long Island, New York. From this time on, I experienced many other firsts. Riding a bike to get around was a novelty for me, as was watching color TV, going to New York City, seeing the Twin Towers and the Empire State Building, watching baseball, saying Mass in English, preaching in English, riding a speedboat, riding a car at 55 mph, riding on a Jumbo Jet across the Atlantic, all of which happened in that summer of 1979. Then returning for good to the USA in 1981, many other firsts took place over the years, like teaching myself to play the flute in 1981, getting my drivers license in February 1984, driving 100 miles non-stop in 1985, doing a little cross-country skiing in 1987, teaching myself calligraphy in 1988, coming to Oregon in 2003, becoming a Pastor at the same time, learning to cook, buying a digital camera in 2006, learning water coloring in 2009, and so many other firsts. So many things are now taken for granted, but I remember the exuberance I felt when I saw the first mountain, the first river, the first deer, even other novelty milestones like riding a horse in 2004, shooting a gun in 2005 and milking a cow in 2006. These are just some that pop into my head - may I suggest you all make a list of a few landmark firsts in your lives, especially couples who are married, cherishing the birth of a baby, buying a new house, getting a first job. Of course my fondest memories goes back to 2003 when I came for the first Chrism Mass at the Cathedral, and was mesmerized with the stained-glass windows..until I saw that wall. Little did I know that 4 years later I would be responsible for taking it down! Bulletin Page for May 10, 2009 A matter of perspective A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The first morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. "That laundry is not very clean", she said. "She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap" Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments. About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?" The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows." And so it is with life.... What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look. Bulletin Page for May 3, 2009 The Seed A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together. He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you." The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO." One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow. A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him! When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!" All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!" When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed. "How could he be the new CEO?" the others said. Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!" * If you plant honesty, you will reap trust. * If you plant goodness, you will reap friends. * If you plant humility, you will reap greatness. * If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment. * If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective. * If you plant hard work, you will reap success. * If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation. * If you plant faith, you will reap a harvest. So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later. "Whatever You Give To Life, Life Gives You Back" Bulletin Page for Thanksgiving 2009 What am I thankful for........ For the opportunity to be your pastor here at the Cathedral......For the quiet time I can experience in prayer in the day-chapel and in the Cathedral and other churches......For sharing the gift of my flute-playing......For the often-unappreciated gift of being able to listen to my 1500 CDs of classical music.......For the opportunity to create PowerPoint talks to share with you all........For 8 turkey carcasses I received after the turkey dinner, enough to make 24 containers of turkey soup........For the gift of an apple pie someone gave me while surrounded by 150 pumpkin pies.......For the 'copy' and 'paste' buttons on the Computer keyboardand for the precious 'undo' button which saved me from a few catastrophic mistakes........For my Canon PowerShot camera and for the 16,000 photos I took with it in 2 and a half years.........For my cockatiel Charlie Parker who blows kisses when he knows you've had a bad dayand who learned to wait for his food until we say Grace before meals... For strawberries, pomegranate and mango......For sandals and flip-flops.......For rakes and for winds that blow the leaves towards Sumpter.......For shovels and for 50 degree weather in January to melt the ice and snow.......For the handful of parishioners who attend the daily Mass........For those who attend the Adoration from 6 AM till 3 PM and those who come for the Benediction......For Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Ludwig van Beethoven, Gioacchino Rossini and Philip Glass (my favorite composers).......For "Ben Hur," "The Shawshank Redemption," and "It's a mad, mad, mad world," (my favorite movies).for my family in Malta and for $5 calling cards that let you talk for 37 minutes with your familyfor E-mail and photo attachments.......For parishioners and visitors who say "thank you" for a good homily and an inspirational Mass.......For the YMCA pool, Yoga on Tuesday and Thursday morning and the thread-mill (when I have to wear sneakers).......For the gift of our beautiful stained-glass windows crafted in 1923 and 1958.......For those people who bring me an occasional skinned rabbit to cook......For the occasional bald eagle, Canadian geese and herd of deer I meet occasionally on my mission trip to Halfway (especially when they don't run away and allow me to photograph them)......For the beauty of the snow-capped Elkhorns and Wallowas on a clear day For Bisphosphonates cancer treatment that help my mother and many other patients......For caregivers, for Pathway Hospice, for Heart-and-Home.......For the successful American Cancer Society Relay-for-Life and the hard-working people who organized it and the generous people who donated money........For SportsCenter on ESPNFor DVDs with old movies.........For the opportunity to donate my 85th pint of blood.for the gift of calligraphy and creative writing........For St. Paul's shipwreck on Malta.......For Google Earth and the possibility to zoom into any country, any town, any house.......For generous volunteers who help in our Masses as Ministers, servers, musicians, etc.......For studded tires, snow-ploughs and ice-melt......For needy people who ask for help, and then send a thank-you note........For books and encyclopedias that you can now research on line, from your homeFor OPB, PBS, NPR and CNN......For my American passport, a US citizenship and for living in Oregon.......For the miracle of birth and the joy of holding a newborn baby in your arms....... For the many blessings that come unexpectedly and sometimes undeservedly. Thank you, Lord. Bulletin Page for November 16, 2008 A simple Ranching Dictionary Ever since I came to Oregon in March 2003, I've been collecting all kinds of information about ranching, cows, horses, wildlife and other trivia that I come across in talking to parishioners. And here is a very simple compendium of what I've learned. You may laugh at some of the details, but take them for what they're worth. There is no particular order in which these facts are listed, other than I'll start with cattle and proceed to horses. Speaking of cattle first, a male is a bull while the female is a cow. Their baby is a calf. A young female before she has had a calf of her own is called a Heifer. A castrated male is called a Steer in the United States, and older steers are often called a Bullock in other parts of the world, and they tend to have tender meat and less tendency to fight. An Ox (plural oxen) can be a castrated male or a spayed female kept for draft purposes or for food. Most of the black cows are Angus cows. Those that are red with a white face are usually Herefords, while the ones that are black and white are Holstein and they are the ones that produce milk. Charolais cows are usually white, at least when they are born until they start getting dirty. They are raised mainly for meat consumption. Gathering the cows together is called a round-up, and moving them together from one pasture to another is called a cattle drive. A few months after the calves are born, they are branded, while the males are castrated. In some places their testicles are served as a delicacy and called Rocky Mountain Oysters. Cattle raised for human consumption are called beef cattle. Cows of certain breeds that are kept for the milk they give are called dairy cows. Regarding horses, a Foal is a horse of either sex less than one year old. A nursing foal is sometimes called a suckling and a foal that has been weaned is called a weanling. A Yearling is a horse of either sex that is between one and two years old. A Colt is a male horse under the age of four while a Filly is a female horse under the age of four. A female adult horse is a Mare. A Stallion is a non-castrated male used for breeding purposes. A Gelding is a castrated male horse of any age. A Mustang is a feral horse, descendent from a breed of small horses of Spanish origin found in the western and southwestern plains of the U.S. A feral horse is one gone wild. A Bronco is a horse that has not been trained and is close to being called wild. Draft horses are very large horses used to pull heavy loads. A Stud Farm is a facility which uses stallions for selective breeding. Quarter Horses are the premier type of saddle horses with a pure pedigree. Pregnancy for horses lasts for approximately 335340 days and usually results in one foal Twins are very rare. Colts are carried on average about 4 days longer than fillies. In horse racing, the definitions of colt, filly, mare, and stallion may differ from those given above. In the UK, Thoroughbred horse racing defines a colt as a male less than five years old, and a filly as a female less than five years old. In the USA, both Thoroughbred racing and harness racing defines colts and fillies as four years old and younger. Light riding horses such as Arabians, Morgans, or Quarter Horses usually range in height from 56 to 64 inches and can weigh from 850 to 1,200 pounds. Larger riding horses such as Thoroughbreds, American Saddlebreds or Warmbloods usually start at about 62 inches and often are as tall as 68 inches weighing from 1,100 to 1,500 pounds. Heavy or draft horses such as the Clydesdale, Belgian, Percheron, and Shire are usually at least 64 to 72 inches high and can weigh from about 1,500 to 2,000 pounds. Mules are normally the offspring of a male ass and a female horse. A male mule is called a Jack and a female mule is called a Molly or a Jenny. There is a law that allowed Slaughtering Plants in the U.S. to kill and process the horse meat into dog food or other feeding products. Since this law came into effect, these Slaughtering Plants were shut down to horses. People in the U.S. then began to truck horses to Slaughtering Plants in Canada and Mexico. There is a current movement to prohibit this from happening. Sheep have babies that are called lambs. Mutton is the meat from an old sheep. Female deer are called does and males are called bucks. Their babies are called fawns. In the elk kingdom a female is a called a cow elk while the male is called a bull elk while their baby is called a calf. Bulletin Page for September 21, 2008 The Duck & the Devil There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the sling shot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes" But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?" So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally just smiled and said, "Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help" She whispered again, Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help. After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you." Now remember that whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)...whatever it is ...You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved. Bulletin Page for September 14, 2008 " God Knows.." When you are tired and discouraged from fruitless efforts....... ......God knows how hard you have tried. When you've cried so long and your heart is in anguish...... ......God has counted your tears. If you feel that your life is on hold and time has passed you by..... .......God is waiting for you. When you're lonely and your friends are too busy even for a phone call...... ........God is by your side. When you think you've tried everything and don't know where to turn...... ........God has a solution. When nothing makes sense and you are confused and frustrated..... .......God has the answer. If suddenly your outlook is brighter and you find traces of hope... .......God has whispered to you. When things are going well and you have much to be thankful for... ........God has blessed you. When something joyful happens and you are filled with awe... ......God has smiled upon you. When you have a purpose to fulfill and a dream to follow.... .......God has opened your eyes and called you by name. Remember that wherever you are and whatever you are facing ......GOD KNOWS ! There is no limit to how much we can do, or how much we can accomplish, if we don't mind who gets the credit. - HOPE - Hope is reaching out for God, and knowing He is there; Hope is searching for release, and finding it through prayer. Hope is happiness and joy, and rainbows in the sky; Hope is feeling God is near, when you begin to cry. Hope is looking for a dream, that someday will come true; Hope is waiting on the Lord, when your days are sad and blue. Bulletin Page for September 7, 2008 The Book and its cover Very frequently in our lives, we judge others on their outside appearance, on how they dress, how they fix their hair (if they have any,) what make-up they have on, what house they live in, what kind of jobs they have, what cars they drive, etc. Many people have beautiful Bibles at home, but never as much as opened them. As we say, you cannot judge a book from its cover. I hope these reflections will help you focus on what's important in life, not only on what's interesting and entertaining. Never judge a book until you have opened it and read a few chapters from it. Never judge a person until you have talked to him or her, or got to know them a little better. And sometimes you will be surprised what a beautiful person you've encountered, whom before you have judged to be a nobody, unattractive and at times offensive. What's the use of wearing fine expensive clothes, while you act stubborn, aloof, with a hard heart, and just about nothing makes you happy? What's the use of having a tailor-made suit that makes you look very professional, yet you show yourself very insensitive towards those who are poor and are suffering? What's the use of having lipstick, eye-shadow, mascara, blush, powder and eye-liner all over your face, while your mouth is foul and filthy with constant obscenities and vulgar language? What's the use of having the most luxurious earrings with studded jewels and diamonds, when you can't listen to a friend who wants to give you a good advice, or while you ignore the cry of the destitute asking for help and compassion? What's the use of having beautiful bright eyes, if in life you refuse to see the goodness in others and the beautiful world God gave us to admire and appreciate? What's the use of having a neatly-set hairstyle in the latest fashion if you're not able to smile sincerely to those who are around you, searching for some kindness and happiness? What's the use of having rich and expensive bracelets, and rings on all your fingers while you can't get yourself to lend a hand to those around you who are in need? What's the use of having the most expensive shoes or sandals when you're not willing to run to apologize to a friend you've hurt by your words and actions? What's the use of having a precious necklace, even a golden crucifix or silver cross on your chest, if your heart is filled with hatred and prejudice against others? Certainly you can't judge a person on what they wear, just as you can't judge a book by its cover! Bulletin Page for July 13, 2008 The Bike Ride Of course I know that God is in charge of everything that happens. He created me and keeps me going. But then, when I met His Son Jesus, I resisted getting closer to Him. When I did, my life became pretty interesting. It became like a bike ride. It was actually a tandem bike, (the one that has two seats and two sets of pedals) and Christ was in the back seat helping me pedal. I don't know just when He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same ever since. Jesus makes life very exciting! When I had control and was in the front seat, I knew the way, but it was rather boring, yet it was predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points. When He led the way, He knew delightful long cuts - up mountains and through rocky places - and at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said "Pedal!" I worried and was anxious and asked "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and that's when I started to trust Him more. I forgot my boring life and entered into an adventure with Him. When I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people who gave me gifts of healing, acceptance, joy and peace for the journey. He said "Give the gifts away." So I did - to the people I met. And I found out that in giving I received, and our burden became light. I did not trust Him at first to control my life. I thought He'd wreck it. But the more I got to know Him, the more I realized that there was something special in Him. He would make bikes bend and take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks and fly to shorten scary passages. I am learning to be quiet and pedal in the strangest of places. I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face. And when I come to the conclusion that I cannot do it any more, he just smiles at me, and says, "Pedal!" This story in a way is similar to that story of "Footprints on the sand" (or on the snow) - because the message is simple. When we start to give up and find the going a little tough, that's when the Lord comes in ever so surprisingly and he'll assure us that He'll be with us along the way, whether you're walking on sand, hiking up the Elkhorns or the Wallowas, or just biking up a steep hill. Or better yet, as he assures in the Gospel, if we feel life is burdensome or too complicated, come to him, and he will give us the strength you need. More importantly, let's realize that He is gentle and humble of heart. He doesn't make a big deal about things we tend to make tough to handle. And always remember that when he gives us a burden to carry, He will also give us the strength to carry it through. Imagine how many times we were on that bike with Him or in a car driving along the way, and we miss an accident by inches or a split second. I hope you realized then that your co-pilot is very reliable - but be aware of His presence - don't take him for granted. Let Him do the stearing, and as for yourself, "Pedal!" Bulletin Page for July 6, 2008 The Greatest Inventor While I was on the plane recently between London and Denver, I had plenty of time to think and meditate and write notes that come to my mind at 33,000 feet above the earth, the closest I'll probably ever get to heaven! I thought of how great God is to create us as human being the way he did. Of course many inventors have lived throughout history and invented various things that we now cannot survive without, like the wheel, fire, cars, airplanes, the camera, the computer and so much more. But when we look at ourselves and our bodies, have you ever stopped to think of how perfectly we are made, a masterpiece of engineering that only a superior being like God can create. Even looking at the animals and how they live, procreate, survive in harsh conditions and how beautifully they are made makes you realize that only God can create such a variety of creatures that have increased and multiplied over the centuries and millennia. But let's look at ourselves. We are made up of hundreds of little miracles. Even the way we are created by the loving interaction between our mother and father is a spectacular piece of human engineering that starts with something so minute and grows into a newborn baby. But of course during those 9 months, so much takes place in a confined place that is below the heart of every mother. And with modern medicine being so advanced, any problem during a pregnancy can be detected early enough, and incredible intra-uterine surgeries can be even performed nowadays. Who cannot marvel at the sight of a newborn baby, with the intricate perfection of everything that we need to survive and live to a hundred years. Look at those tiny fingers that will eventually write volumes of papers and books, and those toes that will help you walk thousands of miles in a lifetime. In that 7 lb baby there is the DNA of a human being that is a unique individual, irreplaceable and inimitable. In that tiny helpless baby, there is the potential of becoming a US president, a Pope, a scientist who will discover the cure for cancer or AIDS, or a baseball player who will one day hit 100 homeruns in a season (without the help of steroids!) Observe how our bodies workthe miles of veins and arteries that keep our blood flowingthe intriguing heart that keeps going non-stop for over 80, 90 and even 100 yearsour bones that keep us all together, and our muscles that work to strengthen the rest of our human structure, while helping us stretch, walk, twist, run and do all kinds of contortions. Observe how our eyes are placed in the ideal place to see things three-dimensionally how our ears are positioned strategically for us to hear from both sides of our body.how our teeth and mouth function so well so that can taste, chew and swallow foodhow even our digestive system works so perfectly that everything goes out of our bodies the way it should, without any discomfort, embarrassment or awkwardness. Who could have thought to create us the way we are but God himself! Look at how our internal organs are positioned close to each other in such a small area without causing any confusion and yet every organ collaborates harmoniously with the others. Marvel at how our reproductive organs work perfectly through the voyage of arousal, intimacy and intercourse, while our minds tell us when to say 'yes' and when to say 'no,' and our souls inform us to say 'not now' or 'not this way.' And notice how the attraction to the other sex is a fascinating journey that sets us above all the other animals. That is why God could not find a perfect partner for Adam from among the other animals. Imagine if God gave up and decided that the orangutan female will have to do, or the female porcupine or the lioness or a she-skunk! Thank God he was patient and thought of creating Eve instead. So when you start doubting God, think of the microscopic detail of a fingerprint, the delicateness of a newborn baby, the beauty of a human footprint, the fascination of the human heart or simply the automatic growth of human hair and so many other aspects of our bodies which we take for granted. And thank God for creating us the way he did. No other inventor would have even come close to create something so perfect, so beautiful. Bulletin page for March 9, 2008 God - and how good He is to us How good it is that God alone has never gone on strike. If only He had given up and said "That's it I'm through, I've had enough of those on earth, so this is what I'll do: "I'll give my orders to the sun cut off the heat supply, To the moon give no more light and run the oceans dry. Then just to make things really tough and put the pressure on, Turn off the vital oxygen till every breath is gone." You know he would be justified if fairness was the game, Because he was not treated fair in things he didn't like. No one has been more abused or met with more disdain Than God, and yet He carries on, supplying you and me With all the favors of his grace and everything free. Men say they want a better deal. But what a deal we've Given God, to whom all things we owe. We don't care who we hurt to gain the things we like, But what a mess we'd all be in, if God should go on strike. I am your Godand I stand close by youis not this enough?...what more do you desire on earth than my love, of which my heart is full? I am your Godand I remain faithful to you, even when I send you sorrows; remember only that I am with youwhat more do you desire?... I am your Godand I think of youFrom all eternity I have thought of you; I have written your name in the depths of my heart in order that I might never forget you I am your Godand I arrange all for your happiness; if you do not understand now, one day you shall see clearly I am your Godand I truly love youI know all that grieves youI see every glance, I hear every word that pains you I am your GodAccept all with tranquility and peace, because I myself have allowed and ordered all; you be faithful to me and persevere, and I shall reward you for all I am your Godare you alone?...I shall be your friend. No one speaks kindly to you?...Come close to me and I shall be your all in the Blessed SacramentI shall be to you a compensation for all that the world denies you I am your Godwhat more do your desire?...be of good cheermay nothing seem too hard for you, because he who possesses my heart and my love has all that he needs The world passes awaytime is fleetingmen forsake each otherdeath shall carry off everything from youone thing alone shall always remain to you.Your God. Bulletin Page for March 2, 2008 Food for thought We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. The optimist finds an opportunity in every difficulty, while the pessimist finds a difficulty in every opportunity. The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations. God never asks us about our ability or inability, but always about our availability. Success is never final; failure is never fatal; it is courage that counts. Vision is the world's most desperate need. There are not hopeless situations, only people who think hopelessly. The best things in life are never rationed. Friendship, loyalty, love do not require coupons. Time is.to slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, Too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity. A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm. There is no limit to what a man can accomplish, as long as he doesn't mind who gets the credit. Blame yourself as you would blame others. Excuse others as you would excuse yourself. The most gleaming trophy a man can claim in his life is the discovery of a few truths and the destruction of a few errors. Courage is resistance to fear; mastery of fear, not absence of fear. Troubles, like babies, grow larger by nursing. There is a great difference between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem, and a concerned person solves a problem. Good humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keeps friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment. Errors should be reasons for growth, not excuses for discouragement! There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding, and that which is lost by not trying. Bulletin Page for February 24, 2008 A Prayer of Forgiveness O God, forgive us for the faults which make us difficult to live with. If we behave as if we were the only people for whom life is difficult; If we behave as if we were far harder worked than anyone else; If we behave as if we were the only people who were ever disappointed, or the only people who ever got a raw deal; If we are far too self-centered and far too full of self-pity: Forgive us, 0 God. If we are too impatient to finish the work we have begun; If we are too impatient to listen to someone who wants to talk to us, or to give someone a helping hand; If we think that other people are fools, and make no attempt to conceal our contempt for them: Forgive us, 0 God. If we too often rub people the wrong way; If we spoil a good case by trying to ram it down someone's throat; If we do things that get on people's nerves, and go on doing them, even when we are asked not to: Forgive us, 0 God. Help us to take the selfishness and the ugliness out of life and to do better in the days to come. IMPORTANT AND UNIMPORTANT God, our Father, forgive us that we so often give our best to the wrong things. Sometimes we put far more enthusiasm and thought and effort into our pleasures and our games and our amusement than we do into our work. Sometimes we keep our best behavior for strangers and our worst behavior for our own homes; and often we treat our nearest and dearest with a discourtesy and disregard we would never show to strangers. Sometimes we get irritated and annoyed and angry about things which in our calmer moments we know do not matter. Sometimes we lose our temper in an argument about trifles. Sometimes we allow very little things to cause a quarrel with a friend. Help us to see what is important and what is unimportant, so that we may never forget the things that matter, and so that we may never allow the things which do not matter to matter too much. Bulletin Page for January 13, 2008 Thoughts for a healthy, positive life In life we are to encourage and build up each other; not to discourage and tear down one another. In life we are to add, not subtract; to multiply, not divide. In life we are to leave an enduring impression; not a careless dent. In life we are to smooth out the rough roads along the journey; not create new potholes. In life we are to sing a joyful song; not just drone a groan. In life we are to add our harmonious strains to life's symphony; not strain the symphony with clatter and clang. In life we are to soar on eagles' wings; not to peck and cluck with our beaks in the dirt like chickens. In life we are to radiate light into unseen places; not permit unknown fears to dim our radiance. In life we are to leap in faith; not to limp with doubt. In life we are to give freely of our time, our love, our resources; not to cling on to them greedily. In life we are to lift up others; not push them down. In life we are to open our hands to those in need; not to clutch our hands in fists of distrust. In life we are to lend a helping hand to make loads lighter; not use heavy hands to hold others back. In life we are to be messengers of peace, signs of joy; not portents of gloom-n-doom. In life we are to enjoy, to savor, to remember, to reflect; not to overlook, to forget, to ignore, to reject. In life we are to seek conscious awareness; not doze in the doldrums of half-awake. In life we are to dare mighty things; not to fear things gravely. In life we are to show up, stand up, step forward and speak up; not to cringe in fear, choosing to sit down, or to step back, allowing the voices of silence and pessimism to speak so loudly. In life we are to exercise proper stewardship of earth's resources; not pillage the heritage of future generations. In life we are to move forward through forgiveness; not grind to a halt mired in bitterness and resentment. In life we are to reach, to stretch, and to soar; not to slink in fear, held back by mistrust and doubt. In life we are to realize: "I am a remarkable Somebody!"; not listen to other's jabs: "You're a Nobody, an Everybody, an Anybody." In life we are to comprehend, "I am worthwhile"; not tremble with feelings of worthlessness. In life we are to create, to laugh, and to live life nobly; not to despair, to moan, or to live life less. Bulletin Page for December 30, 2007 A New Year's Blessing A new year is unfoldinglike a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within. Lord, let this year be filled with the things that are truly goodwith the comfort of warmth in our relationships, with the strength to help those who need our help and the humility and openness to accept help from others. As we make our resolutions for the year ahead, let us go forward with great hope that all things can be possiblewith Your help and guidance. In the New Year may we remember: Today's decisions shape tomorrow's outcomes. That living each moment the best we can creates a harmonious life. May we remember by holding fast to integrity others see we are trustworthy. When times are rough may we remember to turn in to our close and ready Source of comfort. On New Year's and every day may we remember that each new moment can be a fresh beginning. And may we especially remember that personal peace preserved leads to world peace, well deserved. Another fresh new year is here - another year to live! To banish worry, doubt, and fear, to love and laugh and give! This bright New Year is given me, to live each day with zest To daily grow and try to be my highest and my best! I have the opportunity, once more to right some wrongs, To pray for peace, to plant a tree, and sing more joyful songs! Dear Lord, please give me: A few friends who understand me and remain my friends; A work to do which has real value, without which the world would be the poorer; A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed; An understanding heart; a sense of humor; time for quiet, silent meditation; a feeling of the presence of God; the patience to wait for the coming of these things, with the wisdom to recognize them when they come. Give me O God, the vision which can see Your love in the world in spite of human failure. Give me the faith to trust Your goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness. Give me the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts. May the forgiving spirit of Him to whom we dedicate this season prevail again on earth. May hunger disappear and terrorists cease their senseless acts. May people live in freedom, worshiping as they see fit, loving others. May the sanctity of the home be ever preserved. May peace, everlasting peace, reign supreme. May God make your year a happy one! Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain, but by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes; Not by making your path easy, but by making you sturdy to travel any path; Not by taking hardships from you, but by taking fear from your heart; Not by granting you unbroken sunshine, but by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows; Not by making your life always pleasant, but by showing you when people and their causes need you most, and by making you anxious to be there to help. God's love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead. Bulletin Page for November 4, 2007 The Fence and the Nails There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. "A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Friends are a very rare jewel indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us." Bulletin Page for October 21 The Wooden Bowl A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about Grandfather," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child's future. Let's be wise builders and role models. Children learn what they live If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy. If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident. If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate. If a child lives with fairness, he learns to be just. If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself. If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world. Bulletin Page for October 7, 2007 Stories with a lesson On judging others. One day, a particularly deaf child was given a note from his teacher to give to his mother, suggesting that she take him out of school, because he was too stupid to learn. The mother was disappointed but decided to start teaching him herself at home. The boy grew up, and in his adulthood, he left the world a wealth of inventions like the motion picture, the record player and the light bulb. His name was Thomas Edison, and when he died, the United States as a nation switched off all electric lights for one minute in his memory. How wrong can we be in our judgments! On Gossiping. A woman once went to confession to St Philip Neri and she confessed that she had been gossiping. As her penance, St Philip told her to go to the market, buy an unplucked hen, and on her way back she was to pluck the hen, feather by feather, and let each feather be carried off in the wind. She did that and returned it to St Philip Neri. He praised her for her obedience and then said to her, "Now, there's one more thing you have to do. I want you to go back along the way, and pick up all the feathers belonging to that hen!" The woman was dumbfounded. The task was impossible. By now the wind had scattered many of those feathers miles away, out across the country. "Exactly," said St Philip. "Now you see what has happened as a result of your gossiping. It is impossible to retrieve your words, once you spread rumors and indulged in gossiping. Be very, very careful what you speak, and especially what you gossip. It is generally impossible to repair that damage." The tongue is a small part of the body - but it can be a world of evil (James 3:5-6) We can make a difference. One day a holy man was praying in his room, and from the window he saw three people pass by that moved him deeply. First there was a cripple on crutches, then a mother begging for food for her infant in her arms, and then a victim of what must have been a very severe beating. Seeing them, this holy man turned to God and said, "Great God, how is it that such a loving Creator can see so much suffering, and yet do nothing about it? And deep within his heart, he heard God reply, "I have done something about it. I made you." Let us see Christ in others, and let us help them as if there were Christ. Never give up! Two frogs accidentally fell into a bucket of cream. They swam around and around in the cream, and every effort they made to climb up the side of the bucket was in vain. They were trapped, with no evident means of escape. One of the frogs gave up, thinking there was no point in hoping where there was no clear hope, and he just went to the bottom and drowned. The other frog was no quitter. He was convinced that there must be a way out, and was determined to find it. He gave it his best shot, as he splashed and trashed around in the cream. His splashing and churning had turned the cream a little harder and lumpier. Imagine his surprise and relief, after a while when he found himself sitting on top of a big lump of butter! He rested there, regained his strength, and leaped out of the bucket to freedom! Never despair because hope is the last thing that dies in this world. Bulletin Page for July 29, 2007 A Prayer from Padre Pio.and his Words of Wisdom My Dear Jesus, release from my mind and heart - any troubles from the past, - any worries about the present, - any anxieties about the future. So that I can desire always and in everything just one thing: TO GO AGAINST MYSELF IN FAVOR OF YOUR LOVE. I entrust my reckless and troubled past to your Bountiful Mercy, O Lord. I also entrust to your Infinite Love my confused and undecided present. And I entrust to your Holy Providence my mysterious future. AMEN. ************************************************************ You must always have prudence and love. Prudence has the eyes; love has the legs. Love which has the legs would like to run to God, but its impulse to rush towards Him is blind and at times might stumble, if it were not guided by prudence which has the eyes. When prudence sees that love could become unbridled it loans its eyes to love. In this way, love restrains itself and, guided by prudence, acts as it should and not as it would like. It is necessary to be strong, in order to become great: that is our duty. Life is a struggle, which we cannot avoid. We must triumph ! Prayer is the best weapon we possess, the key that opens the heart of God. The longer the trial to which God subjects you, the greater the goodness in comforting you during the time of trial and in the exaltation after the combat. Humility and charity are the master chords, all others depend on them. The one is the lowest, the other the highest. The preservation of the entire edifice depends on the foundation and the roof. If the heart keeps itself directed in the exercise of these, no difficulty will be encountered in the others. These are the mothers of virtue, the others follow them as the chicks do their mother. God loves man with an infinite love and when he punishes he does so with reverence, almost fearing to hurt. Saint Pio of Pietralicina was born May 25 1887 and died September 23 1968. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 16, 2002. Bulletin Page for July 22, 2007 Let go and let God! If you want to be healthy morally, mentally and physically, just let go! Let go of the little annoyances of everyday life, the irritations and the petty vexations that cross your path daily. Don't take them up, nurse them, pet them, and brood over them. They are not worth while. Let them go! That little hurt you got from your friend - perhaps it wasn't intended, perhaps it was, never mind, let it go. Refuse to think about it. Let go that feeling of hatred you have for another, the jealousy, the envy, the malice, let go all such thoughts. Sweep them out of your mind, and you will be surprised what a cleansing and rejuvenated effect it will have upon you, both physically and mentally. Let them all go; give them to the Lord. He'll take care of them. But the big troubles, the bitter disappointments, the deep wrongs, and the heartbreaking sorrows, tragedies of life, what about them? Why, just let them go too. Drop them, softly maybe, but surely. Put away all regret and bitterness and let sorrow be only a softening influence. Yes, let them go, too, and make the most of the future. Then, that little pet ailment you have been hanging on to and talking about, let it go too! It will be good riddance. You have treated it royally, but abandon it: let it go! Talk about health instead, and health will come. It is not hard once you get used to the habit of it letting go of these things. You will find it such an easy way to get rid of the things that embitter your life that you will enjoy letting them go. You will find the world such a beautiful place. You will find it beautiful because you will be free to enjoy it free in mind and body. As you value health of body and peace of mind, just simply let go! The greatest factor in helping us to "Let go" is to see with the eye of faith that God permits if he does not will these daily, hourly annoyances. If we look at them in the light of eternity, we shall profit by them in this life and in the life to come. LET GO! LET GO! Wise men adjust themselves to this universe over which God rules with infinite wisdom and love. You can bank on God. Let go! And let God take control! Thoughts to live by You shall not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities. You shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass. You shall not carry grudges, for they are the heaviest of all life's burdens. You shall face each problem as it comes. You can only handle one at a time anyway. You shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows. You shall not borrow other people's problems. They can better care for them than you. You shall not try to relive yesterday for good or ill, it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life now, and be happy now! You shall be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. You shall not become "bogged down" by frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action. You shall count your blessings, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one. Bulletin Pages for July 8 and 15, 2007 The Awakening (part 1) A time comes in your life when you finally get itwhen in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out ENOUGH! fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your Awakening You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that he is not Prince Charming and you are not Cinderella and in the real world there aren't always Fairy Tale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance. You awaken to the fact you are not perfect and not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you areand that's OK. (They are entitled to their own views and opinions.) And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself and in the process a sense of new found confidence is born of self approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are, and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties, and in the process a sense of peace and contentment are born of forgiveness. You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the things you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look, and how much you should weigh, what you should wear, and where you should shop, and what you should drive, how and where you should live, and what you should do for a living, who you should marry, and what you should expect of a marriage, the importance of having and raising children or what you owe your parents. You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are what you really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with, and in the process you learn to go with your instincts. You learn it is truly in giving that we receive. And there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a by-gone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. You learn the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake. Then you learn about love. Romantic love and familial love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings onto a relationship. You learn you will not be more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man or woman on your arm or the child that bears your name. The Awakening (part 2) You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn just as people grow and change so it is with loveand you learn you don't have the right to demand love on your termsjust to make you happy. You learn that alone does not mean lonelyAnd you look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact you will never be a size 5 or a perfect 10 and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you "stack up." You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK.and that it is your right to want things and to ask for the things that you wantand that sometimes it is necessary to make demands. You come to the realization you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less. And, you allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with her or his touchand in the process you internalize the meaning of self-respect. And you learn your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play. You learn, that for the most part, in life you get what you believe you deserveand that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn anything worth achieving is worth working for and wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn no one can do it all alone and that it's OK to risk asking for help. You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber of all time FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know whatever happens, you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms. And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and sometimes bad things happen to good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn no one is punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening. And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego. You learn negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to building bridges instead of walls. You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you to make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never ever settle for less than your heart's desire. And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility. Finally, with courage in your heart and with faith by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can. And remember that God is always by your side, and he will never abandon you, even when you ignore Him. Bulletin Page for April 15, 2007 EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU JESUS? As you read this think about what you would do! A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding. ALL BUT ONE!!! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did. The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly searching for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight. The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?" She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly." As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister...." He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, "Are you Jesus?" He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?" Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace. If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day. You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit. Bulletin Page for February 11, 2007 IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep. If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss, and call you back for one more. If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day. If I knew it would be the last time that I see you, I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming, you would KNOW I do. If I knew it would be the last time I would see you, I would be there to share your day - well I'm sure you'll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away. For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we always get a second chance to make everything right. There will always be another day to say our "I love you' s", And certainly there's another chance to say our "Anything I can do's?" But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike, And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight. So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day, That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss and you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish. So hold your loved ones close today, whisper in their ear, Tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear. Take time to say "I'm sorry," "please forgive me," "thank you" or "it's okay". And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today. There is a Reason For every pain that we must bear for every burden, every care there is a reason. For every grief that bows the head for every teardrop that is shed there is a reason. For every hurt, for every plight for every lonely, pain-racked night there is a reason. But if we trust our God, as we all should it all will work out for our good. He Knows the Reason ! Bulletin Page for November 5, 2006 Cherokee Wisdom One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all." One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and egoism. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed." WET PANTS Come with me to a third grade classroom.....There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It's never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they'll never speak to him again as long as he lives. He puts his head down and prays this prayer, "Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I'm dead meat." He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered. As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy's lap. The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, "Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!" Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else - Susie. She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You've done enough, you klutz!" Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, "You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Susie whispers back, "I wet my pants once too." May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good. Remember.....Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car. I only hope that in the coming years there will be many people with fish bowls around me!!! Bulletin Page for October 22, 2006 STORY NUMBER ONE Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder. Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was his lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time. To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but also, Eddie got special dividends. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block. Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him. Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example. One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify THE wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified. Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine. The poem read: The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power To tell just when the hands will stop. At late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still. STORY NUMBER TWO World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier "Lexington" in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship he saw something that turned his blood cold: a squadron of Japanese aircraft were speeding their way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft. This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of WW II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man. So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2. So what do these two stories have to do with each other? Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son. October 15, 2006 Take my Son A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam war broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art" The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this." The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift." The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?" There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings.. Skip this one." But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting. Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?" Another voice angrily, "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!" But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?" Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. "We have $10, who will bid $20?" "Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters." "$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?" The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!" A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!" The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over." "What about the paintings?" "I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!" God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: "The son, the son, who'll take the son?" Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything. Whoever has Jesus is his or her heart, has everything they need. Horse Sense Just up the road from a farmer's home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if one stops the car, or is walking by, one will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing. Listening, one will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, one will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her bridle is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her. As one stands and watches these two friends, one sees how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by God and those whom he places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to see God. "Good friends are like stars.....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there." Bulletin Page for October 8, 2006 Lord, be my help, always Grant me life, compassionate Lord. Hear me, merciful Lord. Be charitable to me, forgiving Lord. Save me, long suffering Lord. Protect me, defender Lord. Be generous, all-living Lord. Free me, all-powerful Lord. Revive me, restoring Lord. Raise me again, awe-inspiring Lord. Enlighten me, heavenly Lord. Cure me, omnipotent Lord. Grant me pardon, inscrutable Lord. Bestow gifts, bountiful Lord. Adorn me with grace, generous Lord. Let us be reconciled, healing Lord. Be accepting, pardonable Lord. Wipe away my transgressions, blessed Lord, So that on that day of misery, when I stare at the abyss on either side, I may also catch sight of your salvation, my hope and guardian, and on that terrifying journey Your angel of peace may sweetly guide me. St Gregory of Narek (died 1003) What Money can give you . . . . Money can give you a bed, but not sleep. Money can give you food but not appetite. Money can give you books, but not brains. Money can give you amusements, but not happiness. Money can give you a house, but never a home. Money can give you luxuries but not culture. Money can give you medicine, but not health. Money can give you jewelery, but not beauty. Money can give you faith, but salvation. Bulletin Page for September 24, 2006 Being A Friend There is a difference between being an acquaintance and being a friend. First, an acquaintance is someone whose name you know, whom you see every now and then, whom you probably have something in common with and who you feel comfortable around. It's a person that you can invite to your home and share things with. But they are people who you wouldn't share your life with, whose actions sometimes you don't understand because you don't know enough about them. On the other hand, a friend is someone you love. Not that you are necessarily "in love" with them, but you care about them and you think about them when they are not around you. They are the people you are reminded of when you see something they might like, and you know this because you know them so well. They are the people whose pictures you have and whose faces are in your head regardless. They are the people you see in your mind when you hear a song on the radio because they made you go up to the person they like and ask them to dance with them, or maybe YOU danced with them, maybe they even stepped on your toes, or just put their head on your shoulder. They are the people you feel safe around because you know they care about you. They call just to see how you're doing, because a friend doesn't need an excuse. They tell you the truth, the first time, and you do the same. You know that if you have a problem, they are there to listen. They are the people who won't laugh at you or hurt you, and if they do hurt you they try hard to make it up to you. They are the people you love, regardless of whether you realise it or not. They are the people you cried with when you got rejected from colleges and during the last song at prom and at graduation. They are the people that when you hug them, you don't think about how long to hug but who's going to be the first one to let go. Maybe they are the people that hold the rings at your wedding, or maybe they are the people that give you away at your wedding, or maybe they are the people you marry. They are certainly the people that cry at your wedding because they are happy or because they are proud or because they are so in love. They are the people who stop you from making mistakes and help you when you do. They are the people whose hand you can hold, or you can hug or give them a kiss and not have it be awkward because they understand the things you do and they love you for them. They stick with you and stand by you. They hold your hand. They watch you live and you watch them live and you learn from them. Your life is not the same without them. These are your friends. "A FRIEND IS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE SONG IN YOUR HEART AND SINGS IT BACK TO YOU WHEN YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW IT GOES. A FRIEND IS ONE WHO COMES IN YOUR LIFE WHEN EVERYONE ELSE HAS GONE OUT." Bulletin Page for September 10, 2006 A short course on American history (part 1) While studying for my citizenship civics test I learned a lot about our country, how the Government works and other information that I presumed everybody knew. But when some people asked me what kind of questions they will fire at me, most of these people did not know the answer to most of them. So today and next week, I'm sharing with you some of the trivia & facts that you may have heard but probably do not remember. 1. For 18 years after becoming an independent country, the United States had only 13 states, and on the flag they put 13 stars. In 1794, two more states were added and the stars and stripes were increased to 15 each. Years later the stripes were again reduced to 13, to symbolize the 13 original colonies, and of course the number of stars became 50 in 1959, when Hawaii joined the Union. 2. Congress voted for the USA to become independent on July 2, 1776, but we celebrate Independence Day on July 4 because it took 2 days for Congress to accept the official declaration of independence. 3. It is not the people of the USA who elect their President but the Electoral College. The American people vote for a "college" of electors who then meet to choose the President. The people of each state vote for the electors in November. They will then vote for the President in December. 4. There are 27 amendments to the Constitution, the most recent addition being done in 1992 and addresses how Senators and Representatives are paid. There are 435 congressional districts, and the same number of members in the House of Representatives, bigger states having a bigger number, while smaller states having a smaller number, a process re-calculated every 10 years. 5. There are 100 Senators, two from each state, and they serve for 6 years each, but can be re-elected again and again. The members of Congress and the House are elected for 2 years only, but can also be re-elected again and again. The Supreme Court has 9 members or judges, and are nominated by the President, approved by the Senate and serve for life. 6. The whole state of Alaska was bought from the Russians in 1867 for $7,200,000 7. To be eligible for President a candidate must be at least 35 years old, have lived in the USA for at least 14 years, and must be a native-born, not naturalized citizen. 8. The first Thanksgiving was held in 1621 when the pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower in Massachusetts. In 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed a bill that officially made the last Thursday of November Thanksgiving Day. Bulletin Page for September 17, 2006 A short course on American history (part 2) Continuing from last week, here are a few more facts about our country, which I read about while studying for my citizenship test. 1. Our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was written as a poem by Francis Scott Key, which he named "The Defence of Fort M'Henry." Many years later music was added to it, originally from a selection called "Anacreon in heaven." It was not until 1931 that Congress passed a law naming "The Star-Spangled Banner" the official national anthem. 2. The minimum voting age in the USA was set at 18 in 1971 when the 26th amendment to the Constitution was added. 3. Congress has the power to declare war. This was done 11 times, the last time being in 1941 when the US entered World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Since then, Congress has authorized military action 7 times. 4. The Constitution did not set a standard national election day. There was no specified day until 1845. Even then, Congress did not set an exact date for elections. Rather Congress set the Tuesday after the first Monday in November as Election Day. They chose Tuesday so that voters had a full day after Sunday to travel to the polls. At that time, for religious reasons, many Americans considered Sunday to be a strict day of rest and travelling was not allowed. 5. Before 1933, Presidents were inaugurated on March 4, four months after the election. This gave the new President enough time to make the long journey to Washington DC. By 1930, with the invention of cars and speedy trains, it was much faster to travel, and the 20th amendment changed the date of inauguration to January 20th. 6. Some of the benefits of being a US citizen are to obtain Federal government jobs, to travel with a US passport, or to petition for close relatives to come to the United States. Also one has the right to choose a job, to speak freely about your beliefs, to publish freely and even to disagree with government policies. Moreover citizens' responsibilities include obeying the law, voting and serving on juries. When the Bill of Rights was amended, among the list of citizen's individual rights was this one, my favorite: to complain publicly about anything we want. 7. The White House was built between 1792 and 1800, but even though George Washington chose its location, he never lived there. 14 years after it was built, it was burned by the British troops during the war of 1812. Another destructive fire took place in 1929 when Herbert Hoover was President. Bulletin Page for July 30, 2006 Real Friends Anyone can stand by you when you are right, but a real friend will stand by you even when you are wrong... A simple friend identifies himself when he calls. A real friend doesn't have to. A simple friend opens a conversation with a full news bulletin on his life. A real friend says, "What's new with you?" A simple friend thinks the problems you whine about are recent. A real friend says, "You've been whining about the same thing for 14 years. Get off your behind and do something about it." A simple friend has never seen you cry. A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears. A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names. A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book. A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party. A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean. A simple friend hates it when you call after he has gone to bed. A real friend asks you why you took so long to call. A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems. A real friend seeks to help you with your problems. A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest. A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself. A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument. A real friend knows that it's not a friendship until after you've had a fight. A simple friend expects you to always be there for them. A real friend expects to always be there for you! ===+===+===+===+=== A friend is someone who comes into your life when everybody has left you. Bulletin Page for July 23, 2006 ONLY IN AMERICA Only in America do people drive on a parkway, and then park on a driveway. Only in America do people send goods by a car and call it a shipment, and then send goods by a ship and call it cargo. Only in America do people have their noses run and their feet smell. Only in America can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance. Only in America are there handicapped parking places in front of a skating rink. Only in America do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions. Only in America do people order double cheeseburgers, a large fry, and a diet coke. Only in America do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters. Only in America do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and leave useless junk in the garage. Only in America do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won't miss a call from someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place. Only in America do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight. Only in America do we use the word "politics" to describe the process so well: "Poli" in Latin meaning "many" and "tics" meaning blood-sucking creatures. Only in America do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering. |
