The Peaceful Gnome

ScienceDaily (2007-12-30) -- In a finding that defies conventional culinary wisdom, researchers in Italy report that cooking vegetables can preserve or even boost their nutritional value in comparison to their raw counterparts, depending on the cooking method used. Woo hoo! Steam them veggies!

The holiday eating season is finally drawing to a close. I topped it off with several days of Christmas feasting involving ham and mashed potatoes and pie and ice cream and eggnog and cookies and cakes and candy and all the rest of the goodies people hurled in my direction. I turned nothing down, I ate it all! :-P~ Then my immune system crashed, what with my body being too busy trying to digest all of that food and I came down with a nasty cold the day after Christmas. I'm convinced that is why I got it, my body was weakened by too much sugar, meat and alcohol. Overdosing on sugar : Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp) of sugar which is the equivalent of about two cans of soda, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by forty percent. The immune-suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours. In contrast, the ingestion of complex carbohydrates, or starches, has no effect on the immune system. ...

Uncle Remus Judy Wallman, a professional genealogical researcher, discovered that Hillary Clinton's great-great uncle, Remus Rodham, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows. On the back of the picture is this inscription 'Remus Rodham; horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889.' Judy e-mailed Hillary Clinton for comments. Hillary's staff of professional image adjusters sent back the following biographical sketch: 'Remus Rodham was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to service at a government facility, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with...

And now, brought to you by Bush and Friends, Blowback! Starring nuclear armed Pakistan collapsing into anarchy and civil war. Watch and fear as our short sighted and foolish imperial policy of backing the vile murderous dictator of Pakistan with billions of dollars in military aid over the democratically elected government blows up in our faces. Watch in horror as REAL weapons of mass destruction vanish into the underground of terrorists and Islamic fanatics. Watch as our Glorious Leader claims it's all because they hate our freedoms! Watch as FOX claims it has nothing to do with the Empire and we just need to stay the course... until we are all vaporized by the blowback I suppose... Bhutto Assassinated in Attack on Rally At Least a Dozen Others Also Killed By SALMAN MASOOD and GRAHAM BOWLEY 26 minutes ago An attack on a political rally killed the Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto near the capital, Islamabad, Thursday. Witnesses said Ms. Bhutto was ...

Here is a picture of Lora and Serenity at church recently:

Ron Paul was interviewed on the Fox network about a donation he got from a white supremacist group. He refused to agree to give it back, check out the interview:

I just got back from the Christmas program at Messiah. Serenity, Mike and Lora were all in it so I was the only family member in the audience :-) Serenity was wonderful, she gave out her lines clearly and loud enough to hear, no mumbling and stumbling from my granddaughter. If there is one thing Serenity has no problem with it's talking! Getting her to stop is another matter altogether. I've been toying with the idea of homeschooling for Serenity. I'm in the midst of doing some online research. I have a number of reasons for thinking of this. First is that I am convinced that public schools are really not good for learning anything other than obedience to authority. That is their primary purpose as far as I can tell. The idea of government indoctrination camps for 6 year olds just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I also don't agree with much of what is taught in public schools, from the glories of the American Empire and the flag waving hyper-propaganda the k...

Here is one of those rare instances when I agree with John Warwick Montgomery. In reference to the case in the Sudan, where British volunteer school teacher Gillian Gibbons was imprisoned for allowing the children to name a teddy bear Muhammad, after one of the pupils in the class, Montgomery commented: "You'll pardon my opinion on this, but I would outlaw the Muslim religion on the very same basis that I would outlaw the Aztec religion. The Aztec religion holds to human sacrifice. I would not allow that religion to prevail, nor would I allow Islam to prevail, because the moment that they get into any situation of power, the result is this kind of thing, which is against human rights and against human civilization. And I don't care that there's some lovely Muslims around. I'm sure there were some very fine Aztecs as well." http://www.kfuoam.org/mp3/Issues7/montgomery.mp3

I just got this from my sister Kari, now this is Holiday Reality: 1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls. 2. Drink as much eggnog as you can and quickly. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an 'eggnog-aholic' or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it! Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. 3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand-alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat. 4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a spo...

Katharina von Bora Luther Katharina von Bora (1499-1552) was placed in a convent when still a child and became a nun in 1515. In April 1523 she and eight other nuns were rescued from the convent and brought to Wittenberg. There Martin Luther helped return some to their former homes and placed the rest in good families. Katharina and Martin were married on June 13, 1525. Their marriage was a happy one and blessed with six children. Katharina skillfully managed the Luther household, which always seemed to grow because of his generous hospitality. After Luther's death in 1546, Katharina remained in Wittenberg but lived much of the time in poverty. She died in an accident while traveling with her children to Torgau in order to escape the plague. [From " Commemorations Biographies , " Lutheran Service Book, LCMS Commission on Worship]

In the end, God will bring justice upon the earth, only we who are in Christ will live. Isaiah 40:18-41:10, Revelation 8:1-13 Revelation 8 The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer 1 When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5 Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, [ a ] flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. The Seven Trumpets 6 Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them. 7 The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail a...

Here is yet more proof that Rick Warren is a heretic and is helping people to go to hell rather than preaching the gospel of salvation through Christ. From the Christian Post: Rick Warren Counsels Jews on Recruiting Congregants Megachurch pastor Rick Warren attended a large Reform Jewish gathering last week to share tips on how to build a community. Warren - who saw his church expand from seven people meeting in his house to 22,000 people worshipping in an expansive treasure island-like campus – said the key to holding onto visitors is involving them in a small group. “We believe congregations have to grow large and small at the same time,” Warren said Thursday, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper. “We don’t really feel like people are in the congregation until they’re in small groups.” The “Purpose-Driven” pastor spoke to thousands of Jewish leaders Thursday night at the Union for Reform Judaism’s biennial convention in San Diego . With the hol...

I didn't realize we did a commemoration of Adam and Eve, cool, today is the day... Adam and Eve Adam was the first man, made in the image of God and given dominion over all the earth (Gen 1:26). Eve was the first woman, formed from one of Adam ' s ribs to be his companion and helper (2:18 - 24). God placed them in the Garden of Eden to take care of the creation as his representatives. But they forsook God ' s Word and plunged the world into sin (3:1-7). For this disobedience God drove them from the Garden. Eve had to suffer the pain of childbirth and be subject to Adam; Adam had to toil amid thorns and thistles and return to the dust of the ground. Yet God promised that the woman ' s Seed would crush the serpent ' s head (3:8 - 24). Sin had entered God ' s perfect creation and changed it until God would restore it again through Christ. Eve is the mother of the human race, while Adam is representative of all humanity and the Fall, as Saint Paul writes, " Fo...

From today's readings this encouraging word comes to me: Isaiah 34:1-2, 34:8-35:10, Revelation 6:1-17 Isaiah 35: 8 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. How can one such as I survive the journey through this life? I am on the Way (this is what Christianity was called before Antioch, see Acts 24:14 .) So, since I have been baptized into Christ, "even if they are fools they shall not go astray" applies to me. At least that is how I read it this rainy early morning.

The first from the book of Revelation: Revelation 5 The Scroll and the Lamb 1Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" 3And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals." 6And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7And he went and took the scroll from the right hand ...

Anthony Sacramone has, by far, the best description of Pullman's trilogy I have seen, read it here. ...Look, here’s the thing. The movie may be harmless in itself. Frankly, it could be Mary Poppins on ice. But I wouldn’t pay one red cent to see it or take any child I know to see it. What matters here is context , and the film’s context is the phenomenal success of a trilogy of tales intended to instill in children a red-hot hate for religion in general and in Christianity in particular... Be sure to read the whole First Things blog article , it's great stuff.

Government action generally splits the difference between “useless” and “harmful.” William N. Grigg in a blog post about "The Fence."

“I have never been one who is comfortable talking about my faith in the political arena. In fact, the pandering that typically occurs in the election season I find to be distasteful. But for those who have asked, I freely confess that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior, and that I seek His guidance in all that I do. I know, as you do, that our freedoms come not from man, but from God. My record of public service reflects my reverence for the Natural Rights with which we have been endowed by a loving Creator. The right of an innocent, unborn child to life is at the heart of the American ideal of liberty. My professional and legislative record demonstrates my strong commitment to this pro-life principle.” -- Ron Paul’s ‘Statement of Faith’

My oh my! Govco does hate it when private folks try to horn in on their extortion racket: Parking scam perpetrators must repay Bay Area victims Marisa Lagos, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, December 14, 2007 (12-13) 08:34 PST SAN RAFAEL -- A private parking company that left official-looking but fake citations on cars parked in free lots in the Bay Area will have to reimburse people who paid the tickets, according to the Marin County district attorney's office. Under terms of a settlement reached with Parking Control Service Inc. - also known as PCS - the company will refund all parking charges paid by drivers from March 2003 to Dec. 12, if those people submit a valid claim. The company will also pay $100,000 in civil penalties and $30,000 to Marin and Sonoma counties for the cost of their two-year investigation into PCS' practices. According to...

Lucia, Martyr One of the victims of the great persecution under the Roman emperor Diocletian, Lucia met her death at Syracuse on the island of Sicily in the year A.D. 304 because of her Christian faith. Known for her charity, "Santa Lucia" (as she is called in Italy) gave away her dowry and remained a virgin until her execution by the sword. The name Lucia means "light," and because of that, festivals of light commemorating her became popular throughout Europe, especially in the Scandinavian countries. There her feast day corresponds with the time of year when there is the least amount of daylight. In artistic expression she is often portrayed in a white baptismal gown, wearing a wreath of candles on her head. [From " Commemorations Biographies , " Lutheran Service Book, LCMS Commission on Worship]

Here is the best description of the Republican and Democratic candidates for President of the United States of America I've seen so far this season. Check it out! Candidates from both parties have been braying the same old line we hear during every presidential election: This is the most important election of a generation, or perhaps even a century. So much is at stake that you, the harried voter, need to hang on every word every candidate utters during the televised debates. Do you want the candidate who is "standing up for regular families," or the one "who speaks the truth and who will restore America's moral leadership," or the one who understands that our nation "embodies the belief that tomorrow can be better than today"? Such big issues and tough choices! Read the full descriptions here.

I've always known that the Hayward fault in the east bay was a huge hazard, now it seems it may actually be larger than previously believed. From SF Gate.com [N]ew seismic research indicates that the Hayward and its neighboring fault, the Calaveras, might be connected underground to make them, in effect, a single and even more dangerous fault. A research geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park reported on the research during the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco on Tuesday. Evidence of creep and microquakes too tiny to be felt on both faults, said Russell Graymer, makes it appear that the Hayward and Calaveras are joined as a single fault less than four miles beneath the surface. (Full story) -----------------------------------------

I've always known that the Hayward fault in the east bay was a huge hazard, now it seems it may actually be larger than previously believed. From SF Gate.com [N]ew seismic research indicates that the Hayward and its neighboring fault, the Calaveras, might be connected underground to make them, in effect, a single and even more dangerous fault. A research geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park reported on the research during the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco on Tuesday. Evidence of creep and microquakes too tiny to be felt on both faults, said Russell Graymer, makes it appear that the Hayward and Calaveras are joined as a single fault less than four miles beneath the surface. (Full story) ----------------------------------------- This map shows the faults mentioned, the Calaveras is just to the east of the Hayward fault, which is the one that is indicated by the notation 1868 for the big earthquake of that year on that fault.

There is a fantasy movie in theaters right now, a bit of anti-Christian garbage called "The Golden Compass" and even though I love a good fantasy movie this one will not get a dime from me, I won't be seeing it in a theater and won't be bothering with it when it comes out on DVD either. The Golden Compass is based on a book written by a sworn atheist, Philip Pullman, where witches are good, the church is bad, and in the end, god dies. I did read the whole vile Pullman series, "His Dark Materials" (it was loaned to me so he didn't get a dime from that either) and found it offensive overall. After the first book I thought he was misguided, by the second book I thought he was a deluded heretic and by the time I finished the third I was convinced his co-author was Satan himself. I'm not joking nor am I exaggerating, this was my actual reaction. The next fantasy movie I plan to see is the next installment of the Chronicles of Narnia . The Narnia books...

This is a year when Bay Area teams are so awful I can't bear to watch them, the Raiders and 49ers are both beyond pathetic. The Giants and the A's went nowhere this year either. The one bright spot for me is that my alma mater Novato High School's football team is undefeated and going to the state championship . :-) Cool, the Hornets are 13-0! When I was in high school we didn't have state bowl games but we had pretty good teams that one the local league. Anyway, it's a bit of cheery sports news for me...

Born in Trier in A.D. 340, Ambrose was one of the four great Latin Doctors of the Church (with Augustine, Jerome and Gregory the Great). He was a prolific author of hymns, the most common of which is Veni, Redemptor gentium ( " Savior of the Nations, Come " ). His name is also associated with Ambrosian Chant, the style of chanting the ancient liturgy that took hold in the province of Milan. While serving as a civil governor, Ambrose sought to bring peace among Christians in Milan who were divided into quarreling factions. When a new bishop was to be elected in 374, Ambrose addressed the crowd, and someone cried out, " Ambrose, bishop! " The entire gathering gave their support. This acclaim of Ambrose, a 34-year-old catechumen, led to his baptism on 7 December, after which he was consecrated bishop of Milan. A strong defender of the faith, Ambrose convinced the Roman emperor Gratian in 379 to forbid the Arian heresy in the West. At Ambrose's urging, Gratian'...

Do you worship the bible? Have you heard anyone use the phrase "bibliolatry"? As odd as it sounds, if you are a Christian, you must worship the bible. Gene Edward Veith puts it this way in a recent blog entry : "The Bible can never be honored enough. Do I worship a book? Well, I worship the God who is located in the book, so you might say that. The pagan believes that his deity is localized in his graven image. I believe that the true God is localized in His Word, namely, the incarnate Son of God. That same Word is manifest in human language, written down in ink and paper on the pages of the Bible and proclaimed in sound waves that travel through the air. I hold not to an image but to the Word, not to a word that I hear inside my head but to a Word outside myself. The Word of God is God’s voice, His communication of Himself. The Word cannot be separated from Christ, the Incarnate Word, from the Father, who inspired it, and the Holy Spirit whom it conveys. The Word is...

Nicholas of Myra Of the many saints commemorated by the Christian Church, Nicholas (d. A.D. 342) is one of the best known. Very little is known historically of him, although there was a church of Saint Nicholas in Constantinople as early as the sixth century. Research has affirmed that there was a bishop by the name of Nicholas in the city of Myra in Lycia (part of Turkey today) in the fourth century. From that coastal location, legends about Nicholas have traveled throughout time and space. He is associated with charitable giving in many countries around the world and is portrayed as the rescuer of sailors, the protector of children and the friend of people in distress or need. In commemoration of "Sinte Klaas" (Dutch for Saint Nicholas, in English "Santa Claus"), December 6 is a day for giving and receiving gifts in many parts of Europe. [From " Commemorations Biographies , " Lutheran Service Book, LCMS Commission on Worship] Also today: 1273 Saint T...

We believe in Jesus because of the reliability of the many eye witnesses, as Peter explains in 2 Peter 1:16-21 , they saw and heard what they wrote about, it was not a myth but history . 2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, ...

Psalm 18 Isaiah 9:8-10:11 1 Peter 5:1-14 The reading from 1 Peter is an encouragement and a warning against pride. 1 Peter 5:6-9 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Isaiah 8:9-9:7 1 Peter 4:1-19 A thought for today from the readings: Isaiah 8:12 "Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread."