Must Have Done Something Right

"We should get jerseys
Cause we make a good team
But yours would look better than mine
Cause you're out of my league"

Must Have Done Something Right - Relient K

Funny, and oddly touching, power-poppy teen romance tune,
with opening lyrics I wish I woulda wrote.
Who says Christians can't write "silly love songs" too (O:

Also thought the video went well with Friday the 13th

Check out the Brian Wilson nod in the middle.

Maybe Puck?

At Mass this morning, I banged my knee when getting up from kneeling in prayer, with seconds before my prayer being that God would teach me to offer up my sufferings and pain.

Me thinks my Guardian Angel might be part Imp . . . but would you expect anything less for me ? (O:

Diary of an Old Soul

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"O Christ, my life, possess me utterly.
Take me and make a little Christ of me.
If I am anything but thy father's son,
'Tis something not yet from the darkness won.
Oh, give me light to live with open eyes.
Oh, give me life to hope above all skies."
George Macdonald (1824-1905)

A Hard Days Rut .

As the Fab blogger extraordinaire, Dawn Eden, is known to post classic pop, I figured it was time for the apprentice to step up. The Rutles should have been bigger than the Beatles, if only they would have actually existed (O:

Teenage Fanclub also covered this non-tune on a b-side, a few years ago.

The Gospel according to Sinead ?

Our favorite, slightly less than intelligent, Irish bald lassie, Sinead O'Connor has a new album "Theology". Most of the lyrics are said to be born of the Old Testament, but from this interview in Christianity Today, it seems she hasn't actually gleaned much from her readings.

I was so hopeful going into the CT article, that she had finally seen the Light, but it sadly seems she still prefers her own foggy opinions, than actually seeking out the Truth. I couldn't help but wonder if we perhaps have a different Bible, especially when she ponders "We expect God to be perfect, but if we're made in God's image, then perhaps God isn't perfect". Um, Ms. O'Connor, did ya happen to read that verse in Matthew 5 , where Jesus states " . . .as your heavenly Father is perfect"?

Anyhoo, I will most likely buy the disc when it ends up in the dollar bin (if only for the Jesus Christ Superstar cover of "I Don't Know How to Love Him") , and will post about it at that time. Until then, I'll just keep praying for that silly clean shaven Celt, and I hope y'all will do the same.
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The Advances from Retreat

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,

who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, "My refuge and fortress,
my God in whom I trust."
Psalm 91

So, where am I? well the answer is found above, but if yer wondering if I know my true vocation after this past weekend, the answer is "no".

I did learn a lot to help me in my discerning process, as well tools to help me grow in my relationship with my Lord. I also was reminded of how God is the great unifier, as the wonderful group of men I spent last weekend, were all very different from each other, with the only clear common factor being our mutual love for the One who loved us first. Learning also, that I could easily see myself working along side any of these fine servants, all the rest of my days.

This was my first retreat, and I completely admit that I did not want to go, as I was so scared of the answer I might receive over the weekend. I still struggle with my own desires of wife and family, over my truest, purest desire, to serve my loving Father the best way I can, and more to the point, to serve in the way He designed me to.

I actually had very little peace the first day, as I realized that I was being overly pious in how I related to God, especially by leaving out my own goals and dreams. I forgot how much He loves me, and how His desire for me is really the same as mine . . .that I serve Him, in whatever vocation, with all my heart. When I finally said "Lord I want to serve you, but I so miss having a hand to hold ", instead of a feeling of condemnation for my selfish desires, I felt my Brother Jesus' presence, and His hand in mine.

I not only pondered my relationship with my King, but also my relationships with people. I realized that I am a great, super romantic, boyfriend; but how does that translate to a solid virtuous husband. Husband or priest, I know that I am called to lay down my life for whoever I marry, to put the other first in all things. With God, that's a little easier, as I totally trust His will and His motives; where with another person, motives can change as easily as moods, and make as little sense. After last years engagement disaster, I must admit that trusting another person ain't the easiest thing, but also the very thing I need to correct in my thinking if I am to truly serve God the best I can.

"Holy Indifference" was the phrase that stuck out over the weekend. For me to cast all my cares on God, and to "completely" resign myself to His plan; to know that like Aslan, God's will may not be tame, but oh "it is Good!".

Please Keep praying for me, and all the men in the photo, that we will all surrender ourselves to the will of the Father, and continue to love and serve, in whatever way He has chosen.

"Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress. '
In you, my God, I place my trust.

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A Few Good Men . . .and me

The last few days I have been on a vocation retreat with these mugs above. I will talk later about my own personal experience, but for now I just wanted to say how honored I was to spend the weekend with this awesome group of men. I can honestly say I saw Jesus in each one of these guys.

All of my brothers above, except Msgr. Panke of course, are currently trying to discern how they can best serve their King (three are to enter the seminary in the Fall), and I think I speak for all when I ask you to say a prayer for each of us, that we continue to seek, and respond, to the love and the call God has for us.
Thanks and God bless!
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Happy Fourth, and Happy B'day to my Pop !

Allstars from my doodles page

Happy Birthday to my favorite Country

and to my favorite Dad!
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Song in My Head - Sherwood

Appropriately named song, as it doesn't wanna leave my noggin'. Sherwood started as just another talented bunch of pop punksters, but have evolved into a brilliant power pop band. Lyrics aren't exactly preaching the Gospel, but this wacky group of Christians writes honest, heartfelt tunes, and I personally can't wait to see 'em at the Purple Door Fest in August.

You can download there tune "The Only Song" at their myspace page, and be sure to check out their take on the Full House theme.
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God in a bumper sticker

As I am of a rather humble (ie. trailer park) background, God has to speak to me in slightly more simple ways than a burning bush or an ever present cloud.
Last night while trying to decide if I should work on my monkish muscles, or take my prayer walk before dark, I spy one of the ugliest vehicles ever made driving by my house. On the back of this yellow Detroit monstrosity was a "Pray the Rosary" bumper sticker.

O.K., so I went for a prayer walk, and I guess I'll leave the muscle building to Deacon Payne (O:
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In this Tent . .

"For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened,
because we do not wish to be unclothed
but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose
and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident
and know that as long as we are at home in the body
we are away from the Lord.
We live by faith, not by sight."
2 Corinthians 5:4-7

Hello Muddah, don't believe in Faddah

"All the counselors hate the waiters
And the lake has alligators
And the head coach wants no sissies
So he reads to us from something
called Ulysses"

Interesting Summer Camps, ya might not want to send yer kids to, in a blog entry over at CT, dealing with atheist Summer camps. It is an interesting article, but forgets to remind us to pray for the little tykes and their misguided parents.

I would be interested in seeing a Jesus Camp type film on this, and other ways, atheists proselytize to young kids. Also hoping CT, as well as other Christian family groups are preparing for Hollywood's latest attack on children, "the Golden Compass", from the first book in Philip Pullman's anti-Christian young adult series "Dark Materials".
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Phelps: knowledge

    "A knowledge of the Bible without a college course is more
valuable than a college course without a knowledge of the
Bible." William Lyon Phelps

Godspeed - Anberlin

Hey, Hey!
As I have about 8-9 hours of driving today, I have picked this as my first tune on my trip.
Ya better be safe, and stay off the highways this Sunday (O:

Seriously, please say a prayer for me, my CRV, and my frightened travel companion.

Not what we meant by "on fire for God"

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After their performance at this years Creation Festival East, Relient K left the Agape Farm heading to Bushnell, IL for Cornerstone but were rudely awoken at 3:20am by flames due to an engine eruption. Matt Thiesson, alone, lost $7,000 worth of belongings and a laptop with over 100 unfinished songs. Thiesson said "“It’s funny to be onstage playing for 75,000 people having a great time, at the height of your element, then hours later standing outside by a burning bus with no shoes on, feeling basically like a refugee.”
Check here for more on this story.

Yer monkster is thankful that everyone is O.K., and hope all of you out there might say a prayer for these guys (who coulda been in a nice big new bus, paid for by a big record label, if they'd only stopping talkin' about that Jesus guy).
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