I have to be honest.

Never in my life, ever, have I felt as judged by someone as I do right now.

Okay, the basic story is that my wife and I considered a decision to which they disagree with. Without the details it is hard for you to understand, but the important part is, (1) our decision and (2) they disagree.

One other notable item is that they disagree with the “decision” to do something of which we did not do, only considered doing. There has been no action on the item to date, and I’m not sure there will be. So they are basing our friendship on a decision that we, thought about, but didn’t act upon as of yet.

Here is my point (get to it already).

What are friendships for? Why do you make friends?

As my friends disagreed with our decision they made some statements about us hurting them in our decision, which ultimately does not affect them. The reality is that this potential decision has to do with my wife and I, and no one else.

How do you respond when a friend considers a decision you disagree with? Do you go to them and ask why, or try to understand, or do you respond in a non-loving and righteous manner?

In the Cursillo movement there is a great saying: “Make a Friend, Be a Friend, Bring a Friend to Christ.” This, in my opinion provides the framework for which to seek friendships as Christians. And while I think this is a wonderful framework, I have a caution.

When you seek friendship, do not do so with any expectation that the friend will change their ways and make decisions like you. Or that you will convert them. Or that they will be your project to change. Because on the other end of things, that is how I feel right now. I am the broken result of someone’s project. This is beyond unacceptable. It is ridiculous.

Brothers, today I challenge you to consider your friendships. What is the core of these relationships? Is it simply the pursuit of Christ? Of have you friends that “you” want to change? Christ accepts every person where they are. And fortunately for mankind, only God can change a heart. Only God’s spirit can convert. Our job is not to do this work, but to let God reign in our lives and through this example, God will work in others.

As we move forward in preparation for Easter, let us take time to pray for friends and reflect on the true friendship that Christ calls us to. Let’s pray.
Lord, thank you for this time of preparation. We ask that You increase in us a love for others that overcomes all evil. We ask that you fill us with Your spirit that we may live Off Brand lives as examples to the world. Amen.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

I’m amazed! This morning Paul Harvey during his daily radio address that none of the Presidential candidates, fighting for the highest ranking administrative role in the world, have any administrative experience. He said, “None have ever balanced a corporate budget.” First, let’s have a moment of silence for truth in the media. Then let’s all shout a resounding YES from the rooftops. Thank you Mr. Harvey!!!

When will we wake up and start taking the political process seriously? Most Americans will vote for who they think looks the best. Or who makes them feel good. When a voter says “I think they will do the best job,” they don’t even know what that means!!! How can you judge someone’s ability to do the best job when we (1) don’t know what the job is, 30% and (2) don’t know what this persons real skills, experience, and beliefs are (70$).

The only way to judge a candidates skill, experience and issue appetite is (1) through the media, and they always tell the truth [gag], (2) through their speeches and interviews in which they say not what they believe, but what their analysts think voters want to hear, and (3) through their website and political mechanism which, pardon me, is the most bias “for” them.

So then, my Off Brand friends, how can we vote? We have to seek information the old fashion way. They way I learned to write a research paper in school. Hit the facts, and decide based on them.

But Bob, you just said we didn’t know the facts, that we only know what the media tells us?????? That is still correct. I’m not talking about the facts of the candidates. What I want to know is: What are the facts of Truth from God?

(1) Man is created with dignity in the image of God
(2) There is only 1 truth
(3) We are called to serve the poor, needy, and underprivileged FIRST
(4) Life is Holy and should be protected. Pro-choice = death, there is no choice in the matter.
(5) The President is still just a man with pretend power. Like Tonka trucks pretend. Our Lord instituted the Church and the Pope to lead the people. Let’s start by following Christ and His Church, and then we can begin to understand the role of political leaders.

So what do we do? We vote because it is our Christian call and democratic duty. We live with the consequences socially of an incompetent president. And none of it matters to us.

Because behind it all, waiting for us in church every day, is a God who makes himself 100% fragile….for us. Jesus Christ, the God of the Universe, comes to us under the appearance of a fragile, simple, plain, piece of bread. What looks like nothing, is Everything.

What is the Off Brand lesson in all of this garble? Imagine a world in which the billons of dollars spent on this election, were used to feed the poor, needy, and less fortunate. And not around the world, just in the US.

Imagine if what consumed the American people was the Love of God, not the fight between candidates.

St. Francis said to “preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary use words.” How powerful a message is it to the world when the citizens of the United States put aside man made power, to love one another?

Imagine when we stop traveling around the world to evangelize, and start evangelizing the person who sits next to us each and every Sunday; and those within our own home.

That is power.
That is true love.
That is off brand.
That is Christian.

St. Joseph, pray for us.