Friday, December 29, 2006

Saddam's Execution a Crime?

According to Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, the head of the Vatican's Justice and Peace department, executing former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein would be "avenging a crime with another crime".



This is ludicrous. It's called justice not crime. Mass murder is a crime. Saddam, unfortunately, lived to go through a justice system that could have proved him innocent. He is going to be put to death in a quick and humane method. Something his hundreds of thousands of victims never enjoyed.



The execution of saddam is justice. He will never murder again.

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Jesus is Born!

Merry Christmas!



Christ Born of Mary

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.



Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.



So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.



Glory in the Highest



Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them,


“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”



And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”


So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another,



“Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”


And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.



But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.



PRAISE BE TO GOD!

Saturday, December 23, 2006

The History of Christmas - Part V

Birth of John the Baptist



Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.



Circumcision of John the Baptist



So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias.



His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.”



But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.”



So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.



Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying,



“What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.




Zacharias’ Prophecy



Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:

“ Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David,
As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
Who have been since the world began,
That we should be saved from our enemies
And from the hand of all who hate us,
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
And to remember His holy covenant,
The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.”

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited[e] us;
To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”



So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

The History of Christmas - Part IV

The Song of Mary

And Mary said:



My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;

For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

For He who is mighty has done great things for me,

And holy is His name.

And His mercy is on those who fear Him

From generation to generation.

He has shown strength with His arm;

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones,

And exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

And the rich He has sent away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel,

In remembrance of His mercy,

As He spoke to our fathers,

To Abraham and to his seed forever.”



And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house. -Luke 1:46-56

Sunday, December 17, 2006

The History of Christmas - Part III

Mary Visits Elizabeth



Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said,

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”
-Luke 1:39:45 (NKJV)

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

The History of Christmas - Part II

Christ’s Birth Announced to Mary


Then Mary said to the angel,


“How can this be, since I do not know a man?”



And the angel answered and said to her,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God."



Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.”



Then Mary said,

“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
-Luke 1:34-38 (NKJV)

Monday, December 11, 2006

The History of Christmas - Part I

“Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her,




‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’




Then the angel said to her,




‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”


—Luke 1:26-33 (NKJV)