Mark Link and Mohandas Gandhi

Mark Link and Mohandas Gandhi

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Mark Link is a Jesuit priest who has written a number of books. He has published a series of small booklets dealing with spiritual observations. One of these is Mission  which is for praying scripture in a contemporary way.  In this one he writes: "Mohandas Gandhi is often called ‘the father of India.’ He once listed seven evils that destroy not only individual persons but also entire countries: Politics without principle Pleasure without conscience Wealth without work Knowledge without character…

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Rev. Michael J. Schmitt

Rev. Michael J. Schmitt

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A friend of mine, Michael J. Schmitt died 20 years ago – November 10, 1987. I’m remembering him because he was a unique person. We met at St Martin’s College where he was studying pre-seminary classes. We took the same classes because I had transfered from the University of Washington to see if I belonged in the priesthood. I didn’t. He did. He went on to become a Roman Catholic priest and a good one too. Having been brought up…

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Paul N. Luvera, Sr

Paul N. Luvera, Sr

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I’m re-publishing a post about my dad who died on November 4, 1990 in Anacortes, Washington at the age of 92. He was born March 25, 1898 in Reggio Calabria, Italy, the son of Niccola and Fillippa Luvera. In 1910 he emigrated to Coleman, Alberta where he and his father worked in coal mines until the family moved to Anacortes in 1918. In 1922 he and his father opened Luvera’s Fruit Store at 7th & Commerical in Anacortes – (Photo:…

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The Black Panther

The Black Panther

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John Hall Wheelock has written a rather dark poem about "things that go bump in the night" which keep us awake and about those tormenting thoughts which sometimes escape their cage. "There is a panther caged within my breast, But what his name, there is no breast shall know save mine, nor what it is that drives him so, Backward and forward, in relentless quest – that silent rage, baffled, but unsuppressed, The soft pad of those stealthy feet that…

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William Barclay and Love of Neighbor

William Barclay and Love of Neighbor

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My favorite spiritual writer, William Barclay has written: "The true Christian loves Christ and loves his fellow men. More than that, he knows that he cannot show his love to Christ in any other way than by showing his love to his fellow men. However orthodox a Church is, however pure its theology and however noble its worship and its liturgy, it is not a true Church in the real sense of the term unless it is characterized by love…

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The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

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Have you read about the island of plastic debris weighing some 3 million tons and twice as large as the state of Texas floating in the ocean off the coast of California? It sounds like something from a horror movie, but it’s true. It’s called the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" by the marine researchers who have been studying it for a decade. It has collected in what is known as the North Pacific Gyre because of the clockwise trade winds…

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Death by Black Hole and The Universe

Death by Black Hole and The Universe

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Neil DeGrasse Tyson has written a book Death by Black Hole about the solar system. When astrophysicist’s describe the universe it is a rather other world conversation. Some of the things that have struck me as I listen to this book on tape, while commuting to work, include the fact that we are all star dust. We are star dust because all matter contain the elements of the what makes up the solar system and stars. The cosmic origin of…

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Report From The Oriental Hotel Bangkok, Thailand

Report From The Oriental Hotel Bangkok, Thailand

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We arrived in Bangkok yesterday afternoon. We are staying at the famous Oriental Hotel. This five star hotel was founded over one hundred years ago although the original structure no longer exists. Royalty, dignitaries and distinguished people have followed the legendary Chao Phrya River through the heart of Bangkok to the doors of this hotel. It was only in recent years the main entrance of the hotel was moved from the river to the land side. The river is chocolate…

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The Bush Adminstration as Seen By The Foreign Press

The Bush Adminstration as Seen By The Foreign Press

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The International Herald Tribune (10/26/07) had an editorial which began: "President George W. Bush waited until he had vetoed a relatively inexpensive children’s health insurance bill before asking for tens of billions of dollars more for his misadventure in Iraq. The cynicism of that maneuver is only slight less shameful than the president’s distorted priorities. Bush keeps throwing money at his war, regardless of the cost in blood, treasure or children’s health care." It goes on to point out that…

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Report from Phuket

Report from Phuket

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There was a temporary break in the rain last evening and we actually sat outside in the courtyard by the pool having a drink and listening to the women play Thai music. No stars visible, of course. In fact, we have seen neither the sun nor the stars since arriving in Phuket. The waves make a loud crashing sound as they land on the small sandy beach below the court yard and the music is pleasant. It is consistently warm…

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