So this is the first day of Lent and it is Ash Wednesday. Let me first say that with or without my Roman Catholic Religion my relationship with my God is alive, healthy and well. I would say that I’m way more spiritual than religious. In fact my relationship with my God no longer needs my religion. That being said I would not have began my relationship with God if I were not a Roman Catholic. And I enjoy the rituals, songs and prayers of my faith. That is not to say that other religions and forms of religious worship are inferior to mine. I will however say that my relationship with God is far superior to any expression of worship on the face of the earth. So now that I’ve established that let us move on…

As I stated in an earlier post I really don’t like to talk about what I do for Lent because that is between my God and I. I prefer to keep it just between us. However, as you may know I have given up my social networks. I no longer have my social network apps on my BlackBerry or Android. Furthermore, I will not be able to log into facebook or Twitter until Monday, April 25th. I had to let people know of this sacrifice because I didn’t want anyone to worry or wonder why I’ve been absent. As I’ve stated in that earlier post I was challenged to give up my social networks and I am up to the task. I know it hasn’t been 24 hours yet but I’ve been doing fairly well without twitter and facebook. In fact I feel more productive and free although I do miss keeping up with all my friends and tweeple. But I don’t think this will be a problem for me during lent.

Now some would say that I’m cheating because whatever I post here will be automatically fed to my social networks. But I’ve chosen to do that so that my facebook and twitter remain active. Some facebook and twitter friends of mine use applications that “clean up” and remove inactive accounts. And if anyone should post a comment or offer a reply I won’t be able to see it until April 25th. So I don’t see how it’s cheating. But someone will likely make a nitpick about it. And even more won’t even care. But now that I’ve addressed that I’m ready to keep moving on…

As I’ve stated in an earlier post I watched the Vatican TV stream of Pope Benedict XVI weekly general audience held on Wednesdays live. I also watch it to help me in my foreign language studies as I’m attempting to be fluent in 9 before I die. I’m currently studying 14 languages and do my best to devote two hours daily to my foreign language studies. Here’s my schedule:

Monday = Italian or French
Tuesday = Portuguese or Spanish
Weds = Arabic or Hebrew
Thursday = Mandarin or Japanese
Friday = German or Greek
Saturday = Cantonese or Korean
Sunday = Latin or Tagalog

The hardest thing for me is I understand a very little bit at the very least of each foreign language I’m studying, however, I’m having a hard time writing and speaking them. I would say that I’m far better at Tagalog and Latin than the others but I’m working on them. But that is part of the reason I watch the Pope’s weekly general audience because of the languages spoken during it. And the translator translates in Italian too. But what I’m attempting to do is hard but it’s not impossible! But I must say I really am impressed by the Pope’s Theological and Intellectual prowess. I love that kind of Greatness! I’ll even venture to say he’s a better teacher than his predecessor Pope John Paul II. You see Pope John Paul II was a very good communicator and could convey his message best, however, Pope Benedict XVI is a better teacher. I understand what he’s trying to say versus knowing what he’s trying to say. But I loved what Pope Benedict XVI had to say at his general audience. I may not agree with him on everything but I love the Man.

After the Pope’s weekly general audience I posted my informal “Welcome” post. Then I proceeded to work on the back end of this very website. Then I watched the Pope’s Ash Wednesday services live on EWTN’s TV stream. In fact as of this typing (3:20pm Pacific) they’re doing a replay of it. So now I’m listening to it as I’m typing. I love Latin & Italian. But I really loved what the Pope had to say during his Homily. If you know Italian you can read his homily here.

My Ash Wednesday has been filled with manifesting God’s dream for me on earth. And only God and I know what that’s all about. ;) I just wanted to let you know that I will be adding more content to this website so please be patient. Right now I’m very sleepy. But what else is new? But I must stay awake as I must be about my Father’s (God, not my bioDad) Business. Yesterday I dropped a lot of quotes on my twitter on facebook. And so I wanted to share them with you as a parting gift!

Posted on Facebook on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 9:39pm Los Angeles Time.

QUOTE DROP 1 before Ash Weds & Lent Starts: “A good deed is never lost: he who sows courtesy reaps friendship; and he who plants kindness gathers love.” ~Basil. “Never part without loving words to think of during your absence. It may be that you will not meet again in this life.” ~Jean Paul Richter. “If evil be said of thee, and if it be true, correct thyself; if it be a lie, laugh at it.” ~Epictetus. I’ll miss you!

Posted on Facebook on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 9:48pm Los Angeles Time.

QUOTE DROP 2 before Ash Weds & Lent Starts & I Have To Say Good Bye Until April 25th: “Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.” ~Samuel Johnson. “Energy and persistence conquer all things.” ~Benjamin Franklin. “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” ~Confucius. “Persistent people begin their success where others end in failure.” ~Edward Eggleston. I’ll miss you all!

Posted on Facebook on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 9:55pm Los Angeles Time.

QUOTE DROP 3 before Ash Weds & Lent Starts & I Have To Say Good Bye Until April 25th: “You must know for which harbor you are headed if you are to catch the right wind to take you there.” ~Seneca. “Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” ~William Shakespeare. “They can conquer who believe they can.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson. I will miss you all!

Posted on Facebook on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 10:02pm Los Angeles Time.

QUOTE DROP 4 before Ash Weds & Lent Starts & I Have To Say Good Bye Until April 25th: “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” ~Gandhi. I will miss you all!

Posted on Facebook on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 10:08pm Los Angeles Time.

QUOTE DROP 5 before Ash Weds & Lent Starts & I Have To Say Good Bye Until April 25th: “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” ~Harriet Tubman. “Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.” ~Pamela Vaull Starr. I will miss you all!

Posted on Facebook on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 10:21pm Los Angeles Time.

QUOTE DROP 6 before Ash Weds & Lent Starts & I Have To Say Good Bye Until April 25th: “Go before the people with your example, and be laborious in their affairs.” ~Confucius. “If you command wisely, you’ll be obeyed cheerfully.” ~Thomas Fuller. “The measure of a man is what he does with power.” ~Greek Proverb. “Never give an order that can’t be obeyed.” ~General Douglas MacArthur. I will miss you all!

Posted on Facebook on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 10:34pm Los Angeles Time.

QUOTE DROP 7 before Ash Weds & Lent Starts & I Have To Say Good Bye Until April 25th: “Practice yourself in little things, and thence proceed to greater.” ~Epictetus. “To conquer oneself is the best and noblest victory; to be vanquished by one’s own nature is the worst and most ignoble defeat.” ~Plato. “If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.” ~Thomas Edison. I will miss you all!

Posted on Facebook on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 10:41pm Los Angeles Time.

QUOTE DROP 8 before Ash Weds & Lent Starts & I Have To Say Good Bye Until April 25th: “Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don’t think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you retire.” ~Samuel Johnson. “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” ~Thomas Jefferson. Miss You!

Posted on Facebook on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 10:49pm Los Angeles Time.

QUOTE DROP 9 before Ash Weds & Lent Starts & I Have To Say Good Bye Until April 25th: “Live up to the best that is in you: Live noble lives, as you all may, in whatever condition you may find yourselves.” ~Henry W. Longfellow. “There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self.” ~Hindu Proverb. “They can because they think they can.” ~Virgil.

Posted on Facebook on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 10:58pm Los Angeles Time.

QUOTE DROP 10 of 10:”Re-examine all that you have been told. Dismiss what insults your soul.”~Walt Whitman. “There is a giant asleep within everyone. When the giant awakes, miracles happen.”~Frederick Faust. “If you are humble, neither praise nor disgrace will touch you, because you know who you are.”~Mother Teresa. “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”~Henry David Thoreau

Thanks for reading this. Take care because you’re God blessed! [gallery]

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