Franciscan on Sister Water

People today think that it is passe to think much about the teaching of religions and I have to say some of the religions that have been created  can be pretty wild and crazy to my way of thinking, but there are some basic ideas that have historically been presented to us that make sense […]

I recently went to Fatima, after thinking about it a long time.  Portugal is very beautiful and one of those beautiful areas is around Fatima.  It is believed by many to be a site where The Blessed Mother of Christ visited 3 shepherd children (Francesco, Jacinta and Lucille).  There is a spiritual beauty displayed by […]

It’s a little hard to imagine what kind of government exactly our founding fathers wished to establish, but they did understand the risks of having an absolute powerful figure deciding regulations and laws over their lives.  They had been colonists of a King and they knew they did not get a fair deal with that […]

Most of us were taught when very young that it was wrong to tell a lie.  However, we also learned that sometimes telling a lie would get us out of difficult situations or might lead to an advantage to ourselves.  In other words, we can get the perception that lies can selfishly give us something […]

The Republican Party was established officially in 1856 with their first president elect  being Abraham Lincoln.  The party was established in the northern states with an abolitionist theme, support of labor unions, with economic reform (including  higher taxes) and generally with liberal changes in mind.  You say how can this be?  Well much has changed […]

Lately in politics we have seen a style of political practice that has not been seen much since Hitler’s political style of the 1930’s.  You are familiar now with the raised voice, the stern looks, the expected obedience and loyalty and the focusing of one’s emotions on hating other groups.  Sounds familiar….yes?  Many political leaders […]

I was born in the United States at a time when people looked up to the government to govern for the people, as the famous speech by President Lincoln with wisdom professed.  To vote was considered a right for all citizens of a certain age.  As children we pledged an allegiance to the flag and […]

Many people say they are Christians, but do they really know what it is to be a Christian?   When reading the New Testament one can follow the story of Christ’s travels throughout the Jordan and hear his words and the results of his actions.  He was revolutionary for the times and this resulted in his […]

In the New Testament, John writes about the experience of Jesus’s conversations with everyday people and many that do not agree with his ideas or his methods of reaching out to others.   In one particular incident, Jesus has got himself into a tight spot and people are picking up rocks to stone him (John […]

While traveling in different countries, I have observed how others live and have discussed the Worlds’ events with those having varied viewpoints.  One thing that is most disturbing for me, and to many World citizens, is how radical politicians are sprouting up around the World, promoting violence and hatred.  We last saw this in the […]