HarleyDad just before W's Visit
Thursday, August 31, 2006
HarleyDad Strikes Back
SuperDave a.k.a. "Texbro" thought he had trumped HarleyDad by riding a motorbike with more cc's and with a big red and blue dragon tatoo. Not so.
HarleyDad's bike is pretty good looking. Yesterday "W" dropped over and visited with HarleyDad and told him that he had heard about HarleyDad's good looking bike and wanted to test drive it. Now we are not talking about any "W" ; but we are talking about "THE W. " You know Mr. Big, the Commander in Chief, Mr. Anti-Terrorism himself.
Well, what could I say, one Texan to another Texan. "W" was wearing his grey suit and did not bring his helmet. I offered mine but it was too big for Mr. "W". Further Mr. "W" is a law-abiding citizen so we mosied over to our local Harley Center and I let him test out my Harley Deluxe.
W had a busy schedule and so after a few tests, he headed to his next round of political dinners in our area.
Now I know that there may be a few sceptical souls out there in Harley- land and so I had a few shots taken.
I hope you enjoy them. Eat your heart out Super Dave.
HarleyDad's bike is pretty good looking. Yesterday "W" dropped over and visited with HarleyDad and told him that he had heard about HarleyDad's good looking bike and wanted to test drive it. Now we are not talking about any "W" ; but we are talking about "THE W. " You know Mr. Big, the Commander in Chief, Mr. Anti-Terrorism himself.
Well, what could I say, one Texan to another Texan. "W" was wearing his grey suit and did not bring his helmet. I offered mine but it was too big for Mr. "W". Further Mr. "W" is a law-abiding citizen so we mosied over to our local Harley Center and I let him test out my Harley Deluxe.
W had a busy schedule and so after a few tests, he headed to his next round of political dinners in our area.
Now I know that there may be a few sceptical souls out there in Harley- land and so I had a few shots taken.
I hope you enjoy them. Eat your heart out Super Dave.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Sin and The Blessing
It is easy to see "sin" or wrong actions in the lives of others. If someone commits a crime against ourselves or our family, we have no problem in identifying the "sin". Likewise, if someone does us wrong at work or is unfair, we easily recognize sin.
What is so easy to see in others, is more difficult to see in ourselves. In the Bible sin is seen as "missing the mark." We all miss the mark of being perfect and true.
During the night I woke up and realized that probably my worst sin, although there are many, is not loving God enough. It is that lack of love that results in my life falling short. A lack of love of God also translates to a lack of love of people. Love is kind and does not take advantage of others.
And so once again I am left with grace. The free sacrifice of Jesus Christ who took the penalty of death for my sin and extended to me His life and Spirit as a free gift that I might truly live despite my short comings, which would otherwise be fatal.
And so whether I go to church or sit in my office or ride my motorbike, I am thankful for this free gift.
This is the blessing of God.
HarleyDad
What is so easy to see in others, is more difficult to see in ourselves. In the Bible sin is seen as "missing the mark." We all miss the mark of being perfect and true.
During the night I woke up and realized that probably my worst sin, although there are many, is not loving God enough. It is that lack of love that results in my life falling short. A lack of love of God also translates to a lack of love of people. Love is kind and does not take advantage of others.
And so once again I am left with grace. The free sacrifice of Jesus Christ who took the penalty of death for my sin and extended to me His life and Spirit as a free gift that I might truly live despite my short comings, which would otherwise be fatal.
And so whether I go to church or sit in my office or ride my motorbike, I am thankful for this free gift.
This is the blessing of God.
HarleyDad
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Hot Rods
Yeah, it is a guy thing. Girls, take a breather and powder your nose. You won't like this particular blog.
Guys, now that we are alone--- do I have some hot rod pictures for you. We guys like anything that is metal and if it has a motor around it so much the better. And that is what these hot rods have. No sissy stuffed seats, no air conditioning, no XFM, that is for the girls. All these hot rods have is metal and hot engines and that is just the way we guys love 'em.
And so I visited the rods in Ozarklandia at the local Ramada Inn. And before these tin cans roared off to the next place on the itinerary, I got a few pics.
I rode my harley in and felt right at home. Most of the owners had tatoos and those who did not may still have them somewhere, but HarleyDad is asking no questions. My Harley Softtail Deluxe was passport enough and I would have been proud to provide a motorcycle escort for these weathered knights of the open road.
A few gals were in attendance, proving that they loved their man even if he had lost his everlovin' mind. Greater love hath no woman than she will attend this crazy get together with her beloved. (I might add that I saw only a couple amidst this collection of unpainted metal and rust buckets. More power to them.
Some of the rods, were painted in bright colors; most were rust buckets surrounding engines worth more than the weathered bodies about them. And when you cranked them they roared, music to the ears of HarleyDad ("Loud pipes, save lives, you know!!)
Hope you enjoy.
Political incorrectly yours,
HarleyDad
Guys, now that we are alone--- do I have some hot rod pictures for you. We guys like anything that is metal and if it has a motor around it so much the better. And that is what these hot rods have. No sissy stuffed seats, no air conditioning, no XFM, that is for the girls. All these hot rods have is metal and hot engines and that is just the way we guys love 'em.
And so I visited the rods in Ozarklandia at the local Ramada Inn. And before these tin cans roared off to the next place on the itinerary, I got a few pics.
I rode my harley in and felt right at home. Most of the owners had tatoos and those who did not may still have them somewhere, but HarleyDad is asking no questions. My Harley Softtail Deluxe was passport enough and I would have been proud to provide a motorcycle escort for these weathered knights of the open road.
A few gals were in attendance, proving that they loved their man even if he had lost his everlovin' mind. Greater love hath no woman than she will attend this crazy get together with her beloved. (I might add that I saw only a couple amidst this collection of unpainted metal and rust buckets. More power to them.
Some of the rods, were painted in bright colors; most were rust buckets surrounding engines worth more than the weathered bodies about them. And when you cranked them they roared, music to the ears of HarleyDad ("Loud pipes, save lives, you know!!)
Hope you enjoy.
Political incorrectly yours,
HarleyDad
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Rubbin' it in.
Well, I got a letter from Super Dave. A copy of the letter is reproduced below:
Dear Harley Dad,
Thanks for the kind words in your blog. Would love to see a photo of Warrior’s red dragon. Isn’t it interesting how things evolved to look like we had some kind of competition going (did you say your new Harley has 1450 cc’s, the Valk is 1520 cc’s, but I’m not comparing … except it appears that mine is still bigger.) Be sure to watch for the second ½ of the blue dragon, coming soon. (Yes, what you see in the photo is only ½ of the total dragon.) Seriously, looking at the big picture we call Life, if you know Christ, you’ve already won the biggest race of all, and I thank God everyone in our family is already a winner!
Your loving brother with a bigger bike and now a tattoo to go with the bigger bike,
Super Dave (TexBro)
I am just glad he did not really rub it in.
Super Dave, we do not have a picture of Warrior's Tatoo. We would like to have taken a picture but as you know Warrior is in INTEL and if we did "he would have to kill us." However, Warrior has invited you to take a personal look. If you write him, he will tell you where he is in Afghanistan and will be happy to show you there because he can not leave his work at this point in time.
A copy of your picture and tatoo was also sent to the Emerald Prince. His comrades at the Emerald Palace said that you look like one tough dude. I must say that is pretty impressive given that many of them have tatoos, including some on their faces. Uh, oh!
I have decide to post the picture of Super Dave and his tatoo.
We will keep as our little secret that you teach kids in Sunday School who I bet are almost as impressed as the U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and the Ozarlandia Guests at the Emerald Palace.
HarleyDad
Dear Harley Dad,
Thanks for the kind words in your blog. Would love to see a photo of Warrior’s red dragon. Isn’t it interesting how things evolved to look like we had some kind of competition going (did you say your new Harley has 1450 cc’s, the Valk is 1520 cc’s, but I’m not comparing … except it appears that mine is still bigger.) Be sure to watch for the second ½ of the blue dragon, coming soon. (Yes, what you see in the photo is only ½ of the total dragon.) Seriously, looking at the big picture we call Life, if you know Christ, you’ve already won the biggest race of all, and I thank God everyone in our family is already a winner!
Your loving brother with a bigger bike and now a tattoo to go with the bigger bike,
Super Dave (TexBro)
I am just glad he did not really rub it in.
Super Dave, we do not have a picture of Warrior's Tatoo. We would like to have taken a picture but as you know Warrior is in INTEL and if we did "he would have to kill us." However, Warrior has invited you to take a personal look. If you write him, he will tell you where he is in Afghanistan and will be happy to show you there because he can not leave his work at this point in time.
A copy of your picture and tatoo was also sent to the Emerald Prince. His comrades at the Emerald Palace said that you look like one tough dude. I must say that is pretty impressive given that many of them have tatoos, including some on their faces. Uh, oh!
I have decide to post the picture of Super Dave and his tatoo.
We will keep as our little secret that you teach kids in Sunday School who I bet are almost as impressed as the U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and the Ozarlandia Guests at the Emerald Palace.
HarleyDad
Thursday, August 17, 2006
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TexBro strikes back
In the beginning HarleyDad purchased a Harley Sportster 1200.
TexBro upped the ante by purchasing a Honda Valkyrie that had so much engine you could not believe it, dwarfing the modest Sportster and leaving HarleyDad in the dust along with a case of motorcycle envy.
HarleyDad responded that he was not to be outdone and purchased a Harley Softtail Deluxe with 1450cc that would hold its own when he and TexBro decided finally to attend the Motorcycle Mecca called Sturgis.
TexBro was stumped for awhile and then trumped HarleyDad once again by playing the mysterious Dragon tatoo card. HarleyDad then gets a message announcing the card plus the statement that the tatoo card when played makes the player more virile to boot.
HarleyDad has had the Dragon Tatoo card played on him once before by his son Sparky a.k.a. "Warrior". Just before Sparky went into the military he had a red dragon tatooed all over his back as a gift from Beautiful Bridgette.
So I think HarleyDad will just respond with a picture of Warrior's Tatoo and hope that will make HarleyDad's defeat in this contest somewhat less ignominious.
You can be certain that HarleyDad will now be proud to accompany TexBro to Sturgis; however I can not be sure that TexBro will even let me go to Sturgis with him.
We will see.
Above I have posted pictures of the new dragon that has joined the family. Now what kind of gift should I get for TexBro after having received TexBro's birth announcement of this new family member??
TexBro upped the ante by purchasing a Honda Valkyrie that had so much engine you could not believe it, dwarfing the modest Sportster and leaving HarleyDad in the dust along with a case of motorcycle envy.
HarleyDad responded that he was not to be outdone and purchased a Harley Softtail Deluxe with 1450cc that would hold its own when he and TexBro decided finally to attend the Motorcycle Mecca called Sturgis.
TexBro was stumped for awhile and then trumped HarleyDad once again by playing the mysterious Dragon tatoo card. HarleyDad then gets a message announcing the card plus the statement that the tatoo card when played makes the player more virile to boot.
HarleyDad has had the Dragon Tatoo card played on him once before by his son Sparky a.k.a. "Warrior". Just before Sparky went into the military he had a red dragon tatooed all over his back as a gift from Beautiful Bridgette.
So I think HarleyDad will just respond with a picture of Warrior's Tatoo and hope that will make HarleyDad's defeat in this contest somewhat less ignominious.
You can be certain that HarleyDad will now be proud to accompany TexBro to Sturgis; however I can not be sure that TexBro will even let me go to Sturgis with him.
We will see.
Above I have posted pictures of the new dragon that has joined the family. Now what kind of gift should I get for TexBro after having received TexBro's birth announcement of this new family member??
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Growth of Islam in the U.S.
Below is a quote from another blog called "Post-Scripts." I cannot vouch for the numbers. But here it is:
The Muslim population in Europe has reportedly increased by 100%, between 1988 and 1998. In 1998 7% of the babies born in the EU were born to Muslim families.
It has been difficult to estimate exactly how many Muslims are now living in North America, however according to a study by the magazine "Islamic Horizons", there are between 8 to 10 million now living here. The number of Islamic schools in America has increased by 400%
Registered Islamic Centers now number in excess of 2500 in the US, tripple the number in 1990. The largest Muslim populations in America are found in California, New York and Illinois. The largest city population is found in Chicago with over 400,000.
For more on this statistical study and the remarkable Islamic growth in the US, readers may wish to contact Prof. Yvonne Haddad, PO Box 7000, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. 92688
You may see this blog by going to:http://www.norcalblogs.com/post_scripts/archives/2006/02/yet_more_muslim.html
Interesting information.
INTERESTING FACTS: In 2000 the Muslim population (the fastest growing religion in the world) was estimated at 20% of the worlds(sic) total population or 1.25 billion.
The Muslim population in Europe has reportedly increased by 100%, between 1988 and 1998. In 1998 7% of the babies born in the EU were born to Muslim families.
It has been difficult to estimate exactly how many Muslims are now living in North America, however according to a study by the magazine "Islamic Horizons", there are between 8 to 10 million now living here. The number of Islamic schools in America has increased by 400%
since 1990.
Registered Islamic Centers now number in excess of 2500 in the US, tripple the number in 1990. The largest Muslim populations in America are found in California, New York and Illinois. The largest city population is found in Chicago with over 400,000.
For more on this statistical study and the remarkable Islamic growth in the US, readers may wish to contact Prof. Yvonne Haddad, PO Box 7000, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. 92688
You may see this blog by going to:http://www.norcalblogs.com/post_scripts/archives/2006/02/yet_more_muslim.html
Interesting information.
Grace
And so what is grace?
It has been defined as "unmerited favor." Some of us however are visual people and it difficult to understand words . So here is my visual definition.
Grace is a picture of a new mother cradling her new born boy and kissing her child on the head in love.
The new born child has taken no actions to have earned the love of his mother. He simply soaks up the love and attention that so freely is given. He is the object of his mother's affection. That is one picture of grace.
Christian grace goes one additional step.
If that mother were willing to give up her son and see that loved son willingly suffer and die so that another person might live, that would propel grace to a new level. Super grace.
And so as a Christian, that act is described by the first part of the best known Scripture, John 3:16. It says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son...." And that particular verse describes the "super grace" that we have the benefit to receive. It is not a gift earned but a gift freely given, much as a mother kisses her new born son.
HarleyDad
It has been defined as "unmerited favor." Some of us however are visual people and it difficult to understand words . So here is my visual definition.
Grace is a picture of a new mother cradling her new born boy and kissing her child on the head in love.
The new born child has taken no actions to have earned the love of his mother. He simply soaks up the love and attention that so freely is given. He is the object of his mother's affection. That is one picture of grace.
Christian grace goes one additional step.
If that mother were willing to give up her son and see that loved son willingly suffer and die so that another person might live, that would propel grace to a new level. Super grace.
And so as a Christian, that act is described by the first part of the best known Scripture, John 3:16. It says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son...." And that particular verse describes the "super grace" that we have the benefit to receive. It is not a gift earned but a gift freely given, much as a mother kisses her new born son.
HarleyDad
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Islamic Fascists
Islamic Fascists
Shortly after the announcements were made about a group of terrorists plotting to blow up a number of airplanes and shutting down traffic out of Heathrow airport, President Bush stated the U.S. is “at war with Islamic Fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation.”
Immediately U.S. Muslims reacted to the choice of the President’s words linking Islam to fascism.
One Yahoo article on this can be found at http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060810/dcth069.html?.v=37
Nihahad Awad, the Executive Director of The Council on American-Islamic Relations (“Cair”) said : “We once again urge law enforcement authorities and elected officials to caution against stereotyping entire religious or ethnic groups based on the alleged actions of individuals.”
The U.S.A. has become prisoner of “right speak.” Although President Bush is a big boy and can defend himself, Harley Dad agrees with him.
It is ironic that we are more concerned about “right speak” than we are about terrorists blowing up our citizens, both Christian and Islamic, out of the air.
The issue is not what the President said. The issue is whether he was correct in his terminology.
First was he correct in calling them “Islamic”. Let’s look at the suicide notes, were references made to Islam or Allah? Perhaps one or more of them was a secret Baptist or Methodist. I think not. Were these actions done to support Islamic fundamentalism. I think so.
Next were they fascists?
Wikipedia defines fascism in the following manner: “Fascism is a radical totalitarian political philosophy that combines elements of corporatism, authoritarianism, extreme nationalism, militarism, anti-anarchism, anti-communism and anti-liberalism.”
The Islamic states do seem to be totalitarian purporting that Quran is to be the rule of law. They are certainly anti-anarchistic, anti-communist and anti-liberalism. They do not allow freedom of religion unless such religions admit to be subservient to Islam. Women are second class citizens.
But even if we are unable to agree that these individuals were fascists, there is little question that they tried to murder a number of innocent people. So would the term “Islamic murderers” been more palatable to the critics. Unfortunately the answer is “No.”
The issue is that Islamic extremists are giving all of Islam a bad name. But then there seems to be limited attempts of Muslims to police themselves and extreme speech by Islamic clerics can be found both in the U.S. and Great Britain, despite laws against “hate” crimes or inciting hate crimes. These laws for some reason appear not to be enforced.
“Right speak” is easy to say when things are not going your way. And so when Islamic fundamentalists try to blow up ten planes of civilians we hear primarily cries that we (non-Islamics) should not stereotype.
However, some of the cries not to stereotype may in fact be justified. Our soldiers in Iran and Afghanistan fight along side Muslims as well as against them. The U.S. conducts joint operations with the Afghan Army and rest assured the Afghan Army is not made up of Baptists or even athiests.
In part, the plot to blow up the aircraft was exposed through the assistance of agents of Pakistan. Rest assured they too are Muslim. So perhaps we need to consider some of the points of the CAIR.
Further, terrorists appear quite happy to kill both Sunni Muslims and Shiite Muslims and appear to be endeavoring to incite civil war between the two groups. To the Islamic fundamentalists, any one not of their particular brand of Islam is an “infidel” deserving of death.
The first part of the Cair statement on the airline terror plot reads as follows:
“American Muslims have consistently condemned all acts of terrorism, whether carried out by individuals, groups or states. We repudiate anyone or any group that plans or carries out a terrorist act. We welcome ealy actions by law enforcement authorities against crebible threats to the safety of the traveling public.”
I invite you to investigate the webpage of the Council on American-Islamic Relations by going to http://www.cair-net.org/
In addition the U.S. Muslim Religious Council of North America has even issued a fatwa (religious pronouncement against terror). I quote the first two paragraphs:
The Fiqh Council of North America wishes to reaffirm Islam’s absolute condemnation of terrorism and religious extremism.
Islam strictly condemns religious extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives. There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism. Targeting civilians’ life and property through suicide bombings or any other method of attach is Haram-or forbidden-and those who commit these barbaric acts are criminals, not “martrys.”
These words are strong and clear.
You can read the entire fatwa by following the link in the CAIR website or by going to http://www.cair-net.org/FatwaJuly2005.pdf
On the other hand, I wonder if we would have the same type of fatwa if the majority of the U.S. was Islamic. Who knows? But I doubt it.
I do know this—the vast majority of the people of the Islamic faith would just as soon not be lumped into the group of the extremists trying to blow up airplanes of innocent people.
At the same time, I do not hear them speaking very loud for changes in Islamic lands where women and Christians are oppressed. And the silence is deafening.
Religious freedom apparently is a virtue to Muslims when they are in a minority and an evil when they are in a majority.
Now that is convenient.
Shortly after the announcements were made about a group of terrorists plotting to blow up a number of airplanes and shutting down traffic out of Heathrow airport, President Bush stated the U.S. is “at war with Islamic Fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation.”
Immediately U.S. Muslims reacted to the choice of the President’s words linking Islam to fascism.
One Yahoo article on this can be found at http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060810/dcth069.html?.v=37
Nihahad Awad, the Executive Director of The Council on American-Islamic Relations (“Cair”) said : “We once again urge law enforcement authorities and elected officials to caution against stereotyping entire religious or ethnic groups based on the alleged actions of individuals.”
The U.S.A. has become prisoner of “right speak.” Although President Bush is a big boy and can defend himself, Harley Dad agrees with him.
It is ironic that we are more concerned about “right speak” than we are about terrorists blowing up our citizens, both Christian and Islamic, out of the air.
The issue is not what the President said. The issue is whether he was correct in his terminology.
First was he correct in calling them “Islamic”. Let’s look at the suicide notes, were references made to Islam or Allah? Perhaps one or more of them was a secret Baptist or Methodist. I think not. Were these actions done to support Islamic fundamentalism. I think so.
Next were they fascists?
Wikipedia defines fascism in the following manner: “Fascism is a radical totalitarian political philosophy that combines elements of corporatism, authoritarianism, extreme nationalism, militarism, anti-anarchism, anti-communism and anti-liberalism.”
The Islamic states do seem to be totalitarian purporting that Quran is to be the rule of law. They are certainly anti-anarchistic, anti-communist and anti-liberalism. They do not allow freedom of religion unless such religions admit to be subservient to Islam. Women are second class citizens.
But even if we are unable to agree that these individuals were fascists, there is little question that they tried to murder a number of innocent people. So would the term “Islamic murderers” been more palatable to the critics. Unfortunately the answer is “No.”
The issue is that Islamic extremists are giving all of Islam a bad name. But then there seems to be limited attempts of Muslims to police themselves and extreme speech by Islamic clerics can be found both in the U.S. and Great Britain, despite laws against “hate” crimes or inciting hate crimes. These laws for some reason appear not to be enforced.
“Right speak” is easy to say when things are not going your way. And so when Islamic fundamentalists try to blow up ten planes of civilians we hear primarily cries that we (non-Islamics) should not stereotype.
However, some of the cries not to stereotype may in fact be justified. Our soldiers in Iran and Afghanistan fight along side Muslims as well as against them. The U.S. conducts joint operations with the Afghan Army and rest assured the Afghan Army is not made up of Baptists or even athiests.
In part, the plot to blow up the aircraft was exposed through the assistance of agents of Pakistan. Rest assured they too are Muslim. So perhaps we need to consider some of the points of the CAIR.
Further, terrorists appear quite happy to kill both Sunni Muslims and Shiite Muslims and appear to be endeavoring to incite civil war between the two groups. To the Islamic fundamentalists, any one not of their particular brand of Islam is an “infidel” deserving of death.
The first part of the Cair statement on the airline terror plot reads as follows:
“American Muslims have consistently condemned all acts of terrorism, whether carried out by individuals, groups or states. We repudiate anyone or any group that plans or carries out a terrorist act. We welcome ealy actions by law enforcement authorities against crebible threats to the safety of the traveling public.”
I invite you to investigate the webpage of the Council on American-Islamic Relations by going to http://www.cair-net.org/
In addition the U.S. Muslim Religious Council of North America has even issued a fatwa (religious pronouncement against terror). I quote the first two paragraphs:
The Fiqh Council of North America wishes to reaffirm Islam’s absolute condemnation of terrorism and religious extremism.
Islam strictly condemns religious extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives. There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism. Targeting civilians’ life and property through suicide bombings or any other method of attach is Haram-or forbidden-and those who commit these barbaric acts are criminals, not “martrys.”
These words are strong and clear.
You can read the entire fatwa by following the link in the CAIR website or by going to http://www.cair-net.org/FatwaJuly2005.pdf
On the other hand, I wonder if we would have the same type of fatwa if the majority of the U.S. was Islamic. Who knows? But I doubt it.
I do know this—the vast majority of the people of the Islamic faith would just as soon not be lumped into the group of the extremists trying to blow up airplanes of innocent people.
At the same time, I do not hear them speaking very loud for changes in Islamic lands where women and Christians are oppressed. And the silence is deafening.
Religious freedom apparently is a virtue to Muslims when they are in a minority and an evil when they are in a majority.
Now that is convenient.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Christ-Killers
CHRIST-KILLERS
This is an epithet used to place blame on the Jewish people for the killing of Jesus Christ. It is considered to be an anti-semitic slur.
The Catholic church reputed this slur in 1965 in the papal pronouncement entitled Nostre Aetate.
See the following link for the text of this pronouncement:http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html
That pronouncement should be reread as Christians consider the continuing current events relating to Jews, Islam and Christians. It is set forth below:
DECLARATION ON THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS NOSTRA AETATE PROCLAIMED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI ON OCTOBER 28, 1965
1. In our time, when day by day mankind is being drawn closer together, and the ties between different peoples are becoming stronger, the Church examines more closely he relationship to non- Christian religions. In her task of promoting unity and love among men, indeed among nations, she considers above all in this declaration what men have in common and what draws them to fellowship.
One is the community of all peoples, one their origin, for God made the whole human race to live over the face of the earth.(1) One also is their final goal, God. His providence, His manifestations of goodness, His saving design extend to all men,(2) until that time when the elect will be united in the Holy City, the city ablaze with the glory of God, where the nations will walk in His light.(3)
Men expect from the various religions answers to the unsolved riddles of the human condition, which today, even as in former times, deeply stir the hearts of men: What is man? What is the meaning, the aim of our life? What is moral good, what sin? Whence suffering and what purpose does it serve? Which is the road to true happiness? What are death, judgment and retribution after death? What, finally, is that ultimate inexpressible mystery which encompasses our existence: whence do we come, and where are we going?
2. From ancient times down to the present, there is found among various peoples a certain perception of that hidden power which hovers over the course of things and over the events of human history; at times some indeed have come to the recognition of a Supreme Being, or even of a Father. This perception and recognition penetrates their lives with a profound religious sense.
Religions, however, that are bound up with an advanced culture have struggled to answer the same questions by means of more refined concepts and a more developed language. Thus in Hinduism, men contemplate the divine mystery and express it through an inexhaustible abundance of myths and through searching philosophical inquiry. They seek freedom from the anguish of our human condition either through ascetical practices or profound meditation or a flight to God with love and trust. Again, Buddhism, in its various forms, realizes the radical insufficiency of this changeable world; it teaches a way by which men, in a devout and confident spirit, may be able either to acquire the state of perfect liberation, or attain, by their own efforts or through higher help, supreme illumination. Likewise, other religions found everywhere try to counter the restlessness of the human heart, each in its own manner, by proposing "ways," comprising teachings, rules of life, and sacred rites. The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men. Indeed, she proclaims, and ever must proclaim Christ "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), in whom men may find the fullness of religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself.(4)
The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men.
3. The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth,(5) who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.
Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom.
4. As the sacred synod searches into the mystery of the Church, it remembers the bond that spiritually ties the people of the New Covenant to Abraham's stock.
Thus the Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to God's saving design, the beginnings of her faith and her election are found already among the Patriarchs, Moses and the prophets. She professes that all who believe in Christ-Abraham's sons according to faith (6)-are included in the same Patriarch's call, and likewise that the salvation of the Church is mysteriously foreshadowed by the chosen people's exodus from the land of bondage. The Church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles.(7) Indeed, the Church believes that by His cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles. making both one in Himself.(8)
The Church keeps ever in mind the words of the Apostle about his kinsmen: "theirs is the sonship and the glory and the covenants and the law and the worship and the promises; theirs are the fathers and from them is the Christ according to the flesh" (Rom. 9:4-5), the Son of the Virgin Mary. She also recalls that the Apostles, the Church's main-stay and pillars, as well as most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ's Gospel to the world, sprang from the Jewish people.
As Holy Scripture testifies, Jerusalem did not recognize the time of her visitation,(9) nor did the Jews in large number, accept the Gospel; indeed not a few opposed its spreading.(10) Nevertheless, God holds the Jews most dear for the sake of their Fathers; He does not repent of the gifts He makes or of the calls He issues-such is the witness of the Apostle.(11) In company with the Prophets and the same Apostle, the Church awaits that day, known to God alone, on which all peoples will address the Lord in a single voice and "serve him shoulder to shoulder" (Soph. 3:9).(12)
Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies as well as of fraternal dialogues.
True, the Jewish authorities and those who followed their lead pressed for the death of Christ;(13) still, what happened in His passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today. Although the Church is the new people of God, the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God, as if this followed from the Holy Scriptures. All should see to it, then, that in catechetical work or in the preaching of the word of God they do not teach anything that does not conform to the truth of the Gospel and the spirit of Christ.
Furthermore, in her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel's spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.
Besides, as the Church has always held and holds now, Christ underwent His passion and death freely, because of the sins of men and out of infinite love, in order that all may reach salvation. It is, therefore, the burden of the Church's preaching to proclaim the cross of Christ as the sign of God's all-embracing love and as the fountain from which every grace flows.
5. We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God. Man's relation to God the Father and his relation to men his brothers are so linked together that Scripture says: "He who does not love does not know God" (1 John 4:8).
No foundation therefore remains for any theory or practice that leads to discrimination between man and man or people and people, so far as their human dignity and the rights flowing from it are concerned.
The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimination against men or harassment of them because of their race, color, condition of life, or religion. On the contrary, following in the footsteps of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, this sacred synod ardently implores the Christian faithful to "maintain good fellowship among the nations" (1 Peter 2:12), and, if possible, to live for their part in peace with all men,(14) so that they may truly be sons of the Father who is in heaven.(15)
I have omitted the footnotes to Nostre Aetate; but they can be found by following the link.
In essence, the term “Christ-Killers” applies to every man and woman.
John 1:5 says :”The Light shines in the darkness and darkness did not comprehend it.”
John 1:11 states : “He came to his own , and those who are his own did not receive him.”
John 3:19 picks up the refrain by stating: “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light for their deeds were evil.”
John could have written that the “Jews” loved the darkness; but he did not. He saw the condition as being a universal condition and wrote that “men” loved the darkness.
Romans 3:23 says …”for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
In short, mankind in his natural state begins as a Christ-Killer, a rejecter of the Light. But the Light shines nonetheless and we left with a choice to accept the Light or reject the Light.
Jesus said : I am the way, the truth, and the life and no man comes to Father except through me.
The story is told that Peter was fleeing from Rome and met Christ on the Apian Way going to Rome. Peter asked Christ where he was going (Quo Vadis). Christ responded he was going to Rome to be crucified again. Peter turned around and returned to Rome where he was later crucified himself.
Peter had denied Christ three times. He knew about the weakness of man. Today we live in a society where we proclaim ourselves as Christian but by our lives and our choices we deny Christ many more times than just three.
When we choose the self-life, the flesh, we crucify Christ again.
In short, we who unregenerate in our souls or in our actions take a role in a regular crucifixion of Christ.
The church is called the bride of Christ. As we have been unfaithful to Christ and have chased after the things of this world, we find that we have pierced Christ again and again by our actions and our lives.
Who are we to consider others as Christ-Killers? Wouldn’t we do better to remove the splinter from our eyes first. Shouldn’t heart-felt repentance begin with his bride, the Church.
Once we have repented we can then depend on God’s judgment, mercy and love to deal with others .
This is an epithet used to place blame on the Jewish people for the killing of Jesus Christ. It is considered to be an anti-semitic slur.
The Catholic church reputed this slur in 1965 in the papal pronouncement entitled Nostre Aetate.
See the following link for the text of this pronouncement:http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html
That pronouncement should be reread as Christians consider the continuing current events relating to Jews, Islam and Christians. It is set forth below:
DECLARATION ON THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS NOSTRA AETATE PROCLAIMED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI ON OCTOBER 28, 1965
1. In our time, when day by day mankind is being drawn closer together, and the ties between different peoples are becoming stronger, the Church examines more closely he relationship to non- Christian religions. In her task of promoting unity and love among men, indeed among nations, she considers above all in this declaration what men have in common and what draws them to fellowship.
One is the community of all peoples, one their origin, for God made the whole human race to live over the face of the earth.(1) One also is their final goal, God. His providence, His manifestations of goodness, His saving design extend to all men,(2) until that time when the elect will be united in the Holy City, the city ablaze with the glory of God, where the nations will walk in His light.(3)
Men expect from the various religions answers to the unsolved riddles of the human condition, which today, even as in former times, deeply stir the hearts of men: What is man? What is the meaning, the aim of our life? What is moral good, what sin? Whence suffering and what purpose does it serve? Which is the road to true happiness? What are death, judgment and retribution after death? What, finally, is that ultimate inexpressible mystery which encompasses our existence: whence do we come, and where are we going?
2. From ancient times down to the present, there is found among various peoples a certain perception of that hidden power which hovers over the course of things and over the events of human history; at times some indeed have come to the recognition of a Supreme Being, or even of a Father. This perception and recognition penetrates their lives with a profound religious sense.
Religions, however, that are bound up with an advanced culture have struggled to answer the same questions by means of more refined concepts and a more developed language. Thus in Hinduism, men contemplate the divine mystery and express it through an inexhaustible abundance of myths and through searching philosophical inquiry. They seek freedom from the anguish of our human condition either through ascetical practices or profound meditation or a flight to God with love and trust. Again, Buddhism, in its various forms, realizes the radical insufficiency of this changeable world; it teaches a way by which men, in a devout and confident spirit, may be able either to acquire the state of perfect liberation, or attain, by their own efforts or through higher help, supreme illumination. Likewise, other religions found everywhere try to counter the restlessness of the human heart, each in its own manner, by proposing "ways," comprising teachings, rules of life, and sacred rites. The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men. Indeed, she proclaims, and ever must proclaim Christ "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), in whom men may find the fullness of religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself.(4)
The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men.
3. The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and subsisting in Himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth,(5) who has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even His inscrutable decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself, submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgment when God will render their deserts to all those who have been raised up from the dead. Finally, they value the moral life and worship God especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.
Since in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Moslems, this sacred synod urges all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding and to preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom.
4. As the sacred synod searches into the mystery of the Church, it remembers the bond that spiritually ties the people of the New Covenant to Abraham's stock.
Thus the Church of Christ acknowledges that, according to God's saving design, the beginnings of her faith and her election are found already among the Patriarchs, Moses and the prophets. She professes that all who believe in Christ-Abraham's sons according to faith (6)-are included in the same Patriarch's call, and likewise that the salvation of the Church is mysteriously foreshadowed by the chosen people's exodus from the land of bondage. The Church, therefore, cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles.(7) Indeed, the Church believes that by His cross Christ, Our Peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles. making both one in Himself.(8)
The Church keeps ever in mind the words of the Apostle about his kinsmen: "theirs is the sonship and the glory and the covenants and the law and the worship and the promises; theirs are the fathers and from them is the Christ according to the flesh" (Rom. 9:4-5), the Son of the Virgin Mary. She also recalls that the Apostles, the Church's main-stay and pillars, as well as most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ's Gospel to the world, sprang from the Jewish people.
As Holy Scripture testifies, Jerusalem did not recognize the time of her visitation,(9) nor did the Jews in large number, accept the Gospel; indeed not a few opposed its spreading.(10) Nevertheless, God holds the Jews most dear for the sake of their Fathers; He does not repent of the gifts He makes or of the calls He issues-such is the witness of the Apostle.(11) In company with the Prophets and the same Apostle, the Church awaits that day, known to God alone, on which all peoples will address the Lord in a single voice and "serve him shoulder to shoulder" (Soph. 3:9).(12)
Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies as well as of fraternal dialogues.
True, the Jewish authorities and those who followed their lead pressed for the death of Christ;(13) still, what happened in His passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today. Although the Church is the new people of God, the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God, as if this followed from the Holy Scriptures. All should see to it, then, that in catechetical work or in the preaching of the word of God they do not teach anything that does not conform to the truth of the Gospel and the spirit of Christ.
Furthermore, in her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel's spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.
Besides, as the Church has always held and holds now, Christ underwent His passion and death freely, because of the sins of men and out of infinite love, in order that all may reach salvation. It is, therefore, the burden of the Church's preaching to proclaim the cross of Christ as the sign of God's all-embracing love and as the fountain from which every grace flows.
5. We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God. Man's relation to God the Father and his relation to men his brothers are so linked together that Scripture says: "He who does not love does not know God" (1 John 4:8).
No foundation therefore remains for any theory or practice that leads to discrimination between man and man or people and people, so far as their human dignity and the rights flowing from it are concerned.
The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimination against men or harassment of them because of their race, color, condition of life, or religion. On the contrary, following in the footsteps of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, this sacred synod ardently implores the Christian faithful to "maintain good fellowship among the nations" (1 Peter 2:12), and, if possible, to live for their part in peace with all men,(14) so that they may truly be sons of the Father who is in heaven.(15)
I have omitted the footnotes to Nostre Aetate; but they can be found by following the link.
In essence, the term “Christ-Killers” applies to every man and woman.
John 1:5 says :”The Light shines in the darkness and darkness did not comprehend it.”
John 1:11 states : “He came to his own , and those who are his own did not receive him.”
John 3:19 picks up the refrain by stating: “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light for their deeds were evil.”
John could have written that the “Jews” loved the darkness; but he did not. He saw the condition as being a universal condition and wrote that “men” loved the darkness.
Romans 3:23 says …”for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
In short, mankind in his natural state begins as a Christ-Killer, a rejecter of the Light. But the Light shines nonetheless and we left with a choice to accept the Light or reject the Light.
Jesus said : I am the way, the truth, and the life and no man comes to Father except through me.
The story is told that Peter was fleeing from Rome and met Christ on the Apian Way going to Rome. Peter asked Christ where he was going (Quo Vadis). Christ responded he was going to Rome to be crucified again. Peter turned around and returned to Rome where he was later crucified himself.
Peter had denied Christ three times. He knew about the weakness of man. Today we live in a society where we proclaim ourselves as Christian but by our lives and our choices we deny Christ many more times than just three.
When we choose the self-life, the flesh, we crucify Christ again.
In short, we who unregenerate in our souls or in our actions take a role in a regular crucifixion of Christ.
The church is called the bride of Christ. As we have been unfaithful to Christ and have chased after the things of this world, we find that we have pierced Christ again and again by our actions and our lives.
Who are we to consider others as Christ-Killers? Wouldn’t we do better to remove the splinter from our eyes first. Shouldn’t heart-felt repentance begin with his bride, the Church.
Once we have repented we can then depend on God’s judgment, mercy and love to deal with others .
HarleyDad
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Ride to the Golden Gate
This weekend was the time to ride. Rode to Branson. Yesterday, I came home the long day. As my father used to say, "I guess we took a long cut."
I left Branson about noon and proceeded to Eureka Springs. I ate at Bubba's Bar B-Que. I only shot the mailbox. At Bubba's they had a wine list. I figured that when I opened it up it would read as follows:
Beer
Beer
Beer
Beer
Beer
I was wrong.
After Bubba's, I headed to Road Hawg's Leather Shop. Then I went to Beaver Lake Dam. Later I headed on 187 to the town of Beaver and rode over a one lane suspension bridge.
The road was called "Golden Gate." It looks like some one had a sense of humor.
Later I hit Highway 37 and came into Joplin. I had been on the road for 5 1/2 hours in 100 degree heat and I looked like it.
HarleyDad
I left Branson about noon and proceeded to Eureka Springs. I ate at Bubba's Bar B-Que. I only shot the mailbox. At Bubba's they had a wine list. I figured that when I opened it up it would read as follows:
Beer
Beer
Beer
Beer
Beer
I was wrong.
After Bubba's, I headed to Road Hawg's Leather Shop. Then I went to Beaver Lake Dam. Later I headed on 187 to the town of Beaver and rode over a one lane suspension bridge.
The road was called "Golden Gate." It looks like some one had a sense of humor.
Later I hit Highway 37 and came into Joplin. I had been on the road for 5 1/2 hours in 100 degree heat and I looked like it.
HarleyDad
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