Roman Catholic Info

easter island statue

Gay Travel to Chile

Chile is a popular destination for gay travel due to its unique geography, which allows travelers to visit volcanoes, enjoy beautiful beaches, ski or snowboard the Andes and spend a night on the town in Santiago's gay district all in the same day. Chile is a country rich in landmarks and varied landscapes including the Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, the penguin colony at Mirador de Chepu, the Easter Island statues, Elqui Valley in La Serena (which is steeped in legends about extraterrestrial activity) and exquisite architecture and churches that dot the cities, countryside and coastline.

With many cultural, historic and natural attractions to choose from, Chile offers a variety of options for gay vacations, which include snowboarding or ski strips to world-renowned Andes resorts, touring Chile's wine country, pilgrimages intent on experiencing the country's deep tradition of Catholicism and exploring churches, family vacations on the beaches of Vina del Mar, sightseeing adventures to take in the breathtaking landscapes of Patagonia and learn of ancient island civilizations, or urban excursions centered on experiencing the cosmopolitan culture and nightlife in Santiago.

As a country that has been deeply influenced by both the Catholic Church and the military, Chile would certainly not be described as a bastion of gay rights; however, as a whole, the country is slowly becoming more progressive and is beginning to become more accepting of the LGBT community. Gay life in Chile centers largely around Santiago, which is where singles, couples and families on a gay vacation will find the most welcoming atmosphere and the highest concentration of gay-friendly and gay-owned establishments. Santiago's gay community is primarily found in the Barrio Bellavista, which is a trendy neighborhood with charming shops, cafés and eateries and is also home to most of Santiago's bathhouses, gay bars and gay clubs. Although it is not likely that you will see rainbow flags hanging for rooftops or same-sex couples walking through the streets hand in hand, it is quite common to find gay magazines openly displayed in newsstands and couples sipping coffee at cosmopolitan sidewalk cafés.

A night on the town in Bellavista often begins around 9 or 10pm with dinner at a gay-owned restaurant, such as Capricho, followed by drinks or dancing at one of several gay bars or gay clubs, which can easily go into the early morning hours. Gay travelers have a selection of gay clubs to choose from that range from the typical fare you would find in most urban areas to more risqué options complete with live sex shows. Santiago also has several bathhouses for those who are so inclined, including one slightly upscale option with a clientele made up primarily of professionals. Do keep in mind that playing safe is as important in Chile as it is in the United States.

The fact that Santiago is the most accepting city in Chile for a gay vacation, coupled with its central location for ease of exploring all that Chile offers, this capital city is one of the most popular Chilean locales for gay travel. Whether you are planning a Chilean gay vacation for you and your partner, your family, or a group of single friends, working with a travel agency that is accustomed to organizing gay travel in Chile is your best bet for ensuring a safe, fun trip that you will always remember.

About the Author

Howie Holben is owner and caretaker of Spirit Journeys, a spiritual
gay travel
organization. Spirit Journeys has offered unique
gay vacations
with a difference since 1992. You can learn more at
http://www.spiritjourneys.com
.

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historical jesus five

Historical Jesus & Eternal Christ

So many people get hooked on the "appearances" of Christianity because the Church has focused primarily on the teachings of Paul, who never knew Jesus, instead of going to the source: the teachings of Jesus. While Paul got-understood the distinction between the historical Jesus and the eternal Christos, the majority of the church has yet to get it. 

Paul is really the founder of modern-day Christianity: that's both good and bad!

Wilhelm Nestle wrote, "Christianity is the religion founded by Paul; it replaced Christ's gospel with the gospel ABOUT Christ." Before you blow Nestle off, he's just affirming what jesus said and understood in his days when the apostle John attributed the following statement to Jesus, "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify ABOUT me, yet you refuse to come TO me to have life." (John 5:39-40)

Do you see the distinction: can you hear what the Spirit is saying?

There's not a lot of information ABOUT the historical Jesus outside of the four Gospels and a few added texts that have been saved; however, if we will but take the time to BE and to LISTEN, we will have more than enough insight(s) about the eternal Christos.

>Psalms 4- Commune with your heart
>Psalms 56- Be still and know that I am God
>Luke 5- Jesus often withdrew from the crowds to be along with God
>Luke 6- Jesus spent the entire night praying

In today's world we simply refuse to take the TIME to BE- to be with God, Consciousness, Spirit. And what is more important than the study of the historical Jesus is the being WITH the eternal Christos. As Richard Rohr wrote, "With only believing in Jesus and not “the Christ,” we had no understanding of the indwelling Christ that we are. To believe in jesus christ is to make two distinct faith affirmations, one in the historical Jesus, and the other in the Christ of space and time, which we are a part of! Most of history argued about the historical Jesus instead of experiencing the Christ now."

Why is this so hard to understand? My answer is because we Americans particularly are too busy to take the TIME to BE with our consciousness and the Consciousness (God) throughout the week, instead, we substitute a 30 minute homily, sermon, or preaching once a week (maybe) and feel that's enough spiritual feeding for the week.

It's NOT!

About the Author

As a spiritual-futurist, I have a BA degree majoring in history. One cannot know the future without knowing the past which holds clues to what is on the horizon. The world is in such a rapid expansion of knowledge that we are close to entering a tipping point that will forever change earth as we know it.

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christmas story for toddlers

Choosing Toys for Your Baby and Toddler

I've been quite active in some forums lately and I came across a thread which was left unanswered for a couple of days. It frustrated the thread starter of course and so I decided to post a reply. The topic was pretty easy and intuitive, at least that was what I thought the first time I read it. The thread starter, a mom, wanted to know of activities and toys that would be recommended for toddlers and children.

I can still distinctly recall what toys and activities my parents provided me when I was a child. Since my mom was a graduate of Fine Arts, naturally she encouraged us to draw. She allowed me and my sisters to draw on the walls of the house. She also gave us large sheets of paper where we could trace our hands and feet on. As we grew up, we took to smaller sheets of paper, began using smaller crayons, then pencils then pens. It never left us, I sometimes still draw in my spare time for leisure. My sister was the one where the talent really stayed and flourished, lucky her! Although she is a graduate of Sociology, she now works as a layout artist for an international company, sketching and drawing storyboards and creating comics in her spare time.

My all time favorite has got to be Lego. Lego has been around for ages and I think it won't be going away soon, which is a good thing. I don't think its possible for anyone to know how to surf the Internet but not know of Lego. If you are still unaware of this great toy, click here. My dad got my sister the "Duplo" set and for me, the Lego "Technic" set. I think he may have overshot it with the Technic set though. The first time I opened the box that Christmas, I distinctly remember being disappointed. Being 7 at that time, I said to myself "What the hell is this, everything is yellow and black and does not resemble a toy!". Sadly, by the time I was able to appreciate what he gave me, everything was already ruined by excessive biting. Yes, I didn't know there was a way to seperate Lego bits aside from biting it off.

Not all parents are the same. Not all dads would get their kids Lego sets and certainly not all moms would allow their kids to write on the walls of their houses! So I think I'll just give my thoughts on "how" to choose toys and not "what" toys to choose for their toddlers and young kids.

As with all purchases, you would want to get the most out of your money's worth. You will want to get something that, will first off, fulfill the need it was intended for. Second consideration would be its quality and durability, understandably so because we are talking about children's toys. Then only comes the price.

So for example, you are planning to get, say, a doll for your 3 year old child. A doll is usually a representation of something that is living, more commonly a human being. I have read, dolls usually help children recognize the needs of a living being. They will learn how to dress it up, to play house with it, to feed it.

I did not include "child safety" as a category in what I had said earlier because a parent should never compromise that, it is always a given. Always check the packaging for an age guide and safety notes of the manufacturer (which is sometimes still really unreliable, seeing that there had been a slew of recalls over the past few years, so please check reviews on the Internet before buying). That being said, if you find yourself choosing between a stuffed toy bear and a Bratz doll, ask yourself. Does your child need something to hug? Is your kid able to handle hard or small plastic objects already? Where will she be using it, is it okay to leave it on the bed or on the crib? There are a whole lot of questions to be asked but primary, just ask yourself what purpose will the toy be fulfilling if you get it for your child.

Will it be durable? I've seen too many dismembered Barbie dolls during my childhood, since these toys are expensive, my parents decided to get us another brand, relatively cheaper because it was made out of hollow plastic. These got dismembered still, but my parents were crying no longer.

The best toy for me, would have a good balance of the three factors I have mentioned. Quality certainly would make the price go up and vice versa. If you are a parent who is not on a budget though, then its a different story.

Once you have covered these, it's time to get the toy. How do you choose which is appropriate for your child? I hope parents won't just get a toy just for the sake of giving one to their kid. It is very important to give a toy that will help your kid develop. Toys and play will be the main activity during the formative years, naturally you will be able to use these two not only to make your child happy but also to educate him or her as well.

HowStuffWorks gives a recommendation on what to get for babies and what to get for toddlers. Babies will need toys which will stimulate their senses. Rattles and mobiles help develop hearing, not to mention the fact that they make endearing keepsakes. Colorful stuffed animals, balls and activity boxes will help with movement and tactile perception. Stuffed toys should be small enough so that the baby can cuddle it, it is also recommended to get one that has a variety of textures, e.g. soft, rough, fluffy, smooth etc. For activity boxes, get ones which have buttons and knobs to push and pull, doors to slide open, movements that will get your baby to do basic tasks.

You may notice that after a few months, your baby will grow disinterested with his toys. This only means he has outgrown them. It would be a good time to shop for new toys which will provide more stimuli, like a stuffed animal of a more complex shape color and texture.

The same goes for toddlers too. We can classify toddlers into 2 groups, the young toddler (12-24 months) and the older toddlers (2-3 years).

Young toddlers will require toys which will develop fine motor skills and ambidexterity. Blocks and dolls are appropriate here though I would recommend the kind that looks like a Cabbage Patch kid not the Barbie doll kind. Nothing with small pieces as of now. Also check for any fiber or fabric that can be shed as the child may ingest these.

The large Duplo blocks or wooden blocks are not recommended yet. Choose blocks which are made out of light plastic, rubber or foam. The blocks should have rounded corners to avoid poking accidents. Sorting toys may come in the form of activity boxes with has holes to accommodate blocks of different sizes and shapes.

Older toddlers will need toys that will cultivate imaginative thinking. At this stage, your child should be able to hold a writing implement already. Big crayons and pens but not those with a sharp point can be given. Make sure to get the non-toxic kind. Toys that resemble real-life tools are recommended. Play telephones, minature keyboard pianos, kitchen equipment, toy cars, trains, trucks etc. Since these toys are made to imitate real life counterparts, increased wear is to be expected. Make sure that metal parts are rustproof, parts which might break off will not splinter or get a sharp edge.

Toy instruments like tambourines, horns and drums are a must. Puzzles are highly recommended, however, choose ones which you think is at the level of your child's capacity. A complex puzzle game may even discourage your kid to play it.

This is also a great stage to read to your child. Set aside time to read to your child or to listen audio books with him. If he has difficulty paying attention or sitting still, do not make him stay put. Continue to read but attempt to get a response from time to time to make sure he is listening to you.

About the Author

Shannon is a writer and researcher. She is also a musician and tech enthusiast.

Child Safety News and Your Child's Safety.

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A Catholic Exchange article discusses how a surprise child can positively affect your life even at an advanced age. It's the story of a 43 year old college professor, Leslie Leyland Fields, who had 2 more children in addition to her earlier 3 and her experiences with husband, colleagues and parishioners.

Reminds me of my second son's arrival that was also a surprise child. In fact, I was in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on a business trip when my wife sent me an email with the subject heading: Surprise! I recall that when I saw the heading, there was a voice at the back of my head preparing that it was news about my wife's pregnancy.

I remarried 5 years after my first wife's demise and my second wife was beyond the "safe" (according to medical science) pregnancy age, We decided that we would take precautions (read as condoms) to prevent a pregnancy. However, God's plans were more potent that any man-made contraption and contraception and baby Jason was conceived. We were naturally very concerned if the baby would be afflicted with Down's Syndrome and were encouraged by the obstetrician to perform amniocentesis. We decided to trust in God's mercy and shunned the amniocentesis appointment as we felt that the results of the test would not affect the status of the pregnancy. Jason was born healthy and now after 4 years remains so.

Jason's conception taught us that God is unstoppable in ensuring His plans are fulfilled. We eventually discarded the practice of contraception and now submit to God's will. Our intimacy has improved and we feel more dignified as our frequency of intimacy is not dependent on the inventory level of contraception at home or the business hours of the convenience store in case inventory has depleted.

That's my story. You may read Leslie Leyland Fields' experiences in her book.
contraception babies catholic

an easter gift for me

Easter - the Spring Festival

It’s Eastertime heralding the advent of spring magic. Spring has sprung. Captivating beauty of Roses, Tulips, Irises, Lilies, Daffodils, and Crocuses, display its magical colors in full brilliance, exemplifying joy and festivity that surrounds Easter. Time when fragrance of burgeoning flowers fills air with exuberance and chirping of birds blends melody in the song of spring.

Blow the trumpet and wish all springtime festivities galore. Enliven the bond of love and meet your dear ones over the dinner table. Embellish your homes with brightly colored easter eggs. Prepare yummy dishes and relish on easter chocolate Eggs. On this wonderful day, Easter bunnies hop on every doorstep loaded with gifts and candies.

You too, delight your nearest and dearest this “easter sunday” with amazing easter gifts, and express your feelings of love, appreciation and thanks you feel for them. Blossom romance in your love life and take it to next level with Easter love cards. Its heart touching content will mesmerize your beloved senses. Or gift them a bouquet Easter Lilies or Easter Roses- potent symbol of love made a new.

Exchange Easter eggs with family and associates. Cheer them with the assortment of Easter candies, chocolates, and cookies. Your thoughtful Easter gifts will bring smile on their face and bring you close to them.

Present your friends, gift basket filled with Easter sweets, toys, games, and scrumptious chocolate fudge cakes- they will be completely bowled over to receive fabulous Easter gifts, perfectly conveying your best wishes, and cementing your friendship.

Unleash the magic of Easter Wish all Happy Easter 2008 and basketful of springtime smiles.

About the Author

This article is written by Divya who is a writer at Dgreetings.com. Dgreetings offers Birthday Cards, Romantic e-Card, Free Greeting Cards, Birthday Ecards, Love Cards, Friendship e card and many other ecards for your near and dear ones.

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saints superbowl champs

is julius peppers going to the saints a realistic possibility?

and if it is, how much would it affect the look of the superbowl champs?

Nope.The top 8 finishing playoff teams can't sign a free agent unless they drop someone of equal or lesser value... They'd have to cut Reggie Bush, lose all that money they have tied up in him and then sign Peppers to one of the biggest DE contracts in the league.... Highly Unlikely.

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easter cake decorations

Say Happy Easter with a Smile

While Easter has significant religious connotation, it's a perfect time to host local events, an egg hunt in your yard or nearby park, food festivals and family parties to welcome the spring in a grand way. It’s the time to express the joy of renewed life and there is no better way of doing so than organizing a fabulous easter party. No matter how you are and where you are, make sure you do something special on this holiday and make it a day to remember.

Especially kids love to enjoy all the fun associated with this special holiday and you will easily find wonderful ideas to plan your Easter party on the internet. Creating family fun at Easter is not too difficult when you have innumerable online event management companies to guide you and eventually make your Easter party truly special. You can also think of a good party theme which will provide the perfect framework from which the rest of the planning process can flow. Once the theme for your party is chosen, decisions about the kind of invitations, activities, food, drinks, and decorations become much clearer.

Filled with homemade decorations, easter crafts, special treats, mouthwatering recipes, party games and fun filled activities, your Easter party can even fetch you lots of money if you intend to promote your event and sell tickets. The guests and invitees of your Easter party can get busy with the easter egg hunt, enjoy the easter bonnet Cake, dance to the lively music, or just indulge in the delectable food.

April 12th (easter sunday) is not too far away and you have very little time to arrange for all the things required to host a lovely Easter event. So hurry, plan your Easter party immediately, send out invitations, sell loads of tickets and make your event a grand success. Welcome the spring and Celebrate Easter 2009 in an egg-cellent way!

About the Author

Anton White is a content writer for www.eventsbot.com. Eventsbot’s online event registration service enables you to create or register event like Birthday party, Christmas party, Conferences and Training Courses etc. and manage, prompte and also provides you with the ability to sell tickets online.

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christmas carol brain teasers

I need help with this puzzle...?

Rebus brain teasers use words or letters in interesting orientations to represent common phrases.

12 days of christmas????
it's in numerical order...?
1+2+3+4 = 10...
maybe ten lords a dancing..?

It appears that Nero has been reincarnated in the form of the Burmese military junta. Reports have been emanating from Burma that Christians are being persecuted and there seems to be a secret memo that has been leaked to Western press confirming these rumours.

The document correctly identifies Christianity as a gentle religion and therefore the authors construe this as a weakness. It's ironic that humans are inept at history. A simple study of the rise of Christianity would teach the Burmese military that Nero couldn't wipe the then infantile religion. I wonder why the beast with the 666 on its head in its latest incarnation believes that it will succeed now. Every martyr's spilt blood is the fodder that grows Christianity in an exponential way.

The political regional grouping known as ASEAN, has so far been inept at moderating this beast. Neither has the Western countries any success in bringing the military regime to its knees. However, the true King of world will in His time overthrow this corrupt and evil government.

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