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Showing posts from April, 2009

Nationalism

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I would love to be an American - they are so unashamedly 'American' - they are happy to take pride in their country - something we British don't seem to do anymore. And they enter into everything with such enthusiasm. This picture is picked up from fellow blogger - http://jeliwobble.blogspot.com/ at the opening of the softball season.

Muslim Demographics: The Islamic Tidal Wave

Interesting demographics.

Fast Food Folk Song (at the Taco Bell Drive-Thru)

Funny

Extreme Sheep LED Art

Crazy!

Holy See attends The World Conference against Racism (WCAR)

The Holy See had a representative at the recent World Conference against Racism, the fourth held so far. This is organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a special agency of the United Nations established after the Second World War and the Holocaust. Interestingly some of the Nations, such as Canada, Israel, the United States of America, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Poland and, after some initial skepticism, Australia announced they would not participate in the conference. So the presence of the Holy See was controversial. It was seen by some as being a vehicle for an attack on Israel as the outspoken Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejhad was present and there were concerns that anti-semitic remarks would be made. Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for human rights said that the boycott undercut the global effort to fight racism. Pope Benedict said that the conference was needed to combat racial into

Solidarity in Europe

The Catholic Times this week, Sunday April 26th, ran a piece on 'Having faith in a vision of Europe' by James Hastings. James reported on Archbishop Diarmuid Martin's comments on the role Ireland has to play in a new Europe. Archbishop Martin is Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. he was born in Dublin. He quoted the Archbishop as saying: "... European Christians have a new opportunity to bring to a Europe in search of hope and vision, a challenging way of bringing the Christian message." For Ireland and Britain, these are challenging times for all of us and a time when people are more receptive to the Christian message and more in need of a hope that the material world has failed to give them. The Archbishop believes it is not a political structure that will bring about change but a spiritual one. More than ever Europe needs to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.

One for the Book Club?

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This book can be ordered from Amazon.co.uk Holiest Wars: Islamic Mahdis, Their Jihads, and Osama bin Laden (Hardcover) “Throughout the history of Islam, a number of revolutionary movements have emerged that were centered on a "rightly guided one" who was meant to lead the world to rightness. These movements were based on a branch of Islam known as Mahdism, a topic that Timothy Furnish argues is overlooked in most discussions of the Middle East. Because of the potential of a Mahdist movement to create sweeping changes through violent means, Furnish believes Mahdism to be a particularly applicable subject to the modern context of the Middle East. Furnish addresses the origins of Mahdism, Mahdism throughout history, as well as the potential for a Mahdist movement in modern times.”–Middle East Journal Scholars estimate that a fifth of the world's population is Muslim, and this figure is growing rapidly. Traditionally, very few people in the West are familiar with the specific

Compare The Meerkat Bloopers

Local News

I was interested to see Folkestone got a mention in the Daily Mail today. An earthquake shook the Lake District today but it was only 3.7 on the Richter scale and 8.8km below ground so the effect was limited. The Daily Mail says that the one that shook Folkestone two years ago was 4.3 and only 2 km below ground and that is why Folkestone had so much damage. There was a lot of scaffolding around for some time afterwards. At the time there was a loud explosion like the nuclear plant had gone up or something and your senses couldn't quite comprehend what was happening straight away as the earth shook - literally. Afterwards everywhere was eerily quiet, no bird sounds even, just the sounds of alarms of cars and buildings going off everywhere. very surreal. Recently we had a smaller earthquake just last month measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale. Let's hope that is the last for a few years!

Jean Vanier: What's Christian about Christian leadership?

Jean Vanier Choosing Our Future 1

He is the founder of L'Arche, an international organization which creates communities where people with developmental disabilities and those who assist them share life together

L'Arche Belonging Trailer

Jean Vanier, CC, GOQ (born September 10, 1928) is the founder of L'Arche, an international organization which creates communities where people with developmental disabilities and those who assist them share life together.

Insane Dance - Diversity - Britains Got Talent - 04-25-09

Healer - Hillsong

One for the Book Club

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'The Encounter that Changed Her Life, and How It can Transform Your Own' - Mother Teresa's Secret Fire by Joseph Langford - Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor, Huntington, Indiana 46750 Rev. Joseph Langford is the co-founder of Mother Teresa's priest's community, a man who spent much time in Mother Teresa's company. This book is about Mother Teresa's own relationship with God, the power of prayer to accomplish God's purposes and bringing light into a dark place, the light of Jesus Christ. It is well written and simple to read. Its purpose is to communicate Mother Teresa's message and inspire people in their own walk with Christ and includes a guied meditation for your own reflection. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 Footnote: Thank you Brian Burch for introducing me to this biography. I am going to spend some time on the chapter on prayer and grace particularly

Robert Spencer on islam

Amazing Grace ( My Chains are Gone)

A Divided Kingdom

Mr. Furnish, whose Ph.D is in Islamic and World History, is a former U.S. Army veteran and college professor, now working as an editor for Praeger Publishing wrote the article below "Resurrecting Christendom" - click the link for the full article on the posting below. I was struck by the copy of the map for world religions in the article which can be seen here: http://www.catholic.org.sg/cn/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/14b.jpg Islam runs right through the Bible regions of the Old and New Testaments and Russia is not specified on this map though I know people like David Hathaway, Founder and President of Eurovision Mission to Europe , Editorial Director of Prophetic Vision magazine – is an International Evangelist who has ministered worldwide for more than 50 years and particularly in Russia both before and after the Iron Curtain. Today he reaches millions through his Live-TV evangelism in Russia, Siberia, Ukraine and Europe and through his weekly worldwide Power of F

Resurrecting Christendom: A Blueprint

Resurrecting Christendom: A Blueprint Posted using ShareThis

Police are warning about a scam involving bogus spiritual healers who are conning thousands of pounds out of vulnerable people.

Posing as holy men, they prey on Britain's religious Asian community and those facing hardship or health trouble, and falsely promise to solve their problems in return for large sums of money. Look in almost any Asian newspaper or glossy magazine and you will find advert after advert for spiritual healers, or peers. It's an industry which is condemned by mainstream religions, including Islam, but is thriving nonetheless. I was contacted more than a year ago by someone, who we'll call Mohammed, who put his faith in one of these men after seeing an advert in his daily newspaper. He told the BBC: "I had a problem, a family problem, and I saw the advert for Haji Imam. It said he could solve any problem within three days." Read the full article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8007224.stm

Taliban Advance: Is Pakistan Nearing Collapse?

The move by Taliban-backed militants into the Buner district of northwestern Pakistan, closer than ever to Pakistan's capital of Islamabad, have prompted concerns both within the country and abroad that the nuclear-armed nation of 165 million is on the verge of inexorable collapse. So starts the article by: Aryn Baker/Islamabad Read the article here: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1893370,00.html

Open the Eyes of My heart Lord

Here I Am To Worship - Phillips, Craig and Dean

Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord - Vineyard Music

Bill Wiese: The man God took to Hell and back. Literally!!!

latin mass st andrews catholic church edinburgh, communion

Sometimes I think it is only the Catholic Church that offers some respite from the madness of the world!

Peter the first Apostle and father of the Church.

I start this meditation on this verse: Jesus Christ’s calling the apostle Peter "rock": "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). It starts here in V 15, with Jesus asking them (the disciples): “...But who do you (yourselves) say that I am? V16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. V17 Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate and to be envied) are you Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven. V18 And I tell you, you are Peter (Greek Petros/Petra – a large piece of rock), and on this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hades (hell) will not overpower it. Some interpretations of this are that Jesus is talking about faith but clearly He is talking about His Church. The gates of Hell shall not prevail against His Church – us - the people of His Church and Peter the father of the Church

Benedict XVI: We are Children of God, and must reject racism

George Osborne: Reaction to today's Dishonest Budget

How Deep The Father's Love For Us - Sarah Sadler

You Never Let Go - song by Matt Redman

Blessed be the Name

The Power of the Cross

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Jesus and the Cross I was thinking about why does Satan not want the cross to be shown, used or even present in our homes and our lives. For instance some groups believe that we should not wear the cross or the crucifix because they say it is a charm or good luck symbol. Often in the media we hear reports too of crosses being removed from sets in case they should offend someone. Why would Satan not want us to wear the cross or to have the cross in our churches? – because Satan knows that there is power in the cross. It was on the cross that Jesus took on himself our sins and set us free. It was on the cross that Satan was defeated when Jesus rose again. There is resurrection power in the cross. There is power in the cross of Jesus. Mighty awesome wonderful is the holy cross Where the Lamb laid down His life To lift us from the fall Mighty is the power of the cross (Chris Tomlin) Thank you for the Cross, Jesus. In Numbers 21:6 – The Lord sent fiery serpents to bite the people and many

Savage Chickens

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From: www.savagechickens.com

Blog Bashing

I think too many Catholics spend too much time 'blog bashing'. By this I mean valuable time spent bashing other people - either Christians or even other Catholics who do not agree with their views or the views of the Church - misguided as some of them may be. And not enough time building up the people of God and others who might be interested in the Catholic faith and its truths and history. It seems their blogs are just a place to vent off some steam. There is enough negativity in the world and the media without us adding to it. Let's have some more positive Blogs - by all means promote a culture of life and stand up for what we believe in but we can do it without tearing other people down at the same time. We are called to uplift and uphold the faith and also to support our leaders and not resort to playground bullying tactics. Hopefully we are more mature and more intellectual than that!

Reflections on other religions

Reflections on other religions: Angel comes from the Greek word meaning Messenger. There are angels in Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths. I think when we study other faiths and different Christian perspectives it can enlighten and strengthen our own beliefs. There are similarities between Islam, Judaism and Christianity on the ‘End Times’ and the return of the Messiah. Firstly, I am looking at Islam and their view of the ‘end times’. However, if Islam and Christians worship the same God and they both await the return of the Messiah, why then is one of the battles in Islam: “against the Christians in which a large number of Muslims will be martyred”. The Great War (The author of al-Isha'ah has mentioned that this battle will take place in Imam Mahdi's time) – one of the major signs before the Day of Judgement. Christians too believe in a battle ‘Armageddon’, so named because it takes place at Megiddo. Which side is God on? Is He on a ‘side’? Yet, Muslims believe that the prop

Mother Angelica: How To Avoid Purgatory

Happy Birthday Mother Angelica!

Near Death Experiences - Guardian Angels

Photo Guardian Angel / ghost with my Nan - her gift.

News

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It seems to me that the more I read the news each day and all the terrible things that are happening around the world as well as in our own country and the uncertainty - never more than in our day do we need a certainty and truth and hope and a spiritual life outside of this world that we live in - we need a Saviour and a Redeemer and a Provider and a rock to live our lives on - we need a purpose and a plan for our lives. Jesus art taken from web site: http://www.artakiane.com/home.htm - where some amazing art can be seen and purchased.

News item from November 2008

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Former-Catholic-Bishop-Salt-Lake/story.aspx?guid=%7BBE149180-C54A-41B7-B3DC-14EAC89B5D6E%7D SACRAMENTO 7 November 2008 (This news release was issued by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento) The following statement was released today by Bishop William Weigand, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento and former Bishop of Salt Lake City, in response to attacks on (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) for supporting California’s Proposition 8, defending the traditional definition of marriage: “Catholics stand in solidarity with our Mormon brothers and sisters in support of traditional marriage — the union of one man and one woman — that has been the major building block of Western Civilization for millennia. “The ProtectMarriage coalition, which led the successful campaign to pass Proposition 8, was an historic alliance of people from every faith and ethnicity. LDS were included — but so were Catholics and Jews, Evangelicals an

Verse for the Day

"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." Isaiah 49 15-16 KJV

For our LDS (Mormon) friends in Christ.

Sometimes the Catholic Church comes under misrepresentation and for the LDS Church - the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints can also be confused with the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church). The latter group are the largest practitioners of plural marriage . See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamentalist_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter_Day_Saints Some information I got from Wikepedia - The FLDS Church emerged in the early twentieth century when its founding members left The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The split occurred largely because of the LDS Church's renunciation of polygamy and its decision to excommunicate practitioners of plural marriage. Prior to November 20, 2007, the church was being led by Warren Jeffs , who succeeded his father, Rulon Jeffs , in 2002. For nearly two years, Warren Jeffs had been wanted on sex-crimes charges. From May 2006 until his arrest in August 2006, he was on the F

Must Watch

The Office, Wednesdays 10 Watch The Office season 3, Wednesday at 10pm. Brand new to Comedy Central.

Wanted

Open-Up&Act is looking for group facilitators...applications being considered nowShare Today at 2:21pm Open-Up & Act is an exciting collaborative Theatre Project supported by Open-Up, Mind and time-to-change. http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/ This Project aims to devise a Theatrical performance challenging public views on Mental Health, based on shared experiences from those who have had Mental Distress.

Thought for the day.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).

Catholics Appalled at Anti-Mormon Slur

Good Evans!-Singers-Britains Got Talent 2009 Audition

Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009

Flawless : Britain's Got Talent

Stavros Flatly - Greek Irish Dancers - Britains Got Talent 2009

Store Cards are ripping us off

These cards charge 60 times base rate. Retailers are ripping us off. As you can see, of the 29 store cards listed above (click on link below for list), only nine charge a yearly interest rate under 20% APR. The remaining twenty cards all charge between 23.9% APR (Russell & Bromley; Marks & Spencer) and a seriously extortionate 30.9% APR for the Creation Account. Across all store cards, the average interest rate for purchases is 25.5% APR, which is close to nine percentage points higher than a typical credit card. Retailers argue that interest rates aren't so important for store cards, because balances are much lower. However, I disagree, and am very annoyed that these rates haven't come down, even after new rules introduced by the Competition Commission in May 2007. To me, if it looks, smells and feels like a rip-off, then it's sure to be one! So, despite the best efforts of the government to bring down the cost of borrowing, store-card users still pay interest rat

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008)

Where the Hell is Matt?

Just a bit of fun

The Rapture And The Tribulation Period

Not sure this is theologically correct but interesting video for our times.

Matt 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?

Matt 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Matt 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. The Wise and Foolish Virgins: Matt 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Matt 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Matt 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: Matt 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Matt 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. Matt 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Matt 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. Matt 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. Matt 25:

Rapture - Early 2009? (Pt 1 of 6)

Star of B p7

Another clip from the video "The Star of Bethlehem"

Star of B p6

This is amazing! Time of Christ's Death

Pink - Family Portrait Live - I'm Not Dead Tour DVD

Live version

Pink- Family Portrait

Someone else did the video but still good theme from Pink

Get clean from the inside out with Soul Wow! Go to SoulWow.com

How my family and friends react to my mental illness

Comic Relief support Time to Change film shown on Red nose day 2009

Pope Benedict - I will survive

Not to irrerevent I hope!

Paulo Nutini - Last Request

Still Human Still Here

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Abbie Trayler-Smith has photographed some of the 300,000 asylum seekers whose claims have been refused but who now live without support. Madelena, from Angola, arrived in 2007. See the pictures here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7953372.stm

Flipsyde - Happy Birthday

I can't believe this woman

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A fellow blogger, http://gkupsidedown.blogspot.com/ , pointed me in the direction of this women (IN LIGHT BLUE JACKET): Remarks of the Rev. Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, Birmingham, AL: http://www.prochoicetexas.org/news/headlines/200708172.shtml This is what she says: "When a woman finds herself pregnant due to violence and chooses an abortion, it is the violence that is the tragedy; the abortion is a blessing. When a woman finds that the fetus she is carrying has anomalies incompatible with life, that it will not live and that she requires an abortion – often a late-term abortion – to protect her life, her health, or her fertility, it is the shattering of her hopes and dreams for that pregnancy that is the tragedy; the abortion is a blessing. When a woman wants a child but can’t afford one because she hasn’t the education necessary for a sustainable job, or access to health care, or day care, or adequate food, it is the abysmal priorities of our nation, the lack of social supports
Family in 11th-hour legal battle to halt brothers' adoption by gay couple By Sue Reid Last updated at 10:56 PM on 03rd April 2009 in www.dailymail.co.uk : Two young brothers face adoption by a gay couple despite the desperate protests of their mother, grandparents and extended family. The grandparents, an aunt and an uncle have all offered to give the boys, aged six and nine, a loving home but they say social workers have turned them down without explanation. If these were children in Africa being adopted against the will of their families there would be an uproar - so what is being done for 'the best interests of the children'. i can't imagine how they feel being taken from loving family/relatives. My grandson would be heart broken if he was removed from his grandparents and loving aunts if he could no longer live with his own parents. What about stability and love for the children involved in this. They are just pawns in a bigger game.

The Report: Inside the suicide room

A clip from the report is shown on: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7977205.stm "Switzerland has become well known as a destination for those who want help to end their lives. It is thought more than 100 Britons, mostly terminally ill, have died at Dignitas. For BBC Radio 4's The Report, Simon Cox went to Switzerland to investigate the reality of the choice those Britons have made. He also spoke to Exit, Switzerland's oldest right-to-die society, which does not offer its services to foreigners. Most people it helps to die do so in their own home. However the society does have a room in its Zurich headquarters where some members have ended their lives. "Suicide assistant" Giancarlo Zuco showed Simon Cox the room. The Report broadcasts on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 2 April at 2000 BST. You can also listen via the BBC iPlayer or download the podcast . " I think it is very sad that people should choose to end their lives this way in one of these lonely bare rooms com

Stem Cells

A stem cell technique that can enlarge breasts while reducing the waistline is to be made available to British women. The treatment involves taking stem cells from excess fat on the stomach or thigh - so reports the Daily Mail this week, see also on line at www.dailymail.co.uk . I just think this is a sad state of today's woman if this is all she has to worry about! Why can't women just be satisfied with the way God made them and get on with more important issues. This was a technique designed for women with breast cancer originally and like plastic surgery which was originally for disfigured war victims it is a practice spilling over from people in real need to those who are just vain about their looks. I am sure it won't be long though before we are reading of healthy women who have had the procedure and it has gone 'horribly wrong'. The cost is said to be around £6,500.00. If they have this much money to spare why don't they spend it on something with

Another Shooting in US

A gunman has killed at least 12 or 13 people after taking dozens hostage in the US state of New York, the governor says. RECENT US SHOOTINGS: March 2009: A gunman kills a total of 11 people in a series of shootings southern Alabama Dec 2008: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus kills nine people and himself on Christmas Eve in LA Sept 2008: Six people die in a series of shootings in the north-west of Washington state June 2008: A worker at a plastics plant in Kentucky kills five people before killing himself April 2007: 32 people and the gunman die at the Virginia Tech campus More on this news story on www.bbc.co.uk or www.dailymail.co.uk

New Archbishop

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Catholic Church names new leader: Archbishop Nichols has been a leading figure in the church in recent years The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, is to become the new Archbishop of Westminster. The 63-year-old will take over next month from Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor as leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales. The cardinal, 76, is the first man to retire in post since the mid-1800s. Read more on: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7980704.stm

Sexualisation of our children

Fellow blogger - Posted by Mrs Jackie Parkes MJ at 12:37 4 comments Child abuse? Archbishop Vincent Nichols & Ms Oonagh Stannard CES wish to tell my little one the names of her sex organs! Also they wish to tell the little ones half her age ie 4 years old. Sick! Jackie is concerned, rightly so, at the sexualisation of our children at a younger and younger age. It seems this goes hand in hand with the spread over the years of what would once have been deemed 'pornographic' in nature to becoming part of the normal media scene in newspapers and on television or in films, a softening of our consciences towards natural moral tones. As sexuality has become more 'open' and seen, especially in advertising, as normal as getting a paper or having cornflakes for breakfast, so have the values been undermined in our society and in our schools. Once teaching under age pupils about sexuality would have been called 'preening' and yet the government cannot seem to connect

G20

I was wondering what the protesters were protesting about at the G20 summit. When I think of anarchy - I think of Punk Rock, Sid Vicious, Johnny Rotten or Vivien Westwood Fellow blogger has an interesting piece on it: Michael O'Brien the Canadian novelist - an example of whose artwork is shown here - has written about "Globalization and the New World Order" - a theme that should be familiar to any readers of his devastating yet beautiful novels Father Elijah and Eclipse of the Sun. In light of the G20 meeting in London, headed by Obama and Brown he says: "The history of oppressive governments is the history of politicians attempting to save the world on their own terms, cut off from the guiding principles of moral absolutes. ….If we seek to understand our times with any proximate coherence, we should understand this: Every system of totalitarian rule, including and between the poles of brutal tyranny and soft-spoken control, have this in common: 1) the rejection of b

Site of the Day

http://www.rulethestars.com/

Nietzsche

"Nietzsche existed, was an atheist and died insane — a fate which may well await anyone who looks too long into his books." (Peter Kreeft, Pillars of Unbelief) Fellow blogger wrote a good piece on the madness of Nietzsche - catch it here: http://witnesstolove.blogspot.com/

My superhero

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SUPERJO! note: I am wearing the belt of truth and carrying the sword of the spirit - don't seem to have my helmet on though - lol. Made my own superhero - make yours here: http://marvel.com/create_your_own_superhero

Knowing (2009) Movie Trailer - HD Quality

Looks like a good film