Christmas 2011
By Ed | December 15, 2011 - 8:49 am - Posted in Church, Other

I got this from @apatientman on twitter. go check him out, he a great guy. Thanks Vincent

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas – no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ‘ Holiday ‘.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe’s the word Christmas – was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears
You won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your ‘Dream Tree’
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully,
choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !

how sad is it that we are so afraid to express our faith?
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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By Ed | December 1, 2011 - 12:00 pm - Posted in Other

This is dedicated to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Thanks to @apatientman for this.


THE FINAL INSPECTION

The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

‘Step forward now, soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?’

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
‘No, Lord, I guess I have not.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can’t always be a saint.

I’ve had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I’ve been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn’t mine to keep…
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills just got too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear…
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I’ve wept unmanly tears.

I know I don’t deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you’ve a place for me here, Lord,
It needn’t be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t, I’ll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

‘Step forward now, you soldier,
You’ve borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets,
You’ve done your time in Hell.’

-Author Unknown-

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Only in Canada
By Ed | December 9, 2010 - 8:48 pm - Posted in Other
only-in-canada

So, what do we Canadians have to be proud of?

1. Smarties (not in the USA)

2. Crispy Crunch, Coffee Crisp (not in the USA)

3. The size of our footballs fields, one less down, and bigger balls.

4. Baseball is Canadian – 1st game June 4, 1838 – Ingersoll, ON

5. Lacrosse is Canadian

6. Hockey is Canadian

7. Basketball is Canadian

8. Apple pie is Canadian

9. Mr. Dress-up beats Mr. Rogers

10. Tim Hortons beats Dunkin’ Donuts

11. In the war of 1812, started by America , Canadians pushed the Americans back past their White House. Then we burned it, and most of Washington … We got bored because they ran away. Then, we came home and partied….. Go figure.

12. Canada has the largest French population that never surrendered to Germany.

13. We have the largest English population that never Ever surrendered or withdrew during any war to anyone,anywhere. EVER!

(We got clobbered in the odd battle but prevailed in ALL the wars)

14. Our civil war was fought in a bar, and lasted a little over an hour.

15. The only person who was arrested in our civil war was an American mercenary,
he slept in and missed the whole thing.
He showed up just in time to get caught.

16. A Canadian invented Standard Time.

17. The Hudsons Bay Company once owned over 10% of the earth’s surface and is still around as the world’s oldest company.

18. The average dog sled team can kill and devour a full grown human in under 3 minutes.
(That’s more information than I need!)

19. We know what to do with the parts of a buffalo.

20. We don’t marry our kin-folk…

21. We invented ski-doos, jet-skis, Velcro, zippers, insulin, penicillin and the telephone. Also short wave radios which save countless lives each year.

22. We have ALL frozen our tongues to something metal and lived to tell about it.

23. A Canadian invented Superman.

24. We have coloured money.

25. Our beer advertisements kick ass
(Incidently… so does our beer)

BUT MOST IMPORTANT !

The handles on our beer cases are big enough to fit your hands in with mitts on.

Oh yeah… And our elections only take one day!

OOOoohhhhh….. Canada !!



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I feal insulted
By Ed | November 8, 2010 - 10:04 am - Posted in Church
i-feal-insulted

I’ve been insulted at least 4 different ways at church yesterday: personally, professionally, musically and liturgically.

Our music director was absent this week, and did he call me to sit in….. No! There was a young woman at the piano, and although she seemed an adequate player, she had no idea whatsoever how to play for and lead a choir/congregation in singing. hbang

Now, the Dir Mus knows I am available and more than capable of doing the music, and doing it well. I don’t know what his problem is except that it seems he is not going to let someone better than him play for even one day.

I find the whole thing insulting! One: that he brings in someone less capable than he is to play, Two: that he spurns the offer of a seasoned professional, Three: that he allows low grade people to play and Four: that the liturgy as a whole is mocked.

This is all totally unacceptable, both to me as a professional retired church musician, and to the parish as a a whole.

What does Father say? Well, last time I came to him with a complaint he poo-poo’d the situation and basically didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings and ‘D’ is in charge and ……. so why would I even bother!!

Will I and/or the parish get an apology for this travesty? Doubt it!

This episode makes me want to vomit, and walk away. From this parish and even the Catholic Church in general.

Time will tell.

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Prayer
By Ed | June 23, 2010 - 7:50 pm - Posted in Church
prayer

A man has been praying for what can only be described as a Miracle. Have you ever wondered what happens to prayers, what goes on in Heaven when we pray? Maybe its something like this:

God sees 2 of his favorite people (saints) coming toward his throne. They prostrate themselves and beg Him to hear their petitions. God smiles and allows them to speak:

St. Anthony:

Father, I have a request from a brother on earth. He has been praying for some time now and I beg You to grant his request. His name is Ted, and …

St. Jude:

Father, excuse the interruption but I too have been asked by Ted to present this request. Ted is in love with someone named Christy, and askes that you heal her of her illnesses.

St Anthony:

Yes, that’s the same one. Ted also asks that you send her into his arms to love and care for.

God:

I have heard the prayers of this Ted, and I am pleased with them, but I will NOT grant his request.

Sts Anthony and Jude:

Father, Ted knows that he is not worthy to come and ask himself. he knows that his sinfulness is a hindrance, but he is trying and seems sincere. We beg You to grant his request.

God:

Sorry, my answer is NO

Sts Anthony and Jude:

As You will!

St Joseph:

Father, may I speak?

God:

Joseph? Go ahead.

St Joseph:

Father, You know that I cared for Your Son and His Mother, and I do know sbout Family and the trials and joys that go with it. This Ted is a hard working man, and I feel he would love and protect his family with everything he had , as I did. I ask You, father-to-Father to grant his request.

God:

Ah Joseph, I remember how you cared for My Son and that you took His Mother as your wife because you loved her and had faith in Me. Yet, my answer is still NO.

St Joseph:

As You will!

Mary:

Father, may I say something?

God:

Yes Mary, you may speak.

Mary:

Father I know Ted. he always tries to do good, he has remembered his promises to me and prays the rosary as often as he can. He honours his mother and loves this Christy very much. Please grant his request.

God:

Mary, you have a special place in My Heart, and a great influence on My decisions, but my answer is still NO

Mary:

As You will!

Sts Anthony Jude and Joseph:
Mary, Ted is still praying and begging that his request be granted. Let’s go talk to your son.

Mary:

Yes.
Jesus my son, we have something to ask of You.

Jesus:

All of you, it must be important.

They all tell Jesus about Ted, his love for Christy and his request.

Jesus:

I don’t know, this Ted seems OK but if the Father has already said no….

Mary:

My son, Ted served in a church with my name on it for 15 years. He always made my name known, and through me – You.

Mary then gives Jesus that “look” that only a mother can give when she expects her child to do as she asked.

Jesus:

All right Mother, you know that I can never refuse you. I’ll see what I can do.

Sts Anthony Jude and Joseph and Mary are all back in the throne room.

God:

You 4 back again? My asnwer is still NO

The 4 just smile.

A trumpet sounds, the doors open and Jesus enters carrying a cross. The angels burst into song and everyone drops to their knees as Jesus approaches God’s throne.

God:

Jesus, My Only Son, You should be up here, at my right hand. What are You doing down there?

Jesus:

Father, I stand before You today as a man, a man who has known love, care and pain. Behold the wounds I received because I cared so much. I give them to You.

God:

Thank you My Son.

Jesus:

Father, behold the cross on which I died because I loved so much. I give it to You.

God:

Thank you My Son.

Jesus:

Father, behold my heart which breaks for every pain my brothers and sisters suffer each day. I give it to You.

God:

Thank you My Son.

Jesus:

Father, You have heard the petitions from 3 of your saints and from My Mother who speak for Ted. Now, I wish to speak for him.

God:

My son, You know that when You show me Your wounds, and the cross that My Heart is moved. You know that when You give me Your heart I am filled with joy. if only Ted could…..

Jesus:

Father, Ted loves Christy as much as is humanly possible. His heart, like mine, breaks at her suffering. His heart, like mine, is filled with love for her. Ted loves Christy so much that he is willing to suffer her pains for her and will sacrifice all he has for her, like I did for humanity. Father, that is something I have not seen from man for a long time. Father, ted is trying, as well as he can, to be like Me.
Father, I suffered and died on the cross so that nobody would ever have to, and in place of Ted’s heart .. I have given You Mine.

And God wept tears of joy!!!

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