one Jerusalem

O Holy City!

Place at the heart of three faiths -

when will thou find peace?

O Jerusalem,

Jerusalem in my heart -

be thou always one.

Forever.

Forever!

---<--@

"If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy."

(Psalm 137: 5-6)

Human Nation

Faith is a freedom -

a reaching out to the LORD

reaching out to us.

Religion is choice,

discerned freely in the faith,

of common worship.

Its fruits

make us human.

---<--@

Do not make a burden of religion -

separation of Church (Religion) and State, yes.

But do not make a fool of yourselves either -

separation of God and human reality, no.

United, Standing Always

America the One!

United, Standing Always -

defend, defend, trust in God.

One nation, One peace,

One Republic forever -

strong, faithful, and true

From many,

one vision.

---<--@

My favorite line from the Star Spangled Banner -

"...and the rocket's red glare,

the bombs bursting in air

gave proof through the night

that our Flag was still there."

Manong Jose

Cosmopolitan!

A Global Filipino -

that's Jose Rizal.

Remember Rizal

and his great generation

and believe again...

...in Peace and

brotherhood.

---<--@

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (18610619-18961230 of valor and love of Country, illustrious hero of the one Filipino nation, martyred scion of the one Republic of the Philippines, beloved son, brother, compatriot via on Dios.)

Equality is not a singularity.

If all our cultures were the same, we wouldn't be a family of nations. If all human beings were the same, we wouldn't be nations at all.

Every nation has something to bring to the table. Every person has something to share. This is why we are so arrayed as one family of nations and as nations distinct but not apart from each other respectively.

Remembrance as Virtue

Remember Now,

my brothers and sisters of the Promise -

Our remembrance is a virtue.

It is born from the cardinal virtue of Justice.

One who is guided by remembrance

can not be by evil inspired.

For no virtue may be used for evil purposes.

Remembrance does not serve

to throw the present into the confusion of the past.

It serves to add to the momentum of the present

the present hopes of every generation past.

If the present seem dim, O my nation,

it is because the future seem distant.

And the future seem distant

because the glories of the past is somewhere forgot.

Remember the good things and build upon it.

Remember the evil things

and let this lead you to a remembrance of the good things.

Never build upon evil inspiration.

It is not remembrance to hold on to a hatred of past misdeeds

and remain in thrall of the gravity of War.

For what redeems is virtue sufficient for every generation.

By virtue the long night is overcome.

---<--@

June 19, 2011 is the 150th Birthday of Manong Jose.

Christian Unity

O how our Lord longs
for you to come Home, my love,
back to Father's arms.

Consider thy heart,
what it says, amidst the noise,
"why art thou baptized?"

Kindred grace
forever!
---<--@

Unity is not sameness... It is saneness.

Unity is not singularity. Unity is an acceptance.

It is diversity.

Stars

I saw them, the stars!
Numberless, shining with hope,
against the darkness...

Embraced by heaven,
understood by exiled earth,
avoided by hell.

Do you know
the difference?
---<--@

Servant Leadership

Let's take the low road,
the safe and humble road - that -
ascends to our God.

Better a servant
in the Household of our LORD
than a prince of hell!

Be humble
and be glad!
---<--@