Sidebar fun

If you haven't done so already, please join the Calling Rome Home map. The link is in the sidebar.

Also, check out my other blog: Catholic Converts. It's a project that I started and then all but abandoned due to how hectic my life became recently. I hope to pay more attention to it again soon. I think it has potential to be a great gatherings place for blogs by Catholic converts. And if you aren't a convert, there's an option for you too. Check it out.

You'll also notice a search box in the sidebar. The search box searches this blog only.

Also, you may have noticed that the monthly Memorials, Feasts, and Solemnities" has disappeared. It was HTML coded and didn't work as well as I wanted. I've experimented with some Java programs but hosting the external file required for the ones I've found is a bit of a problem. If you know of an option, either a Java client or a hosting option, please let me know.

Cardinal Arinze is the man

Thanks to KaleJ for posting this:

un-Muted Mumblings: and the cardinal will NOT dance

Is the Anglican church in a death spiral?

If so, lets hope that those Anglicans who are faithful to the teaching of Christ find their way home to the Catholic Church.

Original article from LifeSite.net

Some excerpts:

Rowan Williams, the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury and titular head of the Worldwide Anglican Communion, said that homosexual activity is contrary to the teachings of Christianity and that homosexuals must change their behaviour if they are to be welcome in the Anglican church.

In an interview last week with a Dutch journalist, Williams, who admitted to knowingly ordaining an active homosexual to the Anglican ministry, said that homosexual persons need to be “welcomed” but their activity could not be “included,” in the normal life of the church.

In 1989 while a Divinity professor at Oxford, Williams wrote in a paper, “The pressure that some church figures put upon people of differing sexual identities is a greater disgrace than anything else seen in the church.” In that paper, he called for a “revision” of the Christian doctrine on marriage and sexuality to include homosexual relationships.





Since the start of the crisis, the Church of England confused the issue by agreeing last year to allow homosexual clergy to “marry.” While the Church of England still officially prohibits the ordination of homosexual persons, the move was accompanied by a concession to the ‘conservatives’ that a bishop who allows clerical same-sex “marriage” must extract a promise that the relationship will remain celibate.

So what does Williams and the Anglican church really believe? This is what happens when you abandon the authority of the one true Church guided by the Holy Spirit.

Luukas update

Last Thursday Luukas' dad posted some positive news. Since, Luukas' mother has asked for continued prayers as Luukas continues to have some problems breathing. Below is the news from Luukas' dad.

Luukas had an appointment with a neurologist yesterday, and her findings were that there is nothing pathological in his movements apart from a slight anomaly in left eye movement (which, according to her, might just go away as he gets more used to focussing his sight). He was also found to listen and watch things, which we of course already knew. He will start physical therapy twice a week starting next week or the one after. Also, the neurologist said both the EEG and the MRI will have to be re-run because they obviously do not reflect the present situation. Luukas' present dosage of anti-epileptic medicine is about half of what it should be, and he has had no seizures, so there is hope we will be able to stop giving that, too, but it will depend on the new EEG.

This is wonderful news. Luukas is now nearing 3 months of age. When he became ill a week or so after being born the doctors didn't expect him to live more than a few days. When he did, they said he would never show any brain activity. Now his neurologist has confirmed that he is indeed exhibiting brain activity. There have been a lot of people praying for this little guy and there's not much more to say other than, God is good! Please remember Luukas in your prayers.

I'm back online!

I finally found the power cord for my computer, so I am now back online. Things in the apartment are slowly taking shape. So far I am very happy with my new job and Lawrence seems to be a great city. It really doesn't feel that much different than Fayetteville.

Thank you to all of you who have commented to wish me well on my move. Now that I have internet access at my apartment I will be back to posting regularily.

Back in Arkansas . . .

. . . for less than 24 hours.

The first few days in Kansas were good. I found an apartment and will be moving my stuff up there tomorrow. My rent includes high speed internet access, so hopefully I will be back online regularily soon. Almost everything is set, I just have to locate the Catholic churches in Lawrence.

Update on what's happening with me

I am leaving for Lawrence, Kansas tomorrow morning. I will be living in a hotel for a few days, working and looking for an apartment. Pray that finding an apartment goes well with all of the college students moving back.

I will be coming back to Arkansas on Sunday. Monday I will load all of my stuff into a U-Haul and head back to Lawrence and try to get moved in so that I can be back at work Tuesday morning. Hopefully this all works out well.

So to the few regular readers I have, please don't give up on me. I may not be able to write much over the next week or two.

BTW, I missed the 1000 page load milestone when it happened. But, this post just happens to be post #100. I don't know why any of that was important but I thought I'd share.

Oh! And happy Feast of the Assumption!

A new job and moving

Today I accepted a job at the University of Kansas. My first day is next Wednesday. So the next few days will be pretty crazy and I may not have much of an opportunity to write. Bear with me.

When man plays god. . .

From LifeSiteNews.com

Made-to-Order Babies for Sale at Texas IVF Facility

SAN ANTONIO, August 8, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The day many ethicists have long feared and predicted has arrived as a US “embryo bank” has begun to create and sell embryos with specific genetic characteristics, matching them to clients’ preferences.

Many ethicists have long complained that the use of IVF technology with preimplantation genetic diagnosis, combined with recent breakthroughs in understanding of human genetics, will lead to a nightmare “Brave New World” in which babies are made to order in labs and sold as commodities.

The Daily Mail reports that made-to-order embryos are being offered, at a cost of about $10,000, at an exclusive private IVF facility, the Abraham Center of Life in San Antonio in Texas. Couples are offered the chance to buy embryos screened for hair and eye colour along with other characteristics and have them implanted.

The facility creates the embryos entirely in the lab with donated sperm and ova, boasting that sperm “donors” all hold PhD’s. Demand is high and there is a waitlist for white, blue eyed, blonde haired babies.

Centre director Jennalee Ryan responded to religious objections saying, “Jesus was not conceived in the normal way either. I don't lose any sleep over what we are doing.”

“We are helping couples and putting good genes back into the universe,” she said.

If I was the one quoted as making those last two statements I would be losing plenty of sleep....and looking for lightening bolts at any moment.

Does Ryan not realize that she is doing exactly what the Nazis were trying to do? She and her company are trying to play god and using the name of Jesus to justify it.

Who wants to tell their kid the story of how they were picked out of a catalog and bought for $10,000? Yeah, that won't give the kid any complexes about being perfect in everything.

Catholic Carnival is up

Catholic Carnival is up with some very interesting reads.

The news just keeps getting better

As you know I've been following the story of Baby Luukas for some time now. His parents have long suspected that he was showing signs of brain activity and was aware of his surroundings, something that his doctors said would never happen. Well his mom has just provided this update.

Right. The neurologist. Since Luukas is at hospital, the neurologist came to see him to his room. He was hungry and crying for food, so she couldn't check him very well, but from what she saw and from what we told her, she said that Luukas is aware of his surroundings. A neurologist said so! God is great and works miracles for us! I was proud of Luukas because he looked at the doctor so she could see this reaction and recently he starts to follow things moving in front of his eyes and he did so a little bit when she examined him.

But yesterday it was so sad to look at him being tired and crying. His breathing is getting better, though. We pray that Luukas is able to beat the virus very soon and come home.

Prayer request

Growing up in a small town has its benefits. I grew up in one of these "everybody knows everybody" type towns. The next nearest town was even smaller and my grandparents lived there. The one thing my grandparent's town did have was a small public library. I spent a lot of time there as a kid and the librarian, who is a wonderfully kind lady, was very instrumental in encouraging my reading habit.

My mom has been filling in at this particular library for the past few weeks while the librarian has been out with health problems. Mom tells me that her condition is not improving and her doctor has not been able to diagnose the problem. Now she has been sent to another doctor for another round of tests. I would appreciate you taking a moment to lift this wonderful lady up in prayer.

And don't forget to pray for Luukas and relief of suffering in the world.

P.S. In case you were wondering, I didn't get the job that I flew out to the East coast to interview for a couple of weeks ago. I don't like asking for prayers for myself, but I would appreciate any that you offer. I would also take a job if you have the need for a recent college graduate with a Master's degree.

Luukas returns to the hospital

According to his dad Luukas has a mild viral infection in his lungs. He is now in the hospital receiving treatment by way of inhaled medication that can only be administered in the hospital. However, his dad did say that the nurses were overjoyed to see how much Luukas has improved since the last time he left the hospital.

Prayer does make a difference...please include Luukas in yours.

If you've read this blog or know me very well you know that I detest the very thought of abortion and that I have very little patience for those who support it. I've commented before on an article that dealt with the question of screening for birth defects in order to abort deformed babies and the heartless people who would do such a thing.

The people who would like to abort babies that will otherwise be born with some defect should watch the following two videos of Dick and Rick Hoyt. Actually anyone with children or who wants to have children should watch these videos. I don't have children now but I hope that I can one day be able to show my children this kind of love.

Traditional Latin Mass

View full screen at YouTube

Tip to Absolutely No Sping for the link.

From the poster on YouTube:

Traditional Latin Mass filmed on Easter Sunday in 1941 at Our Lady of Sorrows church in Chicago. The film presents the ceremonies of the Missa Solemnis or Solemn High Mass in full detail with narration by then-Mgr. Fulton J. Sheen. Celebrated by Rev. J. R. Keane of the Order of Servites (hence the white cassocks and cowls), the ceremonies are accompanied by a full polyphonic choir, orchestra, and fifty Gregorian Chanters.

The attention to detail in the ceremonies is impressive. Notice, for example, how the servers and ministers always take great care to move in order. Notice too that the servers are all almost identical in height. The Ordinary of the Mass, composed by Rev. Edwin V. Hoover, while pleasant in places, is very much a reflection of its time. The Proper on the other hand is timeless and sung to perfection by a healthy throng of Seminarians from Mundelein, Illinois.

Unfortunately due to size restrictions at Youtube around 20 mins have been cut from the original. However, I hope to upload a full version at Google soon or perhaps here when Youtube improves its director accounts. In addition to the cuts I have added new captions and edited the opening credits. The credits had deteriorated quite badly in the original. I retyped what I could see of them and faded them in at the beginning and at the end. Other than this the film remains largely unchanged.

Catholic Carnival is up

Catholic Carnival

Just when you need a reason to smile

Luukas' dad posted this update yesterday morning but I didn't see it until just now. Great news that Luukas is showing yet more signs of brain activity.

Today, something wonderful happened. I was bottle-feeding Luukas and he was falling asleep as usual. Then DW came to say something to me, kissed him and walked back towards the kitchen. Luukas opened his eyes and looked behind her. I told DW what happened, and she hurried back, talking as she got nearer. Now Luukas opened his eyes and turned his head towards his mother's voice, fixing his eyes on her for a moment, and then returned to eating. Nobody can convince me anymore that he is not conscious, and we have a grounded hope he will start communicating some time soon. God is great!!

Type the word Luukas into the search box in the sidebar for more info on this little fighter and please join in prayer for his continued improvement and full recovery.

Shock and sorrow

This may be a little off topic for this blog but I wanted to ask you to pray for the families of Paul Eells and Billie J. Burton who were both killed in a two car accident near Russellville, Arkansas late Monday night.

Mr. Eells was the long time "Voice of the Razorbacks" heard by many, many University of Arkansas Razorback fans as he provided play-by-play for Arkansas football radio broadcasts and Arkansas basketball television broadcasts. He was also sports director for KATV Channel 7 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Mr. Eells was more than just a sports play-by-play guy. He was an extremely nice man who I had the pleasure of meeting just a few months ago. I have heard that he was active in his church and I pray that he is at peace tonight.

Arkansas will miss you Paul and we will miss hearing you say, "TOUCHDOWN ARKANSAS, OH MY!"