Tag Archives: Blog

The News, Tony's Posts

Today Is Ash Wednesday, The Beginning of Lent

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Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer.

Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday.

Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person’s forehead, he speaks the words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (From Catholic Online)

I am an Episcopalian and tonight I will go to my parish, St. Peters Episcopal to receive ashes and to begin my personal journey in this Lenten season. I think its important to share experiences like this that makes ones faith story real. For many its giving up something  or fasting during this season but some take on new things to bring them closer to Christ and to make the world a better place.

The Episcopal Church has a prayer and scripture readings about today, click here to check it out.

To my brothers and sisters in the faith I walk with you during this time. To everyone may God bless and keep you.

Rambling, Tony's Posts

Rambling About Shaming

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There seems to be a lot of shaming in the media today or perhaps it’s the bravery and anonymity of people on social media baiting people into saying really nasty and negative things. What I find sad is when people venerate people for being in their minds the best thing since sliced bread and oxygen while tearing another person down for not being good enough in their minds.

Peyton Manning gets lauded in these parts while Cam Newton is vilified for one reason or another. Facebook can be a bastion of judgmental people (I have been one at times) but there have been some venomous comments made about famous people because they don’t fall in line with their politics or religious slant.

Now I am not without fault but there are some who are very nasty because they have been taught they have to be to elevate their position in an argument. A lot of shaming is a result of hidden prejudice and discrimination. It seems like the volume of people online is deafening and disappointing. Maybe we need to turn down the noise and have constructive dialogue.

Maybe we should all chill out. Take a time out. Say something nice for a change.

The News

Twitter deletes 125,000 Isis accounts and expands anti-terror teams | Technology | The Guardian

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Twitter has deleted more than 125,000 accounts linked to terrorists since mid-2015, the company announced, offering some of the most detailed insight yet of how Silicon Valley is collaborating with western governments in its fight against Islamic State.

Source: Twitter deletes 125,000 Isis accounts and expands anti-terror teams | Technology | The Guardian

Censorship is not always a good thing but in this case I am all for it. The world is too dangerous a place to allow unchecked commentary and communication online. From terror to bullies we need to call people into account for what they post.

Music and Media, The News, Tony's Posts

#Superbowl 50 – Panthers vs. Broncos – The Big Game Sunday

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This Sunday is Super Bowl 50 where the Carolina Panthers take on the Denver Broncos for the Vince Lombardi trophy symbolic of the best team in American Football. As we I go along the weekend I will be posting a few things about the game. It’s going to be a great game with two great teams.

Tony's Posts

“Friends Day” on Facebook

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Over on Facebook they are celebrating “Friends Day” as a part of their 12th birthday observance. It got me to thinking about the friends I have had in my life and how much they were a part of getting me through different parts of my life.

I don’t have a “best friend” my wife is a friend but we think you can have a spouse and then have a “best friend” who are two different people. I am not sad about not having a “bestie” just because it might be good to have a wide variety of people in ones life.

For some reason in my life friendships have been temporal. I admit there are times when I think people don’t like me very well just because I am a bit on the odd side at times. Perhaps I need to like me more so others will. That is another discussion altogether.

Life-long friendships are inspiring and cool and to have them is a gift. Of course there are friendships that are based on situations of a moment and are there for a season. Also there are friendships that have ended because of reasons.

As we who are on Facebook celebrate this “Friends Day” I consider each of you who follows me a friend because we share blogging and the desire to connect with the world at large. We indeed are strangers only once as someone once said.

Thank you for being a friend…From The Golden Girls

Rambling, Tony's Posts

Rambling About Respecting Ones Elders

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Call me old fashioned and there are a few things that I am old school about but I believe in respecting ones elders. There are a lot of people who have way more wisdom and life experience than I do so perhaps I can learn something from them. I revere my parents and grandparents however I can still be my own person. In scripture there is a verse that says honor thy father and mother and you do that by being the best you can be as they taught you. Granted you will never agree with them 100% but that is OK. You had different life experiences and your opinions and world view are different which is to be expected.

I do realize there are many who don’t have a positive relationship with their families but there are plenty of older folks in the community who can be a positive influence. Perhaps we can benefit from the experiences of those folks so we won’t make the same mistakes they made. I am 46 years old and I still don’t know it all. Believe me folks I wish I were more like my mom and dad in many ways but I am who I am and that the way God made me.

To some folks I am an elder but that sounds weird. I would rather not be an elder but a friend who has a few more years in me. Perhaps that is the way future older-younger relationships will work.

Wisdom of the ages and youth shall be served, or something like that.