He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.
- Marcus Aurelius
St. Francis on preaching
Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.
- St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis on exclusion
If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.
- St. Francis of Assisi
You cannot diminish God's glory
A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.
- CS Lewis
Some of my best friends...
"I have nothing against black people (or homosexuals or Jews or whatever) - some of my best friends belong to that group of people."
That is an argument one can hear from time to time, but it is false on the face of it. If the person using the argument actually spoke the truth, they wouldn't behave in a way that made using the argument necessary.
Of course, your friends can rely on you and my friends on me. The important question is, can your friends trust me or mine, you?
And how would it feel to have the tables turned, I wonder?
That is an argument one can hear from time to time, but it is false on the face of it. If the person using the argument actually spoke the truth, they wouldn't behave in a way that made using the argument necessary.
Of course, your friends can rely on you and my friends on me. The important question is, can your friends trust me or mine, you?
And how would it feel to have the tables turned, I wonder?
Ecclesiastical lightbulbs 6
Q: How many Greek Orthodox priests does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: What do you mean, "change"!?
A: What do you mean, "change"!?
To know how to run the country
Too bad all the people who know how to run this country are busy running taxicabs or cutting hair.
- George Burns
100Revs and Mardi Gras
In February, I blogged about the Australian movement calling itself "100Revs"; the movement has a blog at 100revs.blogspot.com. The Pride marches in other parts of the world have an equivalent in Sydney's Mardi Gras. When I've taken part in the Helsinki Pride together with people from Yhteys-Gemenskap, we've been greeted with wrath by certain Bible-thumping extreme elements calling themselves Christian.
The Revs in Sydney had similar experiences when they marched. PinkNews reports (27.3.08):
I'm so sorry for that. In my small way, I'm working to change the situation, but it seems to be an uphill struggle at the moment.
The Revs in Sydney had similar experiences when they marched. PinkNews reports (27.3.08):
... an anonymous clergym[a]n who marched in the parade spoke about his career being under threat.I know what he's talking about. And combining "gay" and "Christian" seems to be equally difficult from both sides of the issue, as some of the comments on the Sidney Star Observer show - see here and here. This is regrettable. There seems to be a long way yet to go. But most of the blame for this must be laid at the churches' doorstep because of our homophobia, past and present.
While he stopped short of admitting his job was on the line, he spoke about future repercussions:
"It's very untalked about," he said.
"It's things like the revocation of opportunities for future ministry [positions].
"The conservative side were very upset. I still underestimate the level of political sway they have. I've definitely made a few enemies."
I'm so sorry for that. In my small way, I'm working to change the situation, but it seems to be an uphill struggle at the moment.
Judgement and experience
Good judgement comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgement.
- Mark Twain
The bravest
One day during WWII the leaders of various axis nations met and debated who had the bravest soldiers.
Mussolini from Italy said: "Oh wait and see!" He climbed to fifth floor of a tall building and ordered his bodyguard to jump down. The bodyguard said: "Si, duce!", jumped and broke a leg.
Hitler from Germany said: "Oh wait and see!" He climbed to the tenth floor and ordered his bodyguard to jump down. The bodyguard said: "Jawohl, mein Führer!", jumped and was killed.
Mannerheim from Finland said: "Oh wait and see!" He climbed down to the second floor and ordered his bodyguard to jump down. The bodyguard spat, looked at the spit falling and said: "Jump yourself, you old fart!"
So Mannerheim won.
So Mannerheim won.
Source: Seri's Lair
To laugh in heaven
If I am not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don't want to go there.
- Martin Luther
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