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.

As it says in Is 5:20-21

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!

At work I joke of having a list of ‘unapproved public discussion topics’ as in the past I have not considered the cultural affects of a politically correct society and have spoken out of desire to share what I knew, rather than out of love for another.  As I have personally matured in faith and in life I have come to understand that while I cannot keep quiet while others make false statements, incite false perception, or simply speak from ignorance…there is a time and a place for such discussion.  But that discussion Must happen.

How can we sit back and allow ourselves to be convinced by the world that Truth is relative.  Truth is constant.  There is but one.  Some, actually, many would compromise Truth to fit in, to be accepted, to not make waves.  I have trouble doing that…my conscience doesn’t allow it.  As I have learned however, these conscientious moments must derive from the common pursuit of Love, not justice.

You see, often in my past I objected or spoke out on the basis of seeking justice.  Justice relates in definition to the “principle of moral rightness”.  It cannot be the end, nor the means.  Justice is something to be left to God.  Proverbs 16:11 states:

A just balance and scales belong to the LORD;
All the weights of the bag are His concern.

We need to speak out against injustice, but not for justice sake.  Our motivation is greater.  Our goal carries more weight than human justice.  Just as the Apostles spoke the Truth and were persecuted, so will those who speak Truth today.  We read in Acts 5:17-21 (emphasis added)

But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.  They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.  But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought.

The angel of the Lord told the Apostles to continue speaking despite their persecution.  These men preached the Truth and were killed and/or abandoned by society for it.  Yet they still spoke of Jesus Christ to all they met.  That is faith.  That is a faith I wish I had.

I know that when I have the courage to speak the Truth it comes easily and God carries the load.

For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. – MT 10:20

If we just have faith, and say “yes” as Mary did, trusting that God will carry the weight then we can change the world.  Truth can be known by all and Christ can be advanced in the hearts of men.

Back to the issue however…we must do so out of love.

I get a lot of static from friends and family over my political and societal views.  I am not a member of any political parties because I see them all as evil.  I do not think it is okay to call ‘President” Obama, “Mr.” Obama no matter how much I disagree with him.  I’m not a fan of war, government healthcare, and many other things.  I do not subscribe to shock journalism and dislike Rush as much as Stern.  I love all men and would never desire to hurt anyone ‘and’ I do own guns for sport and defense if needed.  I believe strongly that our society is hampered by the lack of human elements.

Man cannot hunt, gather, and provide as we once did.  Women cannot nurture, teach, and care as they once did.

Rather we are stuck in a hypocritical society that fears rejection.  I can’t state my religious or political beliefs freely because what if someone is offended?  Oh my gosh!  How could we let that happen!  This is problematic.

Answer me this….Whom is more harmed, the one who hears someone else’s viewpoint, or the one restricted from sharing it.  One is protected in the Bill of Rights, the other is not.  Yet we constantly fight to keep our freedom against those who would take it.

—now Bob, you are mixing politics and religion and that is not good.

Wrong again in my opine.  Modern politics are simply copies of previous political structures which included the religious leaders within their structure such as the Jewish people, Egyptian society, Medieval European culture, and others.

The “inalienable” rights we find so valuable in our constitution were not created or dreamed up by the architects of our country.  They were God given freedoms desired by those who founded our country…so they built them into the structure.  There are TRUTHS found in the Bible.

And yes, while those who founded our country had their faults just as we all do…the Truths they laid out have not changed.  They are still God given freedoms to all who roam this land.

So…where do we go?  How do we handle this quandary?  Can I be a political activist, and a Christian?  Sure, why not!  Jesus was!

I look at it like this.  We cannot afford to not talk about the important issues.

About ten years ago a friend of mine from school committed suicide.  He was a good guy, someone who deserved more in life.  I was not a good person during the time we knew each other.  After going to college and some time later becoming a Christian, I thought multiple times about contacting him and sharing the Good News that I had come to know.  A few months later a friend told me he committed suicide.  No one could find me to tell me and so I also missed the funeral.  This story isn’t really about me, I still pray for my friend and ask God to receive him home…  But there is always in the back of ones mind…”what if”.

I will do everything I can to not have “what ifs” in my life.  Whether it is an issue of getting into heaven, being a good husband, parenting, life issues, health, or how we treat others…I will have dialog with friends on these topics.  I will point out areas where I think someone might be in danger.  And I pray my friends have the courage to do the same for me.

Truth does not change.  We will be persecuted when we speak it.  We will be attacked by the devil, who is as real as you and I.  As Jesus Christ tells us through John

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. – John 10:10

I pray that we all seek to have life abundantly by destroying political correctness and fear.  Tear down the walls that prevent us from loving one another as Christ calls us to.  Yes, I’m a sinner and I need the help of the Christian community to grow in holiness and the likeness of God…and so do you.  Receive the words of a friend with care, and offer them with even greater care.  In doing so God will use you to show His love and His justice will be done.

God bless.

We live today in a world of comfort.  You may disagree…perhaps you will tell me of the number of people suffering from hunger, poverty, and the like.  And you are correct, a portion of the world suffers, but overall we are an ungrateful glutton bunch.  Look around, note the number of things people own…the amount of wasted food at any restaurant or house…the amount of apathy among men. 

Last night while in Adoration I read this:

And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?” But Satan answered the LORD and said, “Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land. But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face.”  - Job 1:8-11

While Job had everything he praised the Lord who is worthy to be praised.  Satan argued that Job is of course an upright servant of the Lord, for God has allowed him to have many possessions and a wonderful family.  The Lord hath looked with favor on Job.

So the Lord, knowing the strength of Job’s faith allowed Satan to test him.  In the first trial all of Job’s livestock is stolen and all of his seven children are killed on the same day at the same time.  Job, being the upright and fitting servant of the Lord responds by saying this…

Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair. He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said, “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!” In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God. – Job 1:20-22

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!  Are you kidding me!  Job praises God on the very day when his livelihood is taken from him!  And on the same day in which his children are killed!  Are you kidding me!!

See if you can follow me on this.  The U.S. is the richest country in the history of the world, we all have houses, cars, refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, Costco, Wal-Mart, Target, Guitar Center, Lehboner Children’s Hospital, St. Jude, and on and on and on.  People born in the U.S. are the luckiest people on the planet because no matter your race, in the U.S. you have more opportunity to survive then anywhere else. 

We have all of this, and yet we are not upright and worthy servants of the Lord.  You tell me how many people here truly, honestly, when attacked by Satin say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord!”  Rather people respond “God why have you forsaken me!” 

America…you are weak.  We call ourselves a Christian nation and then we live and act like pagans. 

Christ tells us in the Gospel of Matthew (7:21) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

I wish to be like Job.  I wish to honor the Lord with all of my being every day, despite the weather, or my house, my car, my groceries, my friends, my family.  I wish to be like Job more today than ever before in my life.  Bring it on Satan…you haven’t met a man more focused on Praising the Lord.  I will not be stopped because I do not walk under my own power but only by the Grace of God go I. 

Please don’t mistake this as a woe to us post.  I am writing this more as a join me, let’s change the world, let’s make Christians Christian again.  We know that Christ has the victory!  This time will pass and He shall reign again in the hearts of all men.  Let us answer God’s call to carry our crosses, not count the cost of our labor, accept a fair daily wage, and Love unceasingly.  That maybe we could answer the Lord as Job does…

Then Job answered the LORD and said: I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes. – Job 42:1-6

 I wish not to understand what God calls me to, but to have the Grace to say Yes and do it.  I pray that we all have this Grace and that, like Mary, we respond “Let it be done to me according to THY word.”

God bless you today and deliver you from all evil…because Satan isn’t done working, so neither should we be.

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.

I’ve been inconsistently doing the Liturgy of the Hours. I am currently on day 1, going into day 2 of a Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the Cursillo weekend next week. I do have a daily prayer to God for those on my prayer list. But in all reality these are little things. If God is so important, and so valuable to my being…shouldn’t there be more?

I know some are thinking…well you are always “doing” church things and those can be prayer. Yes…but no. I still need, we all still need, personal time with Him who is King. It is the same as when my wife and I are both busy and we look at each other after a couple weeks of doing (like housework, kids, work, events, etc.) and realize our relationship has suffered because we haven’t had time to just “be” together. You know, like sit in the same room, perhaps on the same couch, without distraction or something we must accomplish. This “us” time is critical. It is what makes us “us”. It’s the marriage part. The intimacy part.

Yes, sorry men, marriage isn’t all about sex. And us Catholics do have that part down. So let’s focus on the other part…actually speaking to our wives.

Okay sorry, I’m back… Soap box is put away for now.

Anyway, the God relationship thing. Without some personal time, just He and me, my relationship with Him suffers. Ask yourself, outside of Mass, when do you spend time with Jesus? Either in Adoration, personal prayer, silence, etc.

From 12am (Friday) to 1am I have Adoration at St. Louis. I’m going to simply “be” with God. I will behold Him, the King of the Universe and instead of taking books and books, and Rosary’s, and other such stuff….I’m going to simply Behold Him for a while. I’ll have my journal and write, but mostly I just want to “be”. I want to sit on the couch with God in silence. Words aren’t necessary, and sometimes they are a distraction. He knows my heart. He knows my words. I need to SEE Him more.

I hope you have the opportunity to spend some you time with God. Put away the books, the phone, the ipod, the distractions….and just “Be.”. You’ll be surprised at how present He is, when we pay attention.