Tolerance in troubled times

Morgan Spurlock is the film maker that created "Super Size Me", he has a show called "30 Days".
On this show he explores living a different lifestyle for thirty days...in this episode the subject was religious freedom, specifically Muslims & America

check it out and come back and read this again

http://www.hulu.com/watch/5276/30-days-muslims-and-america

I think that if Morgan had chosen someone who had more of an understanding of the basic principles of all faiths this episode wouldn't be as frustrating. As a baby boomer Catholic American I was not taught about Islam, or Hinduism, or any other faiths in school. I had to mature and read other texts and watch films an learn.

God is God...He is the Father, we are His children.

Whether He spoke through Christ or Muhammed or The Bhudda, matters little.

The basic text of all faiths is that all men may live in harmony. Clearly the Muslim faith is disciplined beyond most Americans ability to worship, prostrate, and understand Who provides.

God is timeless and ageless, He is larger and more powerful than any one man can comprehend. The ignorance and predjudice that flew out of peoples mouths on the street is astoundingly sad. We live in a country that thrives on excess and worships money and celebrity. May God save us especially in these scary times, to teach us to band together with all Americans especially the Muslims...and we must ban hate language, and let the call to prayers come over speakers in every town, as easily as the bells played all my life three times a day, and believe and fight for the freedom to worship before it is stamped out by the fools that fear they may be told that there are rules to living well as humans.

Small Pieces

Whenever I feel low or lost because of life circumstances or events...I have noticed

that some strand of hope always comes through for me. When am afraid about work and my security for whatever reason I almost always recieve a tiny gift from God...small threads of

hope are what connect us to Him. Afew years back I was in trouble at work for something I did wrong,

I was called to the mat and I apologized and hung on to God...I had done a few commercials

for a burdgeoning ad company and they had put my face across the top of their site http://www.thewelladvertising.com/...I felt

instant hope that my employer is God and that He supplies my food and shelter and clothing.

Many more smaller instances have occured when I have felt down...students and strangers

commenting how they found Godshow online and it helps them go on.

Today I got an message at Facebook from Angel

Here's the exchange...another small piece in the veiled mosaic of God's will for me!

(note her name is Angel...hmm)

Hi Angel,

Thanks for adding me as a friend...I vaguely remember you read my blog and commented that is you right?
Tim O

Hi Tim,

Yes, I left a comment on your blog once, but I don't think we ever chatted. I was googling Ben Shearn's name to see what he was up to and I found the film he made on your blog. When I read your posts, it appealed to me because I am both an artist and was heavily into the comedy scene. Also, because I believe in God but over the years have been falling away from my faith. Reading your blog made me feel close to him again; just your humble words. I still don't know how I feel about my faith--maybe I am resistant--but when I read your words I can feel the spirit in them.

So thank you for that,

Angel

Thank you Angel
I use my blog to try and inspire myself... to
remember who and where I get my strength
and power from.... so i don't fall into self pity.
I often forget how much God has done for me,
and that He is still working to keep me on the path
to do His will...it is when things I feel victimized by, pile up,
that I get the most lost.
So thanks and I am grateful you found me...it reminds
me that He works in the small quiet places...and the grand scale dreams
I have... are all broken up in tiny little pieces that I must
look back at to see the true mosiac of my life.
Peace and blessings on you Angel
Tim O

Haven't Posted in a while

Dear Friend,

Am excited about the upcoming channel 11, WTTW special "Irish Chicago".

I am featured as one of the segments in the documentary covering the Irish cutlural influence in Chicago, and the personal stories of first second and third generation Irish.

It airs Tuesday March 3rd at 7:30pm,

will be replayed at 10pm that night and a few more times in the weeks following.

Hopefully my contribution will be mostly covering the myths and truths of Irish alcoholism...funny stuff once again from your favorite neighborhood sober Irish alcoholic Tim O'Malley!

Please be sure to watch or tivo it on WTTW 11 Chicago, or WTTW HD