Quote for the Day

He [Abba Poemen] also said, 'A man may seem to be silent, but if his heart is condemning others he is babbling ceaselessly.  but there may be another who talks from morning till night and yet he is truly silent; that is, he says nothing that is not profitable.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Abba Isaiah questioned Abba Poemen on the subject of impure thoughts.  Abba Poemen said to him, 'It is like having a chest full of clothes, if one leaves them in disorder they are spoiled in the course of time.  It is the same with thoughts.  If we do not do anything about them, in time they are spoiled, that is to say, they disintegrate.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Advice for Diogenes

I've been watching and listening to the political campaigns for some time now and have a question. Do the parties have a training school or course to teach the candidates to lie with a straight face, or does it come naturally to them? 

I think maybe it's both. Natural liars have their skills honed by the political apparatus. It appears to me that the Republicans do a better job. The Democrats tend to have more visible tells when they're being untruthful. Perhaps the Republicans have lied to themselves so much that they actually believe what they say in contradiction to the truth. 

Either way, Diogenes should keep his search outside of Washington, D.C. and our state capitals, our county courthouses and our city halls.

The Bible Says . . .

People who say, "The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it," are missing two essential affirmations.
"I understand it" and "I obey it."

It doesn't matter what we believe if we don't understand or if we misunderstand.  Let's understand what we believe and understand it correctly.  (It helps to acknowledge those things we don't understand.  That's the first step toward understanding.)

Nothing is settled until we obey.  "That settles it" is not a way to end an argument but a confirmation that obedience had been carried out.

Now, let's try to understand what we need to do.

Quote for the Day

Abba Joseph said to Abba Nisterus, 'What should I do about my tongue, for I cannot control it?'  The old man said to him, 'When you speak, do you find peace?'  He replied 'No.'  The old man said, 'If you do not find peace, why do you speak?  Be silent and when a conversation takes place, it is better to listen than to speak.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

Reflect that true humility consists to a great extent in being ready for what the Lord desires to do with you and happy that He should do it, and in always considering yourselves unworthy to be called His servants.

-- St. Teresa of Avila

Quote for the Day

He [ Abba Nilus] also said, 'Do not be always wanting everything to turn out as you think it should, but rather as God pleases, then you will be undisturbed and thankful in your prayer.'

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

God deliver us from people who wish to serve Him, yet who are mindful of their own honor.

-- St. Teresa of Avila

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Nilus] also said, 'Prayer is the seed of gentleness and the absence of anger.'  

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers