What do we truly value in our lives?

It’s about 7 PM one weekday evening. A man has just sat down in his living room after a long day. His six-year-old son comes into the living room.

“Daddy, may I ask you a question?”

Still annoyed about work, the father says, “Yeah sure, what is it?”

“Daddy, how much do you make an hour?”

“That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?” says the father.

“I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?”

Irritated, the father says, “If you must know, I make $100 an hour.”

“Oh!” says the son. And he lowers his little head. “Daddy, may I please borrow $50?”

That set the father off. “If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday and have no time for this childish behavior.”

The little boy began to cry and, sniffling, went to his room and shut the door.

The man sat down and started to get even more upset about his little boy’s questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think:
Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $50. The little guy didn’t ask for money very often. Maybe he had been too harsh on his son. The man got up and went to the door of his son’s room and opened the door.

“Are you asleep, son?” he asked.

“No Daddy, I’m awake.”

The father put the light on. “I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier. It’s been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here’s the $50 you asked for.”

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. “Oh, thank you Daddy!”

Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money. He began to feel his anger rise up. But the father watched as his son slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father. His son’s face was a mixture of happiness, hope, but a little fear, also.

Trying to keep his cool, the father asked, “Why do you want more money if you already have some?”

The son replied, “Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do.

“Daddy, I have $100 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.”

In that moment, the father’s anger was swept away like a leaf on a breezy day. He was crushed as he realized how he had presumed to know what his son was going to do. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness.

This is a brief reminder to all of us working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.

Do you remember to share that $100 worth of your time with someone you love?

If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family and friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family. Certainly we rationalize that we are doing that because we need to keep our job. And n many regards, it is true. We do need to keep our jobs.

But God calls us each day to focus on what is most important in our lives. He calls us to act upon what are very simple, yet beautiful parts of our lives. He calls on us to love each other, support each other, care for each other.

But do we focus on what is truly most important? Do we take time to balance our work life and home life? Do we place greater emphasis on our family than on work? Do we take time to nurture our relationships with our family members? Are we engaged with our family members and what they are doing?

Or are we more interested in, as the saying goes, “chasing coin”? Have we bought into that anti-family ideal that making more money will give us more time with our families once we’re finished working? Do we presume to know for a fact that we, or our loved ones, will still be here on this earth when we are finished working?

Some things are more important than chasing coin, like showing and sharing our love for our loved ones generously today and every day of our lives.

Yeah, I’m from Jersey.

Every now and again, e-mails pop up with interesting information about different states. Of course, being born and raised in Central Jersey, I always look for the one about the Great State of New Jersey. That happened to show up today with updated trivia! So without further ado, here it is:

New Jersey is a peninsula. (Don’t believe me? Remember the Delaware River is on the west side from the Water Gap to Delaware and the east side has the Atlantic Ocean.)

New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida.

New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.

New Jersey has more race horses than Kentucky.

New Jersey has the highest density of people and horses than any other State.

New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq mi.) than Havana, Cuba.

New Jersey has the densest system of highways and railroads in the US.

New Jersey has the highest cost of living.

New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance.

New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.

New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the “Diner Capital of the World.” (Those living in New Jersey have probably just thought of at least three diners they eat at regularly.)

New Jersey is home to the original Mystery Pork Parts Club (no, not Spam): Taylor Ham or Pork Roll.

Home to the less mysterious but the best Italian hot dogs and Italian sausage w/peppers and onions.

People in North Jersey talk about enjoying “Dirty Water Dogs” on the street in the Summer.

North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world, with seven major shopping malls in a 25 square mile radius.

New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. (Not even laws passed by the Legislature in New York will change that.)

The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride by inventor John P. Holland.

New Jersey has 50+ resort cities & towns; some of the nation’s most famous: Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Long Branch, Cape May.

New Jersey has the most stringent testing along our coastline for water quality control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.

New Jersey is a leading technology & industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation when you include pharmaceuticals.

Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy. (And they were originally developed with the help of Cook College, the land grant college of New Jersey. You can find out more about the efforts to bring by the flavor of Jersey Tomato varieties here.)

New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production (and here you thought Massachusetts?)

Here’s to New Jersey – the toast of the country!
In 1642, the first brewery in America, opened in Hoboken.

New Jersey rocks! The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah, in 1940.

New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the US, located in Elizabeth.

Nearly 80 percent of what our nation imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.

New Jersey is home to one of the nation’s busiest airports (in Newark), Liberty International.

George Washington slept here. Several important Revolutionary War battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by General George Washington.

The light bulb, phonograph (record player), and motion picture projector, were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ, laboratory.

It also boasts the first town ever lit by incandescent bulbs.

The first seaplane was built in Keyport, NJ.

The first airmail (to Chicago) was started from Keyport, NJ.

The first phonograph records were made in Camden, NJ

New Jersey was home to the Miss America Pageant held in Atlantic City.

The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on its playing board after the actual streets inAtlantic City.

And, Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world, not to mention salt water taffy.

New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.

The first Indian reservation was in New Jersey, in the Watchung Mountains.

New Jersey has the tallest water-tower in the world. (Union, NJ)

New Jersey had the first medical center, in Jersey City.

The Pulaski Skyway, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway highway.

NJ built the first tunnel under a river, the Hudson (Holland Tunnel).

The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.

The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in 1869 (Rutgers College played Princeton and beat them 6 to 4). Learn more about this game from The First Game.

The first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ, (but they’re all gone now!) except there is still one in Vineland!

New Jersey is home to both of “NEW YORK’S” pro football teams!

The first radio station and broadcast was in Paterson, NJ (Call sign: WPAT).

The first FM radio broadcast was made from Alpine, NJ, by Major Thomas Armstrong.

All New Jersey natives:
Budd Abbott,
Nick Adams,
Jason Alexander,
Robert Blake,
Judy Blume,
Jon Bon Jovi,
Zack Braff,
Aaron Burr,
Grover Cleveland,
Richard Conti,
James Fennimore Cooper,
Lou Costello,
Tom Cruise,
Sandra Dee,
Joe DePasquale,
Danny DeVito,
Eileen Donnelly,
Connie Francis,
John Forsythe,
Alan Ginsberg,
Alexander Hamilton,
Admiral William Halsey Jr.,
Jerry Herman,
Lauryn Hill,
Whitney Houston,
Ice-T,
Joyce Kilmer,
Ernie Kovacs,
Ken Kross,
Nathan Lane,
Queen Latifah,
Jerry Lewis,
Ray Liotta,
Norman Lloyd,
Joseph Macchia,
Sal Martorano,
Norman Mailer,
Marilynn McCoo,
Gordon McCrae,
Linda McElroy,
Eddie Money,
Anne Morrow Lindbergh,
Bill Muehleisen,
Natalie Muehleisen,
Phyllis Newman,
Jack Nicholson,
Shaquille O’Neill,
Joe Pesci,
Zebulon Pike,
Joe Piscopo,
Bob Reyers,
Kelly Ripa,
Joan Robertson,
Paul Robeson,
Caesar Romero,
Eva Marie Saint,
Susan Sarandon,
Norman Schwarzkopf,
Elisabeth Shue,
Paul Simon,
Kevin Spacey,
Bruce Springsteen,
Meryl Streep,
Loretta Swit,
Dave Thomas (of Wendy’s),
John Travolta,
Sarah Vaughn,
“Uncle Floyd” Vivino,
Dionne Warwick,
Walt Whitman,
William Carlos Williams,
Bruce Willis,
Flip Wilson,
Woodrow Wilson,
Robert Wuhl,

and, of course,

Francis Albert Sinatra.

The Great Falls in Paterson, on the Passaic River, is the 2nd highest waterfall on the East Coast of the US.

You know you’re from Jersey when …

You don’t think of fruit when people mention “The Oranges.”

You know that it’s called Great Adventure, not Six Flags.

A good, quick breakfast is a hard roll with butter.

You’ve known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven.

You’ve eaten at a diner, when you were drunk, at 3 A.M.

You know that the state isn’t one big oil refinery.

At least three people in your family still love Bruce Springsteen, and you know the town Jon Bon Jovi is from (Sayreville).

You know what a “jug handle” is.

You know that WaWa is a convenience store.

You know that the state has extensive farmland.

You know that there are no “beaches” in New Jersey — there’s the shore — and you don’t go “to the shore,” you go “down the shore.” And when you are there, you’re not “at the shore”; you are “down the shore.”

You know how to properly negotiate a circle.

You knew that the last sentence had to do with driving.

You know that this is the only “New” state that doesn’t require “New” to identify it (try … Mexico … York … Hampshire — doesn’t work, does it?).

You know that a “White Castle” is the name of BOTH a fast food chain AND a fast food sandwich.

You consider putting mayo on a corned beef sandwich a sacrilege.

You don’t think “What exit?” is very funny.

You know that people from the 609 area code are “a little different.” Yes they are!

You know that no respectable New Jerseyan goes to Princeton — that’s for out-of-staters.

The Jets-Giants game has started fights at your school or local bar.

You live within 20 minutes of at least three different malls.

You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers.

Every year you have at least one kid in your class named Tony.

You know the location of every clip shown in the Sopranos opening credits.

You’ve gotten on the wrong highway trying to get out of the mall.

You know that people from North Jersey go to Seaside Heights,
and people from Central Jersey go to Belmar,
and people from South Jersey go to Wildwood.
It can be no other way.

You weren’t raised in New Jersey — you were raised in either North Jersey, Central Jersey or South Jersey.

You don’t consider Newark or Camden to actually be part of the state.

You remember the stores Korvette’s, Two Guys, Rickel’s, Channel, Bamberger’s, Daffy Dan’s, and Orbach’s.

You also remember Palisades Amusement Park.

You’ve had a boardwalk cheese steak and vinegar fries.

You start planning for Memorial Day weekend in February.

And finally …

You’ve NEVER, NEVER NEVER, EVER pump your own gas.

There are also a number of “firsts” that have taken place here in New Jersey. Some are mentioned above but you can find others here.

 

Senior Citizens…

This evening I received a timely e-mail from my mother that spoke to a very real reality of what we have seen happen over the past thirty some-odd years. this e-mail commented on something that thinking, rational, intelligent people have noticed. It also bluntly put blame and responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the groups that richly deserve both. But most clearly, it defines our current society in a way that identifies what has gone wrong.

Of course, it includes a number of images of Maxine…

YES, THIS IS US!!!

Senior citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary. We know we take responsibility for all we have done and do not blame others.

HOWEVER, upon reflection, we would like to point out that it was NOT the senior citizens who took:

The melody out of music,

The pride out of appearance,

The courtesy out of driving,

The romance out of love,

The commitment out of marriage,

The responsibility out of parenthood,

The togetherness out of the family,

The learning out of education

The service out of patriotism,

The Golden Rule from rulers,

The Nativity scene out of cities,

The civility out of behavior,

The refinement out of language,

The dedication out of employment,

The prudence out of spending,

The ambition out of achievement or

God out of government and school.

And we are NOT the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance from personal relationships and interactions with others!

And we do understand the meaning ofpatriotism and remember those who have fought and died for our country.

Just look at the Seniors with tears in their eyes and pride in their hearts as they stand at attention with their hand over their hearts!

YES, I’M A SENIOR CITIZEN!

I’m the life of the party…even if it only lasts until 8 p.m.

I’m very good at opening childproof caps…with a hammer.

I’m awake many hours before my body allows me to get up.

I’m smiling all the time because I can’t hear a thing you’re saying.

I’m sure everything I can’t find is in a safe secure place, somewhere.

I’m wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and that’s just my left leg.

I’m beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
YES, I’M A SENIOR CITIZEN, and I think I am having the time of my life!

Now if I could only remember who sent this to me, I wouldn’t send it back.

Spread the laughter
Share the cheer
Let’s be happy
While we’re here.

MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA
MAY AMERICA THANK GOD!!

Obviously this is from those in our society who are over the age of 80 (born on or before December 1933). It is also obvious that there are some members of our society who were born after 1933 who were raised appropriately to be intelligent enough, capable enough, and mature enough to identify these realities as well. It is these people who recognize the value of each of these aspects of culture and fight for them, to instill them in others as values and vital elements that support and advance our culture.

Will we continue this fight to advance our culture by treasuring what is of true value in our culture?

Mr. Tim Pernetti’s “Letter of Resignation”

I post this to memorialize just how the administration of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey has harmed a great alumnus.

Dr. Robert L. Barchi, President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
83 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1281

Dear Dr. Barchi:

I write in confirmation of our conversation earlier today during which we agreed that it was in the best interests of Rutgers University that I step down from my position as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. I do so reluctantly because I always have and always will love Rutgers. I want to thank the people who have supported me throughout my years as a student-athlete and Athletic Director and help them understand my reasoning in this situation.

My continued tenure as Athletic Director is no longer sustainable for the University which I attended and where a piece of me will always remain. In connection with the incidents involving former basketball Coach Mike Rice, as was the case with all other matters which I handled on behalf of the University, I always tried my best to do what is right. I have spent a great deal of time reflecting on the events which led to today. As you know, my first instincts when I saw the videotape of Coach Rice’s behavior was to fire him immediately. However, Rutgers decided to follow a process involving university lawyers, human resources professionals, and outside counsel. Following review of the independent investigative report, the consensus was that university policy would not justify dismissal. I have admitted my role in, and regret for, that decision, and wish that I had the opportunity to go back and override it for the sake of everyone involved.

I trust that my tenure at Rutgers will not be judged by this one incident. I am proud of my efforts to lead Rutgers into the Big Ten, and of all of the accomplishments of our student-athletes in the classroom and on the field of play. I want to thank our great fans, the hardest working staff in collegiate athletics, and every one of our fine student-athletes. It has been my great pleasure to serve my alma mater.

Sincerely,

Tim Pernetti
Class of 1993

I Stand With Tim Pernetti

To:

Dr. Izzo
Rutgers Board of Governors

Dr. Dudley-Rivers
Rutgers Board of Trustees

Thank you for taking just a moment to read and consider this note which is sent to state my full, unqualified support of Rutgers Athletic Director Tim Pernetti. While I recognize and understand that the past few days have been difficult for the University community, I believe it’s important to share my deep feelings of support for Tim and the incredible job he has done while in his position. He continues to prove to be an innovator in his field with strong, dynamic leadership qualities and abilities that are essential in charting the path and actions of the staff of the University Athletics both today and in the future.

The events that unfolded with Mr. Rice were ugly, embarrassing and raise valid questions as to whom should be permitted to teach and coach Rutgers student athletes. Despite public outcry, I implore these esteemed boards to resist a knee jerk reaction that satisfies the 24-hours news cycle. Tim Pernetti is a Rutgers man, a Loyal Son and a person I believe has the best interests of the University deep in his heart. His decision to try and rehabilitate Mr. Rice can be easily mocked or questioned in hindsight. But it demonstrates the kind of character and sincerity he leads with. Losing these leadership qualities in order to please ESPN and others with their own agenda who do not have the University’s interests at heart would be a grave miscalculation and in the end hurt Rutgers in the long-term. I respectfully urge caution and patience when considering Tim’s future. In hindsight, Tim has already admitted he made a mistake in his statement. As a season-ticket holder for football and avid supporter of the school I remain fully confident in his abilities to lead our athletics department into the Big Ten Conference.

I further urge the Board of Governors and Board of Trustees in the strongest terms possible to support both Dr. Barchi and Mr. Pernetti during this time of difficulty and to retain both professionals to continue the efforts they have undertaken to advance Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey as both a leader in academia and in collegiate athletics as we progress toward entrance to the Big Ten in 2014.

Once again thank you for the consideration afforded my note.

Sincerely,
Marc C. Kollar, BS
Cook College 1995

Past Academic Dean
Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy

Recording Secretary
Cook Community Alumni Association

Sent from my iPad

What is really at stake…

Over the course of the past week, we have read volumes from the Liberal Media mouthpieces and lapdogs of the communists and demagogues who are lusting to overrule natural law and install their own personal desires. Yet they still cannot/will not accept the truth which is this:  Natural Law will always trump positive law and personal opinion.

Still, we must work through the fallacies, inconsistencies, and outright lies held in the minds of the governmentally educated (the low information people), dispelling the disinformation taught over the course of 60 to 70 years. So let us begin.

The current hearing before the Supreme Court regarding Proposition 8 in California is misdirected at best. First, Prop 8 is not a law; it is an amendment to the California Constitution. As such, it is an integral part of that Constitution, voted on by the people, not enacted or otherwise voted upon by elected representatives and signed into law by the governor.

As frustrating as it may be for those of certain persuasions to realize, not even a federal court has jurisdiction over a State Constitution as long as that Constitution and the amendments voted on by the people are not in conflict with the federal Constitution. To understand this reality more fully, please take time to read Mr. Mike DeVine’s article on Western Free Press.

Beyond that reality, those of certain persuasions must still try to cobble together some justification for their alternate lifestyle and try to call it a marriage. To quote a certain individual who is idolized by the communists, “let me be clear:” marriage according to the immemorial understanding of mankind, viz. a contract by two people of the opposite sex to live together and become one flesh, loving and cherishing one another.

This is not merely a religious concept; it is a time honored sociological concept that has been accepted down through the ages as a basic underpinning of society necessary for the maintenance, health and well-being of social comity. To undermine this natural law principle through some man-made positive law or imperfect human juridical ruling is to contradict the understanding and practice of the ages and suppress the common understanding of right reason.

But as significant as those forgoing realities are, we must be equally cognizant of what Pope Francis, then Cardinal Bergoglio, has already stated about the legalization of unions between same-sex couples in 2010:

Let’s not be naïve, we’re not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God. We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God.

The (Scientific) Death of Jesus

At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to the death penalty.

At the time crucifixion was the “worst” death. Only the worst criminals were condemned to be crucified. Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus, for unlike other criminals condemned to death by crucifixion, Jesus was nailed to the cross by His hands and feet, rather than tied as was the general custom.

Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long. The nails were driven into His wrist. They were not into His palms as is commonly portrayed. That is because the hands are mostly flesh and would have torn. The bone that makes up the palm of the hand is flexible and would shatter as the nail was driven into the area. In the wrist, there is a tendon that runs the length of the arm into the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the wrist, that tendon would tear or break. Thus, it would force Jesus to use His back muscles to support himself, so that He could breathe.

Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support himself with His legs for long because of the pain, so He was forced to alternate between arching His back and using his legs just to continue to breath. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage.

Jesus endured this reality for over 3 hours. Yes, over 3 hours! Can you imagine this kind of suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water from His wounds.

From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side… But do we remember the many wounds made to his body? A hammer driving large nails through the wrists, the feet overlapped and a nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. Before the nails and the spear, Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His Face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The Crown of thorns (two to three inch thorns interwoven) cut deeply into His scalp. Most men would not have survived this torture alone.

He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His Wounds. The human adult body contains about 3.5 liters (just less than a gallon) of blood.

Jesus poured all 3.5 liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His Members; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His Chest.

All these without mentioning the humiliation He passed after carrying His own Cross for almost 2 kilometers (about 1 and a quarter miles), while the crowd spat in His Face and threw stones. The cross beam was almost 30 kg or 66 pounds of weight, to which His hands were nailed.

But Jesus endured this experience, so that you may have free access to God; so that your sins can be “washed” away. All of your sins, with no exception! But you need to confess them to God and seek forgiveness from God. More importantly, you have the responsibility to “avoid the near occasions of sin” in your life.

Still, JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU!

For you, who now read this, do not believe that He only died for others. He died for you!