I get annoyed with the zany new years parties and resolutions. It is like people mark the new year by pretending to want to improve, but in reality nothing changes. I know that health club memberships increase in January. I wonder what the actual rate of people who use them past January is…

In the past I have subscribed to the insanity myself and have even proclaimed 2012 as the “year of the foot” and am determined to run the St. Jude Half Marathon in December 2012. And yet, throughout this Advent and no Christmas season I have not run, nor completed a workout in preparation for my (deep voice with lots of commitment) Da Da Da DA “Year of the Foot”. So, am I really committed? Or am I too like the rest of humanity, only pretending to want to be better but actually comfortable in my apathy.

A couple of years ago I was telling my spiritual director that I just needed to get through the month and then everything would be okay. Financially, time management, work load, family responsibilities, and everything else was simply overwhelming me and I needed to get this one month over with. He looked at me and said, “explain to me what changes on the 1st day of next month.” I was stumped. My job was still there with lots of work to do. My wife would still need me to care for her and our children would still need a father. My relationship with God would still need time. My house and cars would need maintenance. And the number of hours in the day did not dramatically increase with the emergence of a new month. So…what changed?

This meeting with my spiritual director set in motion a dramatic change of events never before seen in human history, or at least Bob history which is slightly less lengthy but much more enjoyable…at least to me. I changed. I changed my priorities. Ultimately it is this conversation that would lead me to resign from my part-time job as Youth Minister, re-focus my relationship with my wife and children, and place my live in proper order. The reality is everything changed the next month, and yet nothing changed.

What is funny is that I started to write this post to discuss the Catholic New Year being the 1st Sunday of Advent. Apparently, what I really wanted to write about was change. Whether you decide to set a deadline of Jan 1, or the 1st Sunday of Advent, or any other day, the important thing is not what day nor what goal but rather what change do you want.

Recently i went to a management training conference. A high level manager commented that in any personal development plan you have to “own it” for change to occur. I think many times we Christians say we want to be like Christ because that is the right thing to do. But to you really own that goal? Or is it God’s goal for you? Between the two is a great difference. God wants you to join Him for eternity in heaven. God wants you to be a holy and blameless example for others. God wants you to love as He does. But do you? Change only occurs in you if you want it.

This New Years Eve, rather than drink away the last year and celebrate the beginning of another month in which everything changes if we could just make it, let’s own the true reality of our situations and honestly desire change. I will run the half marathon in December 2012 and I want to be held accountable to it. Putting it in writing here is terrifying because I know that my friends will hold me accountable…(that is if my friends actually read this, which is unlikely since they never listen to me anyway….). At least I know my wife will…I hope.

I pray that you make resolutions/goals that keep in mind your reality. Ask God to show you how He sees you, then work toward seeing yourself in the same way. Now there is change to be aspired to. Own yourself, no one else will.

Happy New Year.

In the history of the world there are great societies ruled by empirical governments headed by an emperor (yes I know it’s simple right.).  Today we have governments of many forms, and few empirical societies remain.

I have often stated that I believe the United States to be a cultural empire ruling the world’s societies.  It is not hard to imagine.  Our music, clothing, political ideology, material desires, opportunities, etc. are coveted by the world over.  Our citizens are the most sought after servants of any empire.  Simply watch the television for an hour and see how much the world wants you…you to own this kind of car, and that pair of pants, to lust after this, and covet that.  Watch a football game and see how beer manufacturers quite literally transform your life into one of a soft porn star instantly.  You too can hang out with these women right!?

The title of this blog simply points to this ideology.  We, not the world, but “We” or more importantly “I” rule this empire.  I am the king.  I am the God.  My opinion, my desires, my lusts, my images are what drives this society.  “I” of course being the individual.

This blog, chronicles my journey toward destroying this empire.  The empire of Me.

Many Christian faiths teach these days that man is nothing but dung and God’s Grace covers us with a white sheet to make us beautiful.  Yet at the core we are still dung.

I believe that humans are created by God as Holy.  Originally in the Garden of Eden when man was created God saw him to be good.  Man is not dung!  We have covered ourselves in sin, but at the core we are good.  We are created in likeness to God and He Is Holy!

By destroying the empire of myself, I tear away the sin and desires for things not of God…so that only His likeness remains.

We all “rule” our own little world we call reality.  I invite you to de-throne yourself and allow Christ the King to reign supreme in your empire.  Let your empire be a sovereign nation in the Kingdom of God…rather than an island ruled by the blind.

Imagine, someone grows up and forgets who they are…..  Not so hard to think of is it.  In today’s world we have people of all ages forgetting who they are.  People focused on success, wealth, sex, possessions, importance, fame, etc.  We work so hard to become who we think we need to be, that we forget who we are. 

Peter Pan in this movie, played by Robin Williams, stayed in the real world to get married and become a dad.  He left Never Never Land and forgot all about who he was.  I think the greatest scene is when he begins to remember who he is and use his imagination, which allows him to see dinner…which moments previous was empty serving trays and plates…but now reveals a feast of great proportion.  Peter is re-learning how to be The Pan. 

Another scene is when Peter finds his happy thought, which allows him to fly.  He can fly, he can fight, he can crow.  He has reclaimed his identity and is again, The Pan.

So who are we?  Who am I?  Am I Peter Pan?  Could it be?  Well, in some ways…yes. 

Remember these:

V. Do you reject Satan?
R. I do.
V. And all his works?
R. I do.
V. And all his empty promises?
R. I do.
V. Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
R. I do.

V. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father?
R. I do.

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
R. I do.

V. God, the all-powerful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and forgiven all our sins. May he also keep us faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ for ever and ever.

R. Amen.

In these we find our identity.  In these simple questions we find who we are, what we believe, and where we are going.

You see I visit Never Never Land frequently so I don’t forget who I am.  I go to Church and attend Mass.  Kneeling there I face Jesus Christ…the ultimate Pan. 

He can fly, He can fight, and oh yes, He can crow. 

I want to remember how it felt when I was Confirmed.  How it felt when I received Christ in the Eucharist for the first time.  How it felt when I said “I do” and received the Grace to be a husband.  I recall these feelings and Graces when I behold Christ in the Eucharist and when I receive.  Going to Mass for me is like standing before the great table of the Lost Boys and seeing all over again the feast laid out for me. 

Christ prepares a banquet table for all of us…the key is seeing through to the supernatural reality of God and not seeing empty vessels of man made bread and wine, but seeing the fullness of life in the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ.

I pray I never grow up.  I don’t ever want to leave Never Never Land and forget who I am…A child of God.  I pray the same for you.

Tonight, tomorrow, or whenever you read this…I pray you also experience the feast of Christ laid out for you.  I pray you remember that you are Peter Pan and you too can fly… can fight… and Errr-uh-errr-uh-errrrrrrrr!!!!

God bless.

“Do I really Glorify God?”

What does that mean exactly?  To “glorify”? 

Well Mr. Webster says this:

 Taken from: www.webster.com  (content edited)

Main Entry: glo·ri·fy 

1. a : to make glorious by bestowing honor, praise, or admiration

   b : to elevate to celestial glory

2 : to light up brilliantly

3 : to represent as glorious : extol

4 : to give glory to (as in worship)

Read those definitions closely.  Very closely.

Do you bestow honor, praise, or admiration on God?  Do you light Him up brilliantly? 

Do you represent Him as glorious? 

That one hurts.  This is where I cried enough!  Honestly, when you say to someone that you are a Christian, do you then represent Him as GLORIOUS!  Consistently?

1 Cor 6:20 says, “For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.” 

I can do that.  I am modest, have worked really hard to respect the dignity of others.  Have rooted out and continue to root out any objectification of others from my mind and heart.  I am not perfect, but I think I do this pretty okay.

But then I read this…

O LORD, you are my God, I will extol you and praise your name; For you have fulfilled your wonderful plans of old, faithful and true. For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; The castle of the insolent is a city no more, nor ever to be rebuilt. Therefore a strong people will honor you, fierce nations will fear you. For you are a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in distress; Shelter from the rain, shade from the heat. As with the cold rain, as with the desert heat, even so you quell the uproar of the wanton.   Is 25:1-5

What gets me is verse 3. “Therefore a strong people will honor you…”

Am I strong people?  Are you?  Are we? Check out what Paul writes to the Romans in 15:5-7

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.

I don’t know about you, but that describes a place I desire to be.  A Church.  Not a brick and mortar place, but a people “set apart” for one purpose.  TO GLORIFY!  For me, bringing God glory has been about learning to Love.  I have and continue to learn not judge or berate or belittle; but instead to love, to commend, and to build up. 

Yesterday on the plane back from MI I sat next to a lady who is searching.  She is married, her husband sat across the isle with their 2 beautiful kids.  They live an average American life.  But something is missing.  We talked and she lit up as I shared my conversion story with her and talked about faith.  She took notes when I said things like “persistence is what sets apart the successful from the not”.  (The Saints were persistent.  Think about it. I have another post on this coming soon).  All in all, this was an amazing conversation, one divinely scheduled by the Master Carpenter.

The beautiful thing is that after we parted off the plane I thought I missed an opportunity.  We shared a great conversation; her husband is the one that really needs to learn that he is loved by God.  And I didn’t seek him out to tell him or to talk with him.  And as I began to tell God I was sorry I didn’t do everything in my power to Love this man….there he was, standing in front of me waiting for his wife.  Now keep in mind I went to the restroom, and took my time wandering because I knew it would take a while for the luggage to be unloaded, etc.  This is an airport, there are hundreds of people.  How is it that I almost run into the one person I so desperately wanted to Love.

So, I stopped, stunned for a moment, and then as if I knew what I supposed to do, I handed him my book and said, “Here, God wants you to read this.  I think you will enjoy it.”  He said thank you.  And I went on my way.  Almost to the sound track of some chick flick with a happy ending.  The whole thing was surreal.

What does this have to do with glorifying God?  Well, honestly, everything.  The book has nothing to do with it, nor does the circumstance.  To me, I repented and He saw fit to give me a chance to say Yes again.  That is glorifying God. 

Repenting and saying yes Lord.

It IS that simple.

Take some time to review the definitions of Glorify and see if you fit.  If not, perhaps it’s time to take stock in who God is, and who you are called to be.  Here is a simply examination to help.

-          Do I bring praise, honor, and admiration to God?

-          Do I elevate my soul to the supernatural in prayer and attention to the Holy Spirit daily?

-          Do I allow Christ to light up my life “brilliantly”?

-          Do I, in my words and actions, represent God as glorious?

-          Do I give God glory in worship often?

If you answered no to any of these, then you are like the rest of us….human.  God writes in Is 43:4, “Because you are precious in my eyes and glorious, and because I love you…”  Do not be discouraged by imperfection, rather be hopeful.  If you recognize that you are imperfect then you are willing and open to receive the Grace from He who Is perfect.  There is no such thing as imperfect Grace.  Every time we pray we become more like Him, and that is enough. 

Tonight I pray that I will glorify God with all my being.  I pray for you the same.  I am blessed to be in Church with others and to see Him in them.  I leave you with this.

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” – MT 5:16

PS: I should note, the book was “Be A Man” by Fr. Larry Richards.

I haven’t posted much in a while. Seems as though life has just taken me by surprise and I reacted rather than pro-acted. Well that is over.

Funny how there are times in life when we just need a break. Our life has dramatically changed over the last two years and in the end I just needed a little time to…not… If you have never had any “not” time, I suggest it.

Well, where do we go from here? You may be surprised.

I am engaging in a journey that I know will change my relationship with God. This will increase my charity, compassion, faith, understanding, and hopefully…love. I am beginning the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.

Some might think I am nuts. Others of you perhaps have no idea what I am talking about.

First, I am not going to do the exercises in the same manner as one entering the Jesuit order. I am going to leisurely work my way through them. The goal is spiritual progress, not levitation.

For those that have no idea what I’m talking about, check out this: Spiritual Exercises

Sooo, I am going to document my journey here, and I will be back on track writing about the daily experiences of Grace like normal.

So, this is the “I’m back” post. Coming soon: more on my journey, and more usual Bob stuff about faith and life.

Later.