fourth quarter

Do you believe in subliminal messages in numbers? I do. The concept of "fourth quarter" is simple: The first 25% of the lives of many people is devoted to learning. We learn about life from the day that we are born. I believe that learning starts even before a baby is born--sounds, limbs, etc. There's pre-school where many of us learn about parents, siblings, relatives and friends. Then there's formal schooling. The second and third quarters are spent working, relationships, etc. They are at the core of many people's lives.  The last quarter is when people retire and die. I am in my late seventies. I am in the fourth quarter of my life.  I believe that 2  Corinthians 5  contains a message for many of us in the last quarter of our lives. 1 For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to be further clothed with o...

Praise and worship God. God deserves our praise and worship. Thank God. We have much to thank God for. Ask God for guidance for yourself and others. source: Wikimedia Commons licensing:  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

For many the first quarter of one's life is about growing--physically, intellectually, spiritually. The second and third quarters (half of one's life) are about family, friends, coworkers, etc., and applying the lessons of the first, second and third quarters. The fourth quarter for many is about retirement and facing the reality of growing old and dying. As we grow old many of us experience aches and pains, physical and mental limitations, doctors, and, all of us, death. "But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." Matthew 24:36 Our Father in heaven is the physician that we can trust.    https://www.flickr.com/photos/fatherjeromesanderson/4660638288 attribution: FR. JEROME SANDERSON and flickr

Prayer Before a Crucifix BEHOLD, O good and sweetest Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech Thee to impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, with true repentance for my sins and a most firm desire of amendment: whilst with deep affection and grief of soul I consider within myself and mentally contemplate Thy five most precious Wounds, having before mine eyes that which David, the prophet, long ago spoke in Thine Own person concerning Thee, my Jesus: They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all My bones [Psalm 21, 17, 18]. Say Our Father , Hail Mary , Glory Be for the Catholic Church and the intentions of the Holy Father. A plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, may be gained by those who shall say this prayer with devotion before an image of our crucified Redeemer. A partial indulgence may also be gained for each devout recitation. Prayer of Resignation to t...

Change and life are synonymous.  When I was a kid, I wanted to drive. When I was 15, I got my learner's permit. When I was 16, I got my license. Driving was a joy. I enjoyed the freedom.  Now that I'm old, I don't like to drive. WOW! That's a BIG change.  What happened? There are many reasons: I've changed in 60+ years. I've had bad experiences in the last 60+ years driving--accidents, tickets, near misses, etc. The world has changed in 60+ years--roads, more drivers, more traffic congestion, different cars, etc. The same is true with my life. My life experiences have changed me. school marriage kids the army work retirement etc. The world has become darker and meaner to me than it was 60+ years ago. Heraclitus was right: "Nothing is constant except change." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclitus https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heraclitus_b_4_compressed.jpg attribution: RoyFokker, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4....

https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3261/Satans-Rebellion.htm   https://www.flickr.com/photos/medmss/8411336281/ attribution: Walters Art Museum and Flickr https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

https://bibleresources.info/please-explain-luke-2328-31-and-jesus-said-daughters-of-jerusalem-weep-not-for-me-but-weep-for-yourselves-and-your-children/   https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/51078192266/   attribution: Lawrence OP and Flickr Pro https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word and deed: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

  https://www.prb.org/articles/how-many-people-have-ever-lived-on-earth/ answer: approximately 117 billion. that's a LOT of souls!  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Body-Mind-SOUL--Matter-Energy-SPIRIT.png attribution:  Dustin Dewynne, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons https://creativecommons.org/public-domain/cc0/

https://www.christiantoday.com/article/is-the-pope-infallible-what-catholics-believe-and-why/81615.htm   I agree with Hans Kung, evangelicals, Pope John XXIII and others who question this doctrine. Only God is infallible. ALL  humans are fallible.  https://www.flickr.com/photos/arenamontanus/2446518809/ attribution: Anders Sandberg and flickr https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/  

"never been born" is a phrase that is used several times in the bible. do you ever wish that you'd never been born? truthfully, I do sometimes. when I look back on my life I see many sins. As Kris Kristofferson says in his song, "Why me Lord?",  https://youtu.be/mtQOY-0sViQ?si=-sCBWO7lNsc4uiGV  , "I know what I am." I know what I deserve. I believe in God. I believe that Jesus is God. I believe that Jesus died a horrible death for our sins. I believe that if I'm spared hell that it will only be because of what Jesus did, and not because of what I've done. https://www.flickr.com/photos/clas/2290487864/ attribution: chuck palahniuk via flickr https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

33 “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. 34 When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. 35 But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. 36 Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. 37 Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ 39 They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” 41 They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give...

The book, " Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness are the Keys to Understanding the Universe " by Robert Lanza and Bob Berman, introduces the concept of biocentrism.  "Biocentrism builds upon the ideas of quantum physics. While physics is considered essential to the study of the universe and chemistry essential to the study of life, biocentrism puts biology before all other sciences in order to develop a theory of everything – a theory of the universe." https://biocentrismnews.com/   I propose a new theory, Theocentrism, that God's love is the glue that holds the universe together. "Perhaps one of the most surprising discoveries of the twentieth century was that ordinary matter makes up less than five per cent of the mass of the universe. The rest of the universe appears to be made of a mysterious, invisible substance named dark matter (25 per cent), and a force that repels gravity known as dark energy (70 per cent)." https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/...

last Sunday a Canadian priest was the celebrant for mass on Catholic TV. In his homily he referred to a poll by Pew Research that gave answers to the question of why church attendance is declining. The reasons that he cited were: children are bored children think that the mass is irrelevant children's sleepovers with friends, soccer practice, etc. better things to do (attending kids' sports events, shopping, TV, etc.) etc. There are three main reasons why I stopped going to church: the clergy sexual abuse scandal (who's behind the collar? an abuser? someone who covers up abusers?). the widespread lack of respect in Catholic sanctuaries for the presence of God, and those in the pews who are trying to worship God (talking out loud before, during, and after mass, arriving late, leaving early, dress, lack of reverence receiving communion, etc.). during the height of the covid epidemic, failure of churches to enforce masks, separation, and other covid protection safety practices...

Jesus' human life ended when He commended his spirit to God.   Isn't this what all believers hope to do when their lives end? Heavenly Father, when my life is done, I give You my soul. Unlike Your Son, my soul is not pure and spotless. Please accept me as I am, sinful and sorrowful. Know that while I have sinned many times, I believe in You and I love You. You are sovereign. You are holy. You are Love itself. Do with me as You will. My eternal life is in Your Hands. Amen https://www.flickr.com/photos/coltrane/3832056730/ attribution: Christoper Brown on Flickr https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ https://youtu.be/C3r0CFKzILo?si=h-7_7Et4UARb0wKT

how does a word, Godsend, with such an obvious connection to God, develop such a secular meaning?  https://www.etymonline.com/word/godsend   answer: in 1200 the world was not secularized as it is today.  https://www.flickr.com/photos/4thglryofgod/8521304011 attribution: Sharon Tate Soberon via flickr https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

Life can be like a raging river...  Turmoil...  war, natural disasters, crime, epidemics, deprivation, racism, terror, hunger, etc. Watch your step! You may fall in!  1 The LORD is king, robed with majesty; the LORD is robed, girded with might. The world will surely stand in place, never to be moved. 2 Your throne stands firm from of old; you are from everlasting. 3 The flood has raised up, LORD; the flood has raised up its roar; the flood has raised its pounding waves. 4 More powerful than the roar of many waters, more powerful than the breakers of the sea, powerful in the heavens is the LORD. 5 Your decrees are firmly established; holiness befits your house, LORD, for all the length of days. Psalm 93 https://www.flickr.com/photos/15741149@N02/13901594249 attribution: Justin Schuck and flickr https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

Footprints in the Sand One night I dreamed a dream. I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord. When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand. There was only one set of footprints. I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life. This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma. "Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I'm aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don't understand why, when I need You most, You leave me." He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." https:/...

1 * a Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 b He fasted for forty days and forty nights, * and afterwards he was hungry. 3 The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” 4 * He said in reply, “It is written: c  ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’” 5 * Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” d 7 Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’” e 8 Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, 9 and he said to him, “All these ...

Think about it. When was I the best?  answer: The day I was born--a beautiful, pure, wonderful, amazing creature of God. I knew no evil.  It wasn't long before I knew that all was not well. I cried when I was hungry. I cried when my diaper needed to be changed. I threw temper tantrums when I didn't get what I wanted. (Some call this "the terrible twos). Then came school--knowledge, work, relationships, mischief, lies, etc.--grade school, middle school, college. Then came the adult world--work, relationships, deceit, war, pollution, etc. Perhaps Psalm 139 says it best: 1 For the leader. A psalm of David. I LORD, you have probed me, you know me: 2 you know when I sit and stand; * a you understand my thoughts from afar. 3 You sift through my travels and my rest; with all my ways you are familiar. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all. 5 Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, far too lofty f...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/titobalangue/6065314607 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ attribution: Tito & Eva Marie Balangue 

You are near - Dan Schutte   Psalm 139 For the leader. A psalm of David. I 1 LORD, you have probed me, you know me: 2 you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. 3 You sift through my travels and my rest; with all my ways you are familiar. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, LORD, you know it all. 5 Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, far too lofty for me to reach. 7 Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence, where can I flee? 8 If I ascend to the heavens, you are there; if I lie down in Sheol, there you are. 9 If I take the wings of dawn and dwell beyond the sea, 10 Even there your hand guides me, your right hand holds me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely darkness shall hide me, and night shall be my light” 12 Darkness is not dark for you, and night shines as the day. Darkness and light are but one. II 13 You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, be...

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)    That sav'd a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found,    Was blind, but now I see. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,    And grace my fears reliev'd; How precious did that grace appear    The hour I first believ'd! Thro' many dangers, toils, and snares,    I have already come; 'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,    And grace will lead me home. The Lord has promis'd good to me,    His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be    As long as life endures. Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,    And mortal life shall cease; I shall possess, within the veil,    A life of joy and peace. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,    The sun forbear to shine; But God, who call'd me here below,    Will be forever mine. John Newton,  Ol...

the bible tells us:  that we choose between good or evil (Matthew 7:11) that only God is good (Mark 10:18) that we will die (John 12:24)  that we will be judged (Matthew 7: 1-29) that we should bring our burdens to Jesus (Matthew 11: 28-30) that the righteous will go to heaven and the wicked will go to hell (Matthew 25:46) that righteousness comes through faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 3: 21-31) rom 3 23 field 1680x1050 | A desktop background made from Ro… | Flickr https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/ attribution: Patrick Slaven and flickr

when I lay alone at night in a dark room, I sometimes raise the blinds on the window. maybe, some day, I'll see the apocalypse.  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castle_Bravo_007.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain attribution:  Federal government of the United States, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons why wouldn't I? after all, I grew up in the 1950s.

I used to refer to myself as a Catholic. These days I refer to myself as a Christian.  Why? It's a LONG story, but it's not really complicated. the shameful scandal in the catholic church, which I now realize, has been going on for my entire lifetime. the continuing failure of the higher-ups to fix the problem (1. apologize. 2. do everything possible for the victims. 3. make sure that it never happens again. 4. if it happens again, then repeat steps 1 thru 3.) the shameful disrespect ("...outrages, sacrileges, blasphemies and indifferences...") that exists in the sanctuaries of catholic churches today (people chattering out-loud before, during and after mass IN THE SANCTUARY  while others are trying to pray and worship, etc.). On one hand, it's difficult to separate myself from the church that I was baptized and educated in and followed for most of my adult life... but, on the other, it isn't.  I've gone back to the basics (1. I believe in God--Father, Son...

https://youtu.be/tH2w6Oxx0kQ   https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sydney_harbour_bridge_duststorm.jpg attribution:  Mrcricket48 at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

lesson: we live at God's pleasure.  

Genesis 2: 15 The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. 16 The LORD God gave the man this order: You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden 17 except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from it you shall die. 18 The LORD God said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him. 19  So the LORD God formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each living creature was then its name. 20 The man gave names to all the tame animals, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be a helper suited to the man. 21 So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 The LORD God then built the rib that he had taken from...

He was hunted from the day He was born. (Matthew 2:16, John 11:45-57) He was homeless. (Luke 9:58) although He was innocent of all crimes, He was tried and crucified. (Matthew 26: 1-5) Jesus God, innocent victim, King of the universe, allowed Himself to be tortured and killed for our sins.  Christ on the Cross | Rennett Stowe | Flickr Creative Commons — Attribution 2.0 Generic — CC BY 2.0 attribution: Rennett Stowe He rose again. (Matthew 28: 1-10) He conquered death.  He is Savior of the world.  He changed th e world forever. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Noel-coypel-the-resurrection-of-christ-1700.jpg attribution:  Noël Coypel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

I'm sad that my co-grandfather, Leon Pierce, is no longer here with us. but, I'm glad that he's with God, where we all want to be some day. https://youtu.be/_erkplrthow

2. How many things are necessary for thee to know, that th… | Flickr Creative Commons — Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic — CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 attribution: Dafongman

people can learn by what other people tell them.  they can also learn by experience.  human beings have faults, biases and prejudices.  only God truly forgives.  go with what you experience.  it's much more reliable than going with what human beings tell you.  ' 'Experience is a brutal teacher, but you learn. My God, d… | Flickr Creative Commons — Attribution 2.0 Generic — CC BY 2.0 attribution: QuotesEverlasting

Keep me safe, O God; in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, you are my Lord, you are my only good. As for the holy ones who are in the land, they are noble, in whom is all my delight. They multiply their sorrows who court other gods. Blood libations to them I will not pour out, nor will I take their names upon my lips. LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you have made my destiny secure. Pleasant places were measured out for me; fair to me indeed is my inheritance. I bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my heart exhorts me. I keep the LORD always before me; with him at my right hand, I shall never be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure, For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor let your devout one see the pit. You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. attribution: Church Iglesia/Flickr Psalms 16: 11 "You make known to me the path of life;" #ph… | Fli...

    This is me and classmate (Bishop Denis J. O'Connell HS, Arlington, VA) Charlie Boone in 1962/63 at St. Ann's orphanage (now St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth & Families-- St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth and Families | A Tradition of Caring   )  in Washington, DC. Homeroom Brother St. Francis of Mary drafted us for the Legion of Mary that he was monitoring. He was a barber. He taught us how to cut hair. On Saturday some would cut hair at O'Connell for $0.50 a head. Others would go to St. Ann's, cut hair and play with the kids. I used to think of this photo as the geek and the star athlete. Charlie was the star fullback on O'Connell's football team and star player on O'Connell's undefeated baseball team.  Charlie was everybody's friend--even geeks. He treated all the same. After O'Connell we all went our separate ways. I lost touch with most of my high school buddies.  Charlie's life after high school was not without str...