No Ordinary Dream

Have you ever had a dream about a love one who has already passed away? Maybe even someone who’s passed away a long time ago? I think probably most people have, whether it’s one time, or even on a regular basis. Someone told me a while back that that’s how our loved ones who’ve passed away visit us, through our dreams. I used to think that was kind of silly. But the more I thought about it, the more I kind of liked the idea, even if it wasn’t true.

Which Way Should I Go?

I recently saw a picture and as I looked at it, it immediately struck a thought in my mind. It was a picture of a path which splits off into two separate paths. It reminded me of the expression, “the crossroads in life”, which we all know happens in our lives occasionally. Those times when we must choose which path to take, which course of action, which way to go.

We are all faced with those decisions at one point or another. Hopefully when we are faced with these decisions, especially the bigger ones, we do what we are supposed to do.

Good Friday

Source: bibleartists.wordpress.com

Today I'm writing this on Good Friday and I’m reminded of Jesus’ words on the cross, “It Is finished” (John 19: 30). Those 3 words are probably the most powerful words he ever spoke during his time here on Earth.


I believe what Jesus was saying to us is this. “While my time on Earth as a man is finished, I’m really just getting started.”  Getting started with what? He’s telling us that these are the things he just getting started:

• Getting started with a plan for salvation
• Getting started with showing what it means to be human and the need for suffering
• Getting started with a lifetime of forgiveness for all of our sins
• Getting started with showing us how to forgive others
• Getting started with showing us an unending mercy
• Getting started with showing us the way home
• Getting started healing the brokenness inside of us
• Getting started leading us to others who don’t know who he even is
• Getting started teaching us what it truly means to follow him
• Getting started showing us what was behind the veil that was torn in two when he died on the cross!

The Shack - A Catholic View

I want to share some thoughts with you on a book that’s been out for quite some time, it was a very popular book when it was first released in 2007. So why am I talking about a book that was published 10 years ago?, it’s because it will soon be released as a movie on March 3, 2017. The book is called “The Shack.”

When I learned that it was going to be released as a movie, I was thrilled. I enjoyed the book immensely and it opened my eyes to a lot of things and made me think about things in ways that I never thought of before. And because it had been a while since I had originally read it, I wanted to read it again prior to seeing the movie, so I did. Because I enjoyed the book so much, after I read it the first time, I started to share my feelings about the book with others and I encouraged my friends to read it as well. What I didn’t expect was a little bit of a backlash I got from some of my close friends for reading the book. Why? Because it is not written from a Catholic perspective and because the story doesn’t follow the Doctrine of Catholic teaching, it is looked on by some as something to avoid.

Just Leave Me Alone!

Remember the song “I Think We’re Alone Now”? It was a big hit in the late 60’s and again in 1987. For most people, the idea of being alone can be a bit frightening. And while the lyrics of the song suggest one thing, the statement, “I think we’re alone now” is probably the way a lot of people feel - alone.

Being alone is an interesting concept. On one hand, there are times when maybe we just want to “be alone” because it’s what we need at the time. Maybe there’s a lot going on, or things are just too chaotic and being alone is the best way we can work things out in our minds or sort out our thoughts. During times like this, being alone can be a very positive and productive thing. I know from personal experience that there have been times when having some time alone has helped me to see more clearly the answers I’m looking for. I used to be a runner and I remember the times I would be out there running by myself, I would do what I’d call my “best thinking” because I was alone, without any distractions. Some people will often go for a walk alone in an effort to clear their minds or to find answers. I think that for most people, having some “alone time” can be a good thing.

Count Your Blessings

This year, at our parish Penance service during Advent, our pastor, who can tend to move things along rather quickly sometimes (oops, did I just say that out loud?), gave the people in attendance a “group penance” rather than individual penance for everyone. It’s a bit unorthodox but still meaningful. Instead of the traditional “2 Our Fathers” or “4 Hail Mary’s”, instead he simply asked us to look at our hands and for each finger, count our blessings. In a way, this is brilliant. Instead of focusing on our sorrow for our sins, it allowed us to turn our attention to all the good things God gives us each and every day.