The Persecution Continues

I just read an article on Bill Maher, bashing Tim Tebow over blunders in a stupid football game.  I understand that if you a famous for anything in today's world, you are under the microscope for anything and everything you think, believe, or do.  That's a given.  But the below the belt bashing of someone, including bashing one's religious beliefs, is to me, an abomination for they are not only insulting that person but all those who have the same beliefs.  How can he be so bold, so audacious, so cruel to act as if their poop does not stink? 
Tim Tebow, hats off to you for not even replying to the bash.  I guess this is modern day crucifying.  The persecution continues over 2,000 years later.  Oh well, we were warned of it.  I have to admit that I'd like to persecute Bill, but I have to be above this, as Tim Tebow is.  Even if I did not believe, I think I would be above bashing any one's religious beliefs. 
Maher continues to bash in a debate with Bill O Reilly, stating that 60 % of Americans still believe that the Noah's Ark story is true.  well, let me say this about that:  It is very encouraging to me if 60 % of Americans believe that.  I would have guessed the percentile to be lower.  As for me, I believe every word, every punctuation mark and exclamation point in the bible. 
God has patience of super-human power for not destroying our evil world centuries ago.  Personally, I believe the end is very near, for I can't conceive how much more violent or evil our society can get before Jesus makes his appearance.  I don't understand what people have against what Jesus stands for.  He only wants us to love one another, to have the capacity to forgive, and the humanity to help those in need.  We all, of course fall short of that in one way or another.  I can speak for myself whole heartily when I proclaim that.  I go to Mass daily, not because I'm so righteous, but because I am a sinner, a sinner who seeks God's forgiveness, mercy, and salvation. 
The evil one is alive and well in each and everyone, if we allow him to be.  That's where prayer or as St Paul puts it continuous prayer is so necessary to keep us on the course to holiness. 
Amen, amen I say to one and all: repent for your sins, pray for forgiveness, and go out into the world and spread the Good News.  Spread acts of kindness without expectations of rewards and your reward will be beyond your wildest dreams and imagination.   Do not gamble with your eternity.

God bless each and every one of you and may God have mercy on your soul, Bill

Whole Wheat Honey Anadama Bread

Anadama Whole Wheat N Honey Bread

Mix ½ corn meal with ½ cup water and let sit for  ½ hr.

1Tbs yeast

½ Tbs salt

2 ½ cups warm water

¼ cup br sugar

¼ cup honey

¼ cup molasses

1 ½ cups white flour

¼ cup butter or Crisco, even olive oil

Mix water and yeast and let sit 15 min.

Start adding the other stuff and mix, then run out on board and knead for 10 minutes until smooth.

Keep flour at hand for the board, the dough and your hands.

Cover in a greased bowl for 1 ½-2 hr.

Punch down on floured board, cut in half, make balls out of the two portions.

Grease a pan and sprinkle corn meal on pan.

Place the two loaves on the pan and cover for an hr.

Bake at 400 for 10 min. and reduce to 350 for the rest of about an hour.

Last week, I had to drive out to my old stomping grounds, Ontario, NY, to attend a funeral.  I noticed the traffic stopped up ahead and cut off on a side road.  It brought me to another and yet another before I got on familiar ground.  As I drove, I couldn't help be aware of the the new housing developments that have sprung up on these once familiar farm roads.  They were not only new developments, but huge castle like homes, looking so out of place in the rural settings.  The properties did not really offer any privacy; one could see all the other nearby castles around and behind each other.  I was surprisingly saddened by the sight.  Saddened, not because I was in envy of these folks who obviously had more money than I'll ever have, but saddened by the revelation of the ever broadening gap between the rich and the poor and the impact of the rich on not only the poor, but the environment, the land, and the real reality of how things can change during our lifetime.  Gone now, where the beautiful farming establishments that had for so long dotted the little country roads.  Gone were the empty fields, the scenic woods, the open sky, the beautiful song of silence of the outdoors.  Growing up in Ontario, we had 35 acres of land with just what I described; open fields, wooded areas, inviting one to follow the paths, orchards, streams and peace and quiet.  I remember going out back and over the hill to where I could not view the house or road and feeling so alone in my own little world.  I could close my eyes and smell the trees, grasses, and earth.  I could hear only the sighing of the ancient trees over my head, swaying to and fro in their unending song for my ears only.  As I continued closer to my destination in town, I felt a small tear, slowly making it's way down the creases of my cheek on it's journey towards my chin.  It was a strange feeling of being alone, an alien from a different world, unwillingly thrust into a society where I knew I did not fit.  I wiped the tear before it dripped off my chin, and thought of the times out back, alone with nature and realized God was there with me all the time.  Every blade of grass, every tree, was possible only with the supreme direction of he who created me.  When I get lonely or nostalgic, I think of the times in Ontario, out back, over the hill among the quiet of nature and out of vision from the castles and thank God for that life.

A Year in an MGA

I recken it was round about 1966 that three of us from high school all happened to have MGA roadsters.  Lonnie and I each had 1957 A's and Mark had maybe a 60 or so (Don't quote that year!) with a dual overhead cam engine.  Very cool.
  Guess I should drop back and splain what MGA is.  It stands for Morris Garage Automotive, I believe.  They were made in England from 1921 up until 2006 or so, passing through many hands over the years.  To me, the most popular models were produced from the mid 40's to the early 70's. OK, I'm rambling.
The MGA s replaced the earlier TA through TF models with a new more streamlined uni body look.  A British 2 seater roadster (convertible).  They came out in 1955 at the Frankfurt Auto Show and up until 1961.  My 57 sported a 1489CC engine, 4 speed transmission dual SU carbs, and when tuned up, would go like nobody's business.
I found it in an old garage off Hudson St. in Rochester, NY.  I don't recall what the guy was asking for it.  We tried to start it but no go.  He let me hook a rope on and pull it around the neighborhood to try to start it, but nothing.  It was white and fairly rusty.  It was a convertible but the frame and top were gone.  It did have a tonoue cover, which was a little leather cover that snapped over the cockpit area, covering the seats just under the windscreen (windshield).  I just remembered, the starter did not work and that's why he let us pull it around to attempt to start it.  Anyways, we pulled back into his driveway and with the rope still on it, I offered him $ 200.00  He said yes and got the title.  Away we went towing it, my friend, Lonnie behind the wheel of the MG steering and braking and I, towing it with my Dodge 440.  We weaved our way through the city and probably stopped at a gas station to pump air in the tires and get a bit of fresh gas for it. 
In those days, Rt 104 was not an expressway, but the Ridge Rd. from Rochester to Webster to Union Hill, Fruitland, and finally to Ontario, NY.  Lonnie was supposed to have the MG in neutral so I could tow it easily, but unbeknown to me, he actually had it in 3rd or 4th gear with the key on in an attempt to start it while we drove.  We had come into Webster and I was slowing down for the light in the middle of town, when I heard a popping and a small explosion.  I looked back through the rear view mirror and Lonnie and the MG had vanished in a thick cloud of black smoke!  The MG started!  I sat there at the green light in a trance and finally the smoke cleared and Lonnie sat there with this big grin, the car, now in neutral.  It was only running on three cylinders but it ran.  I think he let it run at idle the rest of the way home.  We assessed it more thoroughly at home.  The starter did not work, but it had a crank hole in the front and I could turn it over by hand.  In those days the MG's did not have side windows that rolled up and down, but plexiglases screens that fit into the top of the doors.  They were clear at some point in time, but now they were hazed over and you could barely see out them.  The car also did not have outside door handles; you had to reach inside the door to open it.  Overall, it was in pretty bad shape but I was as delighted as one who was given an new Rolls Royce.  After all, we were only about 17 years old at the time.  After getting it registered and plates on it, I took it to a friend's home nearby and he determined that it had a cracked head so one of the cylinders would not fire.  The local junkyard had a used head off a Nash Rambler that used the same engine and for $ 30.00 I grabbed it.  I somehow don't think we even put a new head gasket on, but with the Nash head, it fired up on all 4 cylinders.  At Xerox, where I worked, there was a guy from England who offered to take it home over the weekend and tune it up for me.  When he finished, it was ready to burn up the road and I did my best to do just that. 
About the same time, Lonnie found another 57, just like mine.  One day we were tooling about town, when we ran into another mate from school, Mark.  He was driving a 1960 MGA with the dual overhead cam engine.  In a small town like Ontario, NY, we were the three amigos in our MGA's. 
The cars had an entire new language to grasp describing the parts of the car.  The hood, of engine cover was the bonnet.  The generator was the dynamo.  the windshield was the windscreen. 

We three, drove those MGA's for about a year before having to grow up and go in the service.  Lonnie left in January 1968 for the Navy and stored his A in his family's barn.  I went over one day and "borrowed" the car top, frame and all.  Before that, I only had the tonoue cover and it was a brutal winter in upstate New York.  I followed Lonnie into Navy boot camp in April of 68 and foolishly stored my A at my parents one car garage.  How stupid was that?  A few weeks later, I got a check in the mail from Dad for $ 150.00 with a letter boasting about how he sold it for such a great price!  If only he knew how much I had in the car!  Sigh...........

Father, Lord, Savior,
  I can no longer imagine my journey through life without your strentgh, guidance, leadership, mercy, salvation.  "How great thou art" does not begin to convey who you are to me.  There are no words, communique, images, or feelings worthy enough to express to you.  Thank goodness, I know that all I have to do is close my eyes, bow my head, and breathe and your spirit comes upon me and I know you hear me.  You hear me through the good times and the bad, through the sickness and health, the smiles, the tears and even if I try to run and hide.  You are always there, unchanging, unwavering, patiently, forgiving.  You are my everything.  How did I go so long in my life without realizing this?  How could you be so patient with me?  How can I do my part to repay my debt?  Show me the way, O Lord.  Open the door and I will enter.  Give me the strength and courage to carry my share of your cross. Put the words in my mouth and I will sing for you.  Place the spirit in my heart so that I might always be with you.  Light the light in my soul so that I might shine for you.  Wash clean my sins so that I might be pure for you.  Help me to forgive and be slow to anger.  Give me the wisdom, the honesty, and the resolve to be your disciple.
  In all this I pray; in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

  Amen

Those "cute" FaceBook sayings are usually anything but true!

I have seen them and I'm sure you have too; cute little sayings on Face Book that seem innocent but upon a little more than casual observance, are not only misleading but send a subliminal message that, well, insults my intelligence. 

Just because you go to church, does not make you a Christian.

The implication here is one may attend church and go out into the world and be perceived as anything but Christian.  It is true that if we put a cat or dog or a deceased person in the pew, day after day, that they most likely will not glean any part of the service that is beneficial to them.  It is safe to say that if one is forced to attend or only attends out of "obligation", but does not really wish to be there or participate in the celebration, that they are likely to leave with the service having little or no effect on them.  But to me, further analisis of the phrase is an encouragement to not attend at all.  Mind you, these cute little sayings are posted by so called Christians.  Why should one discourage anyone from attending at all?  I know from personal experience that I did attend church, but left with no new meaning in life or effect from being there.  However, after many times being there (church)  whether I approved or not, I not only experienced a profound effect, but looked forward to the next Mass with great anticipation and eventually, hung on to each and every word, song, prayer, and left the church a better person for it.  I think the moral of the phrase is just because you go to church, the paramount element missing is when you leave church, it is important to go out into the world and be a shinning example of Christianity, in one's actions, demeanor, and discernment.  Everything offered at this precious celebration should be absorbed and you end up not only being a Christian, but a better person.

Try to be more like Christ and less like a Christian

This cute little saying is an oxymoron in itself.  By all means, strive to act like Christ, but don't make light or give demeaning continuation to the term Christian.  Again, I see the intention of the phrase, but to put Christianity in a negative posture is offensive to me and just plain wrong.  We must recognize that we all can be jerks and idiots from time to time, but after all, we are human.  Humans are only moral people who go through life making mistakes along with all the virtues we pick up along the journey.  To coin the phrase "Try to be more like Christ" is certainly what we all should strive for.  By being human, which of course, we are, does mean that we stumble, fall, run off in the wrong direction and are under constant pressure to be unchristian. That is the power of Satin, to always put us off guard, to justify our actions as right and proper when, of course, they are not most of the time. This is why we attend church, to admit our guilt as sinners, to ask Christ for mercy and forgiveness and to learn from the scriptures how to lead our lives as true Christians.  If the phrase were stated: "Try to be more like Christ and more Christian" I would have no problem. 

In other words, any phrase, statement, or act alluding to Christianity in a negative light is playing right into the enemy's hands.  Don't cop a phrase just because it seems catchy or cute.  Try to use your heads and raise your awareness to what you are actually saying.  Each time an argument against Christianity is brought to light, Satin wins.

This morning on FaceBook, I noticed a question that I really can't answer with any authority, but I can put my two cents in, if you don't mind, Mark.  The question: Why doesn't the Catholic Church have bibles in the pews?

The Catholic Mass is structured as to the order of events taking place on any particular day.  Perhaps I'll draft up a blog on the order of the Mass, but for reference to the question, there are three yearly cycles for the weekly mass; 50 per year with three cycles A, B, & C.  The prayers, responses, and the Bible readings can be found in the Daily Missals, provided as you enter the church along with the Hymnals.  The Mass is structured with readings from the bible as follows:  1st Reading from the old testament, the Psalm (a song usually sung) a 2nd reading from the new testament (very often the letters of St Paul to the new church) and last but not least the Gospel reading (Always read by the priest or Deacon)  Many people pick up or bring their daily Missal to read the prayers for that particular day and readings.  This never changes.  People have asked me why I go to Mass if they don't have bible study included.  The Catholic church certainly offers bible study for those interested but bible study is not part of the Mass.  The FOUR readings from the bible are most certainly given at each Mass.  The Priest's homely after the four readings almost always ties the four readings into a relationship with each other.  In fact, the Mass follows a theme, so to speak, with all the readings related to that particular Mass. The songs sung, the readings, the homely, are all inter-connected with the thyme of the Mass.

I attended services at many a church, Methodist, Catholic, Baptist, etc. and usually have not noticed bibles in the pews.  The presence of the bibles or not in the pews most certainly does not mean that the readings are not covered at Mass.

Silence is Golden

Silence is Golden A man joined a monastery, where you can not talk for two years and then only two words. The days turned into weeks, then months, then finally after two years, he was brought in to the Abbot. "Well, what do you have to say?" The man replied "Food awful!" Back into the silence he went. Days passed into weeks, then months and finally years and the man was again brought before the Abbot. "Well", asked the Abbot, "What do you have to say this time?" The man replied "Bed, lumpy." Back into silence, he went. Days turned into weeks, then months, and again, two years finally elapsed. Again, he was brought before the Abbot. Before the Abbot could ask him what he had to say, the man spouted out "I quit!" "And no wonder" said the Abbot, "All you've done is complain, complain, complain!"

Former 'Blue Baby' Enters 3rd year in Perfect Health

Former ‘Blue Baby’ Enters 3rd Year in Perfect Health Just found this old newspaper article from my 2nd birthday. I was one of the first (if not the first) to get a complete blood transfusion at birth and live to sing “Good Night Irene” The print’s a bit small so here’s what the article said: Early Bird Getting a head start on his birthday cake is Francis R. Gelo who is two years old today. At birth, Bucky was a “blue baby” but today he’s normal enough to tackle the two-layer delight before him and sing “Good Night Irene” for his relatives. Former Blue Baby enters 3rd year in perfect health. Little Francis Rober Gelo sat on the sofa in his parent’s home at 365 Rosewood Ter. Yesterday and sang “Good Night Irene” He was tuning up for his second birthday party today. His parents Mr. &  Mrs. James Gelo, proudly watched and listened to his singing. “You can see he’s just as normal as any baby now,” his mother remarked. And she was right, Bucky, boy’s nickname, who is 2 years old today, is perfectly normal-so normal in fact that he blossomed out with the measles last week. But, he’s over them now. But when Bucky was born two years ago, Bucky wasn’t normal. He was a “blue baby,” but thanks to medical science, he’s alive and well today. Immediately after his birth, doctors drained the deadly R-H positive blood from tiny body and substituted R-H negative blood. Today Bucky will be the center of attraction at his birthday party, which all his relatives will attend. “He will probably be singing “Good Night Irene,”’ his mother said until we have to put him to bed.”

Theology of Marriage

Theology of Marriage


When Fr Edison approached us about offering testimony to you, about to wed, I believe it was not coincidence, but a nudge from God, leading him to call on us to offer to you that which we truly believe; the call to aid and enlighten as you prepare to enter into the most paramount journey of your lives.

Quoting a statement from Pope John Paul II “The very preparation for Christian marriage is itself a journey of faith. It is a special opportunity for the engaged to rediscover and deepen the faith received in baptism and nourished by their Christian upbringing. In this way they come to recognize and freely accept their vocation to follow Christ and to serve the kingdom of God in the married state.”

Did you ever look at marriage as a vocation? We’ve surly heard the more common descriptive concerning marriage such as institution, but I really never considered it a vocation. Even now, as God leads me to speak to you, I learn more and understand one more piece of this marvelous mystery.

What you’re about to enter into is a covenant, so special, so glorious that it has been raised by our Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. The unending circle of our Christian faith bonds us more intricately into the woven intimacy of one flesh with each other and Christ. In other words, God sees this and claims “This is very good.”

I think to the most casual observer, we can all agree that our society has evolved into one in which the atmosphere is thick with the temptation to become complacent to so much of which clearly goes against God’s wish for us. Our divorce rate is nothing to write home about. I can attest to that on a much more personnel level and but for the grace of God, have I been tempered and reminded of his unchanging plan for us, always more perfect than I could ever imagine.

Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman, and thus the first original marriage, continues to speak again and again of its mystery, God’s plan for it, his meaning for it and concludes, leaving us with the vision of the “wedding feast of the Lamb.” It’s no coincidence; Jesus begins his public ministry at a wedding. Again and again, his teachings revolve around marriage, even commenting on the guidelines given by Moses, reiterating marriage’s “indissolubility”, according to the will of God. Through the good times and the bad, in sickness and in health, till death do us part. Forever, period.

There is a perfect plan for us all, one in which we are guided (if we choose to be) as we journey down roads that we cannot possibly see but for all the twists and corners, roads that with faith, we too can walk on water like Peter, overcome any and all obstacles in the mystery of life, including the sting of death. God reasoned, “It is not good to be alone” so he created woman to be man’s helpmate, companion, mother of his children, mother of all life. This may seem so insignificant but if we look deeper, God’s perfect plan is revealed over and over. We were meant to be with one another, as one; one body, one blood, one perfect unity with Christ, who in us and through us spread the harvest of our covenant, to our children and to their children, until we all meet at the wedding feast of the Lamb.

It started with your baptism, the long journey that to God is but a breath, taking you through your childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and now to this sacred sacrament of marriage. I can’t imagine life without my wife to be there for me, as I for her, two minds and souls, melding, nurturing, loving, as God asks of us. Through the origin of sin were we granted the pain of childbirth and the sweat of our toil but by the grace of God are we enabled to rise above our frailties be filled with the holy Spirit, radiate peace and spread love. The Catechism, 1615 words it so eloquently, stating “By coming to restore the original order of creation disturbed by sin, he himself (Christ) gives the strength and grace to live marriage in the new dimension of the Rein of God. It is by following Christ, renouncing ourselves, taking up our own crosses will we be able to “receive”
the original meaning of marriage and live it with the help of Christ. This grace of Christian marriage is a fruit of Christ’s cross, the source of all Christian life.” How wonderful it is to know that our marriage is a fruit, a fruit of that wonderful cross, graced with Christ’s blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.

Right to free Speech ?

I realize how hard we have fought to attain our constitutional rights but now I wonder if people are getting away with moral crimes by exercising their precious free speech. I'm referring to the Westboro Baptist Church that attends military funerals and protest the allowance of homosexuality. There is a time and place for everything but disrupting a funeral is about as un-christian and act as I've ever seen. I can't imagine the pain and humiliation on the part of the deceased soldier's family and friends. A funeral is a time for saying goodbye, grieving, and above all, giving honor and respect to a loved one.

This Westboro Baptist Church, mostly made up of one family, is taking it upon themselves to protest and disrupt over what they feel is important. I am arguing their right to do so, I am stating that they don't have the moral right to place themselves in a position to cause more pain and suffering on people atop of having to bury their loved one.

The issues they are protesting for, I somewhat agree with, however, there are moral obligations to be considered as well as their 1st amendment right. I personally believe that our country is decomposing from our lack of moral ethics. I don't even watch TV because most of what is aired, to me is terrible. Even our sit-coms early in the night, are filled with sex, dissipation, most of what I feel is not appropriate for young children to be exposed to.
Our laws are continually changing to eliminate God from our society. We can not have any photos, monuments, crosses, or anything depicting Christianity on display publicly. We have sold out God and put false gods, pagan gods, and idols in place of our Father. As our grandparents and parents used to say: "We're going to hell in a hand basket."

Still, what this so-called church is doing with their protesting, I call blasphemy. As Christians, we are called to follow Christ's teachings, and preach the Gospel, not disrupt funerals, causing so much pain needlessly. I could stake my life that members of the Westboro Baptist Church are not sinless. Every single human being is a sinner. It is not our duty or direction to go about causing disruption and tongue wagging. The sad part is, our constitutional laws are protecting these creeps.

Oswald Cane

This is not the first time I've had to use Oswald. I had to acquire it last winter to help me after a fall. After that, I kept it in the back of the Volvo, finding it useful for hooking and pulling items to the back of the hatch. After Monday night's situation on the hall stairs, Oswald was brought out of the Volvo and employed once again. Good ole Os. I found it more handy for more than just supporting me when I walk. The end of the handle is perfect for hooking things from about the room. Last night, I woke up chilly and Os hooked and pulled my afghan off a shelf, without getting up. So, with a little imagination, I can keep Os busy for a while!

VistaPrint is eviil!

You've probably heard of them VistaPrint. They offer business cards for free or next to nothing. A few years ago, I ordered some and they were OK (the cards) About two years ago, I ordered some other cards from them and while I was at the checkout window and they already had my debit card no. a box opened up offering $ 10.00 off the amount. I clicked on it. That's when the trouble started. Now's a good time to advise everyone to scrutinize their bank statements as soon as they come in. I did not. A couple months went by and my bank account was kinda low, but I was aware of it. One day, I got a note from the bank advising my of a bounced check. I looked into it and discovered that VistaPrint was drawing a few bucks out and had been the last few months. I called them to resolve it and they told me that I had authorized them to for some service. I told them I did not authorize anything of the sort. They claimed I did not read the fine print. Well, the fine print must have been printed by an ant. I told them to stop that action right away and complained about the NSF fees from the bank. They told me to send them the bank statements and it would be straightened out. I again demanded them to stop this bogus service. I thought I had it straightened out and forgot about it and decided to lick my NSF wounds and move on. The next month, I got many NSF charges for bounced transactions. I contacted them once more and really got the run around. I printed out the last few months bank statements and went to the bank to deposit the money to bring my account back up to at least zero. While I was there, I asked to see the bank manager. I explained to her the problem. She went into my account and verified what I told her to be true. She cancelled my debit card and ordered a new one with a new number so VistaPrint could not continue to dip from me. She then waived all the NSF fees and instead of being minus $ 60.oo, I ended up with plus $ 145.00. It was three days before Christmas. I started to thank her but burst into tears. She smiled and wished me a merry Christmas. I am writing now to warn everyone how we all can't be too careful with our on-line transactions. I later saw a news article about just my problem and they mentioned VistaPrint and other so called legit firms doing that.
Nuff Said!

In my own words Pope John Paul II

It is a beautiful and salutary thought that, whereever people are praying in the world, there the Holy Spirit is, the living breath of prayer. It is a beautiful and salutary thought to recognize that, if prayer is offered throughout the world, in the past, in the present and in the futture, equally widespread is the prersence and action of the Holy Spirit, who "breathes" prayer in the heart of man in all the endless range of the most varried situation and conditions.

More, In my own words Jouhn Paul II

The Holy Spirit is given to the Church as the source of strength to conquer sin. Only God has the power to forgive sins, because he alone sees right into the human person and can measure human responsibility completely. Sin remains, in it's psychological depth, a secret which God alone has the power to enter, in order to say to a person the efficacious words: "Your sins are forgiven you, you are pardoned."