Kansas City Bishops and Newspapers

Bishop Finn of KCMO has performed as a true leader of the Church in mobilizing Catholics to oppose the Stem Cell Initiative on the Missouri ballot innext Tuesday's vote. I'm hoping that a strong "no" vote on the initiative also will allow Senator Jim Talent to retain his seat.

The Catholic Key focuses on the Stem Cell Initiative, too, and notes the attacks against the Catholic church for opposing embryonic stem cell research. It's good we are being condemned for being Catholics in action. Does anyone remember that Jesus was also condemned?

Archbishop Naumann of KCKS was on KCNW 1380 AM -- Catholic Family Radio -- yesterday discussing the anti-life record of KS Governor Kathleen Sibelius. Now that's another brave Catholic bishop that our area hasn't seen the likes of for a very long time!

The Leaven is definitely improving. This week's edition contains a great story on pornography called The Perfect Storm. Moreover, Archbishop Naumann's column again addresses a great concern of mine--cohabiting couples without marriage. He advises them gently, but firmly, on what is wrong with this common modern practice. Wonderful!

Babies are a Blessing

When the youngest of our children was born, my husband remarked the new baby was such a great blessing. I responded that, indeed, he was a beautiful and good baby. My husband quickly said that this was not what he meant. What he meant was that the new baby was encouraging the older children to take on more responsibility and to love more. The blessing of the new baby was that he improved the personalities and characters of the older children!

Translating News in Italian

I've been watching Rorate Coeli because they seem to have the best information on what is going on in Rome, especially with regard to the liberalization of the old Latin Mass by Pope Benedict XVI. Obviously someone knows how to read and understand the Italian newspapers, such as Il Giornale that keep current on Vatican politics and happenings, including appointments and possible policy decisions.

Translating news in Italian can be done by anyone using the Babel Fish Translator and inserting a web page to translate from Italian to English (or any primary language to another). The translation is very bad, but you can derive most of the meaning.

For example, take the Il Giornale news mentioned by Rorate Coeli. A good translation (provided by Rorate Coeli) is:

In the past few weeks, several French bishops have sent to Rome their lamentations of protest against the "Motu proprio" which would liberalize the pre-Conciliar Mass, but, as it seems, Benedict XVI is decided to move forward, even if with due caution, to heal the mini-schism of archbishop Lefebvre and to assure to the Traditionalist faithful, with an act of liberality, the use of the old missal.

The corresponding translation by Babel Fish is:

In last weeks many French bishops have made to arrive to Rome theirs lamentele in order to protest just against the "Motu" that he would have to liberalize the putting to preconciliate, but to how much he seems, Benedict XVI is decided to also go ahead, with the due cautions, in order to heal the miniscisma of monsignor Lefebvre and to guarantee, with an action of liberalità , to the tradizionalisti faithfuls the use of the old putting them.

Not a very good translation, but you can get the meaning. Of course it is always nice to have a direct translation to English, such as is provided by La Chiesa Online, one of the news sites recommended on my sidebar.

Carcass of the Church in France

Kenjiro Shoda posted one of the 30 comments in The New Liturgical Movement that responded to possible liberalization of the traditional Latin Mass. His information is too important to remain hidden in the comments area, and comes from surfing the web of Catholic sites daily, and compiling stats from websites all over the world. He explains he is writing a book that will graphically show the collapse of the Catholic Church since Vatican II.

It is very true that of the 5% of French Catholics who actually attend Mass, most go to traditionalist groups such as the SSPX and participate in the Tridentine Latin Mass. Given that, the number that actually participate in the Novus Ordo Masses in France is probably about 3%. That makes 3% of French Catholics who actually attend Mass according to the standard Novus Ordo. The Pope had better allow the Tridentine Latin Mass back with full freedom universally soon...or there will be no more "Novus Ordo" Catholics left in France.

Of the less than 1,000 French seminarians left, a good percentage (30%) are seminarians in traditional monastic foundations, the SSPX, FSSP, of a handful of other new traditionalist or at least very orthodox Novus Ordo communities. There are 4 new traditionalist Benedictine foundations in France which have more vocations than they can handle, The Abbaye Ste. Marie Madeleine de Barroux, Fontgombault, Abbaye St. Joseph (Flavigny-sur-Ozerain), and Bellaigue(affiliated to the SSPX). There is a tiny monastery (less than 20 monks) affiliated to the SSPX which is a new Carthusian foundation which uses only the Tridentine Latin Mass. They already have more novices (6), than any other Carthusian house in France. The Institute of the Good Shepherd is only in existance for a month, and already has 1 major Church, 1 priory, and 1 seminary. From what I read, they are having problems dealing with the surge of vocations inquiries.

Most diosecean seminaries in France are dead, and have been for 30 years. Yet the FSSP which of course says only the Tridentine Latin Mass is flourishing. Religious Orders (except for traditionalist ones) are dead in France. The Blessed Sacrament Fathers, Picpus Fathers, Capuchins, Redemptorists and White Fathers ("Peres Blanc") are all at the point of extinction in France, and it is conceivable that the Jesuits at only 500, and the Dominicans at half of that could be extinct in France by 2020. When I read that before Vatican II there were nearly 3,000 Jesuits in France, and now only 500 with a median age of 76, I was really appalled at what the Church has become since Vatican II.

Among nuns, the situation is worse (if that could be possible). There are hundreds of Orders that all went secular like their American counterparts and are now facing extinction. Even some cloistered convents adopted the radical reforms. Layclothes and highly dissident and secular cloistered Benedictines, Poor Clares, and Discalced Carmelite nuns have helped their Order die out in much of France.

Seeing all this, the French Bishops are still against the Tridentine Latin Mass and Catholic traditions, the only thing that can save the Church.

That is truely sick.

Kenjiro Shoda | 10.27.06 |

His Excellency, the Illustrious Rogue Bishop of Motherwell

Bishop Devine is a Catholic Bishop of Scotland who is not afraid to "go where angels fear to tread." In April 2006, he challenged Scotland's First Minister to a public debate on homosexual adoptions. The bishop did not mince words:

Surely given his 'paramount concern' for the welfare and interests of children it was not too much to ask the First Minister to discuss in an open forum with interested parties the concerns they harbour about children being adopted by homosexual and lesbian partners.

Bishop Devine also challenged the First Minister to bring the adoption issue to the Scottish people in a referendum.

What affairs of state could be more important than the interests of children? Or does Mr. McConnell intend simply to debate the issue within the comfort and security of the Scottish Parliament where his political majority is assured?

Last year he declared that being openly gay would not be "compatible" with being a teacher in a Catholic school.

In 2004, Bishop Devine sent a letter to all Scottish priests strongly promoting Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ. He was criticized for that, too.

In 2002, Bishop Devine also made the news by saying

Denominational education is an enabler of sectarianism....Roman Catholic schooling is divisive - sometimes it's a price worth paying....The Catholic community believes that with denominational schooling comes the creation of a common set of values - a coherent system that has the academic curriculum and moral and spiritual life in tandem.

Bishop Devine was correct in saying that Catholic schools have their own identity and it is NOT a secular identity of indifferentism or pluralistic beliefs!

Recently, Bishop Devine described certain Scottish political leaders as "moral vandals" and "politically correct zealots." But then he committed the unspeakable crime, Bishop Devine condemned the actions of a senior Church aide who had failed to oppose legislation that allows homosexual couples to adopt children.

NOW, the two most senior bishops in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O'Brien and Archbishop Mario Conti, have publicly rebuffed Bishop Devine for saying the Church is following "a policy of appeasement" with regard to homosexual adoptions. A senior Church source added: "This is probably the first time the Scottish hierarchy has contradicted a bishop. His fellow bishops are concerned about the spate of press releases coming from the Diocese. We are dealing with a rogue bishop..."

Rogue bishop? Bishop Devine, A ROGUE?!? No, NO, NOOOO! Frankly, if ROGUE applies to Bishop Devine, the term has suddenly acquired a very positive definition.

Current Editorials by Local Bishops

Bishop Finn--

I welcome more public statements or initiatives from our other local Catholic institutions that would show support for the church's teaching and oppose the serious dangers that are inherent in the proposals [Missouri Amendment 2] being put before voters. It is not too late to stand up.

Regardless of what happens in November, Jesus Christ has already won the victory of life. It is our role to make this clear choice for life known in the world and to extend Christ's kingdom by making it a reality in our culture. Voters will make their decision very soon. When you stand before Him on the last day, whose side will you be on?

Archbishop Naumann--

In recent years, some funeral Mass homilies seem almost exclusively devoted to extolling the good qualities of the deceased. Often such homilies appear to be no different than a secular eulogy. In an understandable desire to comfort and reassure families, the preacher, at times, seems almost to canonize the recently departed.

Purgatory is our belief that, after deeath, the Lord in his mercy purifies the soul of the believer in order that our hearts are capable of experiencing the fullness of life for which we are destined.

If I died today, I pray that I would die in a state of grace. At the same time, if I died today, I would still be a long way from having been freed from all the limitations in my heart caused by selfishness and pride. I hope that when I die, people will not just extol what, in their kindness, they perceived as my virtues. I hope that people will pray for me, assisting me with their prayers as, God willing, I complete my journey to heaven.

The two Kansas City Bishops, one from Missouri and one from Kansas, have been producing exemplary editorials in their respective diocesan newspapers--The Catholic Key and The Leaven. Much, much better direction and leadership than I've seen in the last 40 years!

Milanese Sacrileges--a New Catholic Italy?

Chiesa Online reports that Benedict XVI gave an important speech in Milan, the home base of the ultraliberal Archbishop Tettamanzi. How liberal is Tettamanzi? Sandro Magister says the Milan Cathedral, the Duomo, is now famous for:

1. Elton John playing and singing “Candle in the Wind” at a 1997 funeral Mass.

2. Lenten meditations on writings by Oscar Wilde, Marguerite Yourcenar, Pier Paolo Pasolini, and Jack Kerouac, that replaced the readings from the four Gospels. Then the audience turned and watched videos projected toward the rear of the church.

3. A new video box installed in the Duomo crypt, where the visitor sits and watches a religious film which is covered the entire time with a black rectangle and where there is no sound. The explanation is that “the blocking of 90 percent of the view brings the visitor into a cloud of unknowing, in which he finally faces the free decision: to believe or not believe.”

4. Presentations of (a) selections from the writings of Jewish philosopher and mathematician of the XVII century, Baruch Spinoza; (b) a Japanese video that notes "each human being has his own rhythm, and rhythm is the force that unifies the universe,” and that showed a dual image of a young woman with her face first immersed in and then raised out of a basin full of gelatinous liquid, (c) musical concerts of a contemporary secular nature.

Nevertheless, the Pope in Milan insists that Italy is "rather favorable terrain" for rebirth as a Catholic nation--producing a new Catholic Italy to lead the way for all of Europe and the world. Frankly, I am reminded of the old films on the History Channel where people strapped on wings and attempted to fly off buildings and bridges.

First of all, Italy has lost the will to survive because its families have fewer children than any other European country except for Spain (1.22 children per family in 1997). Second, the number of Italian priestly vocations continues to spiral downward, as explained in a previous post that notes Italy now imports 1,700 foreign priests. Add a third element--Archbishop Tettamanzi and what he does or permits in his cathedral. A rejuvenated Catholic Italy cannot arise out of this environment.

Worm Hunting

We just returned from a walk in the misty fall air. Naturally the little one was attracted to those 2-inch long skinny things that wiggled across the concrete. Worms! It rained a lot last night and this morning, so worms appeared everywhere. In the spring, it's a great time for catching fishing bait, especially where someone, years ago, buried very large Canadian nightcrawlers.

My kids were introduced to the sport of nightcrawler hunting by their uncle over 30 years ago. It's in a rural area and rain was falling, so he told my husband to bring the kids late that evening to a nearby small town with lots of sidewalks, and where someone had planted night crawlers many years before. The kids returned very excited and laughing a lot, as they told everyone who would listen how much fun they had.

They described how their flashlights were used to find these giant worms that can be as big as small snakes. The kids said they had to be very fast to grab worms found in the grass. A nightcrawler places only part of its body outside its mounded hole, and very quickly withdraws if you shine a flashlight beam on it.

My husband said he also fully enjoyed the hunting of these very large, fast, and wriggly creatures, especially hearing the triumphal shouts of a child catching one, or the groans of defeat in losing one. (The rule was that you weren't supposed to catch only pieces of worms!)

My folks had a big yard and they had planted nightcrawlers a few years before. I participated in the next outing, just before the time when the yard was invaded by moles and other worm-eating critters who began to live sumptuously. That night the kids competed to catch the most worms. In about an hour, the kids had caught almost a gallon of solid worms!

We put some of them back in the grass, but my mother took a lot and refrigerated them in coffee cans filled with dirt until she and my dad went on their weekly fishing outing. [BTW, you need to poke small holes in the lids for air to penetrate inside; the fairly wet dirt also needs to be changed every three weeks or so.]

Muddy Shoes

One of my favorite memories of a long-ago childhood is playing in the mud. On an early warm spring day, it rained long and hard on our small farm. At the bottom of one field, the eroded soil had created a thick mud about a foot deep. Mother was very sad, but my siblings and I were quite happy. We took our shoes off, rolled up our pants, and walked in. Mud always feels so good as it squeezes between the toes!

It's been raining in KC and the backyard of one of my children's houses contains a glorious future playground area--(now known as a mud pit!). The 2-year old likes to walk the small wood wall and can keep her balance most of the time. I held her hand yesterday to make sure she didn't fall into the watery areas.

Nevertheless, she let go of my hand and stepped into what looked like a fairly dry area. Wrong! Within several steps the thick brownish glue had attached itself firmly to two new white shoes. I lifted her out (after she had walked through more mud) and we went back to the porch to clean the shoes.

A second pair of muddy shoes was by the stairs--this pair with dried mud. I cleaned both pair with a paring knife, a copper grill brush, and an old toothbrush. The grill brush works great on dry mud, after you scrape off the big pieces. But now, another 10 min was needed to handwash the white socks of the traveling two-year old while I was cleaning the shoes. I should have remembered to give her the barefoot experience of mud between the toes!

Muslim Support in the Election

American Muslims will overwhelmingly back Democrats on the first Tuesday of November, according to a recent survey by the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Frankly, this is not surprising because I think the Democrats will find it relatively easy to embrace Muslims. Here are my observations:

1. Democrats have shown their principles are adaptable to the situation and time.
2. They will believe Islam is amenable to reason and negotiation.
3. After Israel is encircled and falters, they will want to be on the winning side.
4. In a choice between Christianity and Islam, they will choose Islam.

Yes, I'm waiting (and hoping) that someone will challenge these arguments!

Will it Happen or Not?

Will the traditional Latin Mass soon be 'un-forbidden' in Latin Rite churches around the world under a possible new directive of Benedict XVI? Rorate Coeli has posted new information from a Roman seminarian that offers hope. Here is one excerpt.

But the past couple of weeks have provided for us a glimmer of hope—a silver lining to a cloud darkened by 35 years of suppression and angst. Rumors have begun to surface about the existence of a Papal document which, if released, would “free up” the Tridentine Rite, setting it up as a Rite parallel to that of the Pauline Reform. While excited, I myself have remained rather skeptical, recalling that a similar rumor circulated through the back alleys of Rome last November. But all the signs point to something substantial on the horizon. The heads of dicasteries are flying to Rome, the city is abuzz with Cardinals and bishops (more so than usual), and my own friends who have ties to people working within the walls of the Vatican are conversing more and more with said friends. Something is definitely on the horizon.

Out-of-Date Publicity for Liberal Book

Our youngest daughter just sent me an outrageous article from the Dallas Morning News on "Vatican 'Crushed' Renewal of Nuns." The book claims the Vatican is the real cause of the tremendous decrease in the numbers of Catholic nuns.

The article was dated October 21, 2006, so it seemed like Kenneth Briggs' book, Double Crossed: Uncovering the Catholic Church's Betrayal of American Nuns, was newly issued. Not so! The book is at least four months old, not really current news. In fact, WolfTracker dealt with the book in an August post.

Some months ago I met a former college classmate who had written a novel and gotten it published by Publish America, Baltimore, a slight step above self-publishing. She is a former college professor of English, so her book is well written--but clearly appears not to be on its way to being a best seller!

I learned how she had received so many good reviews and accolades for her book. They were all written by friends from her college teaching days! Her friends were kind enough to stack the reviews on Amazon, say nice things on the rear flyleaf of her book, add favorable comments to Publish America's site, etc. It's great to have friends who continue to repeat, "I love this book!" Moreover, she encourages lagging sales of her year-old book by visiting local newspapers and libraries all over the state. Kenneth Briggs appears to be doing the same.

Catholic Megachurches?

The Hartford Institute for Religious Research has published documentation on the characteristics and rapid growth of non-Catholic megachurches with weekend attendances of over 2,000 people and typically seven days a week of activities.

“Based on the results of this survey, we are able to conclude that there are at least 1,210 Protestant churches in the United States today with average weekly attendance of over 2,000. That is nearly double the number of megachurches that existed five years ago.”

The Hartford Institute also examines 11 myths about megachurches. Catholics would do well to read the report.

People Problem Solving

Which is the most difficult problem to solve--(1) a people problem or (2) a technical problem (e.g., computer, auto)? Most of us would say solving people problems is more challenging. But if certain conditions are met, people problem solving is easy, even when a lot of ire has been aroused. Here is an illustration.

Recently some individuals were upset with my friend and asked me to help. The individuals are great Catholics and chose their words carefully to say they respected my friend, thought he was trying to do what was right, but he tiffed them and others off but good!

Somewhat reluctantly, I called my good Catholic friend to delicately explain this predicament, but he seemed to have anticipated that something was amiss. He offered an easy way to bring up the subject by first discussing his actions and then asking how people felt. [Lots of people talk about the first items, but never ask the second part!]

When he was told of some vexation among others, he quickly responded that he always received his best grades in school on the left (deportment) side of his report card, especially in "takes correction easily." He offered to apologize, even humbly saying he would "grovel" if necessary.

Needless to say, almost all people problems can be dissapated by good communications, charity, forgiveness, and especially humility. But if pride is introduced on either side, people problems will fester and grow. Good Catholics know arrogance is not a virtue. We all must be especially humble to help prevent people problems and then to solve them if they do arise.

"The Real Glory" and the Colt 45

Gary Cooper is the featured actor in the 1939 film, The Real Glory. He plays an Army doctor faced with cholera and Muslim fanatics in the Philippines of 1906. The movie has a certain creepy timeliness and can be dramatically compared with the suicidal attacks of Islam today. [The Army doctor in the movie broke the will of the Moro leader (Alipang) in front of the scared Christian Filipinos by threatening to bury Alipang in a pigskin! ]

Not too many people realize that the Muslim fanatics in the Philippines were responsible for the development of the Colt 45 automatic handgun. The new pistol was especially designed for the U.S. Army by John Moses Browning, because our soldiers had been unable to stop an attacking Moro with their smaller .38 cal revolver. More stopping power was needed.

On March 29th, 1911, the Browning-designed, Colt-produced .45 automatic pistol, was selected as the official sidearm of the Armed Forces of U.S.A., and named Model 1911.

New Planned Parenthood Campaign

Sometimes I get funny mail, such as "why am I getting this stuff#@?" The letter from Planned Parenthood says that pharmacists are trying to tell people how to live their lives by refusing to fill certain prescriptions. The new PP campaign is called "Fill My Pills Now."

PP is very upset that lawmakers in 22 states have introduced 54 bills that would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill "birth control" prescriptions based on their personal moral or religious objections. PP says their new campaign will pressure pharmacies "to enact policies that ensure no woman will be turned away with an unfilled birth control prescription because of a pharmacist's misguided beliefs." Wonder if they mean drugs that abort a newly formed baby in its first days of life!

The PP letter enclosed three postcards which I was asked to sign and remit to PP, and that say:

Your policy on pharmacist refusals is not acceptable. It must change. I've heard that pharmacists in your stores may refuse to fill a woman's birth control prescription. This is not just bad policy; it's outrageous!

The three postcard-sized messages sponsored by PP ask the CEOs of three large companies to change their policies and deny the right of pharmacists to refuse to fill an immoral prescription. PP is even opposed to referral clauses that permit a refusing pharmacist to refer a customer to another pharmacist. [Of course, referrals to pharmacists who will prescribe an anti-life drug are a bad idea too.]

Here's an alternative letter than can be emailed to the CEOs of the three companies: Robert Ulrich, Target CEO, David Bernauer, Walgreens CEO, and Peter Lynch, Winn-Dixie CEO.

Dear Sir:

I understand your company allows a pharmacist with strong moral and religious convictions to refuse to distribute certain abortion prescriptions. Your policy is wise and should be maintained because it protects the integrity of your pharmacists.

Once you make a man (or woman) violate his conscience, you have caused that person to be deceitful, in that he acts contrary to what he believes is right. This undermines the good standards of any profession, especially pharmacy with a strong ethical tradition.

"To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death. Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion. But I will preserve the purity of my life and my art. ... If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot." Hippocratic Oath

Here are the email addresses for upper management of Target, Walgreens, and Winn-Dixie.

Missouri Farms in the Autumn

This post is just to show pictures of Missouri in the fall. Enjoy!


Missouri Soybeans











Missouri Farm Road











Missouri Cattle













Missouri Stream

Bless and Protect This House

A very good friend and her husband were disturbed with the Catholic parishes and schools in their area. They recently moved to a new location and built a beautiful new house where the older children could attend a good Catholic school and the Novus Ordo Mass was more reverent. The new house is in the country, and all the children now have their own rooms. However, the husband told me of his family's several recent encounters with unknown forces that left me with concern.

The oldest daughter in bed said she was slapped twice on the face with a loud 'bang' or explosion each time. The youngest daughter lying on her stomach felt a large book fall on her back--but nothing was there. The husband/father was trying to get to sleep when he clearly heard children whispering; but when he shone his flashlight around the bedroom the door was closed and no one was there. He said he has felt uneasy for some time about the house he was building. Finally, his wife was reading a book late at night and heard what seemed like mice crawling and gnawing in the ceiling of the bedroom. She also heard a person breathing.

The husband is a convert to Catholicism--a very good man who takes his new faith very seriously. The family prays daily before statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary. The children know all their standard prayers, including the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, but it is the children's heartfelt extemporaneous prayers that make this family seem exceptional. Another person who met and then stayed with them was also very impressed with the strong Catholic faith exhibited by this family.

The husband asked me a number of questions about the devil the last time we met. He believes the odd goings-on may be the result of demons, and he wonders how this could happen in a brand-new house. He has placed crucifixes in his daughters' rooms and no further problems have occurred. Now he is trying to find a priest to bless the home and a priest has agreed to meet with him this coming week. I suggest that the priest also consecrate the family and their new house to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the meantime, they should sprinkle each room in their house with holy water, especially Epiphany water.

My husband and I welcomed our old pastor to bless our new house over 45 years ago. We placed a picture of the Sacred Heart in our living room and consecrated ourselves and our home to His honor and protection. I'm convinced that this action of our early marriage has paid many dividends in protecting our family and home from assaults of all kinds.

Does God Hate the Devil?

Mrs. M called me the other day and asked the above question? She said God teaches us to love everybody, even our enemy, so He must love the devil. I wasn't quite prepared to answer this question, but I felt sure she was wrong and there was some contradiction involved.

The web provided several items on the subject, mostly from Protestants--even Billy Graham stated that God hated the devil. The Catholic Encyclopedia article on the devil did not answer the question, so it appeared to me that the answer was a matter of theological speculation. [Suarez, De Angelis was referenced as being the prime Catholic resource on the angels and Satan.]

So armed with a few printouts of interest, I took three grandchildren with me to visit Mrs. M in the nursing home. On the way, I explained to the 12-, 10-, and 3-year olds the question that Mrs. M had asked. The 10-year old immediately said, "But how can God hate his own creation?" What a question! The Bible is clear that the devil is our adversary and we must oppose him, but does God hate the devil with some divine perfection? My own answer follows, subject to immediate revision should the Church have already addressed this issue.

God and the devil exist outside of the dimension of time in our universe: God as creator of time and all else that exists, and the devil as a spiritual being created by God. God loves the devil because God loves His own handiwork. However, the devil has an unrestricted free will because he is not tempted by anything external to his own nature. God hates the devil for what the devil has freely chosen to become.

In contrast to our sins which can be forgiven in this world, the devil's sin is unforgivable. Even the sins of our enemies can be forgiven. Moreover, Christians are required to be part of God's plan to give His love to our enemies so they are not eternally damned. Not so for our enemy the devil. Once the devil sinned, he sinned forever.

A basic principle of Christianity is "Mercy in this world; justice in the next." God is unmerciful outside of time, because then His mercy would contradict His justice--and God is NOT contradictory! The devil's sin is unforgivable because he cannot change; change requires intelligent beings to exist within time.

When Satan rebelled, God may have constrained the devil to the straitjacket of time to suffer in hell and to tempt man, yet not to know the future. God foresaw the devil's arrogance, yet the devil's pride and his temptations of man are part of God's plan in time.

Cowboys at Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City is owned by the Herschend Family and has always been a great place to enjoy a family vacation. The private owners are openly Christian and have spearheaded the successful defense of Branson, MO from people who would like to open types of sinful entertainment. The owners sponsor special gatherings of homeschoolers and Christian activists, including the American Family Association (Don Wildmon). Moreover, after the park closes each day, everyone is invited to an evening songfest of Gospel music and Christian friendship in a large open amphitheatre.

Silver Dollar City is a family place with women attendants in long dresses, no Halloween decorations, and children that were well-behaved. [Maybe this last observation was due to the preponderance of homeschooled children, their parents, and a lot of retired people--many thousands!] Anyway, you won't find much cleavage, even though the park hosts tens of thousands of people a day.

This past week, Silver Dollar City welcomed some of my homeschooled grandchildren and their families at a nicely reduced price. In addition to the many rides, this autumn's celebration let us observe and talk with oldtime craftsmen: women who turned wheat straw into beautiful ornaments, rugmakers, carpenters who made furniture, bladesmiths who made knives, candlemakers, soapmakers, basketmakers, etc. Musicians who made and played their own instruments were also there.

The festival this year salutes the Great American Cowboy. We saw Johnny Lonestar with his lasso tricks, the steer trainer, and many western musical groups. Many of them gave a little Christian lesson in their act. For example, Travis Loewen told about training his steers and how he expects more out of his steers--just like God expects us to act above the nature of mere animals. His two Texas longhorns had horns that stretched at least four feet to either side of the heads of the huge animals.

The best musician was Don Edwards. He sings cowboy songs--the kind that were my favorites as a kid. Each song tells a story--a good story. Edwards' guitar work is absolutely excellent, and his voice is very good--especially in the large opera house. Curmudgeon likes country rock; I like the folk music of cowboys, especially when performed by someone like Don Edwards. The weather was great, too.