St. John the Evangelist - Ancient Faith, Modern Relevance

To ———–
@2008 Linda Barrett
God knew what He was doing
When He gave you
that extra chromosome
the human earthly world
sees you as unworthy
While your tongue stumbles
as you read God’s word,
You carry the small child’s faith
to enter into His Heaven
Bishops and theologians
play by their own rules

At the Monday Night Women’s study at the Cook’s, a few of us gathered to discuss John 9 and how Jesus healed the blind beggar. We talked about handicapped people and how God uses them. I remembered a poem I wrote about ten or fifteen years ago. I also wrote another one, too. I’ll have to get this one out as well as the other one.

During Super Bowl 44 (or XLIV, if you prefer), commercials are shown which are highlighted as some of the most creative of the year. My favorite is still the series of "Wassaaap" commercials back in the late 90s.

A recent landmark study out of the University of Pennsylvania evaluated sixth and seventh graders undergoing abstinence-oriented education versus traditional sex education. The study looked at the percentage of each group that became sexually active within the next two years.

Only one-third of those students who received abstinence-focused education were sexually active within the next two years versus one-half of those who received the traditional abstinence and contraceptive oriented sex-ed. This is the first study to show a clear benefit to abstinence-only education.

Tim Tebow is the quarterback of the Florida Gators.  He led his team to two national championships and is expected to play professionally for the NFL.  He is also the committed Christian son of Christian parents.

When Tim's mother, Pam Tebow, was pregnant with Tim in 1987, she contracted ameobic dysentary while on a misssionary trip in the Philippines.  Mrs. Tebow's physician advised his patient to terminate her pregnancy claiming that the medications required to treat the disease would cause irreparable damage to her baby.  She refused.

two sundays ago, i drove to a gas station on york and Second street pike in Hatboro. I stopped off at the lukoil station. My mind focused on getting gas as well as enduring the cold and rain. A man at the pump across from me asked if I could help him fill up his tank. He told me he only had a dollar and twenty five cents. He needed the money to get him someplace. I paid for my gas and then went inside to pay the man’s bill. It cost me four dollars and eighty cents. He filled up his van.
I don’t think I ever saw him again but it reminded me of the Good Samaritan who came along and saved a beat up and robbed traveler. I don’t know what you folks think. did i do the right thing?
Also: i have a new E-mail address: it’s jimmyjane1@verizon.net. Please remember it for future reference.

VirtueOnline1 points the reader to a report that King's Glory Fellowship Association, a Christian church in Calgary Canada, has lost its charitable status. Reported in a "National Post" article entitled "Advocacy Costly For Church - Fellowship Loses Tax Status As Charity"2;

1. 1. http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1196…
2. 2. http://www.nationalpost.com/related/topics/story.html?id=2475277

In almost any community of ideas, there are topics that are considered forbidden or taboo. For evolutionists, creationism is taboo. For Republicans, any positive comment about welfare is taboo. For Democrats of the Northeastern US variety, laissez-faire economics spells disaster for those in need. For naturopaths, medicine is off limits; and for traditional physicians naturopathy is likewise looked down upon.

"Ethics In The Public Forum" is a rather broad concept. If you review what 'padoc' and I (the rector) have contributed to this forum, you'll quickly see that the entries are virtually all about domestic issues. The themes of health care and abortion are at the top of the list.