Frustration

Have been having computer problems with sidekick 3. First, the letter B
and the question mark didn't work, then it quit completely. Am fumbling
with an old sidekick 1 now.

Am planning on a trip to the Abbey of Gethsemani this Thur to Sat. It
has been a long time since I have been. I am looking forward to a time
of reflection and silence.

Hoping that HTC Touch Pro or xperia x1 will come soon to the US. Am
afraid it will be after Christmas until I can get back to normal.

Pray for my dear friend Janice Williams
Who needs medical guidance. And pray for me for a fruitful time this
weekend.

Do You Wanna Dance

Sometimes a video can make you laugh, or cry, or dance. This is a You Tube video that I promise will make you want to dance. Thanks to Ray Waddle, former Nashville Tennessean religion editor for publishing this in yesterday"s paper.

Politicians in Williamson County, TN

Dear Politicians:

I went to the 34th annual Bethlehem Fish Fry today, an event that helps the ministry of the church. One of the members had shared how good the food was, the fellowship, the events for the kids. I was going because of her personal invitation.

Imagine my surprise when I got there to see dozens and dozens of political signs. Politicians were everywhere! Smiling. Passing out tracts. Going out of the way to greet the fish fry visitors. Supposedly the politicians were to be on the far side of the road. Most were, except for the sheriff's car parked halfway in the road on the church property.

Sheriff Derrell Cagle said its the best way to meet the voters. Incumbent County Trustee Joey Davis said, "if you are running for a county office, there's not just one community event. You have to go to all of them.

Frankly, it made me sick. One cannot even go eat at a church fish fry without having to put up with these back slappin, smiling, jackasses! I admit I remember the names of all the signs and the participants. I promise not to vote for any of these vultures!It is a sad state of affairs when one can't tell the difference between a circus and a religous group. One thing is for sure, I could tell who the clowns were.

Cosmic Dance

The Cosmic Dance

What is serious to men is often very trivial in the sight of God. What in God might appear to us as play is perhaps what He Himself takes most seriously. At any rate the Lord plays and diverts Himself in the garden of His creation, and if we could let go of our own obsession with what we think is the meaning of it all, we might be able to hear His call and follow Him in His mysterious, cosmic dance.

We do not have togo very far to catch echoes of that game, and of that dancing. When we are alone on a starlit night; when by chance we see the migrating birds in autumn descending on a grove of junipers to rest and eat; when we see children in a moment when they are really children; when we know love in our own hearts; or when, like the Japanese poet Basho we hear an old frog land in a quiet pond with a solitary splash—at such times the awakening, the turning inside out of all values, the newness, the emptiness andthe purity of vision that make themselves evident, provide a glimpse of the cosmic dance.

Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation—

Thomas Merton - The Pattern In The Seed

Father Bill Nolan, who passed away over a week ago, left me the
following portrait in his will. It was done for the First International
Thomas Merton Society meeting and is autographed by Jim Cantrell. when
Father Bill was in the hospital for the last several times he would tell me,"I have a picture for you, but I forgot to bring it." What a precious gift.

Praying Out of Weakness

Excellent article by Fr. Michael Burke.

http://www.mburkeop.com/med_prayingoutofweakness.htm

Is the iPhone Killing Terrestrial Radio?

As some of you know, I am a huge radio fan, having logged over 2000 AM
stations in 49 states. This is an interesting article about the state of
radio today.

http://mashable.com/2008/07/14/iphone-radio/

Video Repeat

This is a video repeat. Trying a different size. How do you like it?

Really Neat Quotes

http://www.inventiveproductions.com/blog/view/17

Iphone Killers

My frustration video about buying a new PDA Pocket Computer.

Thomas Merton Web Page Introduction

This video describes my interest in Thomas Merton.

Video Intro Thomas Merton Webpage

Cat Fleas' Journey Into The Vacuum Is A 'One-way Trip'

I need to try this. How to get rid of fleas on a cat.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071217111010.htm

Rev. William "Father Bill" Nolan

Father Bill was a dear friend. He helped me many times when I needed a priest to visit a sick catholic. We even preached a joint funeral once, at the request of a family, for a young baby. He was always, Father Gabriel to me from his monastic days.

He wanted me to take him to Gethsemani or Holy Spirit monastery but he was to weak. During one of his last illnesses when he was very weak I went to see him in the hospital. At the door I said, "Father Gabriel it is time to get up and do the Lord's work," to which he with a humouring smile said, "shut up." He was a dear friend who helped me a lot. I will miss him. (Full obituary is below)

http://www.legacy.com/Tennessean/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=112799550

Video Blogger

I have officially become a video blogger. That is exciting. Now, if I
could get skype working. Got other things done: trim some hedges, made a
trip to Fayetteville, TN and ate at Houlihands, taught Sunday School,
heard the Katrinas, ate at picnic after church, and a short nap. Above
all "being thankful." What are you really thankful for?

Dan Phillips Video Blog

This is my first attempt at video blogging, hopefully the first of many tries. I hope you enjoy it.

Reflections for the week

I did not add reflections as recommended, but here I go. There have been highlights: notes from readers who read this blog, reading 1 Thes. (I am on chapter 2), and the near possibility(?) Of adding video to this blog. And thanks to my son-in-law for building my new computer.

And some moments have been tough. Sitting and reading the Psalms (23, 91, 46, and 121) to a young man whose Mom is dying (she died shortly thereafter). He was a humble young gentleman who was worrying that he only had one other suitable pair of pants to wear to his Mom's funeral. I couldn't sleep that night.

But I am thankful. As my friend WB says when you ask, "how are you?" He says, "I am blessed." Amen.

Caryle Marney

I once heard Caryle Marney preach. I really like this prayer before he
died.

http://www.reallivepreacher.com/node/217#comment-1390

Merton, Ali, and the Dalai Lama

This is an interesting YouTube video of the three made at Mammouth Cave and based on Compassion:

a video on you tube of Merton, Ali, and the Dalai Lama

Orthodox Bible

From : The Orthodox Study Bible. This statement was meaningful to me:

"He who is humble in his thoughts and engaged in spiritual work, when he
reads the Holy Scriptures, will apply everything to himself and not to
his neighbor." We are to look in scripture for a personal application.
"What does it mean to me?" Christ is speaking to us. We must listen!

Of life, laughter and liturgy . . . documents

I received a note today on my blog from Jane Stranz in France. This is a
sermon she preached on Sunday. The person from Zimbawe (click on her
link) moved me very much. The sermon is excellent, Hanging on to hope !

http://stranzdocs.blogspot.com/

Each of us touches many lives. I have been involved this week with an
accidental death that has been of great sorrow to many. It is a reminder
that each of us have been an influence on others.
http://danphillips.blogspot.com

Of life, laughter and liturgy . . . documents

I received a note today on my blog from Jane Stranz in France. This is a
sermon she preached on Sunday. The person from Zimbawe (click on her
link) moved me very much. The sermon is excellent, Hanging on to hope !

http://stranzdocs.blogspot.com/

Each of us touches many lives. I have been involved this week with an
accidental death that has been of great sorrow to many. It is a reminder
that each of us have been an influence on others.

Bark Blower

I have never seen a bark blower before.

Organization

The big problem is organization. For every neat stack, there are two
others groups of papers in disarray.

Last night I got ftp program running so I can now update web pages
yeah.

Am still in the mood for a new phone. I have about worn out this
sidekick 3. Possibilities include iphone, xperia x1, and touch pro. It
will be interesting to see what tmobile takes and the cost.