God is a circle whose center is everywhere and circumference nowhere. | |
— Voltaire | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2020 | You Mean I’m STILL In School? |
2019 | Finishing Work |
2018 | Diversity |
2017 | Timely Planning |
2016 | Just Too Easy To Know Fewer And Fewer |
2015 | A Fine Balance |
2014 | Next Rung |
2013 | Super Bowl Prep |
Romantics | |
A Goal For Zen? | |
2012 | Mutant Powers Of Obsession |
2011 | Federal Stars |
Mud Pie | |
Posts Tagged ‘Faith’
Seeking Center
Posted in Faith, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Faith, God, Philosophy, Quotes, Voltaire on January 26, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Inauguration Day 2021
Posted in Faith, Included Video, Leadership, Lyrics, Music and Concerts, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Song Lyrics And Videos By Others, Videos, tagged American Politics, Faith, Favorite Lines, Inauguration Day 2021, Included Video, Leadership, MVP, Philosophy, President Biden, Quotes, The Boys Are Back In Town -- music video, Thin Lizzy, Vice-President Harris, YouTube on January 20, 2021| 1 Comment »
The Boys Are Back In Town |
|
Favorite Line(s): | |
The boys are back in town | |
(The boys are back in town) | |
I said the boys are back in town | |
(The boys are back in town) | |
The boys are back in town | |
(The boys are back in town) | |
The boys are back in town | |
(The boys are back in town) | |
[Congratulations to President Joe Biden and to our first female (“MVP” – Madam VP) Vice-President Kamala Harris. We are praying for you and your new Administration. We do not expect you to SAVE us. We expect you to LEAD us. We don’t believe you’ll make life easy for us. We just hope you’ll be able to make it a little bit easier. Now, let’s get to work!! — KMAB] | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2020 | Posting As A Continual Exercise |
2019 | Border Security – Yes, Border Wall – No |
2018 | Supporting Survival Values |
2017 | Inauguration Day 2017 [Sometimes, I hate it when I’m right! — KMAB] |
2016 | Or A Pot Of Gold After The Storm |
2015 | One, Two, Three… |
2014 | Lend Your Hand |
2013 | Amnesty, n. |
2012 | Best Resolv’d |
The Clock Is Running | |
2011 | Magic |
(Hopefully) Good-Bye To The Trump Dark Ages
Posted in Education, Faith, History, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Sagan, Darkness, Faith, History, Philosophy, Politics, Prayers, Predicting The Future, Quotes, Science, Superstition, United States on January 20, 2021| 1 Comment »
I have a foreboding of an America in my children’s or grandchildren’s time — when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all the manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries; when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues; when the people have lost the ability to set their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority; when, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what’s true, we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
[Perhaps, having seen the corruption and malevolence of the Trump Administration, the next four years can see the beginning of an American renaissance… I hope so. As I prayed four years ago: “I may not agree with all (or any) of this President’s policies, but I pray he makes America a better place.” Hopefully #45 was the “just” the darkness before the new day’s dawn. KMAB] | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2020 | Posting As A Continual Exercise |
2019 | Border Security – Yes, Border Wall – No |
2018 | Supporting Survival Values |
2017 | Inauguration Day 2017 [Sometimes, I hate it when I’m right! — KMAB] |
2016 | Or A Pot Of Gold After The Storm |
2015 | One, Two, Three… |
2014 | Lend Your Hand |
2013 | Amnesty, n. |
2012 | Best Resolv’d |
The Clock Is Running | |
2011 | Magic |
A Soul Passing
Posted in Faith, Family and Friends, Family History, Pictures, tagged 378777, Attitude, Beierly Family, Ceal Beierly, COVID-19, Faith, Family and Friends, Joseph Beierly on January 12, 2021| 6 Comments »
As of today, there have been 378,777 COVID-19 related deaths in the United States. This post is about one of them… | |
Last week, while we (the nation) were going through a violent civil insurrection in the nation’s capitol, Joseph Beierly was engaged in his own personal “insurrection” battle. Sadly, he lost his battle. | |
I met Joe back in 1962, through his older brother, Ralph Beierly who was in my grammar school class. Ralph had five brothers (in order: Dave, Frank, Ray, Ralph, Joe and George) he lived with and two half-brothers who were already grown up and no longer living at home. Joe was the second youngest of those still at home. Joe / Ralph’s parents took me under their wings and it was not unusual for me to have dinner at their house more than once a week. | |
![]() |
|
At some point, you realize the older and younger siblings of your friends (like your own brothers and sisters) become “real” people, instead of “big” or “little” brother / sister of… (whomever). Sometimes this realization is sudden. Frequently, it is not. For me, this happened with Joe while we were on a “road-trip” to Canada. Joe and I had gone up to Lake Shasta to water ski and hang out on another friend’s pontoon houseboat for a week. Unfortunately, my other friend had a family emergency and had to secure the houseboat and return to the Bay Area, so Joe and I were left high and dry for the remainder of the week. | |
At the time, Joe was working for a telephone manufacturing company which was doing something in Canada and offering U.S. staff the opportunity to relocate if they wished to. Joe asked if I would mind spending the remainder of the week driving up to Canada to “check out” the new location to see if he was interested. With nothing else to tie us down, I agreed to split the costs and off we went. | |
Joe drove up to Seattle and then we boarded a ferry to Vancouver. That’s pretty much it. We saw a lot of greenery. Joe and I rode our first car ferry. (Why a car ferry? Just because neither of us had ever been on one. We drove back.) We listened to a lot of music during the drives. A couple of nights we camped and a couple we stayed in “inexpensive” (cheap) motels. We mostly did just enough to keep the trip going. Then we’d park and chill. Did I mention we brought along seven cases of beer for the week we expected to stay at Shasta? As I recall, we got through five of them and I let him have the remainder when we got back to S.F. | |
What did I learn about Joe? Mostly he had grown up to be his own man while I was away in the Army. He was a bit of Dave (he enjoyed working with his hands). He was a bit of Frank (he could be a charmer when he wanted to be). He was a bit of Ray and Ralph in music tastes and how he treated other people with respect – irrespective of their job / station. Like his dad, he had a way of looking at things logically and figuring them out. Like George, he had a “little brother” attitude: “You may be a bit older, but I’m nippin’ at your heels, and I’ll catch up soon.” But mostly, what I realize now is that he had what I call the Beierly “give it try” attitude. “If it doesn’t work out, we’ll fix it or try something different.” | |
I’m not sure if Joe ever got offered or accepted that job in Canada. (I don’t believe he did.) The next thing I heard he was in the Navy. I was a bit surprised by that because Joe wasn’t one to take “instruction” from his older brothers (a mind of his own), but he took to the Navy like a fish to water. Joe got married (to Ceal, the proclaimed love of his life). He made a career of service. And he raised a family which he openly cherished. We were both raised Roman Catholics. I’ve tended to fall off the wagon periodically, but Joe became a working Christian (“by their acts you shall know them”). Unfortunately, with my living in Europe and his living around the world (and / or way over on the East Coast), I never got a chance to ask him about that. I would check in with Ray before and after football season and Ray would tell me about Joe’s kids this and Joe traveling there and Joe helping these people with that. All the things “family” talk about when you’ve known each other long enough to not have to say anything and you’re sure there’s always time to kick-it again in a few months. | |
And now, Ray and Joe are both gone… | |
The world is a better place for them having been here. My world is a little less sunny for their passing. And once again I mourn the loss of a brother by another mother… | |
COVID-19 is just a virus. It doesn’t care about how many lives it takes or the families and grief it leaves behind. 378,777 of our fellow Americans have died… This post has been about one of them. | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2020 | Implications |
2019 | Just To… |
2018 | Still Going… |
2017 | Great Risk |
2016 | Robbery |
2015 | Humanity Plus |
2014 | Dinner For Two? |
2013 | Exercise For Those Over 50 |
2012 | Tearful Joy!! |
Except When He’s Left | |
Thank You, Georgia!
Posted in Faith, History, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged American Politics, Attitude, Determined Spirits, Faith, Georgia, History, Mahatma Gandhi, Philosophy, Quotes on January 12, 2021| Leave a Comment »
A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history. | |
— Mahatma Gandhi | |
[Two new Senators and Democratic control of the U.S. Senate!!! A big “Thank You!” to the State of Georgia. Of course, 21 January 2021 starts the real work for all of America. — KMAB] | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2020 | Implications |
2019 | Just To… |
2018 | Still Going… |
2017 | Great Risk |
2016 | Robbery |
2015 | Humanity Plus |
2014 | Dinner For Two? |
2013 | Exercise For Those Over 50 |
2012 | Tearful Joy!! |
Except When He’s Left | |
Gifts
Posted in Faith, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia, Faith, Gifts, God, Philosophy, Quotes, Talent on January 10, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God. | |
— Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2020 | A Strength Of Science |
2019 | A Higher Standard |
Make Two Calls | |
2018 | Irreplaceable Sparks |
2017 | Saving For April 15th |
2016 | First Wish |
2015 | Tracing Shadows |
2014 | One Thing |
2013 | More Is Less |
2012 | The Screw-Up Gene |
Inshallah
Posted in Faith, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Courage, Faith, Patience, Philosophy, Quotes, Victor Hugo on January 7, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Have courage for the great sorrows in life, and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake. | |
— Victor Hugo | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2020 | A Choice |
2019 | Fill It Up |
2018 | Can We Talk About Me? |
2017 | About Change |
Gordian | |
2016 | Are Your Prayers Functioning? |
2015 | Expressing Love |
2014 | Cyclical Attitudes |
2013 | Footprints |
2012 | Broken Resolutions |
Bin It | |
Our Fate Is Up To Us
Posted in Environment, Faith, History, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Sagan, Cosmos, Environment, Faith, God, Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Winter, Ozone Layer, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Science, Technology on January 4, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Since this series’ maiden voyage, the impossible has come to pass: Mighty walls that maintained insuperable ideological differences have come tumbling down; deadly enemies have embraced and begun to work together. The imperative to cherish the Earth and protect the global environment that sustains all of us has become widely accepted, and we’ve begun, finally, the process of reducing the obscene number of weapons of mass destruction. Perhaps we have, after all, decided to choose life. But we still have light years to go to ensure that choice. Even after the summits and the ceremonies and the treaties, there are still some 50,000 nuclear weapons in the world — and it would require the detonation of only a tiny fraction of them to produce a nuclear winter, the predicted global climatic catastrophe that would result from the smoke and the dust lifted into the atmosphere by burning cities and petroleum facilities. | |
The world scientific community has begun to sound the alarm about the grave dangers posed by depleting the protective ozone shield and by greenhouse warming, and again we’re taking some mitigating steps, but again those steps are too small and too slow. The discovery that such a thing as nuclear winter was really possible evolved out of the studies of Martian dust storms. The surface of Mars, fried by ultraviolet light, is also a reminder of why it’s important to keep our ozone layer intact. The runaway greenhouse effect on Venus is a valuable reminder that we must take the increasing greenhouse effect on Earth seriously. | |
Important lessons about our environment have come from spacecraft missions to the planets. By exploring other worlds we safeguard this one. By itself, I think this fact more than justifies the money our species has spent in sending ships to other worlds. It is our fate to live during one of the most perilous and, at the same time, one of the most hopeful chapters in human history. | |
Our science and our technology have posed us a profound question. Will we learn to use these tools with wisdom and foresight before it’s too late? Will we see our species safely through this difficult passage so that our children and grandchildren will continue the great journey of discovery still deeper into the mysteries of the Cosmos? That same rocket and nuclear and computer technology that sends our ships past the farthest known planet can also be used to destroy our global civilization. Exactly the same technology can be used for good and for evil. It is as if there were a God who said to us, “I set before you two ways: You can use your technology to destroy yourselves or to carry you to the planets and the stars. It’s up to you.” | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2020 | Still Willing |
2019 | Another Prayer |
2018 | After Silence |
2017 | Are You Looking Forward To A Trump Presidency? |
2016 | Three Errors From Eureka |
2015 | Limiting Choices |
2014 | Praise The Lord And Pass The Hypocrisy |
That Sound | |
2013 | Still Waiting For Answers |
2012 | Informal Leadership |
2011 | A Little More Progress |
2010 | Bec’s Gone Again… |
Keeping Christmas
Posted in Faith, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Faith, Henry Van Dyke, Keeping Christmas, Philosophy, Quotes on December 24, 2020| Leave a Comment »
There is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas. | |
Are you willing… | |
to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you; | |
to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world; | |
to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground; | |
to see that men and women are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy; | |
to own up to the fact that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life; | |
to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness. | |
Are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas. | |
Are you willing… | |
to stoop down and consider the needs and desires of little children; | |
to remember the weakness and loneliness of people growing old; | |
to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough; | |
to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear in their hearts; | |
to try to understand what those who live in the same home with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; | |
to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; | |
to make a grave for your ugly thoughts, and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open — | |
Are you willing to do these things, even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas. | |
Are you willing… | |
to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world — | |
stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death — | |
and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? | |
Then you can keep Christmas. | |
And if you can keep it for a day, why not always? | |
But you can never keep it alone. | |
Written by: Henry Van Dyke | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2019 | Looking Forward To Tomorrow (2019 Version) |
2018 | Not One Cent! |
Looking Forward to Tomorrow | |
2017 | Make Glad The Heart Of Childhood |
2016 | Sincerest Flattery |
The President-elect: Making Spirits Bright | |
2015 | What Are You Looking At? |
2014 | Ite, Missa Est |
2013 | I Hear Voices |
2012 | Positive Thoughts |
Hope Works | |
2011 | Look! Up In The Sky… |
Humility Before The Unknowable | |
Like Belief In Truth And Facts
Posted in Faith, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Belief, Facts, Faith, Freedom, Greatness, John W. Gardner, Moral Commitments, Philosophy, Quotes, Truth on November 20, 2020| 2 Comments »
America’s greatness has been the greatness of a free people who shared certain moral commitments. Freedom without moral commitment is aimless and promptly self-destructive. | |
— John W. Gardner | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2019 | Many Forms |
2018 | Serenity Prayer |
2017 | But The Clock Says It’s Already Two Minutes 30 Seconds to Midnight |
2016 | Towards No Regret |
2015 | 109 And Beyond |
2014 | Are You Waiting? |
2013 | Traditional Human Sacrifice |
2012 | A Division Of Men |
2011 | Miles, Legends and Superwoman |
Got Tragedy? | |
2010 | My Company For A Prince!! |
On The Shoulders Of Titans | |
But I’m In No Hurry To Get There
Posted in Faith, Included Video, Music and Concerts, Philosophy, Quotes, Song Lyrics And Videos By Others, Videos, tagged Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Faith, Included Video, Philosophy, Quotes, Vevo, When I Get Where I'm Going -- music video, YouTube on November 7, 2020| 2 Comments »
When I Get Where I’m Going |
|
Favorite Line(s): | |
Yeah, when I get where I’m going | |
There’ll be only happy tears | |
I will shed the sins and struggles | |
I have carried all these years | |
And I’ll leave my heart wide open | |
I will love and have no fear | |
Yeah, when I get where I’m going | |
Don’t cry for me down here | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2019 | Like Many Forms Of Art |
Two Towers | |
2018 | Land Of My Birth – Executive Order Notwithstanding |
Keeping It Real… | |
2017 | Use A Bigger Can |
2016 | Vote Tomorrow – 8 November 2016 |
2015 | Old Bond |
2014 | Preferences |
2013 | Prudence |
2012 | Reason Against Reasons |
2011 | The 1% Rule Of Large Groups |
2010 | Going, Going, On… |
Expect Mike | |
Wasted Again? | |
You Did? | |
Reflecting Plenty | |
Old Math | |
Mental Images | |
Here’s Lookin’ At You, Kid | |
Learn | |
Nothing Feared Today | |
I Had Other Plans | |
Ratings… | |
Really? | |
Encourage Greatness | |
Resting
Posted in Faith, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Care, Faith, God, Life, Love, Philosophy, President Ronald Reagan, Quotes, Rest, Speak on November 4, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And leave the rest to God… | |
— President Ronald Reagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2019 | One For Two |
Why Trump Insults Pelosi and Schiff | |
2018 | The Worst |
2017 | #DonTheCon In The Oval Office |
2016 | Are You Like #AmnestyDon And Sarah Palin? |
2015 | Begin Today |
2014 | Look Again (At Life’s Illusions) |
2013 | None Knows |
2012 | Yet |
2011 | No End In Sight |
2010 | Back At It… |
Just In Case
Posted in Faith, Proverbs, Quotes, tagged Czech Proverb, Faith, Needs, Quotes, Swords on October 23, 2020| Leave a Comment »
May the Lord grant me a sword and no need to use it. | |
— Czech Proverb | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2019 | Can I Get A Witness? |
2018 | I’d Still Like To Try It Out |
2017 | In Every Thing |
2016 | Future Halo |
2015 | The Hard Way Every Time |
2014 | Indispensable Wits |
2013 | I’d Like To |
2012 | 2012 National League Champions – San Francisco Giants!! |
2nd Viewing – No Change | |
Light Shining Out of Darkness | |
2011 | Just Kickin It |
Are These The “Real” Protectors Of America’s Constitution? | |
2010 | Giants Advance To 2010 World Series!!! |
To Meet And Fulfill
Posted in Faith, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Christianity, Conscience, Faith, Longa Manus, Philosophy, Priests, Quotes, Responsibility, Yves Congar on October 14, 2020| Leave a Comment »
The job of priests with respect to the lay people is not to make them the longa manus of the clergy, telling them what they’ve got to do; but to make them believing men and women, adult Christians, leaving them to meet and fulfill the concrete demands of their Christianity on their own responsibility and in accordance with their own consciences. | |
— Yves Congar | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2019 | 10 Effects Covered |
I Am Looking Forward To Reading The House’s Formal Impeachment Charges | |
2018 | Three Things |
2017 | Love Yourself |
Deliver The Revolution | |
2016 | Once Eccentric |
2015 | Trusted Desperation |
2014 | Orange October (V) – Giants Win Game 3 |
Who Am I To Teach? | |
2013 | Deliver Us Something Larger |
2012 | Bore, n. |
2011 | Attaining High Office |
What Will You Give?
Posted in Faith, Included Video, Music and Concerts, Philosophy, Song Lyrics And Videos By Others, Videos, tagged Alex Boye, Comments, Faith, Genesis Choir, Little Drummer Boy -- music video, Philosophy, YouTube on December 24, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Little Drummer Boy
Rate this:
Share this:
Like this:
Read Full Post »