Mark Kelly...right stuff astronaut ponders God's plan! Existence fated, he says!

"I never use to believe in fate," Astronaut Mark Kelly - the husband of shooting victim Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz) - confessed at a prayer meeting.

According to Kelly, the minutes used to just tick by, with nary a thought about the creator.

However, in the wake of the shocking events which unfolded last month in Arizona, Kelly admitted on-camera at the podium to a rapt audience yesterday, that he has taken pause since to consider that there is such a thing as fate and destiny.

"I've been thinking lately that there must be a God and that he has a plan," the Astronaut humbly announced to ciizens of the world in so many words.

In sum, he stated his belief that something good will come of that fateful tragedy, in the final analysis.

Indeed, Kelly - who intends to take flight again in space in the near future - was bang on in his musings.

The truth of the matter is that we are not unlike actors in a play who appear on stage.

But, in the instant case of precious life itself, God's invisible hand directs all the action - the entrances, the dramas, the intrigues, and even the laughter - before our final bows on this mortal coil.

In the duration, sentient beings must pray that they be guided - and have faith in the Lord's decisions - although  they are often in the dark about the nature (and wisdom) of his overall plan.

Amen!

http://www.thetattler.biz



Barack Obama...wise to be enlightened by oil spill tragedy!

Shortly after President Barack Obama addressed the American people on the subject of the sticky oil spill tragedy that has continued to plague the Nation for the past fifty-seven troubling days (today, a bolt of lightning interrupted the clean up at one rig in a freak act of nature, for instance) a rival in the political arena was quick to take a jab at the Commander-in-Chief for using the occasion to plug alternative energy sources.

"I resent Barack Obama using the BP tragedy  to plug his own liberal agenda on alternative energy," the irate politician  barked to all within ear shot on the steps of the Nation's Capitol in so many caustic words.

On the contrary, the President's pledge to take action - on the heels of the environmental disaster in the Gulf - was highly appropriate under the circumstances.

It is only through life's daily experiences - good or bad in nature - that the intelligent individual has the golden opportunity to reflect on life's daily events  - and thus - hopefully acquire that elusive pearl otherwise known as the seat of wisdom.

In the final analysis, Wisdom is not an attribute that is handed out freely by the almighty - but rather - a rare and precious quality of the mind that surfaces in a fleeting moment triggering spiritual
enlightenment.

Without doubt, Barack's fated involvement in the BP disaster, hints at a a call from God he'd be wise to answer.

George Bernard Shaw once opined:

"We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future."

http://www.julianayrs.com

Pope Benedict XVI...crucified on Good Friday! Hollow figurehead for Catholic Church...

In recent weeks a scandal has been raging over myriad allegations of sexual abuse that have threatened to topple the Roman Catholic Church.

To some, it is ironic that Pope Benedict XVI is currently being crucified by a lynch mob (for hiding behind the pomp and circumstance of the Church) during the sacred Holy Easter weekend.

The sticky webs of intrigue are comparable to the tragic missteps of former U.S. President, Richard Milhous Nixon, in fact.

The attempted cover-up, after-the-fact, is a more heinous crime in many respects.

For the head of the Roman Catholic Church it is definitely a public relations disaster.

In a deceitful effort to effect some damage control - Father Raniero Cantalamessadog (the Pope's personal priest) - foolishly jumped into the fray which caused an even bigger uproar on good Friday (of all days) by making inflammatory remarks during a service.

During a sermon Cantalamessa read a letter aloud wherein a Jewish friend referred to accusations against Benedict and the Catholic church over the handling of sexual abuse of minors by priests as inappropriate.

Cantalamessa's friend, who was not cited by name, wrote that he was "following with disgust the violent and concentric attacks against the Church and the Pope," which reminded him of "the most shameful aspects of anti-Semitism".

The reaction from spiritual quarters the world-over was swift and severe.

Many Jewish leaders were outraged - for instance - and lamented in no uncertain terms that the comparison was "obscene" and "offensive".

Representatives for the victims of the sexual abuse condemned the analogy.

Rome's Chief Rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni, said the remarks were particularly insensitive because they were made on the day that Christians prayed for the conversion of the Jews, who were once held collectively responsible for Jesus' death.

Ouch!

Cantalamessa said he had included the excerpt from the letter in his sermon in a show of "solidarity for the Pope."

What a boo-boo!

A scant few hours later, the preacher apologized for comparing recent attacks against the Pontiff and the Catholic church to the persecution of Jews.

"If I hurt the sensibility of Jews and of the victims of pedophilia, then I am sincerely sorry and I apologize," father Raniero Cantalamessa told the Milan Daily (Corriere della Sera).

Cantalamessa also said Benedict, who was present at the ceremony, did not have prior knowledge of the contents of his sermon.

In fact, as the storm raged around him, Benedict continued on business as usual.

Benedict celebrated a Mass dedicated to the union between the Pope and the world's priests at St. Peter's Basilica on Holy Thursday.

Later that day, the Pontiff washed the feet of 12 priests in a symbolic ceremony to commemorate Christ's last supper with his 12 apostles on the evening before his crucifiction on good friday.

Meanwile, Venice Cardinal Angelo Scola, launched a full frontal-attack on the media.

In a homily on Thurday he categorized the Pope as a victim of "deceitful accusations."

What a load of hogwash.

Benedict has earned a revolting reputation for constantly ducking his responsiblities - and concealing his questionable past - from day one.

Shortly after he was installed at the Vatican, for instance, he proceeded to stall and delay in respect to  questions put to him about his youth, and engaged in decietful bold-faced attempts to hide his associations with the Nazi's during World War II.

Finally, he bowed under pressure, and coughed up flimsy excuses.

"We were young. We did what we had to do during the occupation," he asserted in so many words.

Did the jews do that?

No, they stood strong in their beliefs, and fought back.

From that episode in his past, it is evident that Benedict was a selfish individual, who was prone to protect his own a** (at any cost) and at the expense of others.

Then, during the selection process at the Vatican, Benedict and his supporters engaged in a lot of backstairs politicking geared to wrest the seat of power at the Holy See from more suitable candidates.

The hush-hush way the clandestine proceedings were carried out behind-the-scenes raised more than an eyebrow or two.

There is also the question of his suitability for the role.

I don't think that Benedict - unlike Pope John Paul II - has ever been touched by the hand of God.

And, it is doubtful - in my opinion - that his mortal soul will ever be imbued with the holy spirit, either.

Pope Benedict XVI is an imposter, in fact.

In addition to being a hollow figurehead, the disreputable scoundrel is a disgrace to the Catholic Church.

The sooner he's ousted, the better!

Amen!

http://www.thetattler.biz

All Saints' Church...announces new Rector at Beverly Hills house of prayer!

Who knows!

(I may be featured in this choir photo)

The Vestry has announced that the Reverend Canon Stephen Huber (National Cathedral in Washington) has accepted the unanimous call to be the 7th Rector of All Saints' Church in Beverly Hills.


A couple of years ago, I was fortunate to realize a dream to sing in a choir, when I attended service at All Saints'.

During that time frame, Carol Anderson was in service to the Episcopal Church in the role that Huber has stepped into.

The Reverend grew up in a large Catholic family in Ohio and attended Catholic schools from first grade all the way through graduate school at Loyola University in New Orleans.

The dedicated Church-goer spent ten years teaching theology and working in development at private schools before transitioning into inspiring full-time development work as an A.I.D.S. fundraiser for such organizations as the Fenway Community Health Center (Boston) and the Human Rights Campaign Fund in Washington (D.C.).

Huber attended seminary at Yale University and obtained his Master of Divinity (!) in 1998.

For a short duration Steve filled the role of Development & Communications Director at Yale's Berkley Divinity School.

There were many other career developments under the auspices of the fold in the years that followed.

But, it was a post at the Washington National Cathedral (to build a Cathedral Congregation) that was probably the most challenging and rewarding for the Priest.

Using his impressive leadership skills, Huber proceeded to focus on education, pastoral care, stewardship, communications, and hospitality ministries for the congregation which now numbers 700.

Church officials describe Huber as a "spirit-filled" preacher and loving pastor with an open heart and wonderful manner who is  ready to lead All Saints' Church in the work of the Kingdom of God.

In an essay he wrote in respect to his calling, Rev. Huber eloquently wrote:

"I understand my primary vocation as inviting people into a new or deepened relationship with Jesus Christ."

"All Saints' Church is a model to the whole Church of an intellectually coherent expansive Christian faith that is unabashedly grounded in discipleship of Jesus Christ. I find that enormously exciting."

In accepting the post he closed an open letter to the parish by quoting mystic Meister Eckhart:

"If the only prayer you say in your whole life is thank you, that would suffice."

Amen!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Instrument of God...quote!

For those of you who cower at the thought of incurring God's wrath

Take solace in the fact that on occasion

The Lord may be inclined to call upon any one of us

to be an instrument of his will

Julian Ayrs

Divine Grace

Collection of Poems

Church of Blessed Sacrament...spiritually blind!

In the past few months I have felt a calling to reach out and find a way to give back to the community in some active capacity.

One Sunday morning, I awoke from a deep sleep, and a nagging little voice inside of me prompted me to take in Mass at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Hollywood.

Lo and Behold, as I crouched in the pew, the Priest noted the need for Deacons in the Church and asked that the Lord hear the prayer for one to appear.

I felt like the message was directed right at me!

Alas, after I penned a letter to the Priest - noting my interest - no one at the Blessed Sacrament even bothered to give me the courtesy of a reply.

Some Christians!

The Priests at the Blessed Sacrament are so blind spiritually, they are incapable of recognizing that the Lord answered their prayer.

Will he respond to the next one?

The incident confirms my belief that the spirit of God is not alighting in the empty houses of worship around the Nation - but rather - in the hearts and minds of the humble masses without need for ritual, pomp, or circumstance.

Amen!