7 Quick Takes Friday: My Email Box

Reading my blog email is always a thrill, much like riding the worlds fastest, highest, most twisted roller coaster.  One minute it’s up with a wonderful uplifting inspiring article or letter from a reader, then next I am weeding through the “you’re going to hell for being Catholic…being a homophobe…being a Republican…” you get the idea.

Then there are the emails that say “Hey, did you see this? You might want to say something about…"

So today I am sharing my email roller coaster ride on my blog for the Conversion Diary's "7 Quick Takes" Friday.

-ONE-

First up, the roller coaster beings to climb with inspiration!

Lovely right?  I thought so!

-TWO-

Then the roller coaster hooks to the right so sharply I nearly end up with whiplash…

Seems back in the spring of 2013, the TorrentFreak website that monitors the Internet decided to take a look at where pirated movies/dvd’s were being downloaded (stolen) from and low and behold their tracking led them to the Vatican.

Some of the stolen pirated moves were “Love Actually” and the television show “Chicago Fire” to name a few.  But TorrentFreak dug even deeper and found that a great deal of PORN was being downloaded in Vatican City.

*sigh*

When asked about the porn downloaded to the Vatican’s IP address it was suggested that it might not be priests downloading stolen porn videos, but rather the Papal Swiss Guard. 

Yep, blame it on the other guys.  Couldn't possibly be a priest doing such a thing!

*sigh*

-THREE-

My next email was even worse… After watching a report on EWTN about abortion, a story was mentioned about South China eating aborted babies because a doctor insists there is good nutrition in baby eating and if people don’t eat aborted babies that nutrition goes to waste.  This is not a new story, it was actually reported back in 2003 by the Weekly Standard,but until now I had been ignorant of it.

-FOUR-

My next email was a lovely turn for the better…it was a link with photos to the Groom Texas Cross.  I had seen and heard of this years ago, but it was certainly a welcome email to see it again.  Just lovely!

Here is a short video from a visitor who took some amazing photos and put them to music…

-FIVE-

My next email was the promotion of lesbianism in Cosmopolitan magazine (nothing new about this either, just more depravity)…

“The 13 Best Things About Being A Lesbian”

So what are some of the “best reasons” to be a lesbian you ask?

-You get to make out with girls in public bathrooms!

I’m not kidding, that is listed as a great reason for being a lesbian.

-You double your tampon supply!

Because of course there is a mass shortage of tampons!

-No risk of pregnancy! 

-No more having to perform oral sex on a man!  Instead you perform it on a woman because, you know “where all the bells and whistles are, so you can put down the manuals!”…

I can't believe this magazine is so popular, but it certainly does explain a lot about the depravity of secular society.

-SIX-

The roller coaster has crashed and burned at this point so I stop reading personal blog emails and move on to Google news... and found a nice story of a Trinity Bible College (N.Dakota) student working as a waitress at Cracker Barrel who received $6,000+ tip for “being perky”. 

*Of course the heterophobic anti-Christian Perez Hilton took issue with Trinity Bible College because they teach chastity until traditional (1 man + 1 woman) marriage.

-SEVEN-

And because Grumpy Cat can always make me smile...

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Link: http://torrentfreak.com/priests-watch-dvd-screeners-while-pirates-download-filth-in-the-vatican-130407/

Link: http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/064rzgvz.asp

Link: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/12568

Link: http://perezhilton.com/2014-01-10-cracker-barrel-waitress-6000-tip-trinity-bible-college-prohibits-homosexuality

7 Quick Takes Friday: 7 Things I WON'T BUY!

Today I have made a list of 7 things I am pretty sure I will never buy...

--- 1 ---

The first item I won't be buying is the "Count down Christmas Whiskey Advent Calendar".

Ya... I'll pass on that one.

--- 2 ---

I love statues in my gardens. Growing up, my great grandmother Nanie used to tell us tales of the wood fairies (tiny wee folk) who lived in the forest. She had a beautiful garden gnome figure that she would occasionally move around in the garden partially hiding him behind flowers. It was a sort of adventure trying to see where that gnome had gotten to each day. Fun stuff for a kid! Anyway, I am always on the look out for a cute garden gnome to add to my own gardens. But there is one garden gnome I will not be buying... The Stripper Gnome

Is there nothing people won't pervert? *sigh*

--- 3 ---

I've never been a big fan of Halloween- aside from the Peanut's Charlie Brown Halloween special (who doesn't love "I gotta rock"?). So it won't be any great surprise when I pass on buying a "Creepy Crapper" bathroom door cover.

I'll be taking a pass on the creepy zombies climbing out of the toilet too.

--- 4 ---

I will NOT NOW OR EVER be buying lunch at the "Magic Restroom Cafe"...

where patrons sit on toilets and eat out of toilets. *gag*

*gagging*

--- 5 ---

I won't be buying the men in my family any "Jesus shaves mugs" this Christmas either.

--- 6 ---

I'll let the advertisement speak for its self here...

BELIEVE IN GOD INSTANTLY BREATH SPRAY In need of a faith lift? When you're ready to turn to God, we're here to show you the way. Contains 0.25 fluid ounces of Peppermint Flavor breath spray. *Warning: This spray is a potentially dangerous weapon. Do not administer to individuals against their will. Forced religious conversions will be prosecuted! Just $5.99

--- 7 ---

I will not be buying adopting any "Zombie-Repelling" pets (I think the small zoo we currently have will keep most zombies far, far away!). But I would recommend getting a Zombie-Repellent pet to anyone who lives in a zombie zone.

Published on Oct 10, 2013-- In the weeks leading up to Halloween, shelters and rescues across the state of NC are urging citizens to arm their households with zombie-repellent cats and kittens. Shelters and cat rescues feel it is their civic duty to be sure at least one of these special cats or kittens are placed in each NC home. With the rising interest of zombies in pop culture, shelters are taking advantage of its popularity and harnessing the meme to find homes for the thousands of homeless cats and kittens in the state of NC. "Since none of the shelters in NC have ever been attacked by zombies and all shelters have cats and kittens, we see the link; with this link we feel it is a public service we need to provide to fellow North Carolinians," says an SPCA spokesperson. "We never know where or when the zombie apocalypse will occur. It best to protect your family by adopting a cat or kitten from a shelter near you." Visit www.spcawake.org/zombies for more information.

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

7 Quick Takes Friday

This is my first time playing along with Jennifer Fulwiler's...

--- 1 ---

Best skeleton prank EVER! :)

--- 2 ---

Most repulsive story of the week...(or one of them anyway)
The "Ghost Burger" - topped with an unconsecrated communion host and covered in red wine reduction sauce.

Quote from FoxNews article: "Kuma's Corner, a foodie destination with just a few tables, names its hamburgers after heavy metal bands. For October, the restaurant chose to name the burger after the Swedish band Ghost. Members of the band dress in religious robes and wear skeleton face makeup.
It's in poor taste, said Jeff Young of New Orleans who runs the blog Catholic Foodie.
"It's not, for us, the Eucharist," Young said. "However this wafer is a symbol. There's a cross on it. It's like taking a flag and burning a flag."

--- 3 ---

A book I really enjoyed...

Book recommendation: Bleeding Hands, Weeping Stone: True Stories of Divine Wonders, Miracles and Messages by Elizabeth Ficocelli

Description: Miracles are real! And the history of the Church, from ancient times to the modern day, is full of them. God in His mercy has not only given us the revealed truths of Scripture and Tradition, but in all times and places has exercised his power on earth in extraordinary ways: to teach, correct, warn, and inspire His people according to the needs of the age. In Bleeding Hands, Weeping Stone, popular Catholic author and speaker Elizabeth Ficocelli reveals history's most magnificent miracles. Some of them are quiet and simple, some of them are dramatic bordering on outrageous but all of them are signs of God's loving, providential hand at work in the world, continually inflaming our hearts to greater faith and more ardent love. In brisk, easy-to-read accounts, perfect for bedtime or the break room, Bleeding Hands, Weeping Stone relates the amazing (but true) stories of: -The woman who stole a Host from church and hid it at home, only to find that it had turned to real human flesh. The apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary that put an end to human sacrifice in Mexico and the miraculous image she left for us there. -The pious farm girl who prayed to share in Christ's Passion, and received miraculous wounds on her head, hands, feet, and side. For twelve years until her death she lived on nothing but the Eucharist. -The arrogant knight who demanded the largest Host at Communion and was swallowed up by the stone floor of the church! (You can still see the holes today.) -Saints who could levitate, glow with inner light, or appear in two places at once, and whose bodies did not decompose even hundreds of years after death. -And many more miracles, from the obscure and near-forgotten to the most significant apparitions and prophecies of our faith. You're sure to enjoy reading and sharing these stories of God's miraculous workings in history. But Bleeding Hands, Weeping Stone does more than tell stories: it explains why God performs miracles, and what our disposition should be towards them. So let these pages deepen your faith in God's ever-present love and care.

--- 4 ---

LifeSiteNews is hosting a "Day of Prayer and Fasting for Pope Francis" because of the confusion caused by his recent interviews.

From their website: A Pope is likely the most prayed for of all persons on earth. Everyday, he is mentioned in every Catholic Mass and he is prayed for in a special way by most religious orders and members of most Catholic movements around the world. So, regardless of whatever weaknesses and poor judgement he may have, there is real hope that any newly elected Pope will grow into a holy, great leader as a result of those prayers.
However, right now we need to add to all the usual prayers some extra special prayer and fasting for Pope Francis because of the current circumstances. Non-Catholics are most welcome to join in as well because of the huge influence on the world that a Pope can have.
To encourage this most necessary prayer, some of the LifeSiteNews staff have set up a special Pro-Life day of prayer and fasting for Pope Francis Facebook page.
The date set for this prayer and fasting is this Friday, Oct. 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the  Pope’s patron. Check it out here. You are encouraged to add a post noting that you are joining in. Also invite friends and family to take part in the effort to pray for Francis.
If we do this, then we can be assured that we have done the very best thing possible in response to this controversy. Words have their limits compared to prayer.
It appears that Francis needs a stronger guiding light to help him in his incredibly challenging role. Inspired, courageous, authentic spiritual and moral leadership is desperately needed to fill a great vacuum of such leadership in much of the world in our time.
If that does not happen, other, extremely unpleasant things are certain to soon fill that vacuum.
We don't want to go there.

--- 5 ---

Saint of the Day
St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)
The son of a rich merchant, Francis spent over a year as a prisoner of war, where he experienced a conversion. Inspired by the Gospels, he dressed in rags and begged for food. When his family disapproved, he formally renounced his wealth and inheritance. He preached in the streets, visited hospitals, served the sick, composed hymns, and regularly performed manual labor. When hundreds started following him, he received the blessing of the pope to start the Franciscans. Soon, his followers numbered in the thousands. While on a retreat meditating, Francis received the stigmata. He died with the words "Bring my soul out of prison" on his lips.

--- 6 ---

One of my favorite blog posts of the week is "Norman Anderson on Church donuts". Norman was a guest blogger on Fr. Longenecker's Patheos Blog today.

"Guest blogger Norman Anderson is married to Marjorie and is a Catholic father of high schoolers Kevin, Marybelle and Hazel. He works as a claims adjuster at Skinner’s Insurance Incorporated. He attends St Martha’s Catholic Church in Adam’s Falls, North Carolina. Norman is a suburban hermit."

--- 7 ---

For my last 'Quick Take' I am going to share a link to an article I wrote on the DANGERS of watching, believing or following the "Long Island Medium" Theresa Caputo.

I am sharing this archive article because the "Long Island Medium" returns with new episodes this month and people are charmed and amazed by her "abilities" with no regard for WHERE those abilities come from.  Please read the article and share with friends, this is dangerous to get mixed up with- most especially for children watching the show.

 

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner