KFC: Our Daily Chicken

It's time for another Catholic joke. I hope you enjoy it:

A salesman from KFC walked up to the Pope and offers him a million dollars if he would change "The Lord's Prayer" from "give us this day our daily bread" to "give us this day our daily chicken." The Pope refused his offer.

Two weeks later, the man offered the pope 10 million dollars to change it from "give us this day our daily bread" to "give us this day our daily chicken" and again the Pope refused the man's generous offer.

Another week later, the man offered the Pope 20 million dollars and finally the Pope
accepted.

The following day, the Pope said to all his officials, "I have some good news and some bad news. 'The good news is, that we have just received a check for 20 million dollars. The bad news is, we lost the Wonder Bread account!'"

Source: Comedy Central

Lisa's Testament of Faith

Sometimes, readers send me stories that got be shared with the other readers. We can all learn from each other. Today, I share with you Lisa's story:

I was born into a Church of England family. My parents had me christened in the church that they married in. I assumed that I was a Christian. My Mum had been a Sunday school teacher, and used to sing “Jesus” songs with me in the bath, but I only remember them making me feel pretty uncomfortable.

As a teenager, I started to explore my identity. I studied RE in school. RE taught all major religions, and it started me thinking very seriously about whether or not there was a god. I was especially impressed by the Sikh religion. I also remember a group of us exploring the occult until a friend warned us that it would cause us to go to hell. We found an encyclopedia picture of hell, it did not look fun and so we stopped.

I took my A levels in science. It was at this point that I decided that there had to be a God on intellectual grounds. Chemistry taught the theory of chaos, in which all things became more disorganized unless an outside force organized them. Also I recognized the logic of the periodic table of elements. No one but a higher being could have done these things. I remember asking my Christian friends how they had found God. I also prayed to him myself, asking him to find me, or at least let me know which religion had the right answers.

After A levels I went straight to University. I wanted to be a missionary doctor; perhaps by being very good I would find God. I started to question evolution, which had been a large part of my biology studies. A close friend became a Christian in college, and he completely changed over night. It was like watching a different person take over. In my eyes he became a better person, and yet I was not convinced that he had all the right answers. He kept telling me that I needed to be born again. He invited me to his baptism and the pastor asked everyone to stand up if they wanted to receive Jesus as savior. I remember shrinking in my seat and wondering what my new university friends would think of me. At the same time I found myself standing up. At this point in time I was aware of a deep hunger to belong to God, and an awareness that I had sinned. I felt a relief after standing up, and a realization that Jesus was God. This was a completely new experience.

Several weeks later I was praising God, and became aware of a strong force upon me. I felt afraid and very ecstatic at the same time. I started to praise God in a strange language that I had never learnt.

However, I soon became unwell. I suffered from very severe anxiety. My Mother blamed my new faith and insisted that I never again go to church. My bible was burned. I felt worse and further away from God than ever before. I continued in my pre-Christian life, having no power to control my sin. I had a complete fear of death and hell.

For ten years I actively shunned the church. My Mother died and I got married and had my first child. It was after my son was born that I decided to return to my search for God. I went (very tentatively) back to church. I got baptized. I worked harder and harder to find peace with God, eventually getting involved with multiple church projects. You see, God had dealt with my sin, but it was not the sin but the sinner that needed to be dealt with. It was not what I did but what I was that was the problem.

I remember looking seriously at the 10 commandments. I had broken many of them over the years, but now I had reformed myself and could seriously manage them all, except “thou must not covet”-I remember feeling really perplexed when I thought about this, it felt impossible, there was something badly wrong. Then and there I decided to give up all my church work. If I could not keep the 10 commandments, then church work was a waste of time. Besides I was tired of it all, it felt like too big a job. I began to pray, I begged God to change me. I wanted to become acceptable to him. I realized that I was a sinner. God showed me just how badly wrong I was, in every area of my life. He also gave me the ability to turn away from my sin. I remember one night he woke me, I was really afraid to be in his presence, because He is a holy God and in comparison I am just a worm (I was reminded of Isaiah having an experience of God, in which he cried out “Woe is me, for I am a sinful man and I live within a nation of sinful men and my eyes have seen the king, the Lord almighty”). I thought that I would die as his holiness was totally overpowering, and my only plea was that Jesus is my savior.

The next morning it was like a complete miracle. I was really free. I have never since felt that overwhelming fear of death. I now know the peace that passes all understanding. I can truly sing “my chains fell off, my heart was freed, I rose went forth and followed thee,” I actually join with Newton singing “ amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” I know that in this life I will never be perfect, but the power of the cross can overcome. In him there is a power to change that is quite beyond description. He has taken me beyond a set of rules and adopted me into his family. Suddenly the New Testament makes perfect sense. Over the years that have passed, I have repeatedly asked the Lord at what point in my life he saved me and his answer has remained the same-2000 years ago, on the cross.

-- Lisa

Thank you Lisa for taking the time to write me your story. I really appreciate it.

Fr. Douglas Al-Bazy Disapprears In Baghdad

UPDATE Nov. 28, 2006
This morning, I prayed to St. Anthony as his candle burned for Fr. Douglas. I prayed again for his safe return to his family, friends and church. This afternoon, I got the good news that Fr. Douglas has been released.

Thank you for everyone who prayed for his safe return. Thank you St. Anthony for your help.

---

ORIGINAL POST Nov. 20, 2006
Yet another sad story from Iraq. AsiaNews reports:

Baghdad (AsiaNews) – Christians in Baghdad fear yet another priest has been kidnapped. Fr Doglas Yousef Al Bazy - 34 years, Chaldean – left his parish yesterday morning and has not yet returned home.

The alarm was raised swiftly throughout Iraq and the diaspora via the Internet and SMS: the young priest’s community and leaders of Iraq’s Chaldean Church believe it is “highly likely” that he has been kidnapped. If their misgivings are proved right, this would be the latest in a long list of kidnappings targeting Christian clerics. Not only gangs of common criminals are suspected to be behind the spate of kidnappings.

The Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad, Mgr Shleman Warduni and the Iraqi Christian community have different theories regarding the latest wave of the kidnapping of Christian clergymen. AsiaNews reports:

The Auxiliary Bishop said: “There are many theories about why Christians are kidnapped: crime, religious fanaticism, money, the intent to create division among the people.” He continued: “We hope that those who have taken him have a conscience and understand that we priests desire only to bring the Good News to people and to work for the good of all Iraqis. We are for the unity of Iraq and we ask to be able to work together with our co-nationals to rebuild our country and to attain peace and security.” However, among the Chaldean community, the idea is increasingly taking hold that threats and kidnappings are not carried out indiscriminately, but that they “target those people who are most involved in the Christian community, the younger and more courageous ones, almost as if to give a warning to those who persist in hoping that they will be able to continue living in the country.”

I share the community's opinion. I think it's going to get worse for the community if the security situation doesn't improve.

Please, pray for the safe return of Fr. Doglas to his family, friends and church.

Indian Day With The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe Members

Last year, I accompanied Mark during his assigment to cover the Indian Day celebration at the Indian Village Assembly of God church near the Alabama-Coushatta Indian reservation in Southeast Texas.

On Sunday, we were invited to the annual event. Mark had the day off. So, he didn't take any pictures. That's cool with me because I didn't have to compete with his excellent photojournalism skills.

It was a very nice experience. As usual, the food was great and made with love. We felt honored to be invited to the event.

Humor: Dear Wife

Dear Wife,

I wrote your name on sand, it got washed away. I wrote your name in the air, it got blown away. then I wrote your name on my heart and I got a heart attack.

God saw me hungry, so he created pizza. He saw me thirsty, so he created Pepsi. He saw me in the dark, he created light. He saw me without problems, he created YOU.

Twinkle Twinkle little star. You should know what you are. And once you know what you are, the mental hospital is not so far.

Rain makes all things beautiful. If rain makes all things beautiful, then why doesn't it rain on you?

When your live is in darkness, pray to God to free you from the darkness. If after you pray, you still live in darkness, then please pay your ELECTRICITY BILL.

The Unknown Husband

Prayer To Our Lady of Czestochowa

Dear Lady of Czestochowa, our Black Madonna, teach me the lesson of human family.

Remind me that whether we are black or white or red or yellow makes no difference, that we're all human.

When I might be tempted to judge people in terms of race or ethnicity, send your image to me so that I remember that we are all your children, that we all come from God.

And when I might hear racial or ethnic insults, strengthen your spirit of love within me, that I might speak up for the dignity of all people and not be a silent accomplice to prejudice.

Remove the fear of difference from my heart, that I might look at and treat all people as loving and lovable brothers and sisters.

Amen.

Source: 100 Names of Mary

---

100 Names of Mary

Wal-Mart and Christmas

Last year, Wal-Mart went under a lot of criticism for its refusal to recognize Christmas for what it is. Christmas is Christmas. It's not some other generic holiday.

This year though, Wal-Mart is trying to reconcile with Christmas:

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - It is beginning to look a lot more like Christmas at Wal-Mart.

This holiday season, Wal-Mart isn’t trumpeting big bargains only. It’s also bringing “Christmas” back into its marketing, after several years of playing down the term.
[...]
“We learned a lesson from that. Merry Christmas is now part of the vocabulary here at Wal-Mart,” said Linda Blakley, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman.

Read more...

I haven't been to Wal-Mart in long time. I prefer other shops with better shopping atmosphere and products quality.

The Middle East Inerfaith Blogger Network

In May 2006, the Middle East Youth blog was born. The authors of the blog come from Bahrain, Israel, Iran among other countries. This should give you an idea about the spirit of the blog.

Esra'a, the founder of Middle East Youth, had another dream. She wanted to bring together Middle Easterners who don't share the same faith. She has been working hard for a while now to launch the Middle East Interfaith Blogger Network.

I'm glad to announce the birth of the Middle Eastern Interfaith Blogger Network. Thanks to the efforts of Esra'a and her wonderful team. The site is a proof that there are Middle Easterners who are working to make a difference in the region.

Congratulation folks, you're the best of the web.

Letters To God

I find the following story very interesting:

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A U.S. man who found 300 letters to God floating in the Atlantic Ocean said on Friday he will donate them to a church instead of selling them on eBay following protests from religious people.

The letters, sent to a deceased Baptist clergyman, mysteriously wound up in a sealed plastic shopping bag near a beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
[...]
Lacovara said he could have auctioned them off on eBay for up to $15,000 and would have given the money to charity. But he has withdrawn them from the online auction service because he said the move offended some religious people.

Read more...

First, I liked the eBay idea since the money would be given to a charity. But, these letters were written by people who never thought their prayer requests or confessions would end up on eBay. So, I can see how the eBay idea may upset some people.

The Carmelite Nuns and Godcasts

If you're into iTunes and iPod, then you definitely heard of podcasts. There's another term I learned today. It's Godcasting or Godcasts. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports:

"Godcasting" has already gone wide. Now it's going to the edges.

A community of Carmelite nuns in Indianapolis have started what's believed to be the first podcast from a cloistered community.

Or as some call them, Godcasts.
[...]
Sister Therese said her sisters started the podcast at the suggestion of the Indianapolis ad agency that does pro bono work for them. "We thought we could have a better outreach to young people," she said. "That seems to be the way everybody is going — they have their iPods, and they're pretty mobile."

In the first podcast, several nuns talk about how anyone can be contemplative. She said there are plans to do regular podcasts, as others do, probably once a month.

Read more...

The nuns also have a beautiful website, Pray The News. It amazes me how nuns can multitask. Something I've never been able to master. In short, nuns rock.

U.S. Bishops And The Plight of Iraqi Christians

It looks like the U.S. Catholic bishops have caught up with the serious situation facing the Iraqi Christians. Here's the latest:

WASHINGTON (October 30, 2006) — The chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on International Policy has asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to consider measures that would help improve the deteriorating situation for Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq.

In a letter to Secretary Rice, Bishop Thomas G. Wenski of Orlando (FL) notes that Christians in Iraq continue to decline from a pre-war population of over 1.2 million to a current estimate of 600,000, and according to the U.N. High Commission for Refugees, over 40 percent of Iraqi refugees are Christian even though they represent only about 4 percent of Iraq’s total population.

The following part is probably the strongest in his letter to Condi:

“The growing and deliberate targeting of Christians is an ominous sign of the breakdown in Iraqi society of civil order and inter-religious respect and represents a grave violation of human rights and religious liberty,” Bishop Wenski wrote, pointing to the recent beheading of a Syriac Orthodox priest in Mosul, the crucifixion of a Christian teenager in Albasra, the kidnapping for ransom of four priests and the rape of Christian women and teenage girls as indicators that the situation has reached a crisis point. “The vulnerability of Christians and other religious minorities is dramatic evidence of the serious and growing security challenges facing the entire nation of Iraq,” Bishop Wenski said.

Read more...

I've been writing about their difficult situation for the last three years. Most of the time, I get a deaf ear from both sides of American politics. At one point, I thought to stop writing on this subject and move on to more fluffy and happy news. I can't be silent anymore. If you're not interested in this subject, then you may need to stop reading this blog. I decided to continue to focus on this subject. Thank you for reading this far though.

Prayer For Drunk Teenagers

A Polish Dominican priest introduced new Catholic prayers aimed at teengers. As we know, teenagers drink. So, the priest wrote the following prayer for drunk teenagers:

Lord, if in an unsober state, and under the influence of those around me, I say something stupid, please give me strength to retract my words. Protect me against senseless bravado and pride.

I doubt the teens will remember to pray it after a night of partying. But, it's worth trying to help them.

Jesus and Science

Written by Unknown Author

In chemistry, he turned water to wine.

In biology, he was born without normal conception.

In Physics, he disapproved the law of gravity when he ascended into heaven and when he walked on water.

In economics, he disapproved the law of diminishing return by feeding 5000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread.

In medicine, he cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs.

In history, he is the beginning and the end.

In government, he said he shall be called Prince of Peace.

Chaldean Diocese of Australia/New Zealand

From the time I moved to Sydney in 1995, the Iraqi Chaldean community continued to grow in number. When I moved to the States in 2001, the Sydney Chaldean community finished building its first church.

The Chaldean community in Melbourne and New Zealand has grown at the same pace. Thanks to the immigration laws in Australia and New Zealand. People with proper education are able to immigrate to these two countries. Others arrive as refugees, but that's the hard way to get into those two countries.

It looks like the Pope noticed the growing number of this Eastern Rite Catholic community in Australia/New Zealand:

Australian and New Zealand Catholics who follow the Chaldean Rite will have their own Oceania eparchy or diocese and bishop, the Holy See announced on Saturday.

The President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Philip Wilson, welcomed the creation by Pope Benedict XVI of the Chaldean Eparchy of Oceania with the title of "St Thomas the Apostle of Sydney of the Chaldeans".

The Pope has appointed Archbishop Djibrail Kassab of Bassorah (Basra) in Iraq as the first Bishop of the new Eparchy. Archbishop Kassab will retains his title of Archbishop "ad personam", the Holy See announcement said.

Read more...

Archbishop Djibrail Kassab is one of a kind. He's very energetic when it comes to his church duties. I attended mass at the Sacred Heart Chaldean Church in Baghdad while he was still the parish priest. After I left the country, he became the Archbishop of the Diocese of Basra. Basra is my beloved city of birth and residence for the first 22 years of my life. It's strange how he ended up in Sydney and Basra. The two cities I love the most.

Anyway, he needed this move after years of serving the Chaldean community in Basra during the good and bad times. As they say, Basra's loss is Australia's gain. I wish him luck in his new destination.

Prayer of Reconciliation

The daily news from Iraq has depressed lately. So tonight, I decided to post prayer of reconcilaition:

Life teaches us
that although we try to change others,
realistically we can only attempt
to change ourselves;
yet, so often reconciliation is viewed
in terms of changing other people.

And so I say that for each of us,
reconciliation must take place
first in our own hearts
wherein each of us
confesses and acknowledges
that we have made our own contribution
to any disunity and separation
that to some degree exists among us.

It is my fervent hope and prayer
that we shall receive the gift of healing
and reconciliation and true unity
which is only the Lord’s to give,
and comes simply from our willingness
to open ourselves to receive it.

Source: Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

Tomorrow is another day. Hopefully, it brings better news from around the world and Iraq.

Has The World Forgotten The Iraqi Christians?

I partially answered this question in my previous post. Iraqi Christians are trying to make their voice heard. Patriarch of the Chaldean Church Emmanuel III Delly has raised the alarm again. AsiaNews reports:

Patriarch Delly,..., talked about the situation in Iraq, which is not good because of "the interference of others in the life of a country which used to be, like Lebanon and Syria, a model of peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims, who lived harmoniously for more than 1,400 years."... In an appeal to Iraq to return to peace and concord, he exhorted all men of goodwill to reinforce their support for its small Christian community.

The report continues with more from Delly:

Delly called for reflection on the forced exodus of many Christians because of persecution and the international community's indifference. "There is the danger that the Middle East, the blessed land of God, will be emptied of its Christian presence," he said. Already 80% have gone away, he continued, appealing for immediate aid to protect this "minority suffering because of the fratricidal war that has afflicted the country for many years".

Read more...

I doubt his words of warning will make a difference. But at least many of us are trying.

Iraqi Christians, The Beginning of The End

Again, I try to bring attention to the plight of the Iraqi Christians. It's the beginning of the end to the this community that existed before Muslims made their way into Iraq. Still, nobody seems to care.

The last two weeks witnessed an extensive campaign to kidnap and rape Iraqi Christians girls. Ankawa Online has been the vocal voice to condemn and report these crimes. AsiaNews is a publication I dearly respect for its continuous coverage of the deterioting situation of the Iraqi Christians. It reports from Baghdad:

Baghdad (AsiaNews) – Young Christian women and girls have been abducted and released after ransom money was paid only to commit suicide because of the shock, violence and shame they experienced....
[...]
Often incidents do not end with the prisoner's release. In one case in Baghdad, the victim committed suicide after the ransom was paid and she went home because of the torture and sexual violence she suffered.

In another case, a young woman talked to her family by phone (the kidnappers allowed her to speak to her family to reassure them that she was alive) and told them: “I'm dead” (referring to being gang raped). She eventually committed suicide whilst still in the hands of her tormenters.

Read more...

Today in Mosul, the Iraqi Orthodox Christian community laid to rest Fr Paulos Eskandar. Fr. Paulos was kidnapped on Sunday. His decapitated body was found yesterday in Mosul. His murder dried my hope that Iraqi Christians can continue to live in Iraq

The list of horrors is long. But, I'm sick and tired of the American left and right wings' ignorance when it comes to this sensational subject. I'll continue to report the situation even if it doesn't make a difference in America. At least, I know my Italian readers are deeply concerned of the difficult situation facing the Iraqi Christians. Your prayers and campaigns mean so much to me.

The Patriot Guard Riders Were In Beaumont

On Sep. 26, Staff Sgt. Edward Charles Reynolds from Port Arthur became another casuality of the war in Iraq. He leaves behind three children and a fiancee'. His second tour was about to finish in November. His wedding was planned for December. But, fate had a different plan for him and his family.

As it's become the custom lately, members of the radical Westboro Baptist Church of Kansas decided to picket Reynold's funeral. Word spread quickly and the Patriot Gaurd Riders headed toward Beaumont to counter protest the WBC. Unlike the WBC members, the Riders understand soldiers' funerals are about the family and honor rather than gay phobia or other issues.

On Saturday morning, more than 200 riders assembled at the parking lot of Home Depot in Beaumont. Most of them drove long hours to be on time for the funeral. Less than 10 WBC members -- including children -- showed up for their picket show.

Mark had the day off. So, we decided to document the Riders preparation and the funeral. Here are some of the pictures I took during the event.





We decided to leave after the arrival of the family during Reynold's funeral service. I felt the family needed some privacy from the cameras.

Oh and BTW, the WBC protesters, who were kept 500 feet from the church premises by state law and troopers, left before the funeral service started. I'm coming to the conclusion their main purpose is to get the media's attention.

The Turkish Hijacker And The Pope

Pope Benedict XVI continues to make the news. This time, it's over the hijacking of a Turkish Airliner by a Turkish Christian convert. The hijacker allegedly wanted to communicate with the Pope by his act of terror. The Sydney Morning Herald reports:

Turkish officials had originally reported as many as four hijackers acting in protest against the Pope's planned trip to Turkey next month. The Pope angered Muslims in a speech last month when he cited a quotation calling Islam "evil and inhuman" and linking the religion to violence.

But it emerged the hijacker was a Christian convert who wanted to avoid military service in Turkey and wrote to the Pope several months ago for help to avoid serving in "a Muslim army".

It gets better from there. The report continues:

"While the chief stewardess entered the cockpit to ask if we needed anything, the terrorist entered by force. I tried to push him out but he was a big man and I failed to stop him," Turkish Airlines captain Mursel Gokalp told reporters in Istanbul.

"He said his only aim was to give a message to the Pope and then he would submit himself to the police. He said that if he failed to deliver his message his three friends at the back of the plane would detonate the plastic bombs they had."

Read more...

Whoever baptized this person should have taught him the peaceful manners of Jesus. How about sending a letter or an e-mail to the Pope? Nooooooo, he have to make a scene of himself and terrorize the passangers on the plane. I guess the Turks are obsessed with Popes.

The Loving Husband

Here's another joke for you. I received it from a friend in the Denmark:

A man and his wife went on vacation to Jerusalem. While they were there, the wife passed away.

The undertaker told him, "You can have her shipped home for ...

$5,000, or you can bury her here in the Holy Land for $150."

The man thought about it and told him he would just have her shipped home.

The undertaker asked, "Why would you spend $5,000 to ship your wife home, when it would be wonderful to be buried here and you would spend only $150?"

The man replied, "Long ago a man died here, was buried here, and three days later he rose from the dead. I just can't take that chance."