By grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not of works, so that no one may boast.

This Superlative Sanctuary Sunday Open Thread, with full respect to those who worship God on the Sabbath, is a place to reaffirm our worship of our Creator, our Father, our King Eternal.

It is also a place to read, post and discuss news that is worth knowing and sharing. Please post links to any news stories that you use as sources or quote from.

In the QTree, we’re a friendly and civil lot. We encourage free speech and the open exchange and civil discussion of different ideas. Topics aren’t constrained, and sound logic is highly encouraged, all built on a solid foundation of truth and established facts.

We have a policy of mutual respect, shown by civility. Civility encourages discussions, promotes objectivity and rational thought in discourse, and camaraderie in the participants – characteristics we strive toward in our Q Tree community.

Please show respect and consideration for your fellow QTreepers. Before hitting the “post” button, please proofread your post and make sure you’re addressing the issue only, and not trying to confront the poster. Keep to the topic – avoid “you” and “your”. Here in The Q Tree, personal attacks, name calling, ridicule, insults, baiting and other conduct for which a penalty flag would be thrown are VERBOTEN.

In The Q Tree, we’re compatriots, sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs, making s’mores and discussing, agreeing, and disagreeing about whatever interests us. This board will remain a home for those who seek respectful conversations.

Please also consider the Guidelines for posting and discussion , outlined here https://wqth.wordpress.com/2019/01/01/dear-maga-open-topic-20190101/

Let’s not give the Internet Censors a reason to shut down this intellectual haven that Wolf has created for us.

The Storm is upon us.
Please remember to Pray for our President.

AND WHAT TIME IS IT?
TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP!!!

Our movement is about replacing a failed and CORRUPT political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People. ~ Candidate Donald J. Trump

Also remember Wheatie’s Rules:

1. No food fights.
2. No running with scissors.
3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.

And,

On this day and every day –

God is in Control
. . . and His Grace is Sufficient, so . . .
Keep Looking Up

Hopefully, every Sunday, you can find something here that will build you up a little . . . give you a smile . . . and add some joy or peace, very much needed in all our lives.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” . . . “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

In Romans 12:3-8 , we see from verse 3 that God gives varying measures of faith to his people. Paul says that we ought “to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” In the context this is not a limited reference to the unique spiritual gift of faith (1 Corinthians 12:9). For Paul says, “I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” “To each” refers back to “everyone among you.” God has given all Christians varying measures of faith. This is the faith with which we receive and use our varying gifts. It is the ordinary daily faith by which we live and minister.

In this context, Paul is concerned that people were “thinking of themselves more highly than they ought to think.” His final remedy for this pride is to say that not only are spiritual gifts a work of God’s free grace in our lives, but so also is the very faith with which we use those gifts. This means that every possible ground of boasting is taken away. How can we boast if even the qualification for receiving gifts is also a gift?

That’s how important humility is in God’s eyes. This is exactly the same aim of God mentioned in Ephesians 2:8-9 where Paul stresses that saving faith is a gift: “By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast.” Faith is a gift from God, so that no one may boast. Or, as Romans 12:3 says, So that we will not think too highly of ourselves. The last bastion of pride is the belief that we are the originators of our faith.

Paul knew that the abundant grace of God was the source of his own faith. He said in 1 Timothy 1:13-14, “I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; but the grace of our Lord overflowed [for me] with the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” He was an unbeliever. But then grace overflowed to him with faith.

So he knew this was the case with every other believer too. He said to the Philippians, “To you it has been given for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29). This is why he thanked God and not human resourcefulness for the faith he saw in his churches: “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged” (2 Thessalonians 1:3). We thank God for the enlargement of faith because “God has allotted to each [his own] measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).

This truth has a profound impact on how we pray. Jesus gives us the example in Luke 22:31-32. Before Peter denies him three times Jesus says to him, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Jesus prays for Peter’s faith to be sustained even through sin, because he knows that God is the one who sustains faith.

So we should pray for ourselves and for others this way. Thus the man with the epileptic boy cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). This is a good prayer. It acknowledges that without God we cannot believe as we ought to believe. Similarly the apostles pray to Jesus, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5). They pray this way because Jesus is the one who can do that.

This teaching about faith being a gift of God raises many questions. God has answers for them all. Even if we don’t, let us seek to put the teaching to its practical Biblical use: namely, the humbling of our pride, and the stimulation of our prayers. In other words, let us pray daily: “O Lord, thank you for my faith. Sustain it. Strengthen it. Deepen it. Don’t let it fail. Make it the power of my life, so that in everything I do you get the glory as the great Giver. Amen”

John Piper 1999 | MINNEAPOLIS, MN–

I am writing this Wednesday night. The DC Appeals Court has ordered Sullivan to dismiss the case.

I’ll be honest, I doubt he’ll do this. If having the government move to dismiss the charges didn’t do it, why should this?

When the government first moved to dismiss, everyone here was celebrating and I was, frankly, shat on by some for trying to point out that the judge actually had to grant the motion and dismiss the case. It was a done deal, as far as everyone (but me) was concerned.

Until Sullivan actually does this (or someone finally does it for him), Flynn’s legal status is that of a convicted felon awaiting sentencing, because to the best of my knowledge the trial phase ended with his guilty plea, which has never been vacated.

I said his legal status, not his actual character.

Well, hopefully Sullivan finally folds. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he tries another delaying tactic.

If nothing else the absurd lengths to which that sack of bearded dragon poop will go to avoid ending the trial of General Flynn tells us that it’s very important to someone that this trial never end. The judge dragged out sentencing (one way to end the trial), now he’s dragging out dismissal.

Reminder of the Most Important Thing about the MAGA Movement

Yes, I am going to harp on this, because it is the most important thing President Donald J. Trump has to do, and he hasn’t really gotten started on it yet.

Our movement is about replacing a failed and corrupt political establishment with a new government controlled by you, the American People...Our campaign represents a true existential threat, like they’ve never seen before.

Then-Candidate Donald J. Trump

Lawyer Appeasement Section

OK now for the fine print.

This is the WQTH Daily Thread. You know the drill. There’s no Poltical correctness, but civility is a requirement. There are Important Guidelines,  here, with an addendum on 20191110.

We have a new board – called The U Tree – where people can take each other to the woodshed without fear of censorship or moderation.

And remember Wheatie’s Rules:

1. No food fights
2. No running with scissors.
3. If you bring snacks, bring enough for everyone.
4. The gun is always loaded.
4a. If you actually want the gun to be loaded, like because you’re checking out a bump in the night, then it’s empty.
5. Never point the gun at anything you’re not willing to destroy.
6. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire.
7. Be sure of your target and what is behind it.

(Hmm a few extras seem to have crept in.)

Mandatory Coin

Now it wouldn’t be one of my posts without a coin, would it?

The California Gold Rush brought massive amounts of gold into the streams of commerce, so much so that its value relative to silver dropped greatly (hence leading to the silver coinage weight reduction of 1853). There was so much gold that the US decided to start issuing $20 gold pieces. One was made in 1849 as a pattern piece, and it belongs to the Smithsonian. But in 1850 production began in earnest in Philadelphia and New Orleans, using gold from California (the San Francisco mint was four years in the future). At the time we had two other mints, in Charlotte, NC and Dahlonega, GA, both started in response to gold strikes, but those mints did not produce any double eagles.

A word about that name, “double eagle:” Our original monetary system was set up as follows: 10 mills equals one cent. 10 cents equals one disme, 10 dismes equals one dollar, ten dollars equals one eagle. The only thing not “new” to the world here was the dollar; it was essentially equivalent to a Spanish Piece of Eight, known as a “Pillar Dollar” for reasons that may become apparent if I ever decide to highlight the coin. And the word “dollar” is a direct descendant of “Thaler,” which is short for “Joachimsthaler” or “from Joachimsthal”, a very rich silver mining strike in what is now the Czech republic, where big silver-dollar sized coins were first made.

We never made mills, but we did make cents, dismes, dollars and eagles, quickly dropping the s in “disme.” Indeed that’s the legal name of the ten cent denomination…the coin we use today actually has the word “dime” on it, it’s not a nickname, like “nickel” is.

Only after the California gold rush brought a veritable gusher of gold into human hands, did we decide to come up with a double eagle (and a gold dollar coin, very tiny thing), and the coin is, physically, a bit smaller than a silver dollar. However, because of the great density of gold, it’s noticeably heavier than a silver dollar–it may well have been the heaviest gold coin ever made as of that time. In fact it weighs over a troy ounce. However, since ten percent of it is copper and silver alloy, there is a bit less than a troy ounce of gold in a double eagle. That amount stayed constant through the end of US gold coinage in 1933. It’s possible to obtain a much more recent gold double eagle, in perhaps not as nice condition, for not much more than the spot price of an ounce of gold–which almost breached $1800 on Wednesday (and maybe will have done so by the time you read this).

In 1866 the motto “In God We Trust” was added to the reverse, and the shield was redesigned. In 1907, this type ended, and was replaced with what collectors call the St. Gaudens (renowned sculptor Augustus St. Gaudens created the design), in an ultra high relief (rare), a high relief (readily available but in high demand, so still pricey), then finally the regular relief you’ve probably seen (those can be inexpensive depending on date). The coin originally did not contain the motto “In God We Trust” on it, because President Theodore Roosevelt considered it sacrilegeous to put God’s name on mere money. Congress made him add it back on.

The No Motto coins of 1850-1865 tend to be very rare today in uncirculated condition, and the most common date is 1857-S. That’s because a shipload of them sank in deep water aboard the SS Republic that year, causing an economic panic, but allowing us to recover them with robots today.

Did the US ever try for something even bigger? There was talk of a $50 gold piece…imagine, almost two and a half troy ounces in ONE coin. In fact, some private mints (which were legal then, barely) did indeed make such “slugs,” usually octagonal in shape. And in the 1870s some patterns were struck, not in gold but in copper, the right size, but not actually containing any gold. The design was essentially an enlargement of the double eagle design. There was talk of defining a “union” equal to ten eagles, so this coin would have been the “half union.”

But only in 1915 did the mint do anything official; in order to commemorate the Panama/Pacific exposition, both a round and an octagonal $50 gold piece were made, and those will set you back over fifty thousand dollars, each, today.

Today, the word “eagle” has been redefined to apply to any of the bullion coins the US mint makes, including the one ounce silver (face value, $1.00) four different sizes of gold coins (1/10th, 1/4, 1/2 and full ounce, face values $5, $10, $25, and $50, respectively and yes the quarter ounce should be $12.50 for consistency), platinum (same weights, but $10, $25, $50 and $100), and one ounce palladium (no denomination, from what I’ve seen).

Reminder Of One Basic Fact

Just one more thing, my standard Public Service Announcement. We don’t want to forget this!!!

中国是个混蛋 !!!
Zhōngguò shì gè hùndàn !!!
China is asshoe !!!

12th Ordinary Sunday
June 21, 2020
“Trust Instead of Fear”

Jeremiah 20:10-13
Romans 5:12-15
Matthew 10:26-33

My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord –

There is one thing for certain that the Corona Pandemic has forced us to do
and that is to assess our priorities. Everyone has been affected by the virus in some way.
Sooner or later most will be exposed to it in some way before herd immunity is finally
achieved.

The economic consequences of the pandemic have touched everyone even if
the virus has not. Consequently, most of us have had to reflect very seriously upon what is
truly necessary for our physical and economic survival and what is not. Moreover, everyone
must come to grips with the shortness and the tenuousness of our physical life on this planet!

Unfortunately, those without faith, belief in God, or hope in an after-life
probably suffer the greatest anxiety. Life here is all that they believe we have. Thus, they
must live as long as they can and stay alive at all costs.

Those with true faith are in an entirely different position – For they know in their
heart of hearts that they are made for something more. Their belief in God helps them to aspire
to the goodness that brings great inner peace even now! And they also trust that God, who is
the Supreme Good, will, ultimately, triumph over the worst evil in the world!

Jeremiah was a prophet whom God sent to change the hearts of the Chosen
People and their leadership five centuries before the coming of Christ. However, with the
exception of only one king, whose reign was short-lived, those in power resisted Jeremiah
and wanted him destroyed. Jeremiah had to be constantly vigilant wherever he was because
of his unsettling message.

Today, Jeremiah praises God because, somehow, God always protected him
and delivered him. In fact, Jeremiah escaped to Egypt and lived in personal spiritual freedom
shortly before Jerusalem was destroyed and the Chosen People exiled to Babylon!

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches us that God has a purpose and a plan
behind everything that happens in our lives and in our world. God can even bring goodness
and salvation despite the evil that often seems rampant everywhere.

Today, Jesus counsels us to fear no one – and we could add: no thing!

God will ultimately triumph. “Nothing is concealed or secret that will not be revealed!”
We are not to fear the political powers or the viruses that can wreak havoc and even kill
our bodies. God knows all and sees all. Just as He knows what happens to the sparrows
in our trees, so, too, He knows us and what happens to us. Furthermore, we have far more
value than the sparrows themselves!

What is paramount for us is that we never break faith with Jesus or with
the Father who sent him. We cannot let fear of the virus or its economic consequences
overpower us or cause us to despair. Very likely, there could be a second, or even a third,
wave of the virus. This could happen before a vaccine is available or herd immunity is
achieved. Nevertheless, no matter what transpires, we must not give up or begin to lose faith.

St. Paul reminds us that death entered the world through our first parents.

They sinned by wanting to be gods themselves. It was not enough for them to be God-like
and created in God’s image. They wanted divine autonomy – to be free from the Godhead –
And for this they brought suffering and death to all of their children!

This temptation to be accountable to no one is the same temptation to which
much of our modern world has succumbed even before these present troubled times.

Moreover, that self-serving arrogance is far worse than the virus itself, because it can kill
our soul and destroy our relationship with God. This is the reason St. Paul reminds us
that although we inherited death from Adam and Eve – we now have eternal life through the
gift of Jesus himself!

And so, Brothers and Sisters, let us never lose heart – God knows all things.

God can bring goodness and salvation even in the face of the seeming power of evil.

May we continue to walk with Jesus no matter what lies ahead. And may our hearts and souls
always embrace God who continues to give divine life to us!

Amen.

June 21, 2020 Msgr. Russell G. Terra
Msgr. Russell G. Terra, Parish Homilies, February 16, 2020
Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Redding, CA