A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....04-12-05...."He's Free" (Pippin's tribute to Pope John Paul II)

Billie; Pippin | Pippin

[Billie]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, Dutchess, Aquamarine, DollyCali ~

~ ~ He’s Free ~ ~
~ by Pippin ~

     On Saturday, April 2, 2005 Pope John Paul II was set free.

Free to be with God, free of suffering and pain. No longer trapped in a mortal body that was failing and worn out in the service of God and the people.

He was an inspiration to me, though I knew it not for a long time. I took for granted his continued strong presence and his kindness and love for all God’s people, not only Roman Catholics, but Protestants and people of other religions and creeds.

His faith sustained him in hard times as well as the joyful ones. It was his faith that moved him to forgive and to pray for the one who tried to take his life back in 1981.

God had plans for John Paul II and He was not to be put off!

No, not by a crazed would-be assassin or a world gone mad.

He was a man of peace, a man of faith and courage and an inner strength.

What touched me most about the Pope is the way he reached out to all the people, especially the young people, and they in turn, responded in kind.

I've prayed that God would grant me that kind of faith; it has been waning ever since 09/11/01, much to my dismay and fear.

I’ve prayed and cried.

But watching what Pope John Paul II has gone through these past several years has taught me that there is no shame in suffering as long as it’s done with dignity.

So instead of complaining about my own infirmities and short comings, I’ll think of him and remember, as he’s always done, that God is in charge and He will never abandon us. After all, God did not abandon John Paul II, He freed him! ~ Marie (Pippin)

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 04-11-05 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

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03-29-05 ~ Hall of Fame #11

[Billie]

Your pledge with the the dove was just gorgeous btw.

Many thanks. :)

[Billie]

Good afternoon, lonestar and weinie. Am glad you like today's tribute. Pippin's words were an inspiration.

[Billie]

I hope the next Pope is as positive an influence on our world, but those are some mighty big shoes to fill.

Amen, Star. Thank you for your post.

[Billie]

Miss Pippin, Miss Billie ... a beautiful and loving tribute to the Holy Father and our Heavenly Father which you have crafted and given us this fine Spring day.

You never fail to put a smile on our faces and in our hearts. :)

[dutchess]

I'm not SURE how Lori and Aqua and dutchess have done theirs with XP, but do think that in the beginning at least, they all used NOTEPAD as I STILL DO (the text program in "My Documents").

You all were talking behind my back today (busy work day!) Billie "taught" me to do it in notepad. Don't know what you mean about opening it in internet explorer to view it Lori. I usually cut it and View it on FR. LOL...last week I accidently his post. Got more hits in 1 minute that I usually get here (and from complete strangers having fun with my booboo!) Thankfully the Admin. moderator mercefully deleted it quickly :o)

Great to see you Aqua. Hope you guys had a great time! Would appreciate help with pictures if you get a chance tomorrow. Auditors returning to finish up our audit tomorrow plus I'm speaking at an annual meeting for an organization that I'm chairman of tomorrow night (WHICH I HATE!!!!..I mean hate public speaking...NOT the organization!))

(((((sistahs))))))

[Billie]

I scanned one of the prayer cards I got at church.

I just think that's the way we like to remember him - he was so frail and 'bent' at the end.

[Billie]

Thank you, Colleen. Thanks for posting the book cover. You always find such neat, appropriate graphics for our threads. :)

[Billie]

Thanks, Meg. Happy you liked it.

Are you still playing mama kitty?

[Texagirl4W]

I have to agree with you, Billie. This is beautiful even to a Southern Baptist. I always did like Pope John Paul II. My family in New Orleans saw him when he was there years ago.

Aquamarine, good to have you back.

Mr. Mayor, always a pleasure reading your scripture.

[Billie]

What a truly lovely collaborative effort! While your presentations always are flawless and most appropriate and beautiful, Billie, you have really captured the essence of Pippin's touching tribute.

In contrast with the very intense colors surrounding coverage of the settings in Rome for the vigil and afterward, this quietly illustrated from-the-heart expression is positively eloquent and moving ---

Well, THAT was just so beautifully written I couldn't help but want to repost it every bit all over again. :) You do know how to make our heads swell, Miss Maggie. :)

I really am glad you could 'get here' today because I just knew you would like it. You're very special to make that effort - knowing Tuesday's appointments take so much out of you.

(Those flowers are gorgeous!)

[Billie]

Thank you for coming, tulip, and thank you for the compliment.

[Billie]

The first time I tried doing it in Notepad it threw me a bit because there is no option to save the file as an html document. So, I just removed the .txt and typed in .html. The other thing that I had a problem with was opening it as a webpage, until I realized that (in XP) if you right click on the file the drop down menu gives the option to open it with Internet Explorer. My default seems to want to open the files in Notepad and they open as a text document. But it is easy to over-ride by right clicking.

I have to 'back up' the .txt extension and change it to .htm also, but when I do that, it gives me a separate html (webpage)file (I keep the working text file open - even though now it *says* it is "Name.htm", and then I open the html/webpage file - IE opens it because it is my default program to open all my html files - I keep both of them open while I'm working and just keep doing the 'save as' with any changes I make, then go to the IE html/webpage file and right-click and 'refresh' to SEE those changes. :)

[Billie]

You all were talking behind my back today (busy work day!) Billie "taught" me to do it in notepad. Don't know what you mean about opening it in internet explorer to view it Lori. I usually cut it and View it on FR. LOL...last week I accidently his post. Got more hits in 1 minute that I usually get here (and from complete strangers having fun with my booboo!) Thankfully the Admin. moderator mercefully deleted it quickly :o)

OH MY GOSH!!! I always *worry* I might do that, too! Daisy swore once that she hit "preview", and it POSTED for her! She also hastily hit that abuse button and the Admin mod zapped it pretty quick!

[Billie]

I have to agree with you, Billie. This is beautiful even to a Southern Baptist. I always did like Pope John Paul II. My family in New Orleans saw him when he was there years ago.

Thank you, Texagirl. He has definitely left his mark on the world.

[Diver Dave]

Thank you, Dave. 'preciate you!

That's soooo much better than the alternative. :)

Afternoon, Billie.
Sunny, blue windy skies today. Time to get out the kites.

[Billie]

Afternoon, Billie. Sunny, blue windy skies today. Time to get out the kites.

LOL - cute graphic. I guess with warm sunny days "Go jump in the lake" wouldn't be such a terrible thing either. :)

[LadyX]

We never could adequately express our gratitude
for all you hostesses and hosts do
to both 'light up' and 'lighten' our world!

[Billie]

That is so sweet. You certainly give it *your* best shot! Not to mention the beautiful pictures you dress up the walls with! :) (I know, that's terrible grammer) LOL

Thanks, Maggie.

[LadyX]

"(Those flowers are gorgeous!)

In truth, Billie, I typed into Google Images "bouquet," and it brought up wedding ones!
This happened to be the very first offering, and I merely decreased the size..:))

Of course we could make it do double duty and line up all the Finest single ladies and toss it to see who gets to marry first among them.

(Nevermind -- someone might get trampled in the stampede...:))

[Aquamarine]

I used to build my posts in the Post Article Forum here at FR, then after a while Billie told me about the Notepad thingie. lol