Ramblings, Rants, & Reflections

Evening Prayer of gratitude

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 18:47:59 -0500

I give you thanks, O Babe of Bethlehem, for all you’ve done for me.
Violet hue, bright white glow, as light begins to fade.
Clouds dark with foreboding, ready to allow serenity to fall, each flake an individual.
Each one still, different, and perfectly able to disappear.
We are these flakes, and humanity as snow,
But for a baby that was given us,
We too could’ve disappeared.

Montreal

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 23:59:57 -0400

So I’m in Montreal for a couple days. A very beautiful city, at one time a VERY Catholic city, but now, much like Catholic Europe, a very secular city. I’m not like many of my friends in that I do not see this as inherently bad. It is not my desire to see Catholic cities, but rather cities where one is free to be Catholic and his ideas are welcome in the ‘town square’ and not simply dismissed on the grounds that they are Catholic, archaic, or whatever buzz word used to discount Christian answers to modern day questions. I digress…. It’s been a great time. I walked along the canal today to go to a brewery, made very poor attempts at speaking french, have had great time with a dear long time friend, got to know his beautiful and kind fiancé and had a most wonderful conversation with his roommate about who Jesus was/is and what he wants for us all. Oh yeah, and I met some kids from Franciscan University. Small world right? I miss my family, but I’m grateful to be here and to be present for my friend’s wedding. More to come later ; )

Mother’s Day, 85 & Sunny On The Patio Helga Viking...

Sun, 08 May 2011 21:09:50 -0400

Mother’s Day, 85 & Sunny On The Patio

Helga Viking Lens, BlacKeys SuperGrain Film, No Flash, Taken with Hipstamatic

BBQ Baby : )

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 22:23:54 -0400

BBQ Baby : )

Muslim dialogue, Christian bullshit

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:46:48 -0400

I was speaking with a Muslim woman and her boyfriend yesterday. She was a beautiful soul from Romania, he was a good guy that adheres to a schismatic version of Catholicism (sedevacantist) which believes that there is no pope and everyone since J23 has been an anti-pope. He was interested in how I ‘convert’ Muslims on campus. I told him that I don’t convert anyone, rather I share the love of Jesus by entering into relationship with people and allowing the holy spirit to do the heavy lifting. He didn’t like that answer ; ) I told his girlfriend how much I respected the disciplines of Islam, how I thought that she had a gentle and holy disposition. I did not discredit Muhammed but rather shared with her about why I believed Jesus was God and why we need a savior. Amazingly, she asked me these questions after I told her about my admiration for her religion & disposition. Unfortunately, I wasn’t hardcore enough for her boyfriend. He said I was academic that was just interested in dialogue. I told him that I was a follower of Jesus & that I was very much interested in people knowing, loving, & following Jesus. I then shared that I used to dislike Christians quite a bit and that sometimes I still do because of their desire to argue and be right, rather than having a conversation and receiving grace.

In the end, I never compromised my belief that Jesus is who He said He was. Rather, I just chose to not only believe that, but to act as he did too.

Went back to finish the ultrasound today and we are blessed to...

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:34:38 -0400

Went back to finish the ultrasound today and we are blessed to know more about Lucy Margaret Leyendecker. The balance has shifted to the feminine genius in our household. We men here are better for it. Please keep Lucy & Lisa in your prayers.

In other news, I will be purchasing a new firearm in preparation for scaring off boys from my beautiful daughters ; )

Easter sangria at friends

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 16:17:36 -0400

Easter sangria at friends

A lot of folks coming into Christ and His Catholic Church...

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 01:55:11 -0400

A lot of folks coming into Christ and His Catholic Church tonight! Alleluia! He is risen!

Holy Saturday verse

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 13:56:59 -0400

The earth keeps quiet. Keeping the secret that death is overcome, giving no hint that Adam’s sin has even been undone. Go on O man about your distracted way Pay no heed to the silence Yet listen well to the chains, as they break on Easter day.

Soccer in the snow…Colorado spring time

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 11:21:09 -0400

Soccer in the snow…Colorado spring time

Evening Prayer & Rosary w/ the family

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 22:02:12 -0400

Evening Prayer & Rosary w/ the family

Sweet C Helga Viking Lens, BlacKeys SuperGrain Film, No Flash,...

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 21:09:37 -0400

Sweet C

Helga Viking Lens, BlacKeys SuperGrain Film, No Flash, Taken with Hipstamatic

How good is Good Friday

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:03:57 -0400

It’s hard to put into words the feelings and thoughts I have around Good Friday. This is my 13th good Friday since becoming a Christian. So I guess this is Good Friday the 13th for me? At any rate, Good Friday is wrought with expectations about what you should feel, think about and do or at least what I would like to do. I’d like my house to be silent from 12-3, have my family and I weep openly for our sins and experience the passion at the deepest human levels. But, as you can imagine with 4 little kids, the only tears were when one kid took the other kid’s station of the cross book. As for the silence….well, there were periods of silence, in between the cries. Yet, I did find grace in the midst of all this. Right after I about snapped and told Max & Sojo to stop messing around, look at the cross, and talk to Jesus- Sojo with a big smile on his face looked up at the cross and said a Hail Mary softly and afterward said, “I’m sorry Jesus had to die”. So, my 3 year old son gets it. He’s sorry Jesus had to die. Too bad I was too busy making things perfect. So out of my folly of getting frustrated with my kids, Jesus brought a sobering and beautiful moment of grace. Isn’t that the cross? God has brought a tremendous gift out of the horrendous act of the cross- a Good Friday indeed.

Went to the doctor for the ultrasound today. No luck finding out...

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:49:21 -0400

Went to the doctor for the ultrasound today. No luck finding out gender, the little one wouldn’t turn over. Gotta go back Monday.