no. 852

 If you can keep your head while all those about you are losing theirs, then perhaps you have misunderstood the situation. 

- Graffiti on the side of the Flushing Street Temple of Eris in New York 9

from Daniel Keys Morgan’s novel “The Long Run”

no. 851

 “One seventh of your life,” he said politely, “will be spent on Mondays.”

Trent The Uncatchable in Daniel Keys Morgan’s “The Long Run”

no. 850

 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Jesus in Matthew 6: 5-6

no. 849

 

no. 848

 

no. 847

…”and like any other secret society, the local chapter meetings seemed mainly composed of extremely long rituals of little consequence run by the loudest gentleman in the room, whose pomp and circumstance existed in inverse proportion to his intelligence.”

from Gail Carriger’s “Ambush or Adore”

no. 846

 “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere.” 

Elie Wiesel (1928-2016), writer and Auschwitz survivor

no. 845

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Matthew 7:14-16

no. 844

 

no. 843

 A rabbi was asked by one of his students “Why did God create atheists?” 

After a long pause, the rabbi finally responded with a soft but sincere voice. “God created atheists” he said, “to teach us the most important lesson of them all – the lesson of true compassion. 

You see, when an atheist performs an act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone in need, and cares for the world, he is not doing so because of some religious teaching. 

He does not believe that God commanded him to perform this act. In fact, he does not believe in God at all, so his actions are based on his sense of morality. Look at the kindness he bestows on others simply because he feels it to be right. When someone reaches out to you for help. 

You should never say ‘I’ll pray that God will help you.’ Instead, for that moment, you should become an atheist – imagine there is no God who could help, and say ‘I will help you’.”

— Martin Buber, “Tales of the Hasidim”

no. 842

 

no. 841

 

no. 840

 

no. 839

 

no. 838

 

no. 837

 Demanding that the Bible be taught in public schools and the Ten Commandments be posted on their walls while not even holding your preferred politicians accountable to either of them is the height of hypocrisy.

Rev. Benjamin Cremer

no. 836

 "If you don't want your tax dollars to help the poor, then stop saying you want a country based on Christian values, because you don't.”

- Jimmy Carter