CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS FEBRUARY 25

Actress Diane Baker is 74.
Singer-guitarist Mike Peters of The Alarm is 53.
Actress Veronica Webb is 47.
Actress Tea Leoni is 46.
Comedian Carrot Top is 45.
Actor Sean Astin is 41.
Comedian Chelsea Handler is 37.
Actress Rashida Jones ("The Office") is 36.
Actors James and Oliver Phelps ("Harry Potter") are 26.

WHAT MATTERS...

Barbara Ward-Finneran

The calm amidst the chaos.

Looking beyond imperfections.  

Memories that you can't forget.

Smiling at a stranger. 

Believing love always multiplies and never divides.

Enjoying the life you have right now.

Knowing the little things are often the BIG things.

Keeping the promises that you make to yourself!

KING ARTHUR AND THE WITCH

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question. Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and, if after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death. The question?...What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end. He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone: the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exorbitant prices she charged. The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first. The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life. He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden; but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table. Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thus: What a woman really wants, she answered....is to be in charge of her own life. Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth and that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it was, the neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding. The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened The beauty replied that since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time and the beautiful maiden the other half. Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day....or night? Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous intimate moments? What would YOU do? What Lancelot chose is below. BUT....make YOUR choice before you read any further! OKAY? Made your choice?    Noble Lancelot said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself. Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life Now....what is the moral to this story? The moral is..... If you don't let a woman have her own way.... Things are going to get ugly

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40 DAYS

40 is a significant number in Jewish-Christian scripture:

In Genesis, the flood which destroyed the earth was brought about by 40 days and nights of rain.

The Hebrews spent 40 years in the wilderness before reaching the land promised to them by God.

Moses fasted for 40 days before receiving the ten commandments on Mount Sinai.

Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness in preparation for his ministry.

Most Christians regard Jesus' time in the wilderness as the key event for the duration of Lent.

Lent is an old English word meaning 'lengthen'. Lent is observed in spring, when the days begin to get longer.

Purple is the symbolic colour used in some churches throughout Lent, for drapes and altar frontals.

Purple is used for two reasons: firstly because it is associated with mourning and so anticipates the pain and suffering of the crucifixion, and secondly because purple is the colour associated with royalty, and celebrates Christ's resurrection and sovereignty.

THE PERFECT ROLE MODEL....

The story behind this photo.... I was on the field with my son and our Scout Pack at the time. We were holding the Flags for the National Anthem. It was literally 2 minutes before game time. I had shorts on. I made eye contact with Gary Carter, lifted up my shorts and showed him my huge Mets logo on my prosthetic leg. Gary was amazed. He made the whole team look at it then he came over to shake my hand. It was a great moment for me. I was 16 when the Mets won in 86. Carter was the perfect role model for a teen. I feel like I lost a part of my youth with the news of his passing. As a cancer survivor I know what this poor man had to go through. Its such a horrible thing to go through... only to end up losing the battle. No matter what sport... all professional athletes should handle themselves, & us, with as much class as Gary Carter did.

Is It The End Of The World As We Know It?

TONY WALKER
Whenever the topic of the end of the world comes up, most people expect some kind of major explosion or tidal wave or some kind of mass destruction.
Most people think the world will never end. I am one of those people.... I think.
Has the world ended & we just don't realize it?
Think about it....
Autism & other mental disabilities are on the rise.
The economy is continuing going to shit.
Medical/insurance are on the rise.
People have to get second jobs just to afford their gas!
Today's society is nothing but negative. Endless finger pointing & hatred. No one has morals.
Too many people will do anything to get on TV. Pride is completely thrown out the window.
No one wants to work hard or earn their keep. They just wanna complain because someone else got something they want.
There is no originality on TV. Where are the geniuses? Where are the Cosby's? The Seinfeld's? The Brady's even!!!
There is no originality in music. Where are the geniuses? Where are the Won't Get Fooled Again's? The I Saw Her Standing There's? How many songs from the past 10 years will be classics like the ones we heard growing up?
There is no originality in movies. Remember when Michael Keaton's Batman came out? That was an event! Star Wars was an event! When was the last time we had a movie that big???
Even fashion... one subject I know NOTHING about.... you look at photos of the 80's & you know the photo was taken during that era. Same goes for any era before the 90's. Any photo taken from 1995 to today has no characteristics that identifies a certain era.
I could go on & on.
So maybe the world has ended.
Do you feel fine?
Or am I just sounding like a crotchety old man????

WHAT IS LENT???

Lent is the Christian season of preparation before Easter. In Western Christianity, Ash Wednesday marks the first day, or the start of the season of Lent, which begins 40 days prior to Easter (Sundays are not included in the count).
Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. The purpose is to set aside time for reflection on Jesus Christ - his suffering and his sacrifice, his life, death, burial and resurrection.
Not all Christian churches observe Lent. Lent is mostly observed by the Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican denominations, and also by Roman Catholics.Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent or Great Lent, during the 6 weeks or 40 days preceding Palm Sunday with fasting continuing during the Holy Week of Orthodox Easter. Lent for Eastern Orthodox churches begins on Monday (called Clean Monday) and Ash Wednesday is not observed.
The Bible does not mention the custom of Lent, however, the practice of repentance and mourning in ashes is found in 2 Samuel 13:19; Esther 4:1; Job 2:8; Daniel 9:3; and Matthew 11:21.

DAWNS ASH WEDNESDAY....sorta kinda

Dawn Boyle

So, today is Ash Wednesday....I will go get ashes and attempt to give something up for 40 days. I will also try with everything inside of me to remember no meat on Fridays.

The idea of giving something up that you really like or a habit that you wish to stop is the norm. My kids giving up candy, talking back or actually cleaning up their rooms is the route they take each year and very similar to their mother, they fail.

A few friends have decided that 40 days off Facebook was the way to go, and I wish them all the luck in the world (but hope they don't forget to stop by Delayed Reaction Lounge) or to stop watching the incessant reality shows, which I love and would never even toy with the idea of making it 40 days without those knuckleheads down at the Shore, ALL my housewives (including those with Mob connections) or my newest addiction ~ Revenge.

AND....just about EVERYONE in the land will attempt to get back on the diet/exercise bandwagon for the 10th time since New Years.

This year I have decided to do all of the above, without doing them at all. I am going to give up putting unnecessary pressure on myself. I will attempt to give myself a little room to breath and not be so hard on myself. I am pretty sure that this will be the hardest of all the things I have ever tried to give up in the 41 Lents I have under my belt.

I wish you all luck in whatever you plan on sacrificing over the next 40 days (excluding Sunday - FYI) and would love to hear what you're planning on giving up in our comments below! Maybe something you say you are doing will inspire someone else - maybe even me!

LIGHT FOR LENT

Marion Pellicano Ambrose

While lent is a time for repentance and reflection, it is also a time for renewal; the renewal of our own faith and the energy of Christ within us. Recalling the events that led up to Christ’s crucifixion and death are solemn indeed, however, honoring this holy time of year need not be 40 days of gloom and doom. There are hundreds of ways to rekindle that spark of faith, starting right now, on Ash Wednesday.

This lent, instead of “giving up” something, like chocolate, try DOING something. Commit yourself to taking time out every day to perform an act of kindness. Perhaps you can check on an elderly neighbor that lives alone or offer to pick something up at the store for him or her. Take ten minutes each day to write a thank you letter to your local fire department or the crossing guard at your child’s school. You can thank a lot of people you’ve always taken for granted in 40 days!

Get some friends together and volunteer to clean up an area, more commonly known as “adopt a highway” or “adopt a road”. You’ll be benefitting your community , getting other people involved in a positive community service, and getting some fresh air and exercise!

 The point is, putting yourself out there to DO something positive for others this Lenten season, will not only make them happy, it will fill your lent with joy. The feeling of having brightened another’s life fills your own with light. Don’t you think that Christ, Himself  would rather see us concerned with the needs of others in response to His suffering and sacrifice than “giving up” chocolate, chewing gum or some other relatively unimportant indulgence?

Give it a try. Bring some joy to others this lent and in return, be refreshed, renewed and  “rekindled” in your love and appreciation of all He has done for you!

ASH WEDNESDAY

Those who work with liturgy in parishes know that some of the largest crowds in the year will show up to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday. Though this is not a holy day of obligation in our tradition, many people would not think of letting Ash Wednesday go by without a trip to church to be marked with an ashen cross on their foreheads. Even people who seldom come to Church for the rest of the year may make a concerted effort to come for ashes.

How did this practice become such an important part of the lives of so many believers? Who came up with the idea for this rather odd ritual? How do we explain the popularity of smudging our foreheads with ashes and then walking around all day with dirty faces? Those who do not share our customs often make a point of telling us that we have something on our foreheads, assuming we would want to wash it off, but many Catholics wear that smudge faithfully all day.

Ashes in the Bible

The origin of the custom of using ashes in religious ritual is lost in the mists of pre-history, but we find references to the practice in our own religious tradition in the Old Testament. The prophet Jeremiah, for example, calls for repentance this way: "O daughter of my people, gird on sackcloth, roll in the ashes" (Jer 6:26).

The prophet Isaiah, on the other hand, critiques the use of sackcloth and ashes as inadequate to please God, but in the process he indicates that this practice was well-known in Israel: "Is this the manner of fasting I wish, of keeping a day of penance: that a man bow his head like a reed, and lie in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?" (Is 58:5).

The prophet Daniel pleaded for God to rescue Israel with sackcloth and ashes as a sign of Israel's repentance: "I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes" (Dn 9:3).

Perhaps the best known example of repentance in the Old Testament also involves sackcloth and ashes. When the prophet Jonah finally obeyed God's command and preached in the great city of Nineveh, his preaching was amazingly effective. Word of his message was carried to the king of Nineveh. "When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes" (Jon 3:6).

In the book of Judith, we find acts of repentance that specify that the ashes were put on people's heads: "And all the Israelite men, women and children who lived in Jerusalem prostrated themselves in front of the temple building, with ashes strewn on their heads, displaying their sackcloth covering before the Lord" (Jdt 4:11; see also 4:15 and 9:1).

Just prior to the New Testament period, the rebels fighting for Jewish independence, the Maccabees, prepared for battle using ashes: "That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their clothes" (1 Mc 3:47; see also 4:39).

In the New Testament, Jesus refers to the use of sackcloth and ashes as signs of repentance: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes" (Mt 11:21, Lk 10:13).