Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage - Part 1

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Hallelujah!

The Boundless American Future Of Mike Pence

MIKE PENCE
RECLAIMING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
AND
THE AMERICAN DREAM

by

Chris Dickson

http://mikepencethebook.blogspot.com

by John Hayward

11/30/2010

 

 

Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN), chair of the House Republican Conference, addressed the Detroit Economic Club on Monday.  It was the same day President Obama rolled out his proposal to reduce the deficit by about 1%, through a freeze on the salaries of civilian federal employees.  Pence had some larger ideas on his mind.
 

The gentleman from Indiana takes a dim view of the bailouts which have given the government so much control over the private sector.  “In September 2008, when the Bush Administration proposed that Congress give them $700 billion to bail out Wall Street, I was the first Member of Congress to publicly oppose it. I didn't think we should do nothing, I just thought it was wrong to take $700 billion from Main Street to bailout bad decisions on Wall Street. I warned that passing TARP could fundamentally change the relationship between the government and the financial sector and so it has,” Pence told his audience in Detroit.  “Taxpayer funded bailouts are no substitute for economic policies that will create real consumer demand. I have no doubt that American automakers and autoworkers can compete and win in a growing American economy.  To restore American exceptionalism, we must end all this Keynesian spending and get back to the practice of free market economics… The free market is what made America’s economy the greatest in the world, and we cannot falter in our willingness to defend it.”

As a matter of fact, General Motors was competing reasonably well in automobile sales, prior to the government takeover.  It wasn’t until 2008 that Toyota surpassed it as the world’s largest automaker, and both companies experienced declining sales that year, as the global auto market contracted.  Toyota actually posted the first operating loss in its history in 2008.  The big problem for General Motors was an unsustainable business model, in which paying fabulous union salaries and benefits became the primary reason for its existence.  Soaring labor cost killed GM, more than declining sales.

 

This is the model for statist economies around the world.  “Free” markets require flexibility.  Suppliers and consumers must be able to react to changing conditions.  Risk must carry the promise of reward, and the possibility of failure.  Unyielding entitlements and crushing tax burdens combine to form a layer of ice around businesses and their customers.  No one would have been willing to buy GM cars at the price they needed to charge, in order to make their business model work.

Bailouts don’t “rescue” capitalism.  They transfer resources from taxpayers to politically favored constituents.  The much-ballyhooed public sale of GM stock earlier this month profited unions far more than taxpayers, or especially the private-sector investors who owned shares of General Motors before the government takeover.

Pence told the Detroit Economic Club that he favors limiting federal spending to no more than 20 percent of our Gross Domestic Product, an essential first step to ensuring other fiscal restraints are not magically transformed into tax increases.  He recalled the words of Ronald Reagan: “No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size.”  The acolytes of the total State have attempted to write this concept into our language, by calling endlessly increasing government “progressive”… which implies that making government smaller would be “regressive,” the agenda of Neanderthals desperate to “turn back the clock.” 

After stressing the importance of maintaining the Bush tax cuts to “end the uncertainty that is stifling investment, innovation, and growth,” Pence made a bold call for radical tax reform.  “The best option, the most pro-growth option, is a flat tax.  I believe it is time that America adopted a flat tax and scrapped the current system once and for all.”  Besides inflicting vast compliance costs on American corporations and individuals, our insanely complex tax system is a means of control.  It uses a network of subsidies and penalties to shape both economic and political decisions.  It is a system the government uses to purchase political support for its agenda.  Its punitive effects have become more important than revenue generation, as we can see from the furious resistance of socialists to tax reductions that have been historically proven to increase Treasury receipts.  A flat tax would represent a massive reduction of government power… which would mean a massive infusion of liberty.

Pence cited the absurd new tax filing requirements of ObamaCare as an example of government regulations run wild.  “Take the requirement from ObamaCare that businesses must file with the IRS a form 1099 for any purchases from a vendor for goods or services over $600 in a year.  Seriously, that is in the law. Of course, this is ridiculously burdensome and just adds to the red tape that small businesses face across the country.  It should be repealed immediately.”  A vote on repeal was scheduled for Monday night in the Senate.

Pence says that “to renew American exceptionalism, we must recognize that our present crisis is not merely economic, but moral in nature… As we promote policies to restore American exceptionalism, we must also reaffirm our nation’s commitment to the values that made our prosperity possible.”  On the gigantic scale of a four trillion dollar central government, economics is morality.  Entire populations have suffocated in the loving arms of the welfare state.  It only takes a few generations for the moral corrosion of dependence to wreak havoc on the intended beneficiaries of socialism.  America’s destiny will not be found in a musty cocoon of bailouts and welfare programs.

The nation stands at a crossroads, an intersection of opportunity and requirement for its people.  The two are incompatible.  One replaces the other.  We cannot believe in ourselves, and also believe in a State empowered to manage our lives.  The very rhetoric of “hope” Barack Obama used in his presidential campaign implies a weak and dependent populace.  “Hope” is passive.  People determined to command their own fates do not sit around and wait for someone to rescue them.  We can choose to accept risk and hardship… or we can settle for whatever the State sees fit to provide, in a world where winners and losers are chosen in advance, and the fruit of enterprise is stolen to purchase immunity from consequence.

In the conclusion of his remarks in Detroit, Mike Pence made his own choice clear: “I choose the West.  I choose limited government and freedom.  I choose the free market, personal responsibility and equality of opportunity. I choose fiscal restraint, sound money, a flat tax, regulatory reform, American energy, expanded trade and a return to traditional values.  In a word, I choose a boundless American future built on the timeless ideals of the American people. I believe the American people are ready for this choice and await men and women who will lead us back to that future, back to the West, back to American exceptionalism. Here’s to that future. Our best days are yet to come.”

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John Hayward is a staff writer for HUMAN EVENTS, and author of the recently published Doctor Zero: Year One. Follow him on Twitter: Doc_0. Contact him by email at jhayward@eaglepub.com.

SURRENDER IS NOT AN OPTION

 
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Please Help Us Build The Portiuncula Chapel

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To duplicate this Chapel, the Portiuncula Hermitage must raise $120,000

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,


It's times like these that tempt Catholics to throw in the towel and give up on the culture of despair.

Greed and corruption have wreaked havoc on our nation's economy. Euthanasia just received Washington State's stamp of approval. And all the pro-life victories of the past decade are now in jeopardy. It's the perfect storm for despair. But despair is the last thing we should do.

In troubled times, Christ calls us to pray, to trust in his perfect will, and to cooperate with his grace.

Ultimately, Christ calls us to hope. He calls us to remember that for Christians, peace does not rest on who wins an election or on the value of our stock portfolios, but in a loving God who “in everything...works for good.”

Of course, God doesn't just call us to hope. He gives us reasons to hope and signs of the good things to come.

I truly believe one of those reasons, one of those signs, is the Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage and Retreat Center.

While many other Catholic institutions have sold out to the culture of death, the Portiuncula, along with a few others, has fought steadfastly for a culture of life. It has faithfully stood alongside the Church, forming men and women capable of true leadership and committed to bringing Christ to the culture.

But the "Portiuncula Chapel" can't be built alone. To continue building, we need your help! And that is why I'm writing you today: To invite you to join me in helping our culture through these troubled times by helping build the Portiuncula Chapel.

United in the Roman Catholic tradition and obedient to the Magisterium of the Church and the Bishop of Steubenville, we are committed to our Lord and Savior in the Scriptures, the Eucharist, the Sacraments of the Church and in our Brothers and Sisters.

With God's grace and your help, I believe past Portiuncula retreatants and those soon to follow in their footsteps will lead our culture and our country out of these troubled times.

That is why I invite you to share the work of these Catholics and the Portiuncula Hermitage that is forming them.

First, allow them to pray for you.

Prayer is the lifeblood of the Portiuncula Hermitage, and the Franciscan family would be honored to include you in their prayers. Please e-mail your most pressing intentions to: dicksoncorp@parallax.ws

Everyone at the Portiuncula will pray for your intentions before the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and at Mass.

In turn, please pray for the Portiuncula, that it might continue to form leaders who can be salt and light to our world.

Finally, I would be grateful if you supported the work of building the Portiuncula Chapel with a generous financial contribution.

Your support of the Portiuncula will make it possible for the sons and daughters of the Church to grow in faith during their retreats, and become the courageous Catholic leaders the world desperately needs.

Today, I want to ask you to become a partner in the Portiuncula's mission to build the Portiuncula Chapel by simply donating $5.00 $10.00 $15.00 a month.

PORTIUNCULA FRANCISCAN HERMITAGE/RETREAT CENTER
ON LINE DONATION

Please, become a part of the Portiuncula Hermitage's work today. Don't let this chance to turn the culture around pass you by.

Pax Et Bonum!

Fra Chris

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Join Me Today At "St. Teresa's Treasures" at Holy Family Church in Richmond, Indiana

The Mystic Monks have been busy preparing some surprises for this Christmas Season!

The most important of these is the



Fra Chris

Jingle Bell Java 2010

It is the most sophisticated blend available with a special blend of eight beans from all over the world. It is best described as a Medium Dark Blend with Citrus Flavors at first taste then a very smooth finish with pleasant pungentry. But hurry, because it is a Limited Edition Coffee Only!

And what would a Mystic Monk Christmas be without a little

Jingle Bell Java?

Our famous Jingle Bell Java will only be available until the end of the
Christmas Season
so be sure to stock up now!

We also have a beautiful new single handled Christmas Mug with a logo,and an insulated Mystic Monk Travel Mug - Perfect for enjoying our coffee while on the go!

Thank you for your support of the
Portiuncula Hermitage,
Mystic Monk Coffee®
and Birthright.

Please remember that the Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage and Retreat Center donates ten percent of their Mystic Monk Coffee Sales to Birthright (a loving alternative to abortion)!!!

To order, simply click on the
Mystic Monk Icon
at the Top of this screen!

 

 

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"Come to the Quiet" at the Portiunculan Franciscan Retreat Center

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$50m For Kids's Medical Care Donation from Khoo Teck Puat's Family

By Rachel Lin



Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew (right) unveils the statue of the late Khoo Teck Puat with Ms Mavis Khoo, daughter of the late Khoo Teck Puat. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on Monday announced that the family of Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat - banker, real estate magnate and once Singapore's richest man - has pledged $50 million for children's medical care.

This money will go to the National University Health System (NUHS) and the National University of Singapore. It will enable them to expand their University Children's Medical Institute by building more outpatient clinic facilities, which will include developmental and paediatric services, counselling and activity areas and facilities for clinical trials.

In honour of Mr Khoo, the NUHS' University Children's Medical Institute will be renamed the Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute.

Mr Lee made the announcement on Monday during the official opening ceremony for the Khoo Teck Puat hospital, which is also named after Mr Khoo. The hospital is Singapore's newest public hospital, and opened its doors for the first time in June.

In his speech, Mr Lee praised the hospital, calling it 'an advance in the Government's efforts to deliver affordable, accessible and good quality care to Singaporeans'.

He also stressed that, although Singapore's healthcare is among the best in Asia, healthcare professionals will have to keep up to date with the latest research, technology and international best practice.

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President Mike Pence 2012

MIKE PENCE

RECLAIMING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

AND

THE AMERICAN DREAM

by

Chris Dickson

http://mikepencethebook.blogspot.com



Please Help By Downloading 'Portiuncula Hermitage' Toolbar!

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"Searching" For Jesus!

We need to raise $120,000 to duplicate this Portiuncula Chapel
at the Franciscan University of Steubenville

What if the Portiuncula Hermitage earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Or what if a percentage of every purchase you made on-line went to support our cause? Well, now it can!

GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half of its advertising revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. Use it just as you would any search engine, get quality search results from Yahoo, and watch the donations add up!

Although this may not sound like a lot of money, if only 1000 of our supporters use GoodSearch.com just 5 times per day for the year, the Portiuncula Hermitage would receive over $18,000 towards its mission of spreading God's love!

It's easy. Just download the GoodSearch – Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage and Retreat Center toolbar at:

Website owners can also help by adding a customizable badge to their homepage or blog.

So please, make a commitment to browsing the Internet with GoodSearch.com with the Portiuncula Hermitage as your designated charity. Set it as your homepage, or bookmark it so using it becomes a habit.

As well, you can earn money for the Portiuncula Hermitage by doing your online shopping through GoodShop.com. It is a new online shopping mall which will donate up to 37 percent of each purchase to the Portiuncula Hermitage. Hundreds of popular stores, including Amazon, Target, Gap, Best Buy, Macy's and Barnes & Noble have teamed up with GoodShop.com and every time you place an order, you'll be supporting our valuable mission.

By simply surfing the web with GoodSearch.com and shopping with GoodShop.com you can raise much-needed funds for the Portiuncula Hermitage!

PLEASE FORWARD THIS PRAYER REQUEST TO
EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

Pax Et Bonum!


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JINGLE BELL JAVA Is Back For the Holidays!

The Mystic Monks have been busy preparing some surprises for this Christmas Season!

The most important of these is the



Fra Chris

Jingle Bell Java 2010

It is the most sophisticated blend available with a special blend of eight beans from all over the world. It is best described as a Medium Dark Blend with Citrus Flavors at first taste then a very smooth finish with pleasant pungentry. But hurry, because it is a Limited Edition Coffee Only!

And what would a Mystic Monk Christmas be without a little

Jingle Bell Java?

Our famous Jingle Bell Java will only be available until the end of the
Christmas Season
so be sure to stock up now!

We also have a beautiful new single handled Christmas Mug with a logo,and an insulated Mystic Monk Travel Mug - Perfect for enjoying our coffee while on the go!

Thank you for your support of the
Portiuncula Hermitage,
Mystic Monk Coffee®
and Birthright.

Please remember that the Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage and Retreat Center donates ten percent of their Mystic Monk Coffee Sales to Birthright (a loving alternative to abortion)!!!

To order, simply click on the
Mystic Monk Icon
at the Top of this screen!

Jerusalem, Ohio - Begging for Stones!

Catholics in Monroe County, Ohio are being asked to collect all their field stones and drop them off at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery on Ozark-Eddy Bridge Road so that we can duplicate this Portiuncula Chapel located at the Franciscan University of Steubenville

Francis set to begging for stones with which to restore the church of San Damiano. He called to the passers-by: "Whoever gives me one stone will have one reward; two stones, two rewards; three stones, a treble reward!"

Saint Francis of Assisi
Legend of the Three Companions
CHAPTER VII

Please note : We are begging our Catholic brothers and sisters in Monroe County, Ohio to round up all their field stones and dump them into the woods next to the Immaculate Conception Cemetery on Ozark-Eddy Bridge Road (in the direction of the large white house towards Woodsfield). These stones will be used to erect the Portiuncula Chapel.

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"Do You Smell That?

"This past week someone shared with me the story of Dana Lu Blessing. I share it with you as we reflect on the awesome gift of human life.

"A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as a doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing. She was still groggy from surgery. Her husband, David, held her hand as they braced themselves for the latest news. That afternoon, March 10, 1991, complications had forced Diana, only 24 weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency Cesarean to deliver the couple's new daughter, Dana Lu Blessing.

"At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound nine ounces, they already knew she was perilously premature. Still the doctor's soft words dropped like bombs. 'I don't think she's going to make it,' he said as kindly as he could. Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described the devastating problems Dana would likely face if she survived.

"Because Dana's nervous system was essentially "raw" the lightest kiss or caress only intensified her discomfort, so for the first two months of her life her parents couldn't touch or cradle their tiny baby girl. Little by little this miracle child gained weight and strength. Five years later she was a petite and feisty little girl with no signs of physical or mental impairment.

"While her survival was a miracle, another miracle was revealed when Dana was just five years old. One afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her home in Irving, Texas, Dana was sitting in her mother's lap in the bleachers of a local ballpark watching her brother play baseball. She suddenly asked her mother, "Do you smell that?" "Yes," Diana responded, "it smells like rain." Dana closed her eyes and asked again, "Do you smell that?" Once again, her mother replied, "Yes, I think we're going to get wet. It smells like rain." Dana shook her head and announced, "No, it smells like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest." And off she ran to play with the other children.

"And Dana knew that during those long days and nights of her daughter's first two months of life when her nerves were too sensitive for anyone to touch her, God was holding Dana on His chest and it was His loving scent that she remembered.

"May Dana Lu Blessing never forget that scent and may we never forget God's love for His little ones both born and soon-to-be-born."

In God's love,

Fr. Todd Riebe
Pastor
Richmond Catholic Community
http://www.richmondcatholiccommunity.com/



(This was my very first blog postging on this Portiuncula blog back in 2006. I felt it bears repeating...)


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"Come To The Quiet"

A special, thanks goes out to our dear friend, John Michael Talbot, for allowing the Portiuncula Franciscan Hermitage and Retreat Center to use his music "Dark Night of the Soul" in our YouTube Presentation.

Pace e bene!

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Fired By The Brother's Preaching

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i Piccoli frati e sorelle di Gesu e Maria

Not only men, but also women and unmarried virgins were fired by the brothers' preaching, and, on their advice, entered the prescribed convents to do penance; and one of the brothers was appointed as their visitor and guide. Married men and women, being bound by the marriage vow, were advised by the friars to dedicate themselves to a life of penance in their own houses.

Saint Francis of Assisi
legend of the Three Companions
CHAPTER XIV

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Father Stan Fortuna - Franciscan University of Steubenville Youth Conference

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"Come to the Quiet"