Wow! What A Day!

Where to start?

I'm a guy who can't say "Thank You" enough when it is truly felt.  So thank you to each and every man in attendance.  Your words of encouragement and participation make me so excited for the future of this conference and our faith.

Thank you to Deacon Harold, Jesse Romero, Ken Henderson, Bishop Steiner, His Majesty's Musicians, and the Knights of Columbus.  It's much easier to pull something like this off when you have people like these involved.

A word of gratitude also to a number of men (and women) who helped promote the conference among their parishes, friends and family.  Daniel Cortez, Bob Hutchinson, Rolando Moreno, Paige Taylor, Mark Wagner, Jeremy Young, Daniel Bennett, Rob and Dina-Marie Hale, and George Reis.

I apologize for the low number of priests available to confession.  Truth be told, there were actually twice as much as I had expected!  I think most of you made it through.  Praise be to God!

I also apologize for running out of food towards the end.  This one was actually not my fault.  I'm in the midst of correcting it for next year.

Heavenly Father, bless these men as they continue their formation.  Guide us to other men to support us along our journey.  Let us focus on the cross.  Upon your life, death and resurrection.

Please give me a call if any of you need anything.  (503) 640-3456.

The Home Stretch... Times Two.

Time is running out - in more than one aspect of my life.

As I scramble to tie up loose ends with the 1st Annual Conference, just 10 days away, I am also counting the days until my little boy, Noah, is born.  God willing, he'll hold out until at least the 22nd of the month.

This, as you can imagine, increases the stress I am feeling by a factor of ten.  I find it hard to pray, as I am overwhelmed with preparing, cleaning, washing, taking care of, worrying and other "ing" words.  Just when I need to most, I find it the hardest.

I think if it weren't for those praying FOR me, I'd probably collapse under the weight of it all.

Isn't this the time when I should be stockpiling sleep?  Uh uh.  Not me.  I'm in training camp for the real "Baby Season".  Thank God for His strength, because I have none left.

In the last month, we have had to replace our washer and dryer, lawnmower and dishwasher.  All broke down at the same time.  I have also been involved in a hit-and-run accident (as the victim).  Our old washing machine decided to flood our newly installed tile.

My wife reminds me to keep my eyes on Jesus and not watch the waves.  Good advice.  That's why I married her.

Now she's ready to give birth to our third child.  I guess I shouldn't complain so much.  She has the harder job.

May God bless the conference and our little one.  See you all on the 21st.

Too Good to Be "Real"?

It will come as a surprise to no one that the idea of Real Catholic Ministries (and the associated RCM Conference) has garnered some negative feedback.

Here are just a few of the things:

• The word "Real" alienates those who think of themselves as "less than", and angers those who see the word as an accusation that men who do NOT attend are not "Real".
• "A Call to Arms" is a violent, military reference that will turn off those who are against the war in Iraq.
• Who needs men's spirituality?  It's just like Eucharistic Adoration or belief in the Magisterium - not really necessary. 
  
• Why are you excluding women?

So, as we move forward with this conference, and those to follow, I want to make my intentions clear.

RCM is for men who want to better understand - and follow - their God-given roles within their Church, their family and their society.  These are not arbitrary rules or regulations fabricated by me.  I'm not that smart.  I'm simply following the Church and the God that I profess to believe in.

Here are two questions to ask yourselves:

1. Do you REALLY believe in the Church and the God that you profess to believe in?  And if so, don't you want to follow that Church and God to the best of your ability?
2. If not, whose rules are you following?  Yours?  Do you think you have a better idea than the Church Christ created about what is right and wrong?  (see Genesis - Original Sin)

We as men - and as human beings in general - need to quit thinking that we are God.  We're not.  Our rules and norms don't apply.  

So you think you don't need RCM?  Just call yourself St. (insert name here).  I know I need it.  As a mater of fact, those who think they don't need it, need it as much - if not more - than the rest.  But we ALL need it!

Be honest with yourselves.  Be honest with God.  Your eternal soul hangs in the balance.

In Our Weakness...

This is one that has always been comforting, yet hard to fathom.

In our weakness, He is strongest.  What does this mean - and how can it be.

I guess the secular phrase that comes to mind is, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."  And who is "tougher" than our God?

The other day a friend of mine sent an e-mail that said, "When you feel the devil knocking at your door, just say - 'hey, Jesus, can you get that?'"

Our defenses weaken in times of stress, anger, bitterness, resentment, tiredness.  It's hard to fight the good fight when we have taken blow after blow.

I remember those "Rocky" movies.  Just when he was battered and bloodied, and almost on his knees, that's when he's start whuppin' up on the bad guy.  He somehow found the energy to get off just one more punch.  

We need to find that energy in Christ.  There are so many times - weekly, daily, hourly - when we are about to crumple to the ground... beaten by sin.  Let the Lord lift you up.  Ask Him for help.  It is His energy - His Holy Spirit - that will allow you to fight back.

He will lift you on His shoulders and carry you victorious to His dwelling place.  Rely on Him.  Rely on Him.  RELY on Him.

I've Fallen and I Can Get Up!

I am a lowly sinner.

We all say that to ourselves.  And we all know it is a reality.  But our response to that reality separates a simple man from a Real Man.

A simple man continues to sit on the couch, flipping channels and maybe attending Mass half-heartedly - saying to himself, "Well, I'm just a sinner.  Woe is me.  Guess there's nothing I can do about it."

A Real Man gets off his feeling-sorry-for-himself behind and says, "Yes, I'm a sinner.  But that's not ALL that I am!  I am a child of God, given the Grace of reconciliation and renewal through the power of the Holy Spirit.  I will battle my sinful ways to the death, and - God willing - to everlasting life."

As humans we fail.  We stumble.  We fall.  But do we lay there and moan, or do we get up and move on with The Father before us?

I am as guilty as anyone of wallowing in my sinfulness.  But my wallowing (with the help of God) gets shorter and further between.  I am indeed an new creation in Christ.  I will carry my cross.  When I fall, or am being beaten by the whips of sin, He always has a hand outstretched.

The real question is: Do we reach for it or reject it?

Real Men persevere.  Not on there own, but with help.   Real Men reach for the Hand of The Savior.  

Reach out.  Get up.  Be whole! 

In the Eye of the Beholder

I had the absolute pleasure this past weekend of being able to attend Mass twice on Sunday.

It's been forever since I've been able to attend more that once in a week, let alone on the same day.  Kids and commitments keep me from making this a reality more often.

I also had the pleasure of hearing my wife sing at Mass - which has also been a long time coming. After communion, the choir sang "How Beautiful (is the Body of Christ)."  A song I've heard a number of times.  A song I thought was - to take a word from its title - beautiful.

The song focuses on the "hands that served", the "feet that walked", and even the "heart that bled" before moving on to His "tender eyes".  Now, all these things are wonderful and poignant. There is no doubt about that. but I was touched in a different way.

My research leads me to surmise that the song's writer, Twila Paris, is a Protestant or non-denominational Christian.  Which is fine, but that leads me to my point.

As I was kneeling after communion and looking up at the Pieta and the crucifix, I had a different take on how beautiful the body of Christ is.  While Ms. Paris barely touches on His "heart that bled", we glorify it... and the rest of Him.  Not in a grotesque or morbid way, but recognizing the beauty of His sacrifice.  His "most precious Body and Blood", we call it. 

That is why we have crucifixes (or, at least should) in our churches, where as other denominations have sunsets or flowers or large projection screens or rock bands.

Our salvation sings the glory of every stripe on Our Lords back.  Every puncture from the crown of thorns.  Every groan from His lungs.  His pierced hands, feet and side.

How beautiful - indeed - is the Body of Christ.

Donald Duck Endorses Goofy for President

This morning's headline: Bruce Springsteen Endorses Barack Obama.

So what?

I don't understand why anyone with a lick of sense would care at all what an entertainer thinks about the political candidates.  As a matter of fact, I am more inclined to vote AGAINST the candidate who gets the most "Hollywood" endorsements.

Guess what, Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers is backing McCain!  Whoo hoo!

How silly does that sound?  Or is Springsteen more "valid" because he appears to be socially aware?  How about Madonna?  Or Hulk Hogan?  Or even Batman?

How sad it is that our morals, ethics, opinions and political alliances are swayed by simple entertainment.  The all powerful "MEDIA" that we hear so much about.

How funny it is that we Catholics are called "mindless sheep" when we follow the teachings of the Church.  I am proud to be a sheep.  My leader is the Good Shepherd.  I know His voice when He calls.

They follow someone who calls himself "The Boss".  But we follow the King of Kings.  The Risen Lord.

They go down Thunder Road.  We are on the highway to heaven.

Praise God for a mind and heart lead by faith and not by the culture of "Now".