BJ Hoff's GRACE NOTES

We Will Never Forget ...

May we stop today and throughout the days ahead to remember, to pray ... and to comfort.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction."  2 Corinthians 1: 3-4

BJ

 

Another Blow for the Right to Life Movement

In yet another example of the Obama Administration's deliberate advancing of the pro-abortion agenda, the new budget includes this: a move to overturn the ban on taxpayer-funding of abortions and eliminate all funding for abstinence education.

http://lifenews.com/nat5036.html

(Thanks to La Shawn Barber for the link.) 

BJ

Mass Grave for Irish Immigrants Discovered

It's believed that a mass grave for nearly five dozen 19th-century Irish immigrants has been discovered. The immigrants, believed to have died of cholera, had traveled to Pennsylvania to help build a railroad.

This from Kathy Matheson, Associated Press Writer:

' ... Historians at Immaculata University have known for years about the 57 immigrants who died in August 1832 but could not find the grave. Human bones discovered last week near the suburban Philadelphia university may at last reveal their final resting place - and possibly allow researchers to identify the remains and repatriate them.

"We feel a kinship with these men," said Immaculata history professor William Watson. "Righting an injustice has led us to this point."

The woodsy site where the bones were found is known as Duffy's Cut. It is named after Philip Duffy, who hired the immigrants from Donegal, Tyrone and Derry to help build the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad.

Years of combing the several acres of rough terrain in Duffy's Cut had so far yielded about 2,000 artifacts, including pipes, buttons and forks. Then on Friday, researchers using ground-penetrating radar unearthed pieces of two skulls along with dozens of other bone fragments and teeth. The findings were announced Tuesday.

Research led Watson to conclude many of the Irish workers died of cholera, an acute intestinal infection caused by contaminated food or water that typically had a mortality rate of 40 percent to 60 percent.

Watson believes some of the workers may have been murdered because of their illness or ethnicity. There was general prejudice against Irish Catholics, tension between residents and the transient workers, and a great fear of cholera - especially among the affluent classes, Watson said.

Anyone with cholera "was deemed to be almost subhuman," Watson said. "God forbid it would spread to the respectable segments of society."

Researchers including University of Pennsylvania geosciences professor Tim Bechtel expect to find bullets buried with the bones.

"Every shovelful of dirt that comes out of there ought to be sifted," Bechtel said.

The immigrants were buried anonymously in a ditch outside what is now Malvern, about 30 miles west of Philadelphia. All day long trains travel past the site, which backs up to a manicured subdivision in East Whiteland Township.

Watson and his twin brother, Frank, also a historian, started the Duffy's Cut Project in 2003, a year after learning of the workers and their demise from the personal papers of their late grandfather, who had worked for the railroad much later on.

Watson said they have discovered the names of 15 of the 57 immigrants with help from a ship's passenger list, and even have tentatively identified one set of remains as that of John Ruddy, a teenager.

Researchers plan to extract DNA from the bones and find living descendants of the men in Ireland. The goal is to identify them all and either repatriate their remains or give them proper burials, Watson said.

The railroad never informed the men's families of their deaths and instead allowed the bodies to be "thrown into a ditch and treated like garbage," Watson said.

"This was someone's son or brother or husband," he said. "Something has to be done."

Breandan O'Caollai, deputy consul general of Ireland in New York, praised the Watson brothers for their commitment to the project.

"This is a very important discovery that will help bring some closure to a very sad chapter in Irish-American history," O'Caollai said.'

 

 

BJ

 

 

For Your Reading "Pleasure"

I've mentioned before that I read very few blogs on a regular basis. In fact, I find myself reading fewer and fewer on any basis. However, there are still a selected number of places I go either daily or at least weekly because I know I'll find truth or common sense or incisive thought (and often humor) there.

Now you've probably also noticed that I avoid political discussion of politics or the current political climate here at Grace Notes--most of the time. That's not because I'm not interested in the state of our nation, but more because this blog was, from the beginning, intended to focus on writing, writers, and readers. Every now and then, though, I run across some observations by others on a subject that I think are meant to be shared. So here are some links to writings I believe you'll find interesting. Caveat: if you're disturbed by the truth spoken bluntly and without apology, you might want to skip this entry. I suppose I should also add that there's nothing here with which I disagree.

Angie Hunt talks about "Our Changing Government." 

La Shawn Barber sounds off about the "civil rights" of illegal aliens.

Meet "Our Battered American" by Victor David Hanson . It's unsettling, it's sad, and it's oh, so true.

But not everyone is indifferent to what's happening in Washington. Michelle Malkin  says that some taxpayers are revolting against "gimmee-mania."    

Stay aware.

BJ

Happy Thanksgiving

A couple of entries ago, when I was working on lists for books-as-gifts, I thought I would be putting together a Part 3, listing books for writers and possibly books for Mac lovers. It didn't work out, and I confess the lapse is due to time. I don't have to tell you what a busy time of year this is, right? I'm still thinking of doing such a list--but not this week.

For now, I'm going to post the same Thanksgiving wish I offer you every year, and then I'll be signing off for the week to spend more time on the WIP, to be together with my family, do some holiday decorating, and eat too much. 

In the meantime, don't forget to sign up for the contest. Back in a few days!

BJ

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I’m thankful for the God who saved me, the family who loves me, the home that shelters me, the friends who believe in me, a church that welcomes me .... For seasons that change and truth that doesn’t ... For music that stirs and soothes and heals and speaks of feelings beyond those I can voice ... For a country that values freedom and is willing to pay the price to preserve it for ourselves and others .... I’m thankful for countless books to read, and for those readers who read the books I write, for the editors who make the books better, and for the publishers who make the books possible .... I’m thankful for small furry creatures that make me smile when nothing else can, for the sturdy oak trees in my back yard that grew up with my children and now shade my grandchildren and give sanctuary to my memories .... I’m thankful for every gift of goodness that brings me gladness, every trial that takes me to my knees, and every prayer uttered in my behalf that made a difference, though often unknown to the one who cared enough to pray ....

And I’m thankful for you, every one of you, that you trust me enough to ask me for an answer to a question or offer a word of encouragement or a prayer. You bless me again and again with your caring hearts. 

I wish you a bountiful, prayerful, joyful Thanksgiving and a holiday season that blankets you and those you love with amazing grace and enduring peace.

God bless you.

BJ

Veterans Day 2008

Thank you for your sacrifice ...

     May it never be in vain.

The Day After

I'll be out of my office the day after all the election brouhaha has ended, making a brief research trip down to the Ohio River. I thought I'd just post something of which I've been reminding myself throughout the day. I imagine many of you have also thought of this. 

No matter what happens with the outcome of this election, I've promised myself not to be disturbed or worried--even though I've done my share of hand-wringing about it before now.

But Christians all over our nation have been praying for God's will to be accomplished in the voting, and while we all know that doesn't necessarily mean that our choice will be victorious, it does mean that His purpose will prevail. Whether the "best man" for the presidency is elected or not, God is still sovereign and in contol. He will use the results of this election as He wills, and we can be content with knowing that and praying accordingly.

Isn't this a good time to recall His promise that " ... if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

So be at peace.

BJ

Before You Vote ...

Even though I'm off the blog temporarily as I try to get caught up with the workload, these last few days before the election are just too important to stay silent about this. If you have any doubts whatsoever about the issue of human life and what an Obama presidency will mean to it, please go to Randy Alcorn's blog and read this.

Think before you vote. Please. 

BJ

Lights Out

In a rare occurrence for my small town, we saw 70-75 mph winds as hurricane Ike roared its way across the country last weekend, leaving most of us without electricity--and some of us with a great deal of damage. 

Other than a lack of power, a fried DSL modem (thus some time off-line), and lots of fallen branches, our house was spared. But at least half the town is still without power, many stores, schools, and restaurants remain closed, and probably all of us have had a wakeup call about just how dependent we are on power. Even so, we think of our friends in Texas and other places and pray for them, while counting our blessings.

That's where I've been for the past few days. Now I'm attempting to get things back to normal, including my work schedule.

Hope you're safe and doing well, whatever part of the country you're in.

BJ 

Memorial Day

"The bugle echoes shrill and sweet, but not of war it sings today. The road is rhythmic with the feet of men-at-arms who come to pray.

The roses blossom white and red on tombs where weary soldiers lie; flags wave above the honored dead and martial music cleaves the sky.

Above their wreath-strewn graves we kneel; they kept the faith and fought the fight. Through flying lead and crimson steel they plunged for Freedom and the Right.

May we, their grateful children, learn their strength, who lie beneath this sod, who went through fire and death to earn at last the accolade of God.

In shining rank on rank arrayed they march, the legions of the Lord; He is their Captain unafraid, the Prince of Peace ... Who brought a sword."

          Joyce Kilmer

__________

Blessings and peace to you and your families throughout this special holiday time of remembrance.

BJ