Larry Peterson's Blog, page 30

Review: by Charlotte Ostermann re: "The Good Sinner"

The link is to the review by Charlotte Ostermann of the CWG on Elizabeth Schmeidler's new release, "The Good Sinner":  With the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade next week this is a timely release. Take a look.

http://wp.me/p2Mupb-3k

Do We Now Have An Unratified, 28th Amendment to the US Constitution?

Let me begin by posting a definition from Wikipedia: It is as follows;






"National Religious Freedom Day commemorates the Virginia General Assembly's adoption of Thomas Jefferson's landmark Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom on January 16, 1786. This vital document became the basis for the establishment clause, and led to freedom of religion for all Americans as protected in the religion clause in the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.[1]

Religious Freedom Day is officially proclaimed on January 16 each year by an annual statement by the President of the United States. This day is commemorated by the First Freedom Center in Richmond, Virginia by an annual First Freedom Award banquet."




Well now, ain't that something. Every year on January 16 we celebrate Religious Freedom Day. But this year, as the president proclaims the day, his White House is facing  dozens and dozens of lawsuits over the HHS Mandate because of its intrusion into the very belief system of our religious institutions. I am sure that President Obama will not admit that the HHS mandate is intrusive or in violation of our First Amendment rights but, the way I see it is, if someone keeps smacking me in the back of my head and keeps telling me he's not smacking me because it is only a light tap, I don't care--I KNOW I am getting slapped, smacked or whacked. Call it what you will--something IS happening and it is a violation of my personal space. 

Look, if someone holds up a bat or a knife or even a fist and threatens you with it, that is an assault. The battery is when they actually hit you. That is why it is called assault & battery. So, as a Catholic Christian, it is very clear to me that my church is being assaulted by the very government that has sworn to protect these freedoms we cherish so highly. The battery will come in the form of fines levied against institutions for non-compliance with the new rules.

  It doesn't matter what "percentage" of Catholics agree or disagree or what percentage voted for the incumbent. It does not matter what all the intellectuals that inhabit our universities think is right or just. It does not matter what all the cinematic thespians expound as virtuous. It does not matter what Tv pundits, late night comedy show hosts and all the intelligentsia that fill our editorial pages with their wisdom think. No siree,---when it comes to our religious freedoms it is none of their business unless criminal law is being violated under the guise of religion. We should never be told what parts of our faith we should honor and respect. It cannot be justified by percentages or polling numbers or by the opinion of the Ivy League community. It is a sacred right and for this right to be disrespected like this is disgraceful.

The GREAT PARADOX of the American Constitution seems to be our new, unratified, 28th Amendment. It might read: "The right of the Executive Branch of the United States Government to redefine the Constitution of the United States to accomodate its agenda, shall not be abridged".  

"Truly An Amazing Story" I cried & laughed

Review Redux:




5.0 out of 5 stars The Priest and the Peaches, April 2, 2012



By 

Arlena (Broken Arrow, OK, United States) - See all my reviews

(REAL NAME)   





This review is from: The Priest and the Peaches (Kindle Edition)
Author: Larry Peterson

Published By: Tribute Books

Age Recommend: 14+

Reviewed By: Arlena Dean

Raven Rating: 5

Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud

Review:



This was truly an amazing story of The Yimey Peach Family from the Bronx, New York. "The Priest and the Peaches" story started with five children being newly orphaned and their struggle to survive together as a family. With the help of the Father Tim Sullivan steering them to make good and wise decisions the children were able to overcome many obstacles that were presented to them. And in the end this Peach Family got a surprise from a person who had once been their enemy, was now there for them showing much love.



I really did enjoy reading this novel. It did cause me to cry a little but I also laughed at so much of it too. The story really makes one think of just what really could happen when you are an orphan. The book is really a page turner. I believe Mr. Larry Peterson did a excellent job with the telling of this story "The Priest and the Peaches" and I definitely would recommend this novel to all. The Priest and the Peaches" was a excellent read!

The Dead Man's "Secret to Life" Saves His Kids

Review Redux:  



By 

Lee-Ann Graff Vinson - See all my reviews





This review is from: The Priest and the Peaches (Kindle Edition)
Book Title: The Priest And The Peaches

Author: Larry Peterson

Published By: Tribute Books

Recommended Age: 15+

Reviewed By: Lee-Ann Graff-Vinson

Blog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud

Rating: 4 (****)



Yimey knew the secret to life. He made sure his family and friends did, too. Even when the love of his life died, he kept the faith. But then, Yimey died and his five children were left to fend for themselves - orphans in a grown up world.

Teddy and his sister, Joanie were now the adults of the house, taking care of the everyday happenings of a family. Their three younger siblings were more than handful. With work to attend, and high school exams to complete, Teddy and Joanie tried hard to fill the enormous shoes their parents left behind.



There were those, however, who did not agree with five children living in an apartment without any adult supervision. Orphans could not raise orphans. Just days after they buried their father, the "adults" went back to work, leaving the younger ones at home. Catastrophic events led the three young children to be taken into custody by the police, and a call made to Child Protection Services. They had lost their mother and father, and now they were about to lose each other. The only way out was through a dead man's secret to life.



Author, Larry Peterson, uses loving humour to guide his readers through a novel of heartache. He writes with a message to us all, one that shows the true worth of love for thy neighbour. The Priest And The Peaches will leave you with feeling of warmth after days spent in the cold, bleakness of reality. This is a story worth reading and recommending to family, friends and neighbours. The secret to life is worth sharing, right Yimey?



Lee-Ann Graff-Vinson is the author of `Georgia's Smile', `Love's Trust', `Callie's Fate', and her most recent release - `Love And Liberty' (now also available in print). Also just recently released, `Queen Emily's Enchanted Kingdom - Sugarland', first in the series of children's picture books (available in kindle and print).

All About Loving Your neighbor

Review Redux




4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful touching story, April 3, 2012



By 

Cece "die_hard_romantic" - See all my reviews





This review is from: The Priest and the Peaches (Kindle Edition)
The 5 children from the Peach family lost their mother a while back, and just a few pages into the book lose their father. Without the guidance of their parents, they struggle to survive as a family. Teddy the oldest assumes responsibility Luckily Father Tim Sullivan steps in and acts as a guidance, playing a big role by helping them in difficulties they encounter.
The week after Pops (their father dies) the kids go through a lot, things one wouldn't want their children to go through. The book is about loving your neighbor (L.Y.N.) acceptance, and learning how to stick together as a family. I enjoyed reading this book, and the message it carried all though. Love and faith can go a long way to healing and providing strength needed to face hardships.

Review Reprint; "I challenge you to read this book, Dare to look inside yourself---"

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Well Written, February 13, 2012



By 

Marie Borthwick - See all my reviews





This review is from: The Priest and the Peaches (Kindle Edition)
This book is more than a story to be read... it holds lessons on life, love and happiness that we could all stand to revisit. What I found amazing as I read the story, only covers one week in the life of the Peach children. That one week, seven measly days, just so happened to be kicked off with the untimely death of a father they came to realize they barely knew.

I like to consider myself a good Christian, but books like The Priest and the Peaches that have significant religious themes often make me uncomfortable. To be honest, I briefly thought of declining the request for a review. While the religious aspects of the story did have me squirming in my seat and uncomfortable, I am very glad I read this book. I not only learned about the emotional roller coaster the Peach children road the seven days just after their father passed, I learned a lot about myself.

I learned I need to take a deep breath and try to not let my pride get in the way, I learned that everything and I mean everything happens for a reason. Don't get me wrong, I sort of knew these things about myself already but something about the Peach children and the other characters that populate their world has moved me in such a way that I can't exactly explain.

I challenge you to read this book, I challenge you to not learn that something that will at least have you thinking for a second longer in the future. I dare you to look inside yourself and really think about whether you might misjudge a character in your life like Peach children were misjudged (and the people the Peach children misjudged). I challenge you to do more than acknowledge your neighbor, I challenge you to L-Y-N. Want to know exactly what I am talking about? Read the book.

New Year's Day & The Blessed Virgin Mary

A little about Catholics (myself included)  and the Blessed Virgin Mary.




We Catholics have adorned our Blessed Mother
with many titles (47 different ones I believe) and she is the greatest of all
saints. We believe that she has been spared from original sin and was taken into heaven body
and soul never having to die in this world. But, before she left here she lived
here, as a woman, a mom and a housewife.  I think we do not pay enough
attention to the earthly life of our spiritual Mom. January 1st of each year we Catholics honor her  with a day we call the Solemnity of Mary; the Mother of God. In the catholic world today is a Holy day of Obligation and, just like on Sundays, going to mass is required. This woman is worthy of and deserves this special day of honor..

Remember that Mary  had already survived the possibility of execution by stoning  because she was pregnant
prior to her marriage. You can’t tell me that she did not think about the
potential consequences of her pregnancy. (Even her Son, the God Man, broke into
a sweat in the Garden of Eden thinking about what was coming. Why
wouldn't  Mary be worried?) She knew she was pregnant, she knew this was
an extreme violation of Jewish law and she knew the penalty.  Her life was
out of her hands and her fate thrust into  the hands of another, a man
named Joseph, her betrothed. Fortunately, he was the best fiancé ever, married
her, took her in and accepted her child as his.

Then, at full term in her
pregnancy,  she has to travel with her husband over 80 miles on a donkey
to be counted in a census.  She survives the four or five day journey (no
rest-rooms between Nazareth and Bethlehem)and the countless contractions she
must have had along the way to discover that her frantic husband cannot find a
place for them to stay.  She winds up giving  birth in a stable with
smelly animals,  lots of straw, no running water and who knows how clean
those swaddling clothes were. She was probably all of 14 years old.

Let’s not forget that after  awhile
word comes to them that Herod wants to kill their baby. Hey, all you moms and
dads, how would you like to know the head of the government has authorized your
child’s execution? Can you imagine? So, this poor young mom  is forced to
make a 300+ mile journey to Egypt, hiding her child as best she can, while
 all the time hoping her carpenter husband can elude the soldiers
searching for them. Talk about  anxiety. Talk about fear. Talk about
having Faith and praying like you never prayed before.

It probably was a year or two
before the family made it back to Nazareth. Here they probably lived in a
 typical baked clay and straw brick house. Each day Mary would have to
sweep the beaten clay floor, go to the cistern for water, travel outside the
town walls for daily necessities such as spices and grain which she would have
to grind  into flour to bake fresh bread (no preservatives in those days)
. Of course, there was the laundry.  Trust me, there were no laundromats
and there were no detergents. There were also no diapers or Pampers or
band-aids or cough syrups or baby powder or microwave chicken nuggets or
McDonald's either.  Her husband would be in his shop doing his carpentry
chores and her boy, Jesus, would be with His dad or maybe helping His mom. And
life would go on, day after day after day. The years go by and  she is witness to  his horrendous execution. No mom should ever have to witness her child being butchered. She was there for His first breath and His very last.



In conclusion, He came here for us and she gave birth to Him for us. She wiped His runny nose, changed His dirty diaper and watched Him grow up and be killed for us. That is why we call her MOM too. We believe that she is still watching out for us, her other kids. Ultimately, this  transposes into the
Greatest Story Ever Told. Jesus was the leading Man and Mary, the leading woman . You have to LOVE this story and its two main characters, from Beginning to Never-Ending.

"The Grippers": Getting Homeless Without Even Trying

The "GRIPPERS" (Getting Homeless Without Even Trying) was introduced here, in serial form, on June 6, 2011. It ran for 20 weeks (episodes) and followed the journey of Bob and Tracey Slider and their son, Jake, 12, as they plummeted downward toward the murky, scary world of being homeless. If you would like to start at the beginning scroll DOWN to the first chapter.



The "Grippers"  is being made into a novel and I hope to have it published sometime in 2013.

Wishing Everyone A Blessed & Happy Christmas

                                       





WISHING YOU ALL A BLESSED CHRISTMAS

                                 

To St. Joseph; The Best Husband & Dad EVER--Merry Christmas

I just felt compelled to write a few words about a simple man, a man of incredible faith, unyielding loyalty, and a heart so filled with love for his wife and child it might have exploded if that were possible. I am referring to Joseph (Yosef in Hebrew) the husband of Mary and the earthly father of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. We all know him as St. Joseph.



I am not going into any theology here. Nothing about the Pauline Epistles or the Gospels of Mark and Luke or the apocryphal works that have varied "opinions" about the man and his time. I just want to look at Joesph as a husband and a father and try, just a little bit, to get into his shoes (sandals).



First of all, Joseph was a "righteous" Jew. This meant he followed the Law of Moses and did it to the best of his ability. He was a true man of faith. I do not care how old he was when he became betrothed to Mary. All I know is that "betrothal" under the Jewish law was like a pre-marriage. Sort of  like a post-engagement. There even  had to be a rabbi officiating. You did not walk away from a betrothal. No sirree, to get out of a betrothal you needed a divorce.



So what happens? Joseph and Mary become betrothed and Joseph finds out she is pregnant. This is not 2012 we are talking about, this is over 2000 years ago. Mosaic Law permitted the actual execution by stoning of the woman. What would I have done? What would you have done? Damn--I can't imagine being confronted with that situation. So, I don't know what I would have done. Not our man, Joseph. He loved this woman and married her anyway. I know, I know, he had the dream and everything. But haven't you ever dreamed and I do suggest that, as a man during those times, being faced with the reality of what was going on, he could have ran away from that dream like an Olympic sprinter dashing toward the stadium exit instead of the finish line. Yet, he married her and they had a nice reception, they moved in together and about four months later it was time to travel to Bethlehem for the census.



So now I'm thinking of me and what would I do. I'm thinking; My wife is due any day.I have little money and I have to make an 80 mile trip over rugged and dusty terrain that will take maybe four to five days if,  I can do 20 miles a day. Heck, I don't want to make the trip so how is she going to be able to deal with 20 miles a day for 4 days?  Okay, okay, there is no choice. Dang, I hope that donkey can take it. I probably would have tried to hook up with a caravan as I traveled assuming it would be safer in numbers. I do not know if Joseph actually did that. The bottom line is, he had to take his pregnant wife and  let her sit on the back of a donkey and travel 80 miles. Nice trip. I would probably hate myself for doing that.  Think about it, we can drive 20 miles in 20 minutes doing 60 mph and we still complain.



Anyway, he gets to Bethlehem and there is no place to stay. Not a lousy room anywhere, even in a dive. She is already in labor and he is probably freaking out a bit. If it was today at least he probably would have had an old Chevy or something that she could have laid down in. He winds up in a smelly stable with animals and straw and his son is born and it is a beautiful thing but I'll bet he would have done anything to get his wife and son into a room, any room. And along comes Herod and his insane jealousy.



Joesph hears about King Herod wanting to kill his baby. Just imagine for a moment that the government had soldiers out looking for your child so they could kill it. I can't imagine. In fact the maniac king has thousands of children killed figuring sooner or later he would kill the right one. MADNESS----Why? EGO.



The trip to Bethlehem was a cake walk compared to the Egypt trip. But Joseph somehow manages to make it about 300 to 350 miles to Egypt with a wife and a newborn and remains there a few years. Then, when he knows it is safe, he goes to Nazareth and resumes his trade as a carpenter, teaching his Son the law and the trade. He passes away  before his Boy begins his public life. His Son is at his side as he breathes his last.



 I love this man. Thank you Lord for giving us St. Joseph, the best husband and dad ever. All of us should think of him this Christmas. He deserves it.  I'm done.