http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/2007688/highlight/14089

See Sarah giving her witness at the Memphis Cursillo Ultreya!!!!

People find it acceptable, and have the audacity, to make very judgmental comments about our family, my wife, or our choice of lifestyle.  Some common examples of what people say:

-         “Don’t you know what causes that?”

-         “So you are done right?

-         “Wow, really trying for that girl aren’t ya?”

-         “She better not get pregnant again!”

I used to respond to the first statement with ‘yeah and we are getting pretty darn good at it’.  This has scandalized many a persons. 

Well I guess I’ve had enough of this.  I once read a study that says Christians are more judgmental than non-Christians.  I’m beginning to agree.  What is most funny is most of these responses come from Catholics!!!!  People who took a vow to be open to life, and who say every Sunday, “Thy Will be done.” 

Normally I just let this stuff go, and I’ve even been an advocate of ignoring such ignorance.  Lately however I am more and more frustrated by it.  It’s sick.  How can a culture that is so much oriented toward protecting the rights of self, be okay with these comments which seek to restrict my “freedom”???? 

I know this post is somewhat of a rant, but I’m upset and I’m tired of being judged by people who claim to believe.  I’m fine being persecuted by heathens who know no better, but I’m sick and tired of Christians who proclaim to desire the Will of God telling me I’m ignorant for following the Will of God. 

I think it’s time I buy some bumper stickers…

’This Car Parks Frequently, I’m Catholic with lots of kids.’

Or maybe…

‘SLEEP NAKED’

Our true selves are only seen when we recognize God’s call on us. In paragraph 30 the CACC says, “Although man can forget God or reject him, He never ceases to call every man to seek him, so as to find life and happiness.”

When we answer God’s call upon us to seek Him, we find life and happiness. An existence void of God is hell, and so becomes our lives when we reject God. The sorrow a well formed soul experiences after sin is that of a rejection of God, or a mini-hell. I firmly believe that despair is a version of hell in our midst because those that despair reject God wholly and don’t understand their meaning or dignity.

Tonight while at my mens group, I was, and continue to be in awe of how God transforms marriages, if we let him. Of the men present, there are many stages of marital bliss. The common theme in our discussion is what is God calling US to…. The Catechism sums it up in the first paragraph… “He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church.”

Tonight I type this to remind us of one particularly important, and glossed over statement in this excerpt from the Catechism. Read it slowly, intently, and let it sink in a second.

“He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men,… scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church.”

We are all called to unity within our family, the Church. This includes the domestic church and the institutional Church. I know that when my wife and I are divided, our domestic church is faltering and functioning at less than 100%.

Too many times men are willing to point out the failings of our institutional Church leaders, organizations, committees, councils, documents, etc… And all too often those same men, self included, fail to recognize the problems inherent in our domestic church.

Read this.. Heb 13:4 – “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

I wonder if we spent more time helping men be positive and Godly husbands, would we spend less time dealing with domestic issues of divorce, abuse, fatherless children, alcoholism, pornography, etc.

A priest once said to me, our wifes are perfect in the eyes of God. I pray that God help me see my wife as He does. Not that I see problems with my wife, or that we have major issues (everybody has issues, some are major some are not), but I desire to love her as He does and to do that I must see her as He does. It’s not about me, it’s about Him.

The bottom line is this. Marriages fail because Men fail. Call it what you will, hate me, disagree, tell me I’m a sexist….whatever, I don’t care. This is the truth. Marriages fail because men fail.

Don’t believe me, ask yourself this…. Whose fault is it that Eve at the apple? Eve’s for being deceived and eating it? Or Adam’s for not putting the .40 to the snakes head when he tried to come into the house. Because I gotta tell ya, a thief and a liar tried to break into my house and he’s not going home in the same condition he came in. God entrusts the protection of Eve to Adam, and he screws it up.

It’s about time we stand up to the plate as men and take our strikes. Thank you to all of you Eve’s for taking up the slack as the spiritual leaders of the house while we were away…but now MAN is coming back. Men are becoming what we were created to be….Men seeking God so as to find life and happiness. It’s all about God.

It’s mans responsibility to lead his family to heaven, it’s about time to read the map, get on the road, and make it happen. Societal issues such as domestic abuse, abandonment, abortion, and crime are all in danger of extinction….because Man is making a comeback…

I have a problem with the iphone.  Not “it” but the way in which “it’s” owners are consumed by it. 

The iphone is I’m sure a great tool but I’m always nervous of things people make great sacrifices to obtain.  There’s an app for this and an app for that, you can get the Bible, daily readings and more.  But I keep recalling the scene in the Batman with Jack Nicholas and Jim Carrey where they make the technology to suck people’s brain power out.  One day we’ll all have iphones and it’ll suck the spirit out of us.  I’m not suggesting that the iphone is evil.  That is not it at all.  It is, again, man kinds reaction to it that concerns me.  Why are we consumed with pieces of technology like this?  What is soo alluring that people have to die during their sale because people cannot calm themselves (ref: news story of guy who died outside Walmart when people were crushing a pregnant lady)? 

I know this all seems like a sad excuse to not like the iphone.  And no I don’t hate Apple, nor do I secretly want an iphone.  On the contrary I think that there are those who have well formed consciences who can own and use iphones to order their life while not worshipping it.  Just like there are recovered alcoholics who can enter a bar without drinking, and maintain their commitment.  I guess the difference is the alcoholic doesn’t sleep with the bottle anymore. 

Consider this… A study was done in 2003 to determine whether success or material purchase caused greater happiness.  The overwhelming result was that experiences were a greater contribution to the overall happiness of a person because they last longer.  Think about it, do you ever have buyer’s remorse?  That is because the experience of considering your purchase brought you greater happiness than the actual purchase and ownership of it.  If we apply this to our society we see this in reality.  Many are not happy with what they could afford; so they leveraged their ability to provide for their family to attain greater material possession, only to cause great heartache on their ability to provide. 

I should clarify and broaden this to say that I condemn any technology and other possessions that people become consumed with.  It’s like an addiction to alcohol.  First an app for this, then an app for that, then over time one becomes consumed.  As Casting Crowns so eloquently puts it, “it’s a slow fade, when you give yourself away, when black and white turns to grey.”  As I sit here typing this I wonder how many Men called to lead their families in faith and be Christ to their wives, are now consumed with technology rather than consumed with the beauty of their wives, or the wonderment of their kids. 

We should be consumers in the economy of Salvation…not investors in the tanking economy of man.  Remember that John calls those who sin, slaves.  We are slaves to the man made impotent solutions to “make life easier”.  When in reality we need to be free men in the Kingdom of God where His burden is light. 

As for those of you with iphones.  I know the comments are coming that I’m overreacting and ridiculous.  Perhaps you are reading this right now on your iphone.  Well, I sincerely hope you see this little piece of metal and plastic as a tool, and not a solution.  But then again, I’m sure there’s an app for that too.  J

 In 2 weeks I have the privilege of being on a Cursillo Team for the Memphis Cursillo Men’s weekend. This is a huge privilege and I am so blessed to be a part. The team is amazing and we continue to pray for those men signed up to come for the weekend. If you don’t know anything about cursillo, let me give you the short run down.

1) Cursillo is a movement within the Church.

2) The movement centers around people living Authentic Catholic lives

3) The method is simple, effective, and life changing.

4) I’m in it, what more could you want.

Going to the Cursillo 3day weekend and living my 4rth Day is one of the best things that I have ever done.

God has used my cursillo to help me grow as a man in Christ, as a husband, as a father, and as a friend. I cannot make a better recommendation than this….my brothers in Christ that I group with on Thursday nights are some of the most Godly men I’ve ever known. No they do not levitate, don’t have TV shows, and they aren’t rich. They are better. They love Christ and are willing to share that love and Christ’s friendship with others. They are the true example of Christian.

Email me or comment on this post if you have questions about Cursillo.

Also, if you have already encountered our Lord in a 3day, or participate in a group reunion, comment on this post and tell us your experiences. I’m going to post soon on how God has used the cursillo to transform my life. Stay tuned.

De Colores