A variety of topicsDavid Tanguay (5,770)     David Tanguay    Talking With GodPosted Tuesday, May 13, 2008 (2 days 21 hours ago.) Viewed 785 times. There are many biblical answers to questions on how one should pray. Anyone interested in looking up these methods of prayer can find it on this site "what is prayer?" I was raised in a Roman Catholic family my mother and father were both Catholic and I began my education in a parochial school. The nuns would drill religion into us and we prayed many times during the day. When I reached my teens, going to public schools and learning about Darwin's theory of evolution these new concepts of creation made sense to me and I kind of alienated myself from the church and God. As far as prayer went, I distanced my self to what we call prayer today. In fact, during my adolescence I didn't believe in God. At nineteen I was sent to Vietnam and although I told all my buddies over there that I didn't believe in God, there were times during incoming I would say a silent prayer to the God I didn't believe in. When I was released from the military in 1969, I was still a disbeliever in God. However, I did go through an episode in my life that did change my whole way of thinking. I'm not going into detail about my relationship with the Lord. How he came into my life and changed my entire way of living. I do not consider myself a born again Christian. Although I was re-born one night it had nothing to do with the beliefs of born again Christians. What I am trying to stress here is the act of prayer. I remember my father on his knees every night by his bedside with his head in his hands. He told me one time that he prays for his family and for himself.
Some people will pray that they hit the lottery or come into some mass fortune. I can see praying for money if you are poor and have children to raise. However praying for instant wealth when there are so many in need of the mere necessities today seems to be a very selfish act. One need not get down on their knees to pray (or talk to God) simply laying down on your bed and clearing your mind of thoughts then just talk to him, that's what he's there for. 
Permalink Comments (8) God Shed His Grace On Thee (Poem)Posted Saturday, May 10, 2008 (5 days 15 hours ago.) Viewed 52 times. She was conceived and born to men who understood A new nation deriving from ideals for the common good Her laws and rules - set guidelines for us to live by Living freely in a land we could not deny Free to follow our dreams wherever they may lead The pursuit of happiness was inscribed - in her creed These men who gave their lives during the revolution To protect and preserve her constitution Though not without fault she has her flaws For her judicial system was set up to question her laws Her preamble reads for the world to see -"We The People" Let her bell ring loudly from the church top steeple When you feel and learn what America really stands for That's when you stand tall as you enter through her front door My country tis of thee sweet land of liberty Each night I'll offer a prayer - as I fall to my knee Many tears were shed for lives lost to protect and preserve her Only lives not lost in vain - in our hearts they all were
Permalink Comments (0) The House I Live In (by Frank Sinatra)Posted Thursday, May 08, 2008 (7 days 15 hours ago.) Viewed 75 times. I have CDs with some old Frank Sinatra songs. This song "the house I live in" has lyrics such as "The dream that's been a growing for a hundred and fifty years." when he refers to the age of America. Well our nation is over two hundred and thirty years old now so one can imagine how old this particular song is. Here are the lyrics to the song What is America to me A name, a map, or a flag I see That little corner newsstand The wedding and the churchyard
Permalink Comments (0) Is Pride a Sin?Posted Tuesday, May 06, 2008 (9 days 18 hours ago.) Viewed 70 times. Pride is an emotion which refers to a strong sense of self-respect, a refusal to be humiliated as well as joy in the accomplishments of oneself or a person, group, nation or object that one identifies with. I personally have felt a sense of pride during my lifetime. When I was a child I had a deep pride for my country. Also the men and women who made our country what it is today. When I was in the Marine Corps I developed a sense of pride in being a marine. The excerpt below points out the Christian version of pride In Christianity , Pride (also Vanity or arrogance) is the essentially competitive and excessive belief in one's own abilities that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God, or the worth which God sees in others; for example: "In his Pride the wicked does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God." (Psalm 10:4 (Pride) Pride is also one of the seven deadly sins, envy, lust, wrath, sloth, gluttony and greed) Perhaps pride can be used very vainly if we focus primarily on ourselves. However to take pride in one's work for example brings out a part of us recognized by others. Such as an artist painting a master piece. I believe the work in itself is a part of the artist. Surely Michelangelo was no sinner his work was a labor of love for his God. Did he feel a sense of pride? Later in his life he designed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the same city and revolutionized classical architecture with his use of the giant order of pilasters. 
Portrait of Michelangelo Of course to believe in one's own ability does not necessarily mean leaving God out of one's life totally. Quite contrary for focusing on one's work using God's given trait is simply doing God's work here on Earth. I believe he watches over us without us realizing it. If we should be led astray and find ourselves going down the wrong path he will always be there to help get us on the right course again. I suppose the word "pride" can be debatable amongst all who dwell on the issue. Whether one serves in the clergy, military, or on the job. I personally do not see any harm in having a sense pride in ourselves, or in others.
Permalink Comments (0) Does Anybody Really Care?Posted Saturday, May 03, 2008 (12 days 17 hours ago.) Viewed 407 times. "The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. Elie Wiesel Apathy and indifference have always been the rule of those we choose as scapegoats in human relations. We choose to pin the blame on others for our downfalls. Politicians in high office will lay the blame of their failing administration to the actions of those in congress. With so many incumbents upholding their seat in political office there are so many diverse ideas among all of our leaders. The way out of an argument it seems is not debate but rather indifference. The definition of apathy: "the lack of emotion, motivation, or enthusiasm; a psychological term for a state of indifference." The fact is indifference could be controlled if there were less resistance to new ideas and beliefs. An open mind and heart is what is needed from each individual with their own ideals, which should not be taken out of context. Our nation was conceived through bold new ideologies from men determined to establish a new way of living under the ideals of freedom and justice. Indifference can be natural in most people it is rather a condition and state of mind, which needs to be disciplined by our own personal way of thinking.
"The glory of God," St. Ireneus once said, "is the human person fully alive!" Isn't that the deepest desire of the human heart: to be fully alive…fully loved…fully human…and fully free? "Why not let people differ about their answers to the great mysteries of the Universe? Let each seek one's own way to the highest, to one's own sense of supreme loyalty in life, one's ideal of life. Let each philosophy, each world-view bring forth its truth and beauty to a larger perspective, that people may grow in vision, stature and dedication." Algernon Black
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