Sunday, August 31, 2008

Happy Sunday!

Ladies & Gentlemen...Ms Cece Winans!



"Pray" (Lyrics)

I know that you think you can't pray after that mistake
but I know it's the only way you can make it better
And I know situations get too much for you to take
and you feel like you're gonna break and it makes you say

[Chorus]
I can't take it
When will things get better?
I'm so frustrated, but it's gonna be okay cause
you've got someone in your corner
Who's gonna be there for ya
Just fall on your knees, say a prayer and receive

When the world feels like it's on your shoulders (I pray, you pray, we pray)
When your life seems like its upside down (I pray, you pray, we pray)
When your lonely nights are getting colder (I pray, you pray, we pray)
I pray, you pray no matter how dark the day

I know you think you've gone too far and you waited too late
But I know that He loves you and there's no love greater
And I know that it's hurting and you want your pain to end
And you feel like you can't win and it makes you say

[Chorus]

Our Father which art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
All you gotta do is say

Go Sarah!

I’m thrilled that McCain has chosen a pro-life running mate!
Lord, please bless and protect Sarah Palin and her family. Please keep Governor Palin strong in You and sustain her through the rigors of campaigning. Continue to bless her with poise, grace, a strong moral sense, and a clear, sharp mind as she seeks to serve You, her family, and her country. May her graciousness be perceived even by those who don’t share her point-of-view. May her family remain intact and be strengthened through this whole experience. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Yes, I am Canadian, and yes, I have an inordinate interest in American politics…)

Friday, August 29, 2008

IMHO...

... this was classy - John McCain's message to Barack Obama on the night of Obama's nomination acceptance at the DNC, which was also the 45th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech:



...and this was NOT classy - Obama's spokesman's response to the naming of Sarah Palin as McCain's choice for Vice President:
“Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain’s commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush’s failed economic policies — that’s not the change we need, it’s just more of the same.”
(h/t: Michelle Malkin)

Update: Some good advice from Kathy Shaidle: "Every American who lives in a town of 9000 and under should write/fax Barack Obama, put up YouTube videos and more, mocking his team for insulting small town America."

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Here's one of your fave tunes for your birthday! :)

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

YAY!

After a four month hiatus, Fr. Lloyd is blogging again!

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of --Wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew --
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.


by Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr., RCAF

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Too Funny!

Listen to what Barack Obama's running mate has to say about Barack Obama and John McCain:



H/T: Kathryn

Friday, August 22, 2008

Obama's Inviable Defense

Read: Ramesh Ponnuru on Barack Obama and the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act on National Review Online.

Watch the Jill Stanek interview on Hannity & Colmes (h/t - Dawn Patrol, Aug.21):



And finally, an important reminder from our late great Holy Father:
"I support with all my heart those who recognise and defend the law of God which governs human life. We must never forget that every person from the moment of conception to their last breath is a unique child of God and has a right to life. This right should be defended by the attentive care of the medical and nursing professions and by the protection of the law. Every human life is willed by our Heavenly Father and is a part of His loving plan."
John Paul II

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Finally!

I've been hoping someone would post this on YouTube! At long last, Jesus Gave Me Water by Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers:

Counting My Blessings

I'm still waiting on my comp results...

Meanwhile, I'm grateful to be employed! I started two new assignments shortly after my exam: I work downtown two days a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) at the University, and I work from home Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for a publishing company. I'm continuing to make progress on paying off my credit card - thanks be to God!

I'm also grateful that God has given me the opportunity to spend time with Mom and Nana - they're the two most important ladies in my life and always will be!

To anyone who comes across this blog, PLEASE PRAY for my friend's Mom who's having an operation tomorrow to remove a mass on her pancreas. Please pray that the operation will be successful and that the mass will be benign.

THANK YOU!


Photo Credit: Camp I Can Website

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Chinese Horse


I did this one a couple of weeks ago, under the guidance of my wise English Professor/Watercolour Artist friend. There was supposed to be a small vase in the foreground, but I didn't space out the drawing properly to include it. I was instructed to start all over again; instead, I stubbornly continued and just left the vase out all together.

I have a long way to go in attaining "an obedient spirit"...

In retrospect, I also think I should've painted the background a pale pink instead of warm orange. Oh well - live and learn!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Bring It On Home to Me


I only just learned that Lou Rawls did the background vocals on one of my favourite Sam Cooke tunes, Bring It On Home To Me. No wonder I like that song so much - two of my favourite voices on one song! :)

I've posted a photo of Lou Rawls on the right, since the YouTube video below only has pics of Sam.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Harvey Graveline, RIP

Mr. Harvey Graveline - story-teller, creator of fine cuisine, and connoisseur of good red wine - passed away earlier this week...

"From early 1980, Harvey Graveline worked closely with Fr. John F. Harvey O.S.F.S., Fr. Edwin F. O'Brien (now Archbishop of Baltimore), Fr. Benedict Groeschel and others, to set the foundation for the first Courage meeting on September 26, 1980. He was Fr. Harvey's "right hand man" in New York in the early years when Fr. Harvey was commuting from Washington. He worked tirelessly to sow and nurture the seed that has blossomed into COURAGE INTERNATIONAL INC."

For information on Harvey's wake and funeral, click here.

Click here for Harvey's obituary as recorded in The Republican.

Please keep Harvey's soul in your prayers. I pray he will soon be enjoying a fine feast in heaven! :)
God bless you, Harvey - I'm grateful you kept in touch over the years!

Painting by John Zaccheo

Kyle Lograsso

A touching and inspiring clip about a five year-old golf prodigy and cancer survivor! (H/T: Christine)


P.S. Kyle is six years old now, and here's the link to his website.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Scary Night

Last night I woke up around 3:45 a.m. to the sound of a huge explosion. Looked out the balcony, but couldn't make out what it was or where it came from. Went back to bed and just lay there. A few minutes later, I saw the sky light up orange and heard the sound of another explosion. This time, when I rushed to the balcony, I saw a huge fireball evaporating in the sky, and then I saw the source of flames, about 3 miles south-west of our building. There were about 40 or 50 explosions in total.

It turns out a propane depot exploded. At present, there are no reports of any casualties, although at least two people were injured. Please pray that everyone's alright.

Update: One depot employee remains missing. Firefighter Bob Leek, District Chief died on the scene.

Update 2: A body recovered at the site on Tuesday may be that of the missing depot employee, Parmindar Saini. An autopsy is being conducted.

May their souls rest in peace...

Found the video below on YouTube. It's similar to the view I had last night from the balcony, although taken from much further away. At about 1:50 - 2:02 on the video clip, you can see the explosion that lit up the sky:

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Wisdom from Van Gogh

I just came across this great quote by Vincent Van Gogh, in Henri Nouwen's book The Way of the Heart:

"There may be a great fire in our soul, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passersby only see a wisp of smoke coming through the chimney, and go along their way. Look here, now what must be done? Must one tend the inner fire, have salt in oneself, wait patiently but with how much impatience for the hour when somebody will come and sit down - maybe to stay?

Let him who believes in God wait for the hour that will come sooner or later."


from The Complete Letters of Vincent Van Gogh


Source of Fireplace Image: Ryan Mahle

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Just Because...

I've always loved the dream-like quality to the musical arrangement of this song. It is after all, a song about a dream - "For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her" by Simon & Garfunkel:

Another HRC Notice of Dismissal

The Alberta Human Rights Commission has dismissed the complaint filed by the Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities against the Western Standard/Ezra Levant. Read Ezra's take on the decision here.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Beware of Brideshead!

So says Barbara Nicolosi of the recently released film version of Brideshead Revisited. I like the Evelyn Waugh novel too much to watch what's apparently been done to it in this film adaptation. Very sad...

Update: On the other hand, the Rightwing Film Geek guardedly recommends it.

What to do, what to do? Sigh...

Update 2: IF I see this movie, I am first going to re-read the novel. And even if I don't see this movie, I will still re-read the novel.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Living the Present Moment

"Let us think only of living today well,
and when tomorrow comes, it too will be called today,
and then we can think about it."
St. Francis de Sales