From yesterday's Gospel reading:

"But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" (Mark 10:38)

I was tagged by my friend Mardi, and I tag whoever wishes to do this, stating what you like most about the seasons :-)
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In Spring: Easter, beautiful weather, spring training/start of baseball season

In Summer: good weather still (even if warmer than spring), All-Star game (well, ever since 1997, perhaps that's not a highlight anymore. lol.), my birthday.

In Fall: falling leaves, holidays (like Thanksgiving), World Series, most of Advent (since Winter doesn't technically start until a few days before Christmas)

In Winter: Christmas, and.....er....well....(I'm thinking! I'm thinking! lol.) New Years and Lent? Otherwise, I'm just waiting for spring. :-)

Rules of the tag

1. Tag at least three people after your post.

2. Post back to the blog that tagged you.

3. Post the rules of the tag and please don’t post the things you least like about the seasons, but what you like best

From my Bible reading today:

"Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

I'm disappointed that no one has made me any icons.:-( Please, I'm begging you! lol. (I don't know how to make icons....)

Finally, what I posted in christianreader (which you should join).
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Wow. I read more books in May that I had read in the first four months of the year combined. lol. In any case, I enjoyed all the books I read. :-)

( Books read in May )

Books read in May: 12
Books read in 2009: 23

"O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." (Psalm 107:1)

Some very good news concerning the situation with my dad. Apparently, he will *not* have to worry about Algebra after all! (Though I'm sure he wished they would have let him know this before he spent all weekend worrying about it.)

So thank-you so much for your prayers! I am very, very grateful! :-)
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In other news, I found out today my grades for my first semester.

Intro to Computers A
Writing 101 A
History of the US Through 1865 A
General Psychology A

"Let all your things be done with charity." (1 Corinthians 16:14)

(Stolen from michaelmichael)

Well, last week was my last week of classes, thank-goodness. (Yes, I know. I had *nothing* compared to most people. Still. lol.) I still have one research paper that I have to turn into my English teacher sometime tomorrow. I also had some questions on it in a few details that I might still need to fix (I sent her an email, but I forgot she was supposed to be gone somewhere yesterday, and perhaps today as well; I don't remember. So in the meantime, I just guessed what I was supposed to do, just in case I don't get a reply in time. In any case, prayers would be appreciated! Thanks!). Anyway, once I turn that in tomorrow, I should be done with school till July 1, so that's good. So that means I can get back on LiveJournal! (I had made some posts and comments on LJ during this time, plus spent some more time on Facebook, but....it will be nice to be back on LJ more regularly! And even when I do go back to school in July, it shouldn't keep me off LJ as much as it did this time.)

The last couple of days, I also got around to counting my books, and discovered that I have a lot of them. lol. At this moment, I have 1,238 books. That also includes 125 Bibles and 42 New Testaments. :-) (Just to give you an idea, the Bibles alone, not including the New Testament, are by themselves about two and a half times as many as all of my books by and about GKC combined.)

Speaking of which, yesterday at the thrift shop I bought six books, including a book by Agatha Christie At Bertram's Hotel, which cost me fifty cents. I have never read anything by her, but I had to buy that novel because in it she mentions GKC. lol.

"Now don't you worry Mrs. McCrae," he said in his genial fashion, as he sat down to the meal she had prepared for his arrival. We'll hunt the absent-minded fellow down. Ever heard that story about Chesterton? G.K. Chesterton, you know, the writer. Wired to his wife when he'd gone on a lecture tour 'Am at Crew Station. Where ought I to be?'

He laughed. Mrs. McCrae smiled dutifully. She did not think it was very funny because it was so exactly the sort of thing that Canon Pennyfather might have done.

OK, I guess I'll write some more later. Hope everything is doing well. (And if there is anything important that I missed during my absence, please let me know! Thanks!)

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13)

Well, I don't know much about music, but just in case anyone is interested, apparently Chesterton made a "guest appearance" in the music video of "Satellite" by Rickie Lee Jones. :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cueOJXcsnHU

(Found through the Chesterteens)
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From The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Whenever they are attending to the Enemy Himself we are defeated, but there are ways of preventing them from doing so. The simplest is to turn their gaze away from Him towards themselves. Keep them watching their own minds and trying to produce feelings there by the action of their own wills. When they meant to ask Him for charity, let them, instead, start trying to manufacture charitable feelings for themselves and not notice that this is what they are doing. When they meant to pray for courage, let them really be trying to feel brave. When they say they are praying for forgiveness, let them be trying to feel forgiven. Teach them to estimate the value of each prayer by their success in producing the desired feeling; and never led them suspect how much success or failure of that kind depends on whether they are well or ill, fresh or tired, at the moment.

(Letter IV; emphasis mine)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

John 1:1,14 (King James Version)

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:1-11 (King James Version)

Let me just state that I love the Jerusalem Bible.

I use many different Bible translations, but this one is one of my three favorites (the others being the Douay and RSV-CE, though I also love the KJV as well). One thing I like about the particular edition of the Jerusalem Bible I have (I don't know if its in all of them) is that it has the text in a single column, rather than the usual double column found in most Bibles. That is very convenient.

Admittedly, I'm not too big on it's use of Yahweh in place of LORD, (I prefer the traditional practice) but overall, it's a great translation.

Anyway, since I have some new friends lately, I'll ask a question I have asked in the past: what particular Bible translations are your favorites?

"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficent for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

I absolutely love the King James Version of the Bible. Granted, my favorite version is the Douay-Rheims version, but...those two versions, the KJV and Douay, when it comes to beauty....wow. They have no equal. (I also use modern versions such as the RSV-CE, Jerusalem Bible, and so forth, especially when it comes to Bible study, but as for devotional reading, I prefer the KJV and Douay).

Anyway, I found a couple more references to G.K. Chesterton last night, one nonreligious and one religious:

First, from F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise:

He read voluminously all spring, the beginning of his eighteenth year: "The Gentleman from Indiana," "The New Arabian Nights," "The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne," "The Man Who Was Thursday," which he liked without understanding;

I think that description applies to a lot of people who read The Man Who Was Thursday. lol.

Second, from Pope Benedict XVI's In the Beginning A Catholic Understanding of the Story of Creation and the Fall:

G.K. Chesterton was often blessed with the gift of a striking turn of phrase. He certainly hit upon a decisive aspect of the work of St. Thomas Aquinas when he observed that, if the great doctor were to be given a name in the style of the Carmelite Order ("...ofthe Child Jesus," "of the Mother of God," etc.), he would have to be called Thomas a Creatore, "Thomas of the Creator." Creator and creation are the core of his theological thought.

"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:20)

I had been planning on using Thanksgiving vacation to get caught up on some comments I was wanting to respond to that required long replies. But, being as lazy as I have been the last few days, and seeing it likely that that pattern is going to continue, let me apologize, and state that I don't know when I will get around to responding to those comments. Preferably it will be before the Second Coming, but...

(At the same time, it is possible I will respond to new posts/comments that require long replies. I realize that makes no sense, but what can I say?)

In other news, after years of procrastination (procrastination being a nasty habit I picked up from axver), I finally became a member of the American Chesterton Society a little over a week ago.
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You tell me that you cannot pray well. But what better prayer could there be than to represent to God again and again, as you are doing, your nothingness and misery? The most touching appeal that beggers can make is to merely expose to us their deformities and necessities. But there are times when you cannot even do this much, you say, and that you remain there like a statue. Well even that is better than nothing. Kings and princes have statues in their palaces for no other purpose than they may take pleasure in looking at them: be satisfied then to fulfill the same office in the presence of God, and when it so pleases Him He will animate the statue".

-St. Francis de Sales.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (1 John 4:4)

From this website, I found the following (I especially love the last line):
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G. K. Chesterton was certainly one of the most absentminded of authors. Chesteron wrote the Father Brown detective stories, as well as numerous essays, novels, and biographies. He lived in London but spent most of his waking hours in the world of imagination, paying little heed to the bustling city around him. One day he went up to the ticket window of a train station and asked the agent for a cup of coffee. After recollecting himself and straightening out that bit of confusion, he proceeded into the station restaurant and ordered a ticket to Battersea.

Another time he needed a corkscrew and went next door to borrow one. Returning home, he found that he couldn't get back into his house. The key wouldn't work. Then he suddenly realized that with the latchkey in his left hand, he had been trying to unlock the door with the corkscrew.

Chesterton was so absentminded that he used to walk about London thinking over a story or an essay and then come to himself and find that he was lost. He would then go to a pay phone and call his wife to find out where he was.

His wife once heard him in the bathroom taking a bath. She heard him get out of the tub; then after a long pause there was a splash, and she heard him say, "Damn, I've been here before."

"He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones, but lifted up the lowly." (Luke 1:31-32 NAB)

Nice to see both Huckabee and Obama win in Iowa last night.

Also nice to see Huckabee quote Chesterton in his speech. :-)

Yes, I know. I should update my LJ more. Nothing much to say, though.

"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"

-1 John 5:20

The World State

Oh, how I love Humanity,
With love so pure and pringlish,
And how I hate the horrid French,
Who never will be English!

The International Idea,
The largest and the clearest,
Is welding all the nations now,
Except the one that's nearest.

This compromise has long been known,
This scheme of partial pardons,
In ethical societies
And small suburban gardens—

The villas and the chapels where
I learned with little labour
The way to love my fellow-man
And hate my next-door neighbour. (emphasis mine)

-GKC

( Just some quick thoughts on the above quotes; feel free to skip )

"But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and unto the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)

Er, not that this would apply to *me* or anything...

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Slang is too sacred and precious to be used promiscuously. It should be led up to reverently for it expresses what the King's English could not. -GKC

Well, 18 years ago today I accepted Christ as my Lord and Saviour (when I was 6 years old). I'm starting to feel old. :-)

In other news, today is opening day. The Cardinals won 13-5, with Pujols hitting 2 HR and Scott Rolen with a grand slam. So I'm happy. (Speaking of which, during their first batting practice at the new Busch stadium before they headed off to Philadelphia, Pujols hit a ball out of the new stadium. Considering that in the forty-year history of the previous Busch Stadium, only one ball was ever hit out of the stadium, at least in a game, and it was a foul ball....)

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)

Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair -GKC

You know, I have been asking God to help me be more patient lately. I just wish he wouldn't give me so many opportunities to practice this virtue, all at one time...

Anyway, on a recommendation from a friend, I have been reading through the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers. It is a very good series, set in ancient Rome after the destruction of Jerusalem, following the life of a Christian slave girl in the house of a prominent Roman family (well, at least the first two books).

My (very talkative) niece has a birthday coming up next week. I gave her what I thought was a very appropriate early birthday gift, and for some reason, she didn't like it. I mean, I thought getting her a muzzle was exactly what she needed, but apparantly she disagreed....

OK, nothing else to write, so....

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:11-12)

"There again," said Syme irritably, "what is there poetical about being in revolt? You might as well say that it is poetical to be sea-sick. Being sick is a revolt. Both being sick and being rebellious may be the wholesome thing on certain desperate occasions; but I'm hanged if I can see why they are poetical. Revolt in the abstract is- revolting. It's mere vomiting."

GKC, The Man Who Was Thursday (1908)

Another prayer request....my father's boss has been having major problems lately (to say the least)....First, his mother died about two weeks ago (at age 87), and then on Wednesday, his brother had a heart attack. Again, I would appreciate any prayers for all involved. Thanks.

A strict rule is not only necessary for ruling; it is also necessary for rebelling. This fixed and familiar ideal is necessary to any sort of revolution. Man will sometimes act slowly upon new ideas; but he will only act swiftly upon old ideas. If I am merely to float or fade or evolve, it may be towards something anarachic; but if I am to riot, it must be for something respectable....Thus we may say that a permanent ideal is as necessary to the innovator as to the conservative; it is necessary whether we wish the king's orders to be promptly executed or whether we only wish the king to be promptly executed...There must at any given moment be an abstract right and wrong if any blow is to be struck; there must be something eternal if there is to be anything sudden.

-GKC, Orthodoxy (1908)

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die... (John 11:25-26)

Early this morning, the mother of my supervisor at work died. If you could, I would appreciate any prayers for her and her family. Thank-you.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:7)

Just a little over two weeks until Opening Day....

( Christianity and Rationalism )

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

-2 Timothy 3:16

"For the modern world will accept no dogmas upon any authority; but it will accept any dogmas upon no authority. Say that a thing is so, according to the Pope or the Bible, and it will be dismissed as a superstition without examination. But preface your remark merely with 'they say' or 'don't you know that?' or try (and fail) to remember the name of some professor mentioned in some newspaper; and the keen rationalism of the modern mind will accept every word you say."

-G.K. Chesterton, The Superstition of Divorce, 1920