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"Freedom isn't Free"

-Anonymous

I remember reading this quote when I visited the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C.  I found it to be a really powerful statement and it didn't just remind me of all the men and women that died defending our country, but also all the babies that have died in the womb due to the freedom of choice.  I realized this because I was in D.C. for the Pro-Life March.  FREEDOM doesn't take away the consequences of our actions, which is why our choices are so important!

Cartoon Theology Volume 1: He-Man & The Masters of the Universe
Have you ever seen those posters that say something like “All I need to know I learn from...?”  These posters normally then talk about the life wisdom or street smarts that people gain from watching a television show or movie.  I saw one of those the other day and thought that I would devote some of my blogging to old cartoons. 

     Don't ask me how this happens to me but I end up in the craziest conversations with people.  I recently had a conversation with a friend who thought that Jesus teaching on the Eucharist as the sign of the new convenant was unclear.  I was even chastised, "if you really believe that is Jesus, why aren't you just in Church recieving Him constantly."  Think of that question being asked in anger and with dripping sarcasm.  I did not repsond at the time.  Mainly, because being an ex-cop the first thing that comes to mind isn't always the most fruitful. I am working on that, pray for me please.  Anyhow...

Growing up in a world of women, I have rarely doubted my worth or abilities.  My parents divorced when I was 8 and we moved to where my great-grandma, grandma and 2 of my aunts lived.  We’re a matriarchal family, for years everything revolved around my Granny Mary (my mom’s grandma) and after she passed away it was all about her two daughters, Jeanie and Mary Lou.  My mom also has 5 sisters.  The men in their lives weren’t always constant, either because of death or divorce or even personality (extremely introverted and shy), and so the women were the ones running things.  As a girl, growing up surrounded by all of these wonderful women was awesome.  They taught me about strength, perseverance, determination, joy, family and of course love.  They all poured in to me all tha

I recently watched the movie Juno for the 2nd time with some of my very good friends, and it caused me to laugh and to smile and reflect - and my eyes even got a little misty a time or two.

But there is one scene in particular that I can’t get out of my mind.  On the DVD it is scene #7 called “Fingernails” and it lasts 2:49.  Here’s what happens, for those who have not yet seen the movie...and to refresh the memories of those who have.

A friend of mine recently sent me a link to the following YouTube video:

It's pretty easy to choose between good and evil and a clear right and wrong.  The hard part is making a decision between two (or more) goods.  And that's often what we're faced with.

I just talked to my daughter, who is now (gasp!) a sophomore in college.  She is a Linguistics major and would like to study abroad and has a chance to do so in Vienna.  Should she go for one or two semesters?  Fall or Spring?  Should she stay at college for the summer where she has a job lined up or come home to St. Louis where it is uncertain?  Decisions, decisions.

I am also faced with it.  Personal and career and ministry, lots of stuff have come up lately.   We are all faced with it every day and some are bigger than others.

I thought it would be cool to reflect on something that Jesus said in today's Gospel.  He said, "I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me." (John 6)

So the question I ask myself is, "Am I following God's Will for my life or am I following my own?  Are they different?"

First way to answer that question is by answering the question, "Have you asked God/Jesus?"  If you didn't, that's a good place to start.

Most people who know me are aware that I love a good quote.

Sometimes a good quote will make me smirk, sometimes a good quote will make me LOL, and sometimes a good quote will simply inspire me.  Right now I want to share with you a quote that disgusts me so much that it makes me sick to my stomach - and yet it challenges me so I just have to share it -

“Will my boys grow up viewing woman as no different than the porcelain urinal on the wall of the boys’ room—an object (not a person) to relieve themselves into whenever they feel the urge or need? And will my daughters grow up believing that’s who they’re supposed to be? I hope not.”*

Men are idiots.  Clearly that’s what many advertisers and companies must think.  If not, why would they think that simply using a sexy, scantily clad woman, could sell a man a burger.  Of course the barrage of “sex sells” is nothing new, it’s been going on, in one way or another, since advertising began.  It’s the latest ad by Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr that’s got me all in a huff.  (here's a link to the ad, viewer discretion is advised)  To be honest, it’s not even the blatant objectifying of a beautiful, intelligent woman, Padma Lakshmi (the host of one of my fave shows, Top Chef), that is most annoying.  What bothers me the most is that for some reason, corporate America has this idea that men are a bunch o