Thought of the day

It's actually easier to go to confession in the Byzantine Rite

11 years ago....

On this day my mom died...So thus in your charity if you can remember my mother today, and my family in your prayers today, it'd be much appreciated :)....I'd write some long entry today....but I do not have it in me to do such...so please pray for me...Thanks.

Thought of the day

I will bet anyone that those that screw around with the Liturgy, probably have something to hide.

My thoughts on DOMA and Prop 8 and Homosexuality

**sensitive language alert**

As I've been soaking in the news, this was of course going to be worth a comment, I have quite a bit to say on this....but first thing, let's get to the heart of the matter.

MARRIAGE IS NOT A RIGHT! MARRIAGE IS NOT I REPEAT NOT A RIGHT!, not for me, not for you, not for anyone, orientation irrelevant...We've discussed the reasons why, but I'll happily repat them for your viewing pleasure

a. There is no obligation to be married to any person

b. Marriage can be freely renounced

c. You have no right to someone elses' soverignty 

d. You can't transfer your marriage to another person.

e. Tax benefits, visitation, are not necessary for a marriage to exist.

f. There are restrictions as to who can marry, without meeting these conditions, one can't be married.

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO MAKE SOMETHING EQUAL THAT ISN'T EQUAL..That is to say there are fundamental differences...

a. All marriages have the possibility of life, which is necessary for the continuation of civilization. 

b. It is not possible for 2 people of the same sex to bring life out of their relationship

c. Love is not merely an emotional high, love is first an act of the will that involves sacrifice and the giving of self to another, it is not possible for people of the same sex to conjugate...

Even if the scotus says otherwise, there is no changing the above, while the law contradicts the natural order, laws do not change the natural order, just the temporal. 

I completely disagree with the decision that scotus (no longer capitalized) came to for the following reasons:

a. The legal means via California law were followed to add an amendment to the state constitution, and was approved by the AG to be voted on, and while slim, the measure was approved.

b. Since the state of California did not choose to defend the law (as it has the legal obligation to do)...the fact that someone else substituted for them, should not infect the decision making process.

1. judge Walker had a vested interest in the case and should have recused himself from the trial. 

1. The things such as visitation, insurance, hospital rights, can all be determined without marriage. 

1. Effectively, if someone fails to defend a law, we’re out of luck. Of course, that shouldn’t surprise anyone...The feds don’t even let the states enforce the fed’s own laws on immigration. This translates to we need to put people in power that will defend the laws we put on the books. Of course in California there’s an epic case of stupid that’s been going on for probably longer than I’ve been alive. We keep putting in the same politicians expecting different results....I’d have to say my home state has a case of insanity...Especially since they expected the that’s so 70’s (or 80’s I forget when Brown was governor last) re-run of governorship...

What’s pathetic about this is that the will of the people is once again overturned in the cases of activist judges who seek to put their own agenda above the will of the people. (If we’re going to have self governance, the will of the people might as well happen) and the not so wonderful geniuses in the supreme court have agreed with this non sense....

II. Apparently, I’m a homophobe for disagreeing with SSM. Now let’s get this straight, I’m not afraid, I’m absolutely disgusted by such behavior, it nauseates me to my stomach. Forgive my language the thought a man sticking his penis in another man’s anus (or boys for that matter) flat out disgusts me. I do not think such a behavior is right, or should be practiced anywhere....the fact that people want this kind of behavior recognized in public ceremony...bad news, public knowledge gives me a right to speak my opinion...I am under absolutely no obligation to accept such behavior from anyone, nor do I have to give a public assent to this.  

I’m sure someone’s bound to ask, how does SSM hurt you, well, I’ll be happy to tell you: An ex of mine (who shall remain nameless) cheated on me with a girl...that was one of the most demoralizing, embarrassing experiences that I have ever had to go through in my life. And I hope that none of you would have to go through this in your life. It’s the fact that I gave everything, and to be treated in such a matter is absolutely repulsing....and some may say you’re using that to judge others, darn straight I am, quite frankly, anytime this behaviour comes up....those painful memories come haunting back...it absolutely disgusts, and repulses me, and if that makes me a bigot or homophobe, so darn well be it. 

1. Whenever someone has a vested interest in something one should not be involved with the case. Trials are supposed to be objective insofar as they can be made. Why, because every person has a right to a fair trial with a jury of their own peers. In the case of defending laws, we have a right to make sure the opinions of people do not get in the way of the judgement of a case based upon its merits. 

IV: Who visits you in a hospital is up to you the individual person, if you want someone there with you, by all means, get a legal document stating so (a will or whatever the document is...lawyer friends can help me on this)....tax benefits are not necessary to have a marriage....If you want tax benefits...learn how the system works, then manipulate it to your own advantage. 

To the reading homosexual:

What you do in private, is none of my business, unless you proceed to tell me, then I may do with the information as I wish. Those that are living homosexual lives in public are surprised by the backlash, I ask, why? You’re putting it out there for people to see, what are you expecting people to do, look at you and say “okay?” Tolerance does not require acceptance. You see, the problem is that you could have been minding your own business, but once you told everyone, people will do as they do....Public acceptance is not required in order for you to live your life....;)

The DOMA law had 3 parts, but only one of them was challenged

1. That the federal gov’t did not have to recognize SSM.

Now here’s the thing about this case, it started of with a so called SSM in Canada (the same place that infected us with Justin Bieber (yes, I will not let you Canada live that down))....The US did not have to recognize this marriage at all seeing as this is not a one world gov’t. This is how DOMA came into play, to prevent this marriage from being recognized.

Those of us that believe differently than 2% of the population, do not hate you, rather, we simply disagree with you....I know you might think that we’re hateful and vengeful people and want to deny you of “rights” (But since it’s not a right for us, it’s most certainly not a right for y’all)

I will say though, that on the DOMA decision I do not agree with the logic at all for the basis of the decision, but the conclusion is valid....An amendment should be added via the constitution if we wish to protect marriage on the federal level....

Now that I’ve spoken my piece on these 2 acts....

As we all know there’s filth in the Church, and while the Church in her human nature is by no means just all saints, as we all struggle for holiness and live the life accordingly, some sins are graver than others....homosexuality in the clergy...

This video below should be of no surprise...but homosexuality has infiltrated many....and it’s one of those things, We need to be brought to the light so that the Passion of the Church can go....My anger is beyond words...more to come...Pax Vobis

My thoughts on DOMA and Prop 8 are coming

but not yet...I want to rest and get my thoughts organized before presenting them to you. :)

In a rare moment of personal revelations....

Dear __________,

You may think this letter is in vain, you may very well think of me as your greatest enemy, but I would be a failure as a Christian if I did not attempt this...I maintain hope that one day this situation will be solved, and full reconciliation will be reached...I pray for this, but I must say a few things:

1) If we do not forgive others, we will not attain the Kingdom of Heaven. I know you to be a devout Catholic, who has plenty of imperfections as do I, your faith was one of the things that attracted me towards you...I have been active in trying to show the fact that I have forgiven you for your wrongs towards me (Don't kid yourself, you know I will NOT forget), It would be nice to hear something, tis the reason that we go to confession is it not? Because God doesn't talk back ;)...It would be nice to hear those words from you, "I forgive you, Joe"...I know you well enough to a point, you are probaly thinking that by ignoring me, that you will hope that I will disappear, or that somehow by ignoring me, that the problem will somehow disappear....You know, of all people outside of my better half, you should know me well enough to know that a. I remember everything and b. ignoring me only works when I wish to be ignored. If anything, the situation has been made worse by you ignoring me. (Part of it is my fault, I'll admit to that, but as a person of completely predictable behaviours, I figure you'd notice something was wrong in my not following of a pattern)...Chances are there is no way this letter will find you...if it does find you, I hope it finds you in good health, and doing well.

2) 11 years may seem like a long time to you, but for me, it still feels like yesterday....(as you well know the surrounding events don't help)...I must say, with the 4 years of hell, there were things that I understood at the age of 16 that the vast majority of people at 16 do not understand. I'm sure that you were probably more than overwhelmed with what I had to say....but I knew of no other way to say what I needed to say. I'm sure that having a friend lose a parent was something that you never thought of when you were younger....I'm sure to this day it's still difficult to really wrap your head around. You still have both of your parents, and for someone like yourself, your life without them would be dramatically different...I'm sure you had zero idea what to do, when one of your friends who was losing his mother, also happened to be attracted towards you (if I had any control over the situation, I would have changed the timing, alas, emotions don't quite work in that manner as you well know)...and you may have very well thought that by keeping yourself away from me that you were helping me, let me tell you that the opposite is true. Even though, I was angry at you at the time, I would have had absolutely no problem with you being next to me during that time, it was rough, words really can't express the hell a 16 year old kid was going through at the time....Yes, I'm able to compartmentalize different emotions, I am after all, a guy, I have this ability...I have the ability to separate your actions from your person....The acts that you did are not a reflection on the person that you are (or rather the person I'd like to remember)....I still feel as if the person who wrote those words to me was not you, but someone masked who had no idea of my sufferings and picked the absolute worst time to come out...and if it was you...it'd mean our closeness was a lie, and God have mercy on you if that's the case....but I'd rather not believe that....

3) I was probably the only 16 year old on campus that could tell you what love was and is at  that time...I knew then that love wasn't merely an emotional high (believe me, if it was, it most certainly was an epic failure then...I knew that love involved the total giving of self...and that is exactly what I was willing to for you, I knew if you were ever threatened I would step up to protect you...(And you have zero idea how many times I had to protect your person)...it's much harder to do this today with all that has happened, but really, in charity, I should do everything to protect your person, and not take an opportunity for revenge...I again beg for your forgiveness in any sins against charity that I have done towards you...(and I of course forgive you for the words that you have said about me)

Yes, it is necessary for my salvation that you and I are able to reconcile in some way. In some strange way it will be the same for you as well. I pray for you, and I hope that we're able to reconcile at least to the point where I'm not perpetually writing to you every June 26th :p....If you ever happen to find this letter, I'd appreciate words to me, not through anyone other than you please :), I'd speak to you directly, but no ability to do so, since I live in the land of Idaho :)...God bless you!

In the peace of Christ

Joe

PS: The time that this post goes up is not coincidental....it's on purpose. 

DOMA and Prop 8 decision thoughts

Place not your trust in princes, but your trust in the Lord....That should be throbbing your head right now :)....

Thought of the day

Anyone that says "it can never happen in America" just hasn't been paying attention

Thought of the day

There will never be a situation where belief's aren't "forced" on another person. It is absolutely impossible to avoid a "faith neutral" situation because each person is formed by particular values and upbringings, so the whole idea of not wanting to shove belief's down someone's throat is ridiculous because someone's belief's will be in the public square regardless of your opinion one way or the other.

Thought of the day

Problems are not solved by ignoring them.

Thought of the day

Within a cloud of memories, it is the grace of God that gets me through weeks like this, there is now way in heck I could do this on my own.

Byzantine Reflections Part II

**had to delete the original post due to some technical issues now you can see the whole thing**

Continuing with the Litany of Peace...we pray

For peace from on high,

and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

One of the constant themes of the Byzantine Liturgy is our sinful nature....It brings joy to my little face to see entire families going to confession before Divine Liturgy (In the Byzantine tradition, Baptism, Chrismation (Confirmation), and First Holy Eucharist are given at infancy)...In the last catechesis on the Byzantine Liturgy we talked about the true meaning of peace. 

The next thing we are praying for is for our salvation. It is not a gaurantee as is taught in some places. Salvation is first and foremost by the Grace of God, it is most certainly something that we do not earn on our own. Because of our love for God, we do good works, those works of course are a sign of our cooperation with the Grace that God has given us. 

As St Paul tells us, we need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (cf Phil 2, 12-13)...we constantly beg for the Lord's mercy upon our souls, and we pray that we cooperate with the grace that God gives us to persevere in the Faith....as we all know Faith is extremely difficult to maintain especially with the examples that some Bishops and Priests provide...but that makes it ever more important to rely on God and His Grace to persevere even with the wolves in sheep's clothing. 

For peace in the whole world

for the well‐being of the holy Churches of God, and for the union of all,
let us pray to the Lord. 

As we know, the Church of God, the Catholic Church undergoes persecution in varieties of places, such as China, Vietnam, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and various other countries. We remember them in our prayers during Divine Liturgy. 

Since the great schism in 1054, we have lost union with the majority of the Eastern Half of the Church....we pray for unity with the Orthodox during every Divine Liturgy....I most certainly pray that this happen during my lifetime. As many of you know, I absolutely love the Russian form of Divine Liturgy. This is what eccumenism is all about, the reunion with churches. The Orthodox are a true church, they have valid apostolic succession, valid orders, valid sacraments...this cannot be said about the vast majority of sects. (We do not consider the Orthodox to be protestant)

The thing about unity is that it's not a superficial thing where people don't have disagreements, but unity comes from Christ...In our fallen nature, I hardly think it is possible for there to be zero disagreement on things. Logically therefore it must make sense that unity comes from a source outside of ourselves....(This is why there can be competing theologies and various opinions, and still unity in the Church)

Thought of the day

I think the tendency to pray away temptations, is a bad idea, rather, we should pray for the courage to face and overcome said temptations is a much better use of our prayer life.