children's storybook

I have an idea for a children's storybook. It's about a lamb and the Good Shepherd. John 10: 1-18 

the story is also inspired by the music from "You are in control", and particularly the song "Under the waterfall". WORSHIP [TFH33: You are in Control] Vineyard - Under the Waterfall - YouTube

The story begins with a happy lamb. The lamb loves Jesus. The lamb wants to be close to Jesus. The lamb is always at Jesus' feet. When Jesus sits, the lamb sits in Jesus' lap and kisses (licks) him. When Jesus sleeps, the lamb cuddles next to Jesus. The lamb is very happy.

This is a wonderful image. I particularly like Jesus' dark complexion, which is more true to the place and time that Jesus lived. (I'm thinking that the illustrations in the book would show Jesus without the halo).

The next part of the book would show the lamb crying. In the distance would be three crosses and the city of Jerusalem beyond that. The lamb is inconsolable because Jesus is dying.

The next part of the book shows the lamb in the garden with risen Jesus. The lamb is happy again--even happier than before the crucifixion.

The last part of the book shows the lamb on a cloud with Jesus in heaven (maybe a waterfall and rainbow in the background). The lamb is happiest of all. The lamb and Jesus will be together forever. 

the end 

catholic church mismanagement

Pope Francis may be ‘backsliding’ on paedophile priest crackdown, senior Catholic official warns | The Independent

Does Pope Francis need to rethink improvisational management?

"improvisational management"? 
mismanagement? 
or no management? 

The roman catholic church is in turmoil. The priests-sexually-abusing-minors-and-bishops-covering-it-up scandal extends over the tenures of the last three popes (one of whom is a saint). The roman catholic church has done a horrible job managing this crisis when it is really quite simple: 

1. IMMEDIATELY declare "mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa", and MEAN IT.
2. DO everything possible for the victims.
3. IMMEDIATELY turn the allegations over to the proper government authorities for investigation and, if warranted, prosecution (given that sexually abusing minors, and covering it up, are crimes).
4. If priests are found guilty of sexual abuse, and/or bishops are found guilty of covering it up, then purge them from the church IMMEDIATELY.
5. Install every safeguard possible to prevent these crimes from ever happening again.
6. If it ever happens again, then repeat steps 1 thru 5 IMMEDIATELY.

"If the Holy Father cannot get what he wants, does he really want it?"
perhaps he doesn't.

or perhaps, like his two predecessors, he's just a lousy manager.

It isn't the catholic church's job to enforce government laws. It's government's job to enforce its laws. Matthew 22:21

It's the catholic church's job to protect, and to assist government authorities in protecting, the church's members and other members of society from predator priests and from bishops who protect predator priests. 

The catholic church's hierarchy have done a terrible job of ridding the catholic church from priest and bishop criminals. What should have been done in the first days, weeks and months after the priests-sexually-abusing-children-and-bishops-covering-it-up scandal became public (six simple steps) hasn't been done in the more than a decade since these horrible crimes became public. Shame on Pope Francis, Pope Benedict, and Pope John Paul II, and shame on the catholic church.

Pope Francis in his four years as leader of the roman catholic church has been critical of many, including young catholics for being too rigid.

Pope Francis: Factory Closures Are a 'Serious Sin'

 None of those who Pope Francis has criticized meet the gravity of priests' criminal child molestation and higher-ups covering it up. Matthew 23

Breda O’Brien: Pope Francis must prioritise child safety

Slocum defrocked by Pope Francis | News | bradfordera.com

"Slocum was placed on administrative leave by Bishop Donald Trautman in March 2011 when the allegations came to light, Persico said.

“Once the authorities were involved in this, it’s our policy to step back and let it run its course,” he said. “As it progressed and came to trial, it was obvious, with what he did, that he could not go back to ministry.

“It only made sense to have him dismissed,” the bishop said. “In August 2011, Bishop Trautman sent the case over to Rome. We finally got a decision on it Nov. 8, 2016.”

5+ years later? "... finally ..." indeed!

Breda O'Brien and Bishops Donald Trautman and Lawrence Persico get it. Pope Francis doesn't, and neither did his two predecessors. 

cyberbully

They gave Pope Francis four years to ‘make the Church over again.’ Here’s how he’s tried. | Blogs | Lifesitenews

Facts:

• the church is in turmoil
• the priests-sexually-abusing-minors-and-bishops-covering-it-up is a horrible scandal that extends over the tenures of the last three popes (one of whom is a saint)
• the church has done a horrible job managing this crisis

"The church is in turmoil. The priests-sexually-abusing-minors-and-bishops-covering-it-up scandal extends over the tenures of the last three popes (one of whom is a saint). The church has done a horrible job managing this crisis when it is really quite simple: (1) IMMEDIATELY declare "mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa", and MEAN IT; (2) DO everything possible for the victims; (3) IMMEDIATELY turn the allegations over to the proper government authorities for investigation and, if warranted, prosecution (given that sexually abusing minors, and covering it up, are crimes); (4) If priests are found guilty of sexual abuse, and/or bishops are found guilty of covering it up, then purge them from the church IMMEDIATELY; (5) install every safeguard possible to prevent these crimes from ever happening again; and (6) if it ever happens again, then repeat steps 1 thru 5 IMMEDIATELY."

replies to my comment from a cyberbully:

geo  PEretired

I hope you're not a priest. I would hate having to go to holy confession in your confession box. Please think about what you are writing. God love you!! 

my response:

PEretired  geo 

"Please think about what you are writing." In your name-calling tirade (comments) on the Breitbart article about AG Jeff Sessions you demean other commenters and (former) public officials with your hostile, personal attacks that can't be repeated here (and rightly so) because of screening. Matthew 23 

here's what cyberbully geo said (in quotes):

your comment history in Disqus is enlightening, e.g. in Breitbart re: AG Jeff Sessions. "You're an idiot." "Look in the mirror.. You'll see an idiot" "...OBOZO..." "As opposed to the reprobates who you support.. like Obama, Pelosi, and Killery" etc. Please think about what you are writing.

not only is geo a cyberbully, but he's also a hypocrite.

and here's what the pathetic cyberbully/hypocrite geo said:

geo

lol.. What are you babbling about.? Are you so hurt by my words that you felt the need to investigate me? You are a very sad person.

12:34 p.m., Friday March 3

pathetic.

File:Cyberbullying.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

another gratuitous reply to my comment, while not a personal attack, is troubling:


TGG  PEretired • a day ago

I would add that all homosexual priests, nuns, bishops and cardinals need to be purged from the church.


my comments (not posted on lifesitenews.com):

• homosexuality, in and of itself, is not a sin.*
• a sexual act with a child is not only a sin, but also, it's a crime. priests who sexually violate children, and bishops who cover it up, commit crimes. Violations of our laws should, and must, be investigated, and prosecuted by our government, if warranted.
• excommunication is a church process. 
• we are all sinners.

* homosexuality is no more a sin than being bisexual. 

• a married man who has relations with a woman other than his wife commits a grave sin.
• a priest who has sexual contact with a child commits a grave sin. A bishop who covers it up also commits a grave sin.

sin is in the act.

I doubt that I will ever visit lifesitenews.com again.

Radnor approves Villanova's controversial cross-adorned pedestrian bridge

BRAVO!

Radnor approves Villanova's controversial cross-adorned pedestrian bridge

Sanity and freedom prevail!

Villanova Church | Dave Austria | Flickr

Controversy Over Crosses on Proposed Villanova Bridge | News | Philadelphia Magazine

"can you imagine if churches all over the U.S. were denied the right to display a cross on their property close to a public thoroughfare? Catholic churches couldn't display their mass times. Christian churches couldn't post teasers for the preacher's next sermon (a longstanding and widespread practice), etc. where would it end? what if the cross is within sight of the public roadway, such as the crosses atop the spires on Villanova's chapel? such a denial would seem to be a clear violation of the first amendment."

write in "putin"

It may not be as crazy as it seems. Write-in candidates are part of our system. A voter can exercise their right to write in a candidate in national, state and local elections. As an illustration, consider the last election:  

• What if every eligible voter in the last election voted?
• What if every voter who couldn't, in good conscience, support any of the candidates on the ballot wrote in "putin"?

Here's what might happen:

• "putin" would likely be the winner
• the election would be ruled void
• a new election would be held
• neither the republican party nor the democratic party would be in control
• better candidates would result
• better representatives would be elected
• there would be less political rancor
• the business of the government would get done
• the U.S. would be better off

Think about it.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/democracychronicles/16823831141

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Two_party_system_diagram.png

now we know why hillary lost the election

Now we know: The Best Picture Oscar debacle was the accountants' fault - AOL Entertainment

because PricewaterhouseCoopers didn't handle the election results. 

"Speak softly; and carry a big stick." TR

U.S. Navy photo by Photograher's Mate 2nd Class (AW) Robert R. McRill
File:USS Theodore Roosevelt - BigStick.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

The Atlantic Ocean, Sep. 15, 1999 — Hundreds of crew members of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), in dress white uniforms, spell out a reference to the quote of former President Theodore Roosevelt: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” The aircraft carrier was transiting the Atlantic Ocean on her way home to Norfolk, Va., after a six-month deployment in the Adriatic Sea and Arabian Gulf.

make it up as you go along

Trump... democrats... republicans... news media... we live in a "make-it-up-as-you-go-along" world. STOP THE BULLSHIT! In the next election, vote for anyone other than a democrat or a republican.

File:Bullshit.svg - Wikimedia Commons

Mea culpa

1 “Stop judging, that you may not be judged.

2 For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. 

3 Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?

4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye?

5 You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7, 1-5

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/02/23/pope-denounces-catholics-who-lead-double-life/98298868/

Pope Francis,

With all due respect, and given that the priests-abusing-children-and-bishops-covering-it-up scandal didn't begin on your watch, 

• why are abusive priests and bishops covering it up still a problem in the church today? 
• why aren't they gone? 
• why do these horrible crimes by the church's clergy continue on your watch? 

• Jesus loves children. Matthew 18, 6-9
• Jesus loves meek, humble, repentant sinners.
• Jesus railed against the hypocrisy of the religious leaders of his time.  Matthew 23, 1-33
• What would Jesus say about the hierarchy of a church who protects priests who sexually abuse children? 
• What would Jesus say about that hierarchy's credibility and their "moral authority"?

"Mea culpa. Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa."

"We have met the enemy and he is us."

"We have met the enemy and he is us."

"possum" from comic strip "Pogo" author Walt Kelly (1913-1973) from his famous poster for the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970

"Donald Trump was elected president last November by winning 306 electoral votes. He pledged to “drain the swamp” in Washington, D.C., to overturn the system of politics that had left the nation’s capital and major financial and tech centers flourishing but large swaths of the country mired in stagnation and decay. “What truly matters,” he said in his Inaugural Address, “is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people.”

Is it? By any historical and constitutional standard, “the people” elected Donald Trump and endorsed his program of nation-state populist reform. Yet over the last few weeks America has been in the throes of an unprecedented revolt. Not of the people against the government — that happened last year — but of the government against the people. What this says about the state of American democracy, and what it portends for the future, is incredibly disturbing.

...

Donald Trump did not cause the divergence between government of, by, and for the people and government, of, by, and for the residents of Cleveland Park and Arlington and Montgomery and Fairfax counties. But he did exacerbate it. He forced the winners of the global economy and the members of the D.C. establishment to reckon with the fact that they are resented, envied, opposed, and despised by about half the country. But this recognition did not humble the entrenched incumbents of the administrative state. It radicalized them to the point where they are readily accepting, even cheering on, the existence of a “deep state” beyond the control of the people and elected officials.

Who rules the United States? The simple and terrible answer is we do not know. But we are about to find out."

Donald Trump & Washington -- How Bureaucrats are Undermining Voters | National Review

http://orig06.deviantart.net/b1f6/f/2008/023/5/3/my_swamp_monster_drawing_by_gaaraandpein.jpg

solution to a divided nation

our country is deeply divided:

• liberal democratic party extremists
• conservative republican party extremists
• biased media
• turmoil inside and out

File:14 April 2016 - Trump NYC protest.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

DSC_0973 | mal3k | Flickr

solution:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/democracychronicles/16823831141

File:Two party system diagram.png - Wikimedia Commons

Our two party system of government is broken. The time to fix it is way past due.

In the next election vote for an independent or third party candidate--anybody other than a democratic party extremist or a republican party extremist. Watch how quickly that 535 independently minded politicians come together to form a majority, and get the job done.

Soon afterward the democratic and republican parties will wither away and die.

And that's good for our country.

Happy Valentines Day!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbfCPH0ZEDg

God is good all the time

God Is Good All The Time - YouTube

tyrannical protesters block access to U.S. Education Secretary Betsy deVos at D.C. public school

"Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was physically blocked by protesters from entering Jefferson Academy in SW, D.C. Friday morning. This was her first visit to a public school.

The protesters created a barrier to the entrance of the school...

Following this morning's incident, DeVos released this statement: 

“I thank D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Antwan Wilson, Jefferson Middle School Academy Principal Greg Dohmann, Superintendent Natalie Gordon and a tremendous team of administrators, teachers and students for welcoming me to Jefferson Middle School Academy today. Jefferson Academy is a public middle school on the rise and a great example of the successful collaborative innovations occurring within the D.C. Public Schools system.

“Focusing on their students and families is at the heart of Jefferson Academy’s approach, and that’s exactly what I believe is at the heart of providing an exceptional education. Great teachers and leaders help make great schools, and I was honored to speak with Jefferson’s team about our shared commitment to strengthening public education.

 “I respect peaceful protest, and I will not be deterred in executing the vital mission of the Department of Education. No school door will be blocked from those seeking to help our nation's school children."  
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos physically blocked by protesters from entering D.C. school | WJLA

It seems that some in the District of Columbia need a lesson in American freedom, and manners.

Congratulations, Secretary deVos, on your statement and on your excellent handling of these un-American and rude protestors, and their disgraceful act of obstruction and lack of manners directed at you.

bull in a china shop

In his first month in office Trump looks like a bull in a china shop.

http://filmbuffhowsy.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html

3 key Trump mistakes that led to the travel ban court defeat - POLITICO

If he continues like this, then it's going to be a LONG 4 years!

warren, pelosi, schumer, waters, et al

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8209/8152000438_8196275d18_b.jpg

180px-Senator_Charles_Schumer_by_David_Shankbone.jpg (180×240)

File:Nancy Pelosi (9179649257).jpg - Wikimedia Commons

File:Maxine Waters Official.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

proof why the two party system doesn't work

Backed by Desire to Block Trump, Democrats Fight DeVos Till the End | The Weekly Standard

GOP breaks attempted filibuster on Jeff Sessions, sets up final Wednesday vote - Washington Times

File:Two party system diagram.png - Wikimedia Commons

User:Tomwsulcer - Wikimedia Commons

two party system | See the article "Two Parties See Record L… | Flickr

duterte

New Pentagon chief an instant hit in Japan, South Korea

... and piss on duterte, and putin.

Philippines' Duterte to U.S. over aid: 'Bye-bye America'

"In picking Mattis, 66, to lead the Pentagon, Trump seemed enamored of the general's popular nickname, "Mad Dog," as if this served as a warning to the world not to mess with America.

Mattis, however, insists that the nickname was a media invention that he does not embrace. He certainly came across as anything but "mad" or rabid on his visits to Japan and South Korea. He was a picture of sober restraint at his several public appearances, including a news conference Saturday in Tokyo."  https://www.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-chief-instant-hit-japan-south-korea-184417620--politics.html

reality

welcome to the newest TV reality show:

• tweets
• executive orders
• cabinet
• protests
• immigration
• economy
• abortion
• supreme court nominee
• Russia
• Iran
• Australia
• Korea
• congressional theatrics
• media bias

Signal Knob hike, Strasburg VA

The Signal Knob hike in the George Washington National Forest has spectacular views of Strausburg VA. in the Shenandoah Valley, as well as Buzzard Rock in Fort Valley to the east. Signal Knob, at 2,106ft, gets its name as both Confederate and Union troops used it as a lookout during the Civil War. The Confederate Signal Corps controlled the outlook from 1862 until August 14, 1864, when Union troops defeated the 61st Georgia Volunteer Infantry and took control of the peak.

Length	Difficulty	Streams	Views	Solitude	Camping
9.9 mls
Hiking Time: Elev. Gain:	5.0 hours plus a half hour for lunch 2,680 ft with two different ascents

http://www.hikingupward.com/GWNF/SignalKnob/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/23295039@N02/12369392485

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/