What is sin

Pain and longing

Lost and afraid

Blinded by own suffering 

Can't see the suffering of others 

Shared Inheritance

ENCYCLICAL LETTER
LAUDATO SI’
OF THE HOLY FATHER
FRANCIS
ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME

CHAPTER TWO

THE GOSPEL OF CREATION
VI. THE COMMON DESTINATION OF GOODS

93. Whether believers or not, we are agreed today that the earth is essentially a shared inheritance, whose fruits are meant to benefit everyone.

For believers, this becomes a question of fidelity to the Creator, since God created the world for everyone. Hence every ecological approach needs to incorporate a social perspective which takes into account the fundamental rights of the poor and the underprivileged.

The principle of the subordination of private property to the universal destination of goods, and thus the right of everyone to their use, is a golden rule of social conduct and “the first principle of the whole ethical and social order”.
[71 JOHN PAUL II, Encyclical Letter Laborem Exercens (14 September 1981), 19: AAS 73 (1981), 626.]

The Christian tradition has never recognized the right to private property as absolute or inviolable, and has stressed the social purpose of all forms of private property.

Saint John Paul II forcefully reaffirmed this teaching, stating that “God gave the earth to the whole human race for the sustenance of all its members, without excluding or favouring anyone”.
[72 Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus (1 May 1991), 31: AAS 83 (1991), 831.] These are strong words.
He noted that “a type of development which did not respect and promote human rights – personal and social, economic and political, including the rights of nations and of peoples – would not be really worthy of man”.
[73 Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (30 December 1987), 33: AAS 80 (1988), 557.]

He clearly explained that “the Church does indeed defend the legitimate right to private property, but she also teaches no less clearly that there is always a social mortgage on all private property, in order that goods may serve the general purpose that God gave them”.
[74 Address to Indigenous and Rural People, Cuilapán, Mexico (29 January 1979), 6: AAS 71 (1979), 209.]
Consequently, he maintained, “it is not in accord with God’s plan that this gift be used in such a way that its benefits favour only a few”.
[75 Homily at Mass for Farmers, Recife, Brazil (7 July 1980): AAS 72 (1980): AAS 72 (1980), 926.]

This calls into serious question the unjust habits of a part of humanity.
[76 Cf. Message for the 1990 World Day of Peace, 8: AAS 82 (1990), 152.]

95. The natural environment is a collective good, the patrimony of all humanity and the responsibility of everyone.

If we make something our own, it is only to administer it for the good of all.
If we do not, we burden our consciences with the weight of having denied the existence of others.

That is why the New Zealand bishops asked what the commandment “Thou shall not kill” means when “twenty percent of the world’s population consumes resources at a rate that robs the poor nations and future generations of what they need to survive”.
[78 NEW ZEALAND CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE, Statement on Environmental Issues (1 September 2006).]

Laudato si'

Effective law maker

A Few of things law makers should ask before they create legislation.

Does the government have to be involved in this?
Can it be handled at a lower level?

How much does it cost?
How is it going to be paid for?

Can the legislation be enforced?
Will it impact a particular group?

Does the legislation fix the problem
or is it a bandaid?

Is the legislation temporary or permanent?

Agnostic

I'm agnostic
but I love Christ...

I am agnostic in the sense that I have a clear line drawn between what I know or what can be known
and what I believe.

What can be known defined as what is observable by many. What is testable and repeatable. Evidence. Data.
I don't have to know everything. I'm okay with uncertainty.

What I believe is separate from what I know. What I believe doesn't have to be verified. There doesn't have to be evidence.
It's a belief. If it was verifiable, it would be a fact...
And, I don't have to believe everything.
I seek like-minded people to confirm my beliefs.
I also seek others to question my beliefs.

Racism binds all

Is it time to look at how -isms oppress the very people they are supposed to benefit?

Privilege is given and can be taken away

When you give someone the false sense of superiority, can you afflict them and divert attention from the affliction?

Or cause them to believe their affliction is caused by those that are supposedly inferior?

Life 

Liberty

Property 

All being diverted. Covertly. Overtly. 

The Fruits of the Spirit

Galatians 5

1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

2 Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
3 Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law.
4 You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love.

7 You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth?
8 Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.
9 A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.
10 I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.
11 But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offence of the cross has been removed.
12 I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.
14 For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’
15 If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.


16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions,
21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


22 By contrast,
the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy,
peace,
patience,
kindness,
generosity,
faithfulness,
23 gentleness,
and self-control.
There is no law against such things.
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

The spirt of the Lord shall rest on him

Isaiah 11

A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide by what his ears hear;
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
and faithfulness the belt around his loins.


6 The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
7 The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
9 They will not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.

10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
11 On that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Ethiopia,[a] from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.

12 He will raise a signal for the nations,
and will assemble the outcasts of Israel,
and gather the dispersed of Judah
from the four corners of the earth.
13 The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart,
the hostility of Judah shall be cut off;
Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah,
and Judah shall not be hostile towards Ephraim.
14 But they shall swoop down on the backs of the Philistines in the west;
together they shall plunder the people of the east.
They shall put forth their hand against Edom and Moab,
and the Ammonites shall obey them.
15 And the Lord will utterly destroy
the tongue of the sea of Egypt;
and will wave his hand over the River
with his scorching wind;
and will split it into seven channels,
and make a way to cross on foot;
16 so there shall be a highway from Assyria
for the remnant that is left of his people,
as there was for Israel
when they came up from the land of Egypt.

Health Tips

Make Weekly changes
One goal per week
Make slow gradual changes
Review entire list every week to track your adherence to past goals.

If you dropped one of your past goals, make it your present goal instead of going on to a new goal. 

Below is a list of standard goals in no order that is of importance to you

• Track everything for one week

Track eating
-type, time, amount
Track activity
Track sleep
Track natural Schedule
...Track everything

• Fix sleep

Consistency

6 to 8 hours every night

Go to bed and wake up same time everyday

• Water

2-4 liters per day

1 cup every waking hour

Start with 2 cups in the morning
2 cups before every meal

2-3 cups before a workout

• Introduce balance in meals

every meal except snacks includes:
Veggie/fruit
Protein
Whole grains

• If sedentary,

get up and move around 

for 2-5 minutes,

every hour,
up to every 1/2 hour

• Eat healthy carb and protein before and after workout

Snack size before workout

Also Add healthy fat after workout

• First 30 minutes of your day:

Do most convenient cardio
If you can't do 30 min at a time,
Accumulate throughout the day
Up to an hour every day

• Eat the nutritious things first

veggies/fruits/whole grains/dairy/lean meats

• Introduce more veggies and fruit

At least 1 cup per meal
Make these your snacks

• Introduce strength training

Basic moves to be done at least twice per week:

Press
Squat
Pull
Hip hinge
Plank

• Switch to all Whole grains

Read the ingredients.

Look for the item that has the least ingredients and the most natural ingredients.

• Increase protein

Up to 1 gram per pound lean body mass
1/2 if you don't want to gain strength or muscle

• Set fitness goal

Performance not aesthetic 

Go faster, go longer, get stronger
Get a personal trainer to teach you proper form,
devise a training plan

6 months maximum with trainer

• Frequency of meals

Every 2-4 hours
If every 2 hours:
veggie/fruit snacks in between full meals

• Make appt. with dietitian every year,

 if you can't keep a consistent nutrition plan 

• More on Strength training

Train twice a week,

Then three days per week,

up to Four days a week

if you want to gain strength and muscle 
-split: upper/lower body or push/pull (anterior/posterior chain)

• Get a massage once a month

• endurance

-15 reps (or 30 sec), 3 to 5 sets,

circuit

decrease the rest time between sets every week

from 30 seconds to 45 to 60 seconds per set

• strength training

supersets
-5 reps, 3 to 5 sets
Increase 5# every week

• Strength training

Is about volume
no set length of workout
mentality should be:
get reps in and get out
efficiency

• Strength training

active rest
walking/bike/row at low intensity
3-5 minutes between sets
1 hour on rest days.

War is Theft

Actually it is robbery

Robbery is forcible stealing.
A person forcibly steals property and
commits robbery when, in the course of committing a larceny,
he uses or
threatens the immediate use of physical force upon another person for
the purpose of:
1. Preventing or overcoming resistance to the taking of the property
or to the retention thereof immediately after the taking; or
2. Compelling the owner of such property or another person to deliver
up the property or to engage in other conduct which aids in the
commission of the larceny.

Power and Hurt

Ecclesiastes 8

9   All this have I seen, even applied my heart thereto, whatever the work that is done under the sun;  what time one man had power over another to his hurt.

What gives a word power

Or should I say authority

Should I expand it to signs and any symbols 

Consequences 

Evidence

Force

Fear

 (Fear of what?)

The speaker

The listener

Compassion

Common courtesy 

Decency

Respect

Deep thought

You fall in love with your expectation

You marriy a representative

and then you divorce reality

Life goals

Always strive to do something you've never done before.

Civil Rights

In his essay The Rights of Man, Paine states:

"Man did not enter into society to become worse than he was before, nor to have less rights than he had before, but to have those rights better secured.
His natural rights are the foundation of all of his civil rights. . . .
Natural rights are those which always appertain to man in right of his existence. . . .
Civil rights are those which appertain to man in right of his being a member of society.
Every civil right has for its foundation some natural right pre-existing in the individual, but to which his individual power is not, in all cases, sufficiently competent."

A nugget from my past

Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten,
Daß ich so traurig bin,
Ein Märchen aus uralten Zeiten,
Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.
Die Luft ist kühl und es dunkelt,
Und ruhig fließt der Rhein;
Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt,
Im Abendsonnenschein.

2. Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet
Dort oben wunderbar,
Ihr gold'nes Geschmeide blitzet,
Sie kämmt ihr goldenes Haar,
Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme,
Und singt ein Lied dabei;
Das hat eine wundersame,
Gewalt'ge Melodei.

3. Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe,
Ergreift es mit wildem Weh;
Er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe,
Er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh'.
Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen
Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn,
Und das hat mit ihrem Singen,
Die Loreley getan.

Die Loreley
Heinrich Heine, 1822 (1799-1856)


http://ingeb.org/Lieder/ichweiss.html

Deep Thought

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.”
― Ernest Hemingway

Phrase of the day

Summary execution

A summary execution is a variety of execution in which a person is accused of a crime and then immediately killed without benefit of a full and fair trial. 

Extrajudicial punishment

Extrajudicial punishment is punishment for an alleged crime or offense carried out without legal process or supervision from a court or tribunal through a legal proceeding.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

PART III 
Article 6
1. Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life. 
2. In countries which have not abolished the death penalty, sentence of death may be imposed only for the most serious crimes in accordance with the law in force at the time of the commission of the crime and not contrary to the provisions of the present Covenant and to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This penalty can only be carried out pursuant to a final judgement rendered by a competent court.

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CCPR.aspx

Deep Thought

Democrats want the government to help the poor

Republicans want the government to help the rich

Originally seen as

Democrats want socialism for the poor

Republicans want socialism for the rich

Deep Thought

“It is not the fact of liberty but the way in which liberty is exercised that ultimately determines whether liberty itself survives.”

Dorothy Thompson (1894-1961), Ladies Home Journal, May 1958

Deep Thought

The past is just a story we tell ourselves

-Her (2013)

Involuntary suicide

I consider any drug overdose as a suicide

Land of the free?

Life liberty 

and the pursuit of happiness

 or property

It's always been a plutocracy

If you pay attention you learn that not all citizens are concerned with the rights of others

They don't want life or liberty or property or happiness for others

People want to be able to do what ever they want to do 

but they want everyone else to be controlled

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Deep Thought

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Mother Teresa

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mothertere107032.html#uOgjyHUVhpX9qS1W.99

Morality

Do not do unto others...

Love your neighbor as yourself 

Love your enemy

An it Harm none do what ye will

Put yourself in the other person's shoes 

Even things that are done in private affect others. Especially your future self. 

Though self is an illusion 

Subjective yet universal 

Because people aren't that different

Consequences are eerily similar throughout time 

Live and learn

The hard way through pain to yourself or others?

The easy way by watching and learning from others

No comprende

It is said that most people don't listen. They just pause and wait for the next time they can speak.

Actually, when people are having a conversation, they are usually just talking to themselves with someone else in the room.
Pay attention one time you get into an argument and find that the topic of your conversation sort of diverged. You'll notice that you and the other person aren't actually talking about the same thing.

Who does this?

Colossians 3
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Where are the followers of Christ?

Philippians 4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Deep Thought

Eric Hoffer once wrote:

“A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people’s business.”

The loss of the Rites of Passage

What has this loss done to our society, the world?

How has it tributed to a culture of violence?

Or had the world always been violent and it's a part if our nature we must accept

Word of the Day

Stereotype
noun

Sociology. a simplified and standardized conception or image invested with special meaning and held in common by members of a group:

an idea, trait, convention, etc, that has grown stale through fixed usage

stereotypes exist for a reason...
Yes, the reason is people are too lazy to actually get to know other people before they judge them
and it's easier to feel good about yourself by believing stupid bullshit about people you don't even know