Author Archives: RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

Your Night Prayer

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A Night Prayer

Jesus Christ, my God, I adore You and thank You for all the graces You have given me this day. I offer You my sleep and all the moments of this night. I place myself and all my loved ones, wherever they may be, in Your sacred side and under the mantle of Our Blessed Mother. Let Your holy angels stand watch and keep us in peace. Amen.

Quote of the Day

“The business of the Christian is nothing else but to be ever preparing for death.” -St. Irenaeus of Lyons

Today’s Meditation

“Our Blessed Lord had two natures: Divine and human. Both were on trial and on totally different charges. Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of Simeon that He was a ‘sign to be contradicted.’ The judges could not agree as to why He should die; they could only agree that He must. The religious judges, Anna and Caiaphas, found Him guilty of being too Divine; the political judges, Pilate and Herod, found Him guilty of being too human. Before the one, He was too unworldly; before the other, too earthly. From that day on, His Church too would be condemned on contradictory charges, either for claiming to be too divine by some, or else for being too human by others. Condemned on contradictory charges, He was sentenced to the symbol of contradiction, which is the Cross.” —Fulton Sheen, p. 329

An excerpt from The Life of Christ

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Examination of Conscience

The daily examination of conscience is an ancient Catholic practice. It’s very simple, and it’s designed to help us identify our sins and weaknesses so that we can improve and grow stronger in the spiritual life, while providing an excellent ongoing preparation for regular Confession. It consists of taking a few minutes at the end of the day to prayerfully review our actions in the light of God’s commandments, followed by the Act of Contrition.

Reflect on the victories and losses

Actively reflecting on the high and low points of the day can help you live more intentionally and bring a renewed sense of resolve into the following day.

Review your actions, words, and thoughts today. Did you actively guard yourself against temptation? Where did sin creep in?
In what moments did you practice virtue and moral courage?
Were you attuned to the Holy Spirit’s promptings today? Where did you feel His inspiration?
Ask Him for the graces necessary to follow His Will more purposefully tomorrow.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

Practice gratitude

It is God’s love that has brought you into existence and to this exact moment. Practice looking for His hand in your day.

Where did you feel His loving gaze upon you today?
What people or moments helped you see God in your life?
Thank God for all these moments!
Ask Him to help you recognize His blessings and providence tomorrow.

Renew your commitment to Christ

Remember: our Faith is founded upon a Person—Christ! Renew your personal love and devotion to Him.

Thank God for the gift of His Son Jesus and our call to be His disciples.
Tell the Lord of your desire to know Christ more personally.
If possible, set an intention for your day tomorrow. Ask Our Lord to guide you in this act.
Pray a Hail Mary, Our Father, or another beloved prayer.

Rest with God

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for Thou alone, O Lord, makest me dwell in safety. — Psalm 4:8

Compline

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Exodus 20:7 – Understanding the Third Commandment: Honoring His Name with Reverence

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Exodus 20:7

(7) Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
King James Version Change email Bible version

This commandment, like the second, includes a warning within it. What does He mean by “not hold him guiltless”? Sometimes God deliberately understates a warning as a subtle form of emphasis, which ultimately magnifies its meaning. The penalty for taking God’s name in vain is death!

It is helpful to define four words used in this command:

» Take: Several Hebrew words are translated into the English word “take,” but this one means “lift up,” “bear,” “carry,” “use,” “appropriate.”

» Name: The Hebrew root denotes something high or elevated, a monument implying majesty or excellence. It is an outstanding mark, sign, or reputation. Thus “name” is a word by which a person, place, or thing is distinctively known. A name identifies, signifies, and specifies.

» Vain: The underlying Hebrew word suggests emptiness, futility, and/or falsehood. It implies lacking in reality, value, or truth. Its single-word synonyms—depending upon the context—are “futile,” “worthless,” “profane,” “foolish,” “reproachful,” “curse,” “blaspheme,” “purposeless,” “useless,” “inconsequential,” “unsubstantial,” and “vaporous.”

» Guiltless: This word indicates “free,” “clear,” “innocent,” “clean,” “blameless,” “unpunished.”

This commandment has nothing to do with the proper pronunciation of God’s name, which no one knows for certain how to say anyway. It also has nothing to do with superstition or magic. This commandment’s application is much broader, deeper, and more dignified than that.

This commandment is certainly against common swearing, including the use of euphemisms so common in this Protestant society, examples of which are “gee,” “gosh,” “golly,” “cheese and rice,” “got all muddy,” “jiminy cricket,” and “doggone.” However, it also includes the light or disrespectful use of any of God’s attributes or character traits. More directly than any other, the third commandment teaches how much God is to be a part of our every word, deed, and attitude.

It pays dividends in insight and understanding to take notice of biblical names. In biblical thought, a name is not merely a label of identification but also an expression of the bearer’s essential nature. It includes its bearer’s reputation, character, and distinctiveness from others. For example, in all probability Adam named the beasts based on his observations of the distinctiveness of their natures. Similarly, to know the name of God is to know God as He has revealed Himself, that is, to know some of His nature.

This same thought is true of many biblical characters, providing insight into understanding them within the events recorded about them. To illustrate, Jacob supplants his brother Esau twice. A supplanter is one who by skill, deceit, or force takes the place of another. When this happens the second time, Esau says, “Is he not rightly named Jacob?” (Genesis 27:36). Regarding the birthright and blessing, Jacob takes Esau’s place using his supplanting nature.

Another clear example occurs when Abigail pleads with David for Nabal’s life: “As his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him!” (I Samuel 25:25). Nabal means “a dolt, a vile person.” Thus, the Bible shows that a name tends to exercise constraint on a person to conform to its nature.

In Hebrew thought, then, a name is inextricably bound with the named thing’s existence. Nothing exists unless it has a name, and its essence is concentrated in its name. Hence, creation is not complete until Adam names all the creatures. To cut off a person’s name is to end the bearer’s existence, or to change a person’s name is to indicate a shift in his character and standing before God.

To speak or act in another’s name is to act as that person’s agent and to participate in his authority. To be called by another’s name implies that person’s ownership, and one bearing that name falls under the authority and protection of the one whose name is called upon.

The third commandment sets the standard of the spiritual cleanliness in a person using the name of God because it is so weighty. It must be used or borne in truth, without hypocrisy or vanity but in purity of conduct. A person is better off being sincerely wrong than being a professing Christian and denying God’s name by the conduct of his life.

Consider that to help us to know David, the Bible shows him as shepherd, warrior, king, prophet, poet, husband, father, musician, sinner, and penitent—each part of a rich and varied nature. Yet, God is manifold times greater than David! The Bible reveals Him, His nature, in a similar way, by adding names to aid us in identifying His many glorious characteristics. God names Himself what He is, just as He names people what they are. Thus, Jacob is at first a supplanter, yet when he changes, God names him more appropriately for his new life. Israel is “one who prevails with God.”

Herbert Lockyer’s book, All the Divine Names and Titles, lists 364 names and titles for Jesus Christ alone. Through His names and titles, God has chosen to reveal a great deal about His attributes, offices, authority, prerogatives, and will. Each name designates some distinct virtue or characteristic of God’s nature. Thus, God has made known the glory of His nature through His names. They are not to be abused.

— John W. Ritenbaugh

To learn more, see:
The Third Commandment

Topics:

All the Divine Names and Titles

Blameless

Blasphemers

Blaspheming God’s Name

God’s Name, Hallowing

God’s Name, Honoring

Guiltless

Name as Bearer’s Reputation

Name as Description of Character

Name of God, Honoring

Name of God, Taking in Vain

Names of God

Profanity

Taking God’s Name in Vain

The Third Commandment

Third Commandment

Vain, Taking God’s Name in

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Crosstown rivals making mark on Power Rankings

Monday, June 29

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TOP NEWS

Ben Rice, Jacob Misiorowski, Shohei Ohtani, Michael Harris II and Bryce Harper

Latest Power Rankings enjoying Windy City vibes

While the top spot in the latest Power Rankings is unchanged, there was some movement in the rest of the top 10, which includes both Chicago teams after their impressive weeks.

Red Sox complete 4-game sweep of Yankees with wild 10th-inning walk-off

D-backs’ No. 5 prospect Crisantes bringing hot June to close in style with a Double-A cycle

Gray’s no-hit bid vs. Yanks turns Fenway into ‘Sonny Night Baseball’

Caminero’s 463-foot moonshot makes history with 7th homer in last 6 games

The race is on: Schwarber, Harper on similar timeline to reach 400-homer milestone

Betts continues red-hot June as Dodgers take series over Padres

Waiver claim Wilson the Cubs’ marathon man in 10-inning bullpen game

Guards’ comeback victory over Mariners ‘as big of a win as we’ve had all year’

Jensen’s hitting streak is unlike anything a Royals rookie has done before

Suárez’s X-rays on left hand inconclusive; Elly stays in after left ankle sprain

Rangers visit Guardians in clash of division leaders (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

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STAFF PICKS

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ALCS rematch highlights this week’s 5 series to watch

After a pair of intriguing intrastate matchups with Pirates-Phillies and Dodgers-A’s, the Blue Jays and Mariners meet over the weekend for the first time since their epic ALCS.

Meet the Mets? This NBA champ did

OG Anunoby became a hero to New York fans during the Knicks’ title run, and he swapped jerseys with a hero of his own, former Mets shortstop José Reyes, during a memorable afternoon at Citi Field.

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‘I had good role models’

Mikey Romero is one of the top prospects in the Red Sox organization, and he comes from a family of ballplayers. Sisters Sydney and Sierra are playing softball in the AUSL while Sophia stars in college at Boise State.

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Phils prospect homers with heavy heart

With the message “Venezuela together” in Spanish on his left wristband, Phillies No. 4 prospect Aroon Escobar delivered a go-ahead home run in a victory for Double-A Reading.

Golden Spikes Award announcement

Who will win the Golden Spikes Award as the best amateur baseball player in the United States out of finalists Roch Cholowsky, Landon Hairston and Daniel Jackson? Find out live on MLB Network at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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Giants vs. D-backs on MLB Network

Rafael Devers and the Giants visit Arizona for an NL West showdown against Corbin Carroll and the D-backs at 9:30 p.m. ET.

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SI:AM | Get Ready for the World Cup’s Best Week

DAN GARTLAND

Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. I have to respect all the fans who showed up for this morning’s playoff between Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler at the Travelers Championship. The whole thing was over in about 15 minutes after Scheffler missed a short putt.

In today’s SI:AM:

🇨🇦 Canada moves on

🏈 Breer’s NFL Takeaways

⚾ MLB mock draft

The World Cup is heating up

Kirby Lee/Imagn Images

If you enjoyed Canada’s late win over South Africa yesterday afternoon, there’s plenty more where that came from.

This week is shaping up to be perhaps the best week of the entire World Cup. Sure, the climactic matches will be great, and the worldwide representation of the group stage was a joy, but this week will feature the perfect combination of high stakes and nonstop action.

⚽ Check out SI’s World Cup Daily

There will be 15 do-or-die matches between now and Friday (three each day). Unlike in the group stage, a traditional power can’t shake off a poor result against an underdog. Perhaps best of all for U.S. fans, there will be no more draws. If the game is tied after 90 minutes, they’ll play 30 minutes of added time. If it’s still level after that, you’ll have the white-knuckle drama of a penalty shootout.

I’ll admit I was wrong about the expanded World Cup format. I thought it would dilute the group stage, but I underestimated the number of quality teams that were in the field. Who would have predicted that DR Congo and Cabo Verde would advance to the knockout stage? I wouldn’t expect either of them to win their next game (against England and Argentina, respectively), but their early success was a reminder that soccer can be beautifully unpredictable. And this week you’ve got 15 chances to see something unexpected happen.

A historic WNBA game

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Anyone who’s a fan of international soccer and the WNBA faced a difficult choice yesterday at 3 p.m. ET: Should they watch the Canada-South Africa knockout stage match or the Fire-Mystics game? Well, Portland and Washington made sure people could catch the thrilling conclusion of both contests.

The Fire-Mystics game tied a WNBA record by taking four overtime periods to determine a winner. It lasted nearly four hours before Washington came away with a 124–123 victory.

Portland’s Carla Leite and Washington’s Sonia Citron stole the show, both scoring 32 points. Leite sank a wild, off-balance three off the backboard as the buzzer sounded at the end of regulation to send the game to OT and drilled another deep three in the closing seconds of the first overtime to keep her team in it. Citron had a clutch layup through traffic to tie the game with 15 seconds left in the second overtime, and Portland’s Bridget Carleton hit a smooth turnaround jumper to force the fourth OT. Citron’s layup with 21.4 seconds left in the fourth overtime proved to be the game-winner.

The only other game in WNBA history to go to four overtimes was on July 3, 2001, when the Mystics beat the Storm, 72–69. Comparing the scores of those two games is a great way to illustrate the progress the WNBA has made since its early days. That 2001 game was tied at 50 at the end of regulation, a score teams these days routinely surpass by halftime. There has not been a game in which neither team scored more than 50 points since 2008.

That 2001 game was a slog. Each team scored just 10 points in the first three OT periods combined. Yesterday’s game, on the other hand, was a legitimate thriller played in front of a sellout crowd. The league has come a long way in the past 25 years.

Red Sox sweep Yankees in dramatic fashion

The Fire-Mystics game tied a WNBA record by taking four overtime periods to determine a winner. It lasted nearly four hours before Washington came away with a 124–123 victory.

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👀 The top five …

… things I saw yesterday:

5. The Cubs’ game-saving double play.

4. Some quick hands by the Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton to set up a fast break opportunity.

3. Junior Caminero’s towering 463-foot blast. (Caminero has homered in each of his last four games and has seven homers in his last six games.)

2. Brandon Nimmo’s catch while colliding with the wall to record the final out of the Rangers’ win over the Blue Jays. (Texas took all four games in Toronto this weekend.)

1. Stephen Eustáquio’s powerful strike for Canada’s winning goal against South Africa.

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