Video: Christians persecuted around the world

There are more than 26 million documented cases of martyrdom in the 20th century alone which is more than in the previous 1900 years combined. Close to 165,000 Christians are martyred every year. One Christian is martyred every 3 minutes. More than 250 million Christians in over 60 nations are currently living under the threat of persecution and 60% of these are children.

Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who are abused as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:3

Uphold these saints in Christ with prayer and financial support and by raising awareness of their suffering.

Visit:
http://www.persecution.net/
http://www.persecution.com/
http://www.opendoorsusa.org/
http://www.thebiblesite.org/

Video: Modesty - guys vs ladies POV. Whose issue is dressing modestly?

If the video fails, go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2010/10/video-modesty-begins-inside-closet.html

Video: Rebuttal of naked students supporting Obamacare

If video fails, go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2010/10/rebuttal-of-naked-students-pose-to.html



Obama's people take off their clothes when they're losing ground.  Someone needs to forward to them the parliamentary procedure.  I almost feel sorry for the poor suckers.  Pardon the pun, but here's a rebuttal of their covering argument.

Fixing a maintainable laptop. (a parable)

If video fails, go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2010/10/pick-maintainable-laptop-and-parable.html

Laptops break - particularly the hard drive. When they do, you can either take it to Best Buy and pay $100+ for labor to have it replaced or do it yourself.  I was successful with my HP Pavilion but not with my wife's Sony Vaio. 

The Vaio is not designed to have the hard drive replaced because, just like a Japanese car the parts are so crammed in and jumpacked that there is little room to move;  it is perfectly assembled i.e. if it will not need to be taken apart.  Also, it uses this very fine wires on paper-like connectors that require nerves of steel to be surgically reset on their original locations.  So, I have shelved that project for months now. 

The parable:

The Vaio was not built to have defects;  it did not have room for changes.  People have a tendency to be that way, to think that they're right and to resist changes.  And unless one makes it easy for God to replace defective drives and tendencies, then one remains broken.  Unlike the laptop, people can dispose themselves to be open to God's maintenance work by a humbly admitting one's failures and defects.  That's the first step in any addiction recovery program i.e. to admit the problem.  Only then can one be receptive to correction and be willing to try a new pattern of behavior.   That is the meaning of the story of the Pharisee and Publican who went to pray and why the Publican who said, "Forgive me a sinner (and meant it too), went home 'fixed' or justified.  The Pharisee who enumerated his virtues and religious practices went home the same.  He thought he did not need improvement, so he stayed exactly as he was - without improvement.

Video: Christian spirituality is joyous not dour, sullen, melanchonic, grumpy, depressed

This is the reason why I like certain blogs like the Crescat.  She does not take herself too seriously and even blogs openly about her foibles and dating disasters.  While other women would be mortified, she shares these without any regard for human respect.  Humility is truth as St. Theresa of Avila defines it.  And the Lord God looks upon the lowliness of His servant - as our Lady proclaims in her Magnificat.  Because of this, I think she is much closer to the Lord than any perfect lady. 

If video fails, go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2010/10/video-christian-spirituality-is-joyous.html



by Fr. James Martin, SJ

The video features:
the barber who gave free haircuts to a  Franciscan, Trappist & Jesuit,
how the Lord used a laugh-out funny technique to teach,
Card. O'Connor's memory aids for a shocking fact,
St. Theresa Avila's admission that, "she's more afraid of one unhappy nun than a crowd of evil spirits."
a humorous situation from the late Pope John XXIII who at a dinner had a guest whose dress exposed a great deal of cleavage.

Oct. updates re: the most ethical Congress ever

When Pelosi said ethical, did she relate the word to moral behavior or was she thinking of a new nuance?

by Dana Summers

Was she referring to work ethic or something else?

by Glenn McCoy

Video: (T - 26 days) Last chance to save America

If video fails, go to http://divine-ripples.blogspot.com/2010/10/video-t-26-days-last-chance-to-save.html



Among others, listen to Obama's admission, "That's gonna increase our costs. We knew that. We didn't think we were gonna cover 30 million people for free."


H/T to Pundette