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

Quote for the Day

He [ Abba Nilus] also said, 'If you want to pray properly, do not let yourself be upset or you will run in vain.' 

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Nilus] also said, 'Whatever you have endured out of love of wisdom will bear fruit for you at the time of prayer.'

 -- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

I Was Hungry . . .

Self-regulation for Financial Institutions?

Libor Manipulation Probed by Five State Legal Offices 


Visa, MasterCard in $6B credit card settlement 


Wells Fargo $175M discriminatory lending settlement 


These headlines are a consequence of government regulation of financial institutions.  If it were not for such governmental regulations and their enforcement, we would not be subjected to such headlines.  Business practices of financial institutions would not change, but we would not be forced to learn about these practices.  We could maintain our bliss.

So, if you dislike reading such headlines and seeing the bottom line of big financial institutions suffer due to punitive government actions, join the cry by the leaders of finance for less government regulation and fewer rules imposed upon these institutions.  They should be allowed to self-regulate themselves.  Trust them.

And if you follow their logic regarding self-policing, you should support cutting government budgets by doing away with our police, prosecuting attorneys, judges and prison staffs.  Let the criminals regulate themselves and keep us and our possessions safe.  Think of the tax savings we could have.  Trust them.

As for me, I’ll cry for outside regulation in both cases.  I don’t trust them.  I trust the testimony of their actions.

Pascal and Climate Change

Not Faux news, but don't blame the messenger for the message. (A news report on climate change)

I suggest that climate change doubters consider an update of Pascal's wager. Remember Pascal said that if we wager that there is no God and are right, we've gained nothing. If we wager that there is no God and we're wrong, we lose everything. If we wager there is a God and we lose, we lose nothing. If we wager there is a God and win, we win everything. So, it is better to wager that there is a God.

In the same way, if we wager climate change is not taking place and win, we win nothing. If we wager climate change is not taking place and lose, we contribute to the destruction of our world. If we wager climate change is taking place and it is not, we lose nothing and may even gain from a more constructive life style. If we wager climate change is taking place and win, we can reverse the course of destruction and save our world.

Which is the wiser wager? Count the costs.

Quote for the Day

Abba Nilus said, 'Everything you do in revenge against a brother who has harmed you will come back to your mind at the time of prayer.'

 -- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

A soldier asked Abba Mius if God accepted repentance. After the old man had taught him many things he said, 'Tell me, my dear, if your cloak is torn, do you throw it away?' He replied, 'No, I mend it and use it again.' The old man said to him, 'If you are so careful about your cloak, will not God be equally careful about his creature?' 

-- Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

A brother questioned Abba Motius, saying, 'If I go to dwell somewhere, how do you want me to live?' The old man said to him, 'If you live somewhere, do not seek to be known for anything special; do not say, for example, I do not go to the synaxis; or perhaps, I do not eat at the agape. For these things make an empty reputation and later you will be troubled because of this. for men rush there where they find these practices.' The brother said to him, 'What shall I do, then?' The old man said, 'Wherever you live, follow the same manner of life as everyone else and if you see devout men, whom you trust doing something, do the same and you will be at peace. For this is humility: to see yourself to be the same as the rest. When men see you do not go beyond the limits, they will consider you to be the same as everyone else and no-one will trouble you.' 

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

Quote for the Day

That is what our educational system has to encourage.  It has to foster the social goals of living together, and working together, for the common good.

-- Julius Nyerere

Quote for the Day

It is no use walking anywhere to preach, unless our walking is our preaching. 

-- St. Francis of Assisi

Quote for the Day

He [Abba Matoes] went on, 'It is not through virtue that I live in solitude, but through weakness; those who live in the midst of men are the strong ones.' 

-- The Sayings of the Desert Fathers