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Correct me if I'm wrong, but the "third heaven" IS heaven, right? IOW, it's just another way of speaking of the "abode" of God, according to the thinking of the time. Now we have a problem. I cannot find anything specific about what Ananias told Paul, so I don't see how you can be so certain...

This was to my statement that only the Gospels contain the words of Jesus, and not the Epistles. So I am not sure what the CONTRARE is all about, since Clare73 goes on to say that "Jesus wrote nothing". I agree with that. Everything we get from the mouth of Jesus is, at best, second hand, and...

I reference the Gospels because those writings, and only those, contain the actual deeds and words of Jesus. The Epistles are the words of Paul and other writers, well after the time that Jesus was on the Earth. To me, the Gospels contain the core, the essence of what it means to be a...

I've been off the forum for a week or two, mostly because you, James, were not posting. So thanks for giving me something worthwhile to read and respond to. I agree with the percentage, but disagree on the word "opposite". I would use the word "skewed" to indicate that the great majority of...

Some of the architecture is beautiful, but in some cases over the top. I like simplicity for the most part. Much of the art is beautiful. A lot of great literature. What touches and inspires me the most is the core message found in the Gospels. It forms the basis for how I approach life...

I agree that skin color and ancestry do not equate with culture. Slave owners sired children with slave women; those children mostly grew up in the slave culture, not in the culture of their father. Even those whose mother was of mixed race parentage. Culture dominated over genetics. Many...

Too Late. Democracy as we have known it for a couple of hundred years is teetering on the brink, freedom of speech is being tossed and battered, and "Law and Order" has been abandoned by those who championed it in the past. As has an pretense of equality between socio-economic and ethnic...

I get the feeling that some functionary in the Vatican sent this letter. If I were the bishop of that diocese, I would have made some additional inquiries and got clarification. I don't have ready access to decisions in similar situations, but my memory is that a variation in words does not...

This is the kind of thing that places the Catholic Church in a bad light. Does God really care what exact words are used? Isn't the intent what is most important? The Church says the "I" refers to God acting through the priest; one could assume the same from the word "we". I assume that...

It depends on the music, but yes, listening to most music affects my mood. Some may energize me, while other music is soothing or calming.

Cremation has become quite common around the U.S. Everyone in my family who has died in the past 20 years or more has been cremated. I know of dioceses that have built mausoleums on their cemetery grounds, and parishes with columbariums. In the past, people would buy cemetery plots for future...

I think the expiration date that forces the bishops to review the policy every few years. The same happens with many state and federal laws. They could just extend the policy, or change it. The problem in recent years is that there is a bit of divisiveness within the U.S. hierarchy. I am not...

The problem is we have bishops monitoring other bishops. That can work in some cases, but we know that many bishops will cover up for each other and for their priests. We need non-bishops, and non-clerics, monitoring and investigating reports of abuse and of cover-ups. Independent of the...

Six more weeks of winter takes us to mid-March. That's great, since winter often lasts into April where I'm from, in the north. I'll take just six weeks any time.

First two were okay, last three not good, especially January. Stress can have a big impact on blood sugars, as can illness. There is much more that goes into controlling diabetes than just reducing carbs and monitoring blood sugars. Good luck. Happy to talk about it anytime.

I was recently looking up a priest on a diocesan directory and began to peruse the list, which included titles and photos. On one page of 30 priests, 18 were listed as "senior" priests, meaning that they are retired. On some pages the number of retired was about a third; I did not count them...

Do you have your A1c checked every 3 months? That should be happening. It sounds like your number is currently in the high 8's or 9's. Not good. Find a better dietician and prepare for the endo appointment. Make sure they have your A1c history for the last couple of years. You need to get...

The first is a very broad question, since there are two types of diabetes and many ways to control it, through oral meds, injections, insulin, diet, etc. For what to eat, there are many reputable websites. Start with the ADA, or other association like that. If you are talking about type 2...

Not good. You need to see an endocrinologist, and soon. Type 2 diabetes should not turn into type 1, unless there is some issue or event that causes it. Your PCP should have had you alert him/her when your BG was that consistently high, and not to wait for your next scheduled appointment. I...

The reason is simple: You are not God. I say we agree to disagree. I will retain my optimistic view of mankind in regards to good and evil, as I observe much more good from my fellow humans than I do evil. And that includes those I know of many faiths or of no faith. I will see God as...