Musings of a Catholic Convert

When hinges creak in doorless chambers, and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls. Whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still. That is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight!

Welcome, foolish mortals, to my next post!  Kindly remove your hand from your mouse.  There's no turning back now.

Since we do our Christmas shopping throughout the year, we see October as "last minute" shopping.  In our browsing among different wares and vendors, we have a nice custom jewelry and gift dealer that you might want to consider.  

Bella Designs from Italy is a Murano Glass jewelry and gift store.  They have just recently built an online store to work alongside their busy direct sales business.  I'm very impressed with all of the Murano glass items.  When you look at these things you understand why they are called "unique".  Wine bottle stoppers, watches, rings, earrings, pendants, etc.,  are individually handcrafted items.  No two are exactly alike.  And they are beautiful!  Listen to this.  I, an aesthetically challenged guy, am calling this jewelry beautiful.  We have several items in our home.  

Consider dropping by their site (products being added continually) and give a browse to these Murano Glass gifts.

I hate to criticize McCain.  I know his voting record for life issues is leagues better than Obama's.  However, I NEVER EVER hear him or Governor Palin speak out against abortion.  It does not come up in debates.  It is not even on the "issues" page of John McCain's website.  Why not?  

I wrote the McCain-Palin campaign and asked why, and I've yet to receive a response.  You know, with so little time left before the vote, I don't understand why McCain doesn't go after the Christian voting bloc.  Does his campaign assume they have it all wrapped up?  Goodness, people!  Don't you know what happens when you assume?  

This is one of the most important votes in several decades and we cannot afford to put a man in office who will not fight for the unborn.  No foreign policy will ever work out unless the domestic security of our most helpless citizens, namely the unborn, are protected.  I appreciate the stance on strict interpreters of the constitution as judicial appointments.  Great.  But please speak out against the atrocities of the abortion industry and the culture of death in the US.  Call it what it is - murder.  Remind people, often swayed by slick speech and a clean face, that the "choice" in pro-choice is the decision to KILL a living innocent human being.  Remind them that we do not have the right to kill at will.  Stand for life.  We will stand with you.  We won't abandon you.  Please speak out.  

Excellencies,

We, the Catholics in the United States of America, need you now more than ever.  We are in need of your shepherding and your teaching.  We are in need of clarity regarding social evils.  We are in need of clarity regarding our social and political duties as faithful citizens.  We are in need of a properly formed conscience.  We can't do it on our own.  There are too many distractions, too many slick video edits and sound bytes.  We are distracted.  We are confused.  Deep down, faithful Catholics want to do what's right, but we often cannot discern the correct path to take.  So much is hidden and obscured.  Many priests and lay leaders are afraid to speak up because of fear of losing a tax status or being sued.  We need your help!

We are aware of the faithful citizenship documents published by the USCCB.  Tell me, how are parishes supposed to get that information?  How are the laypersons going to receive that document and, furthermore, how will they understand what you are trying to teach us?  We need you, as our Bishops, to explain things to us.  Explain to us when life begins.  Explain to us why the right to life is a fundamental issue that cannot be lumped together as just another social issue.  Tell us why we cannot support a candidate who opposes the right to life.  Share with us why claiming personal opposition to abortion while voting "pro choice" is still support for abortion.  Teach us that the Catholic Church has never and will never change her position on abortion and euthenasia. 

We need your help.  We beg for your help.  There are already a few Bishops who have begun to educate the public, and for that we are grateful, but we beg for all of our Bishops to stand up and speak out.  November will be here soon.  Citizens will go to vote, but who will they vote for?  Whose rhetoric will be slick enough to get their vote?  Will the truth of the Faith be in the hearts and minds of the people at the polls, or will people even know that the Faith matters in politics?

We love you.  You are our Bishops.  God has appointed you as our shepherds for a reason.  Please help us and guide us.

Sincerely,

Catholics from every parish, mission, and diocese in the United States of America

I now have a colony of Jesus Fish living in my house. 

By the way, for those of you looking for my comments on the University of Tennessee's recent loss to UCLA, keep looking.  As soon as Tennessee's football team shows up, I will let you know.  

Back to my Jesus Fish.  So these five fish move in Monday and have taken over the place.  As of yet, I do not know their names.  Therefore, I shall call them Inky, Pinky, Blinky, Clyde, and Joash.  They are quite rude, never responding to my queries and generally acting as though they cannot hear me.  Most of their day is spent pacing back and forth within their domicile, stopping occasionally to glare at me. 

I have come to the conclusion that they are plotting something.  Exactly what they are plotting is at this point unknown.  Until I have more data, I will have to observe them covertly and catch them plotting.  Perhaps I can fashion a listening device of some sort.  

No doubt they are reading this post as I type.  It is of little consequence.  They cannot remain on guard 24 hours per day.  At some point they will let their guard fall.  I must remain ever vigilent.  

My hope is that these Jesus Fish are indeed on the Lord's side and not just using the Name to fool me.  I will err on the side of mercy that their glossy stares are a sign of peace and nothing nefarious.     

I understand that Barack Obama has selected Joe Biden (Sen. Delaware) as his running mate.  Many of the newswriters have said that this was a great move and a way to gain "the Catholic vote."  Talk abounds of how this fiesty Irish Catholic senator is "in line with Catholic Social Teaching" which of course they equivocate with caricatures of social issues.  Let me make this clear, friends - and you need to tell your friends, family, and coworkers this message - take it from another fiesty Irish Catholic when he reminds you that YOU CANNOT BE IN LINE WITH CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING IF YOU DENY THE RIGHT TO LIFE FOR THE UNBORN.

Catholic social teaching is based on the premise that we are created in the image and likeness of God.  This dignity of the human person exists at every stage of human life, beginning with natural conception.  Abortion is a sin against the dignity of the human person.  It is the snuffing out of an innocent human being.  It is murder.  To procure for yourself an abortion is to commit grave sin.  To encourage someone to have an abortion is to commit grave sin.  To create legislation to continue the murderous practice of abortion is grave sin.  When you as a voter cast your vote for someone who has a record of voting for such things, or who says this is their "moral conviction" or "what their conscience is telling them" you are in material cooperation with them.  Saying that you are personally opposed to abortion and voting for it or supporting those who do is still supporting abortion.  All you're saying is that you won't be the one physically butchering the baby, but that you fully support the person doing it.

Do you want to avoid material cooperation in the mortal sin of abortion, DON'T VOTE FOR A PRO ABORTION CANDIDATE.  Don't buy into the lie that because someone claims to be a Christian that they are living Christian lives.  Just because Biden has a rosary doesn't mean he is in line with the teachings of the Church.  Don't be fooled by propaganda.  Don't let your conscience be improperly formed because of sound bites and what you've been duped into believing is social justice. Fight for those innocent who cannot vote for themselves.  Fight for the children who are being murdered as you read this post.  Fight against the discrimination toward the unborn.  If we would quit voting for people who support such murderous garbage, we can instead elect people who will stop the killings and restore to these United States a culture of life instead of a culture of death.

Archbishop Chaput, I know that they have not invited you to the Democratic Convention in Denver, but please try to speak with Senators Obama and Biden.  Please encourage them to fight for life instead of against it.  You're a good bishop and I know you will do your best.  Thank you for standing up for the Faith.         

I am a fan of burritos, and I've enjoyed sampling the offerings at several Memphis area establishments.  Now, let me tell you, it's hard to go wrong with a burrito.  It's just not something you can really mess up too badly.  I've had my favorites.  In fact, my favorite burrito USED TO BE the big burritos from Guadalajara near the corner of Mendenhall and Winchester.  Sunday, the title's changed hands.  My new favorite burrito comes from. . .

steady . . .

wait for it, boys . . .

almost there . . .

Burma Shave. . .

Did you even get that?

Okay.  Before I tell you about Burma Shave, let me tell you that my favorite burrito can be purchased at Su Casa in Collierville, TN.  Muy delicioso!  For the same price as my big honkin' burrito at Guadalajara, I can get a bigger burrito with rice and beans on the side.  AND this one has white cheese sauce on it as well.  I had to eat it with a fork, but I did not mind.  Something so delicous was made to savor.  I didn't even finish the whole thing, and was forced (in shame) to take a portion home in a box for later.  

DID I MENTION IT WAS DELICIOUS?  FULL OF PEPPERS, ONIONS, GRILLED STEAK, GRILLED TOMATOES, MAYBE EVEN A PINCH OF CINNAMON. MMMMMMM.

Great place to take the family to eat.  I heartily recommend the place.

Tonight, I'm home working some laundry, and I say to myself, "Self, maybe you can watch a movie.  Let's see what's available on Pay-Per-View."  I had heard about the last Rambo film and had an expectation of explosions and gun battles akin to a John Woo film.  I also had in my mind every "rescue people from jungle captors" film I've ever seen.  I could never have predicted what I would see, nor what would my reaction be.  After what seemed to me like only about 20 minutes, I had turned off the video, fallen to the ground, and sobbed like I have not done in years.   Why? 

If you haven't seen the movie, I first need to tell you that I cannot reccomend it.  Even for a callous and desensitized person such as myself, this movie went beyond even my limits for depictions of violence.  Yet, it was this depiction that caused me to weep.  I need to explain the premise for the movie.  The setting is Burma, home to yet another civil war and mass genocide.  Rambo is supposed to help get some missionaries to a remote village to give aid, only to be involved in a rescue mission after things turn sour.  Not only did the movie discuss the violence and abuse occuring in these lands, it showed it.  I will not tell you of the images I saw, but they are burned into my mind and my heart, not because the images were so dramatically displayed, but because this is what is really happening in nations like this all around the world.  

It was after seeing a village razed, after the missionaries had arrived, that I could not take any more.  I fell to my knees and buried my face in my hands.  I just cried out to God for mercy - mercy for those innocent men, women, and children who are the victims of brutality.  They are not combatants in a military conflict.  They are civilians.  Yet, they are the targets, kept "in check" through fear, death, and torture.  My heart goes out to these places, most of which I can't even show you on a map, and which you won't see on the news.  Sure, there are some "high profile" places that we know about such as Darfur, but the problems are not limited to those persons.

Here in the United States, we are so very very blessed.  Not only do we have great wealth compared to the rest of the world, but we are safe.  We do not have to worry about a military group invading our homes in the middle of the night to take our lives, to imprison us, or to torture us.  We do not have to worry about being singled out as a cultural or religious group to be lined up and exterminated.  And yet, we whine and complain about being misrepresented, about not having an official prayer in schools.  As a descendant of Irish immigrants and as a Catholic, I see how people were mistreated and discriminated against.  I have read in the history books about the ethnic ghettos and the employment postings stating "No Irish.  No Catholics."  But they weren't being dragged from their homes and killed.  They were disliked, maybe even hated, but they weren't murdered.  Not here.  So when I read about the horrible things happening outside these United States, I cry, especially for the children.  I pray for their protection.  I beg for an end to the madness of war and destruction, of torture and abuse, and I ask God to bring it about quickly.

And I want to mention something else while I'm thinking about it.  This sort of persecution and devastation takes place in the Philippines and in the nations of Africa, and Asia, and yet these lands send missionaries to us.  They send missionaries to US.  We who have it so good and so privledged are in such dire need of the Gospel in our lives that other nations, even those marred by war, send men and women to our lands.  What makes it even more sad is that we have a church building on almost every street corner in some towns.  Why is it that Americans just don't get it?  Could it be that we think we do have it?  Could it be that most Americans consider themselves just religious enough to "slip by"?  Slip by what?  Do they even realize the reality of their own sin?  Do they realize their need for a savior?  Do they know how to receive salvation, and what it means to have a relationship with God?  Or have they created a religion to suit their needs, not too intrusive, but just enough to make them think they're where they need to be.  Just enough to give them a warm fuzzy feeling, but not enough to make them want to change their lives, any more than lip service anyway.

So let's pray.  Pray for a lot of things, but let's stop praying for all our petty wants and spend what little time we give to God praying for the salvation of souls, for the changing of hearts, for peace, for love.  Let's pray that our hearts, minds, actions, and wallets would be open to do whatever it takes to help bring about peace and the spread of the gospel.  They need our prayers, they need our support, and, when God calls us, our presence and actions to help in His name.  God grant that we would be obedient children.  God have mercy on us all. 

So, in one sense I can say I wasted five bucks, because I paid for a movie I didn't finish.  But that five bucks also did a lot to remind me of how lucky I am to be where I am and to weep and pray for the men, women and children who face death every hour of every day.

There are many ways to properly celebrate the independence of these United States, but probably the best known, and most fun, is to blow stuff up.

Behold!

 

 4th of July, Southern Style: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Here's hoping for a short week.  Normally, Mondays are the days in which most of my work get's piled on, or when I sort through the pile of work given to me on Friday.  Needless to say, I hate Mondays.  

Had a great time this weekend, spending good time with friends.  The kids and I even had a decent Saturday while the wife was out on business.  Father Parham had a TOTALLY AWESOME homily on Sunday, which made Sunday's Mass that much more amazing.  Small group was excellent, and I'm not just saying that because we grilled burgers.  Things are really clicking along there and I'm glad for it.

But today is not small group.  Today is Monday.  The good news is that it's also payday.  Maybe I'll buy a CD today?  There are a couple that I have my eye on.  One is new and the other is not.  How's that for a vague hint.  Ha!  

Almost time to start work for the day.  Hope you all have a great week, and I hope you all get Friday off!

Nothing philosophical to post.  Just wanted to say that we joined the YMCA last night.  Hooray!  I haven’t stepped foot in a YMCA for years so I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially in our little suburbia we call home.  Most Y’s that I’ve visited have been huge facilities with all sorts of stuff and then some apartments available for rent.  This YMCA didn’t have any apartments, and it’s not huge, but it has plenty of space for recreation and exercise and also provides for safe childcare while adults take a class (tiger style kung fu anyone?).  I’m pretty stoked about the pools as well.  Indoor and outdoor pools for my swimming pleasure.  

Last night we took the tour before we signed up.  I had already researched the facility and was confident we would join, but I still wanted to take the tour.  We had fun.  The kids are already telling us what classes they want to take.  Surprise!  My son wants to take Karate.  Of course that is EXACTLY what a four year old boy needs.  Should be fun to watch.  Then we can match our skills in friendly competition.

You have been studying for some time, young one.  Do you think you are ready to face me?

Venerable father, you will soon see that I have learned much in the art of battle

You would be foolish to think one so young as yourself could best me.  I have great experience and my age has given me wisdom.

Then, father, you would be wise to surrender now before I injure your old bones.

Your speech is brash.  What makes you think your monkey style technique can defeat my tiger style? 

Honorable one, have you not seen the YouTube clip of the chimpanzee tormenting not one but TWO tigers?

Oh.  No, I have not.  It is of little consequence.  Let us battle.  I will teach you a thing or two.

So be it, father.  You will soon see that the student has become a master. 

Or something like that. We’ll see.  I’m just glad to have a place like the YMCA so close to home.