And two years after joining facebook...

I have decided to start blogging again. It's amazing that the last post published was RIGHT when I joined facebook.

I have missed my blog.

:)

“Relationships-of all kinds-are like sand held in your hand. Held loosely, with an open hand, the sand remains where it is. The minute you close your hand and squeeze tightly to hold on, the sand trickles through your fingers. You may hold onto some of it, but most will be spilled. A relationship is like that. Held loosely, with respect and freedom for the other person, it is likely to remain intact. But hold too tightly, too possessively, and the relationship slips away and is lost.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“A loving relationship is one in which the loved one is free to be himself -- to laugh with me, but never at me; to cry with me, but never because of me; to love life, to love himself, to love being loved. Such a relationship is based upon freedom and can never grow in a jealous heart.” - Leo F. Buscaglia

Quote of the Day

While searching for my favourite quote to put on Facebook (yes, I finally succumbed) I came across this one also from Marianne Williamson:

Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.

It's a good one, especially during Lent. I should like to read her book...

Lyrics...

This was one of the first contemporary church songs I heard, and it's one of my favourites.

We are Called to Serve

Refrain
We are called to serve,
we are called by grace
to cherish Christ in every face.
We are called to serve,
we are called by name,
and in all we are,
God's love proclaim.

1. Called beyond our human understanding,
called before the world came into view.
Within your mother's womb,
your name was known to me,
for you did not choose me, no, I chose you.

2. Called to be a light amid the darkness,
called to help a doubting world believe.
Empowered by my Spirit,
anointed with my love,
you are called to give and share what you believe.

Strength for the Journey

This was sung last night at mass...For all the times where we feel alone, scared, or that the hill is just to steep...

Strength for the Journey
Michael John Poirier

Refrain
I will be, I will be,
I will be strength for the journey.
I will be, I will be,
I will be strength for the journey.

1. There is a road meant for you to travel.
Narrow and steep is the shepherd's way,
and as you say, "Yes,"
letting me guide you,
I will be strength for the journey.


2. There is a cross meant for you to carry.
There is a cross meant for you alone,
and as you bow down
in humble surrender,
I will be strength for the journey.

3. How many times have you doubted my word?
How many times must I call your name?
And as you say, "Yes,"
letting me love you,
I will be strength for the journey

.

Quote(s) of the day...

"Humility is subtle, if you know you are humble, are you?"'

"Character is not determined in crisis, it is only revealed"

These are two of my favourites.

thought of the day...

Ambition without action is a waste.

Happy Valentine's Day!


<3

In September, my friend Arif came to Vancouver. We had dinner at Tojo's with spectacular views of downtown Vancouver and made a stop at Cupcakes.

Humility

One of the perks of living in Fairview is that I can walk to a lot of places. Since I enjoy walking, and part of me is a tree hugger, it's perfect. I stayed home from work sick today and ventured out in the afternoon to get some oranges. On the way, I passed by St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church and finally read the sign that says "Under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary" or something similar. On the way home, I passed by Blessed Sacrament and there was a young man sitting outside on a bench in front of a portrait of the Blessed Mother. I could hear him crying. I paused a few metres away from him and gazed up at the nativity on top of the church. What a gift our faith gives us - God, so ever loving in times when our heart is broken that if we humbly present it to Him, He will mend and strengthen it.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours the joy and love of this very special Christmas season!

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.
- Agnes M. Pharo -



Merry Christmas!!!

Here's my quote --

"Forgiveness isn't about forgetting, it's about letting go"


In the middle of singing the Apostle's Creed on Sunday, I started to cry. Not a sad cry but one of letting go, one of being home again... One of remembering how much God loves each and everyone one of us, of how we must seek not only His forgiveness but that we must forgive ourselves and let go of our anger and hurt. And, in showing love, care and humility to others - to remember times when we've been wrong, and extend grace to them, we become more like Christ and help to heal our own hurt and lessen our burdens too.

Bible Geek - 2 Thes. 3:5

Here's the latest from Bible Geek at Lifeteen.com

Spread the Word

Past heartbreak leaving your future in doubt? "May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ." - 2 Thes. 3:5 Situation Explained Is a past hurt hurting your future? Solution Offered Years ago I received an email with a simple message in it, simple yet profound. Some of you may know it. The advice reads as follows: Love like you've never been hurt. Work like you don't need the money. Dance like nobody's watching. It's often in the simplest advice that the greatest insight is contained, and while this advice is usually seen in secular emails it still contains great theological truth. We could write pages upon pages about "work like you don't need the money". If we are, indeed, following our vocation as we are beckoned by God to do (Jer. 1:4-8, 29:11), we will end up working that way.we will love what we do and be doing that for which we were designed. At the same time, we could talk for days about the need to turn our backs to public opinion and perception, to "dance like nobody's watching". The entire foundation of Christianity is to follow Christ alone (Gal. 2:20, Rev. 15:4) and not to be led astray by others (Matt. 15:14). While both of these aforementioned lines are challenging, it's that first line that is especially hard for most of us.to love like you've never been hurt. Do you? Do you love like you've never been hurt, or do you love so as not to be hurt again? Has a pain from your past suffocated your present or dimmed the brightness of your future? We were made in the image of God (Gen 1:26), that is, we were designed to love (1 John 4:19). We were designed to give love freely and to receive love gratefully. And then sin entered. Or should I say, "sin enters"? Often times, as easily as love enters through a relationship, sin enters even more readily and more easily, because it is in relationships that we can focus more on the "I", than the "love" or the "you". Have you ever given all of yourself to another person, only to have them use you for their own selfish gain? Have you ever used another but justified it in your own head? Have you been so hurt after sharing all of yourself, that you have allowed your heart to become hardened, your life guarded, so never to feel that pain again? Are you stuck in that prison of control and fear? If so, you're not evil, you're human. If so, you're not alone, you're in the majority. And if so, you're not really living, only breathing. And have I ever felt that way? Of course I have. Everyone knows the pain of broken trust, a shattered relationship or lost love at one time or another in their life. The point, though, is not to allow yourself to be mastered by the past. Jesus is calling you forward. So, why do I bring this up? Read today's verse again. It's the love of God that is to direct our hearts. Many people don't find the relationships they so earnestly desire, because they have not allowed themselves to heal from the past. Rather than looking for the right person, they look for someone "unlike" the person that hurt them. That "logic" is illogical. Others fall into the trap of searching for someone the exact same, not learning from their mistakes; that, too, is failed logic. What we need to realize is that Jesus Christ is the one by whom all must be measured. Jesus is "steadfast" as we are reminded in this passage. Is that to say we must find someone "perfect", like Jesus? No, that obviously won't happen. It is to say that we ought to find someone who strives to be selfless and to love offer and receive love as Jesus Christ, Himself, did. Whether married or single, the same rule applies: Ladies, you will never enjoy the love you are designed to receive, until Jesus Christ is the man of your dreams. Only then will you live in such a way that other men will seek to mirror His divine image in your life and vocation. Gentlemen, you will never know the depth of true love until you are living as the man of God you were designed to become. Only then will you live a selfless kind of love, in the image of the Savior (Eph. 5:25) and really understand your vocation. And if you want to read this "advice" as too idealistic or naïve.take some time and put it to prayer. Odds are that the time and pain have allowed the door of your heart to become locked; the emotional deadbolt is secure and in place, but it doesn't have to be. The only way to "take control" of your life, including your relationships, is to give up control to the One Who will bring you true life, true love, in His time, if you let Him. That might mean romantic relationships, it will definitely mean holier friendships, but it probably will start with your own spiritual preparation. God is not going to bring you the person you so desperately crave, until your heart is ready. If you're still in pain from a relationship, talk to God about it today. Let God love you, first. Only then can you truly love (or receive the love of) another. Salvation Given "May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ." - 2 Thes. 3:5 Adam and Eve forced us to work. Music helps us to dance. But it was God.God is the reason we love.

Bank Account

So very true...

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably coifed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.


As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.


"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.



"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied.


"Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it." It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories! Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing." Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Here is today's Bible Geek from lifeteen.com

Hey God, what's shaking?

"His voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, 'Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.' This phrase, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of what is shaken, as of what has been made, in order that what cannot be shaken may remain." - Hebrews 12:26-27


Situation Explained
When is the last time you felt the physical power of God?


Solution Offered
It was about ten after seven on a beautiful Sunday morning.
My wife had just gotten up. I was a little more "slow moving" (a nice way of saying that if I could have laid in bed for another three days, I would have).

The sun had just begun breaking through the windows of our hotel room. Out our window you could see the early morning light outlining the palm trees and mountains and illuminating the beautiful Pacific ocean. We were in the Hawaiian islands, invited there to do ministry. We took advantage of the invitation to get away for a second honeymoon.

As the light bid my eyes to open, I fought to keep them closed. It was at that point that I heard a strange sound, unlike any I was accustomed to hearing. Then the walls of the hotel began to shake. Pictures and furniture fell and moved. The power went out. My wife screamed. My lazy tail was bounced out of bed onto the floor.

I ran to my wife and covered her as we knelt in a doorway and began praying.

The earth and hotel weren't the only things shaking.we were shaking, too.
Our "getaway" to paradise was interrupted with a Sunday morning wake-up call that registered 6.5 on the Richter scale, including 18 aftershocks to insure we weren't "snoozing". Luckily, we were not hurt and there were no reported casualties.

Now, while I didn't do the math to see what the odds were that on our four-day getaway we would be lucky enough to experience the first earthquake to hit Hawaii in over two decades.I did stop to think that there was something about God to be learned from every experience, even this one.

Looking back, I have to say that the earthquake was a tremendous spiritual gift for me.

It reminded me, once again, just how big God is and how absolutely small I am.

It demonstrated how dependant we are on electricity and technology, overly dependant, actually.

It showed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, just how helpless we are when it's us against Mother Nature - nature is still more powerful.

It reaffirmed how much I love my wife more than myself. Honestly, I really didn't care if I died; it never even entered my mind.her safety and her life were all I could think about.


But the greatest gift it gave me was appreciation for God.

We have a God Who is powerful enough to make the earth shake yet gentle enough to create a newborn baby.

We have a God Who is loving enough to give us free will, yet merciful enough to forgive our selfishness.

We have a God Who is strong enough to level the world in an instant yet Who, instead, let Himself be tortured and destroyed to cover our debt of sins.

And we have a God who, in every instant - the scary and the calm, the loud and the quiet, the normal and the extraordinary - who loves us enough to shake us (sometimes, literally) out of our spiritual slumber, remind us of His ultimate power, and invite us to trust in Him more completely.

This verse today reminds me of how many things I put my faith in besides God, and how all of those worldly, created things are worthless and useless when all is said and done. God is the ultimate power. God is an awe-some, as in "we should be filled with AWE" but even more importantly, God is an awe-some lover, as in "The One Who loves us perfectly, and Who shows us how to love".

Look around your life right now. God might be shaking things up (probably not literally). Don't run from that social, emotional or spiritual earthquake. It's a gift from God to you. When He rocks your world, it's in an effort to shake away all those things that you cling to that are not grounded in God. When your life is free of any relationships or situations that is not focused on Him, then it will get quiet again.

What was I reminded of in that earthquake?
Sometimes He has to shake us to wake us.



Salvation Given
"His voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, 'Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.' This phrase, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of what is shaken, as of what has been made, in order that what cannot be shaken may remain." - Hebrews 12:26-27


Until you put your trust completely in God. hold on tight.

A Bell is not a Bell until you ring it,
A Song is not a Song until you sing it,
Love was not put in your heart to stay,
Love is not Love until you give it away.
- Rogers and Hammerstein

"May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be"

As I grow, I'm learning that there are times where God challenges me. In the past few weeks, I'm beginning to truly understand how much I'm not just "Catholic" as something to tick off in a box but that being a child of God is rooted within me. To know what it means to be unconditionally loved -- no matter how much I falter, or how insolent I feel I am being, it doesn't change that God loves me and wants me to be better.

I know I've posted this poem before but it's one of my favourites. The part in italics has helped me though difficult moments. The poem reminds me of how much God loves each of us. That before we were born, the days of our lives (haha, no pun intended) were written. That our parents were specially chosen so that we would be just what God intended. That God wanted each of us to be born, that we are here for a special purpose. That through it all, God is with us, loving us and guiding us.

You are who you are for a reason.
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God's special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You're just what he wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,
And they bear the Master's seal.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape you heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.

You are who you are for a reason,
You've been formed by the Master's rod.
You are who you are beloved,
Because there is a God!

A Bible Geek

More reading on the Life Teen website

One of Bible Geek's "Spread the Word" that has most touched me started with the question of "If God is so loving, why do we suffer". In moments of trial, I think of this Spread the Word, I remember how much God loves us and that He only gives us a burden that we can carry -- not on our own, but with Him. In the Bible Geek I have posted below, the woman in the Bible story had enough courage to reach out to Jesus. There are times where we have felt despair, sad, alone, angry -- times when we wished we had chosen differently, or wonder how we ended up where we are. These are moments where we may feel far away from God or that He does not hear us, but He does, and He is always right there.

As Bible Geek says at the end of the Spread the Word below "Just open your hand and extend it. Soon, you too will feel the healing power of God."

Finding hope in suffering
“There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned and asked, ‘Who has touched my clothes?’ She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.” - Mark 5:25-30, 33


Situation Explained
Have you ever felt that God doesn’t realize your suffering?


Solution Offered
Sometimes when praying the Scriptures, you encounter stories that leave you thinking, “How random…” or “Seriously, that happened?” or (even) “Eeewwww, that’s gross!”.

If you’ve ever lost hope or allowed suffering to consume you – reach out to Jesus.

For me, the above account of the woman with a hemorrhage was one of those stories…because I’m a guy and because I have an aversion to any blood that is not my own. (Basically, I don’t mind the emergency room, as long as it is due to my own stupidity).

Most Biblical scholars agree that the “woman with a hemorrhage” was experiencing severe menstrual bleeding. Far more than her monthly period or an irregular menstrual cycle, the woman was suffering greatly. Possibly she had an infection or a severe hormone imbalance. She may have had fibroid tumors or some other internal ailment that was almost impossible to detect or treat in that time period.

Due to its subject matter, this is one of those Gospel stories that can sometimes get written off as “just another nice healing” by Jesus. Due to our own cultural misunderstandings and ignorance, the story doesn’t leap off the page quite like it should. As a result of both, we don’t encounter the beauty of this story or its modern relevance quite like we should. But there is far more going on here than meets the eye upon a quick reading of the encounter.

What is amazing is not the uniqueness of the woman’s problem, or the fact that several doctors were unable to “solve” her problem. What is amazing about this Scriptural encounter goes far deeper than physical healing. To truly appreciate what happened, we need to take a broader look, at social norms, cultural constraints and the basic attitude of the time toward things like a woman’s cycle.

In the time of Christ, as prescribed in the Book of Leviticus 15:25-27, not only is the woman “unclean” for seven days (the perceived length of her monthly cycle) but anything or anyone that she touches is unclean. That means whatever she wears – unclean. Wherever she sits – unclean. Whomever she touches – unclean.

Then, take note, it says she suffered this way for twelve years. She had spent every penny on doctors who were unable to help, while her physical bleeding persisted, she was being figuratively “bled dry” by “healers”, some real, others just charletains taking advantage of a woman in pain. She, no doubt, would have been very frail and weak due to the blood loss. She most likely lived as a social outcast, unable to interact with or touch anyone. Her home would have been “unclean”. She most likely had few friends, a reputation for her ailment, a loss of hope for a life of joy or normalcy and no true intimacy of which to speak.

Then, along comes this Jesus…

She had left her house, that day, upon hearing that He was in the area. Perhaps, for the first time, the people from the town didn’t notice her “out” because of their excitement for the Rabbi from Nazareth. Jesus was in the middle of a plea from Jairus (the synagogue official) to help his daughter, when the woman reached out to touch the tassel…the hem, of Jesus’ garment.

So, what’s the big deal about that, you might ask?

Remember that due to her condition, anyone she touches becomes unclean.

Not only did she risk “defiling” the Lord (in the eyes of the culture) in their encounter, but consider what it took for her emotionally, to act in such a way. Doctors had been unable to heal her. She was shunned by everyone else. She was weak and frail and without hope. Undoubtedly, over time, her self esteem had taken a hit, her self worth must have plummeted. Perhaps she had even stopped believing in God’s love for her.

And (as I said before) along comes Jesus…

Consider the courage it took for her to reach out to Him…
Imagine the renewal of hope that must have surged through her when she drew near to Him…
Dwell on the power that must have moved through her when she touched His garment…
Think about the faith it took for her, an unclean outcast, not only to “ask” the Lord for His healing, but to believe enough in His ability and His love, to break every social constraint and forget every cultural bias she endured, to reach out and “risk” making her Healer (and Savior) “unclean”.

All of the sudden, this story is a story of heroic virtue, hope and faith, not just of bleeding, healing and warm fuzzies.

How does this relate to you (and I) regardless of gender or sickness in the technologically savvy 21st century, you might ask?

If you’ve ever felt like a social outcast, on the outside looking in – reach out to Jesus.
If you’ve ever felt unclean, sinful, unworthy of His love – reach out to Jesus.
If you’ve ever lost hope or allowed suffering to consume you – reach out to Jesus.
If you have begun to believe that God doesn’t care about your pain – reach out to Jesus.
If you think you’re all alone in this world and no one notices you reaching out – reach out (again) to Jesus.

And if you are afraid at how He will react when you do reach out…read and pray this passage again and take faith, the Lord is never outdone in generosity.

Christ is ready and willing to heal you, to make you whole, again, in every way.

Salvation Given
“There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned and asked, ‘Who has touched my clothes?’ She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth.” - Mark 5:25-30, 33


And once you’ve reached out to Jesus as healer, it will be easier for you to embrace Christ as your Savior.

Just open your hand and extend it. Soon, you too will feel the healing power of God.

25 Creative Dates You Need to Know

I came home feeling ill today and while checking out the LT website, came across these great ideas!

t.

25 Creative Dates You Need to Know
Tired of dinner then the movie? Movie then the make-out? Lifeteen.com Intern Andrea Prisby cooks up 25 creative dates for adventurous spirits and the romantically inclined. (Plus, they won't drain your funds.)

1. Deserted Island Picnic
   Pack a picnic lunch or dinner in a basket, complete with blanket to sit on. Find an “island” in the center of the road and enjoy your picnic as cars pass by. Or, you could order pizza from your deserted island and have it delivered to you. It would be wise to look for just the right “island”. Look for islands that are very wide (at least 10 feet across); grass and trees would be nice.
   
   
2. Hike with pets/National Park:
   Take your date on your favorite hiking trail for the afternoon. Make sure it isn’t too strenuous that you have to carry him/her back to the car. Maybe even bring your pets along to make it a little more interesting! If you live near a National Park, spend the day exploring the outdoors.
   
   
   If you get bored easily, play hide and seek with walkie-talkies around the zoo.
3. Go shopping at a thrift store and play dress up, don’t forget your camera!
   Thrift stores are always interesting places to shop because of the variety of clothes and gadgets. Grab your date and travel back in time with the 60s and 70s gear. Have a contest of who can find the wackiest outfit.
   
   
4. Stargazing in the country or the desert. Or during the day, go cloud watching.
   Take a drive into the country or the desert and spend the evening laying on the hood of your car staring at the constellations. Maybe even bring a star chart to help you out a bit, in case you get stuck. If you can’t make it out during the evening hours, try taking some time during the day to stop by a nearby park or any open field to check out the clouds and their formations. Who knows, maybe you will even find your favorite animal in one of them! It’s interesting the different conversations that may arise. Realize how amazing God is and his creativity!
   
   
5. Theme date: Disco Bowling- dress up in 70s clothes wi
   th things around the house and bowl!
   It’s nice to spice things up once and a while. So why don’t you try a themed date where you and your date dress up before hand in the craziest outfit you can manage, even scrounge through your parent’s closets to find old clothes. After you find a creative outfit, head to the nearest bowling alley for Rock N’ Bowl or Disco Bowling and enjoy the night. Maybe afterwards grab a quick bite to eat or chill at a coffee house.
   
   
6. Go to a park playground and play on the swings: feed ducks
   Get outside and exercise. Take a walk to the nearest park and rediscover the kid in you and play on the play structures. Maybe even bring a couple water guns to play with if it’s a hot and sunny day. As teens and young adults, we aren’t allowed to act like kids much at home. Now is your chance! Remember… "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 18:3
   
   
7. Catch the sunset, from mountaintop or the beach:
   Enjoy the setting sun and painted sky in which God gives us each evening on top of a mountain or on the shore. This is a great time to embrace God’s beauty and spend the time with your date contemplating the blessings you have in your life or praying or even getting to know each other. But once He turns off the lights, its time to head out!
   
   
8. Serve together: homeless shelter or children’s hospital
   We are called to serve others as Jesus did. So why not spend time together with your date and serve others at the same time. You will realize a lot about each other seeing the way that you serve. Try serving food at your local homeless shelter or volunteer at the nearest children’s hospital. Serving together brings you closer because it takes the focus off of yourself.
   
   
9. Go out for ice cream/frozen custard:
   Unless your date is lactose intolerant, this one is usually a hit. The time spent slobbering over this delicious (and cheap) treat will both put your nerves at ease and maybe even allow you to let your guard down. This way you will both be able to relax and not feel pressured to hold a long conversation over dinner. Tip: Share a banana split and have a contest as to who can eat their half the fastest!
   
   
10. Take your younger siblings to the drive in and buy them popcorn:
    Sometimes our younger siblings can get on our nerves, but by taking them out, they may respect us even more. Find a flick you can all attend and buy them goodies and show them a good time. Family relationships are important and to see your date interact with his/her sibling could show you a lot about their character. And it will probably teach you patience at most!
    
    
11. Clean or do chores together: wash car, or yard work
    Spend the Saturday at either of your parents/neighbors house doing yardwork together or washing cars. Your date will be productive and it will make working a lot more fun when you are with someone you enjoy. I am sure Mary made Jesus clean his room once and a while! Again, know this: “He who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men." -Romans 14:18
    
    
12. Can’t decide what to do:
    A fun thing to do when you pick up your date is let them choose what you are going to do that night with a guessing game. This takes preparation in advance. You will go and take pictures of different places for picnics, walks, eating, or theaters, games to play or sports events before the date. Get the pictures developed and place them in individually sealed envelopes. When you pick your date up let them choose an envelope. Whatever the picture is, you go and do together. You can let your date open additional envelopes through out the evening that will tell you what you are going to do next.
    
    
13. Put a puzzle together on a rainy evening:
    Whether its rain or shine, piecing together a puzzle together by putting your heads together will bring great brain-stimulation. What can be better than that? Its great to just sit and talk to your date, but putting a challenging puzzle together will help you grow closer by problem-solving as well. And you can also stumble across a great conversation as well! It’s great when everything fits perfectly together and you can fight over who gets the honor of putting the last piece in. Try the 3-D puzzles for a cool creation!
    
    
14. Go to the airport to people watch:
    Airports are always fun places to visit because people are always headed somewhere or returning from somewhere. And to be able to see the long-awaited hellos and the dreaded good-byes is in itself a real life drama series. So what better a place to “people-watch” than your airport? You can even play the Celebrity Look-a-like game where you and your date name the first celebrity that comes to your head when you see a person walking by. And its fun to visit the over-priced shops and restaurants while you are there or to watch the planes take-off. It wouldn’t hurt to pray for people as they walk by you either.
    
    
15. Look at old pictures/yearbooks:
    Sometimes the past can haunt us, so they say. But don’t let it! Spend your date swapping embarrassing stories from when you were younger and looking through mom’s old photo albums. You will really discover a lot about your date by doing so and don’t feel ashamed, just have fun with it. After all, they will have to like all of you in order to be with you! And if you are daring enough, you can even put in the home movies and view those.
    
    
16. Gradual Dinner and Dancing:
    For the real romantics, take your date to several different restaurants for dinner. What I mean is, to start at one restaurant and just eat appetizers, then visit another restaurant for the salad, then another for the main dish and another for dessert. This can get expensive, but not when you visit fast food places! After dinner, stop by the coolest park with a gazebo (one in which you visited earlier and set up with white lights and a stereo) and show off your smooth moves on the dance floor!
    
    
17. Ride bus or subway around the city and evangelize:
    What can be better than spreading the gospel across town? And especially if you are both “people” persons, getting to know other people is great and talking to them about Jesus will help you to grow in your faith as well. This may seem scary and out of your comfort zone at first, but what are the odds that you will ever see that person again? Plus while conversing with others, you will also get to see the cities various sites as well! The key to evangelization, just like other things, is L-O-V-E.
    
    
18. Tie-dye shirts together:
    Grab some old t-shirts and tie-dye with your date. You can make t-shirts for your friends as well and deliver them to their houses. That way you can also visit with them during the evening. And there is nothing better than designing shirts for each other and mixing colors to see who can make the ugliest shirt.
    
    
19. Take a canoe or boat ride:
    There is always something soothing about the water. Contact a friend who has a boat at a nearby lake or maybe even rent one. The best part is, if neither of you knows what you are doing, you can figure it out on your own. Especially with a canoe, you will need to use your team-working skills to get anywhere on the water. “But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:14
    
    
20. Babysit for a couple so they can have a night out:
    If one of you friends or relatives needs a night away from their kids, offer to babysit, maybe even for free and hang out with the little ones for the night. Play games, make ice cream sundaes and just chill. You will be able to see another side of your date, and yourself, and sometimes someone else’s children are easier to handle than your own siblings. This will be a good test to see if your date will be able to handle chaos! And plus, you are helping out a friend.
    
    
21. Go to the library or bookstore and read to each other:
    Reading can be quite exclusive, but when you are aloud, you help the other person to experience the world of imagination as well. Check out the children’s book section, those stories can be the most fun and there is always a “moral” in each story. And you can never lose out by reading the Bible aloud, maybe even a little louder than normal so that others can hear! Visit the coffee shop in the bookstore or neighborhood afterwards and share your own stories.
    
    
22. Church/Mass and Adoration/Confession:
    Visit the most beautiful church you can find in your area and spend some time there. Maybe even catch daily mass and celebrate the beauty of our Catholic faith with the sacraments by attending Confession together or visit the adoration chapel. You should really bring Jesus on every date, but consecrating the whole date to Him is even better. And the blessings will be abundant. This will show your date what is important to you and to remember to keep Christ the center of your relationship.
    
    
23. Play hide and seek at the zoo:
    Take a trip to the local zoo and spend the afternoon visiting the animals and “monkey-ing” around with them. If you get bored easily, play hide and seek with walkie-talkies around the zoo. Give each other clues as to where you are and see who takes the longest to find. Maybe even get some kids involved! Sometimes we play hide and seek with God, but He always knows where to find us, even if we are amongst the animals, hence Adam and Eve.
    
    
24. Listen to music/classical and spend the evening painting/coloring
    Find the best classical music collection you can and get some fun paints and coloring books and have an “Artist Night,” at your house. Painting and coloring can be very relaxing which will help you and your date open up your creativity side (everyone has one!) and try something new, like painting a portrait of each other. When you are finished, maybe even stop by your local art museum to check out the other artists and compare your works! We all know who the Real Artist is and we can appreciate His talent most of all, in each other.
    
    
25. Visit your grandparents and interview them about their lives
    All your grandparents would want from you is your time. Surely, they would be thrilled to spend time with you and your date one Sunday afternoon. Ask them some great questions: how they met or what they used to do for fun when they were teenagers. Maybe even grab your video camera to bring along so you can record this moment on tape. You will probably discover a lot that you never knew you had in common!

10

These were posted on the lifeteen.com website in 2002. There's some great stuff in them.

- t.

10 Ways to Make 2003 better than 2002

10 Ways to Make 2003 Better Than 2002

Dear Teens, I am determines to make 2003 better than 2002! Though there are no guarantees that this year will be better, I've learned a lot in my years as a priest, and I want to share those with you. On the personal level, 2002 was the worst year of my life. I learned what it is like to go through depression. It made me more compassionate, and I have to take more responsibility for my own life. There is not a whole lot of things in my control, and the more I abandon myself to that fact, the better I do. 1. God desires your happiness. God is not the enemy. I can't tell you how many people think that God is a big meany, that God loves everyone but me. Even for me, I forget that God wants me to be happy. Happiness doesn't mean that everyone wins $300,000,000 lottery. Life isn't going to always go as we plan, but that doesn't mean God has abandon us. "God's love" sounds so simple yet so profound. Most people don't have trouble believing in God, but that God loves and cares for us. If for some reason you are angry at God, deal with it. God desires your happiness more than you desire your happiness. If you read nothing else, know this: GOD WANTS YOUR HAPPINESS. 2. Get rid of TOXIC things/people in your life. There are probably some people that you need to back away from. I know this sounds weird coming from a priest. You should love your neighbor, but sometimes you have to love at a distance. We have to stay away from gossip, negativity, alcohol, and drugs. Some people have an emotional grip that will strangle you. If it's your boyfriend or girlfriend, it's not a healthy relationship. It doesn't mean that God doesn't love them or they are an evil person, you just have to be painfully honest about who and what is toxic in your life. For a lot of people, the Internet, music, and television are toxic. 3. Choose your reactions & moods. I used to have a lot of anger and that anger was something that just happened to me. Maybe it's because I have an alcoholic father. Then I realized that anger is a chosen response. If anger is a chosen response, then other emotions are chosen as well. If I can choose anger, hatred, and negativity, or I could choose love, joy, and have faith. Faith is like love, it is a gift, but you have to CHOOSE to accept it. The quicker you realize this, the healthier you will be. I can choose my moods! 4. Deal with issues: Get help when needed! Ignoring your issues never solves your issues. There is nothing holy or healthy about avoiding your problems. If you have physical, emotional, or relational issues--deal with it. Will that be painful? YES. But it'll be worth it. Get help! We are so goofy and proud about this kind of stuff. 5. Make Family, Friendships, and Intimate Relationships your TOP priority. After 9-11, all the people went to church. Two months later, they weren't around. All the patriotism faded and now they roll their eyes during the National Anthem. Relationships became a priority and everyone vowed to take time to be with friends and family. Relationships give texture to our lives...each other. This is where our souls get fed. Some of you spend little time with brothers and sisters, parents, and grandparents. If you call someone your best friend and don't spend time with them, that is unhealthy, and unchristian. You can never get that time back. 6. Stop the negativity! Affirm! Sometimes you listen to talk radio and you wonder if people have anything better to do than to call and complain about others. It's okay that we don't agree on everything...it's okay if someone enjoys something that I don't enjoy. We have different tastes. I have to say, "I'm not into that." Whiners will be with us to the end of time. I am talking about me too! I've had some of the dumbest cashiers in America. :) No matter what line I am in, the manager makes an announcement, "dumb cashier to Monsignor Dale's on isle 2." Sometimes I think they do construction work only on the roads I drive on. It's amazing what happens when you are positive! A simple "thank you" is so disarming. Say something nice to everyone around you. If it is raining, you can grumble, or be thankful. Either way, IT'S STILL RAINING. That's a reality check. If it's going to rain, enjoy it! Keep your sense of humor positive. There is not time to bring each other down in the name of laughter. 7. Laugh! We have to take ourselves much less seriously. When I process up to the altar at the beginning of Mass, we are singing to God, but the angels are really singing, "Send in the Clowns." God has a sense of humor! Don't take yourselves too seriously because nobody else does. :) People get up to read at Mass and I've always wanted them to say, "A reading from the Book of Numbers. 7, 12, 45..." In 100 days, is anyone going to care about the things that seem so important at this second? We need to laugh more...laugher is healing and unites people. Laughter brings a different view on life. That's what I love. 8. Learn something NEW. There is a story about a young and an old priest. The young priest said to the old priest, "can't we do anything different?" The old priest said, "I have 26 years of experience, so I know what I am doing." The young priest said, "no, you've done 1 year 26 times." It makes you think, doesn't it? Pick up a new hobby or something. You could learn photography, how to make furniture, or a new sport. I am going to learn sacred dance. Do something different this year than last year, so by the end of the year, you feel better about yourself. 9. Commit to a prayer pattern. Don't say that you will and don't do it. Pray something specific: I will pray the rosary, or read the daily readings, I will pray on the drive to school, etc. I did this for Advent and it was great! You always win with prayer. 10. Live beyond reproach. Try to live in such a way that your character and your personhood is beyond people questioning your intentions. Not questioning your perfecting, but your intentions. Are you intentions to be Christlike, or to serve yourself? What puts us in pain is the past; what puts us in fear is the future. I can't change 20 years ago, or 20 minutes ago. I can't live in fear of 20 minutes from now or 20 years from now. This moment is precious: I can love you and I let you love me. In this moment, I can appreciate the friendship and even the pain that sometimes comes in life. The more that I can live in the moment, the more I can experience God. Don't forget how much God loves us, how much He wants our happiness, and that he'll be with us every moment this year. You all will be in my prayers! Msgr. Dale Fushek, V.G., Founder of LIFE TEEN

10 Mistakes God Does Not Want You to Make

10 Mistakes God Does Not Want You to Make

by: Paul George, from XLT-ATL Talk Series October, 2002 If God could stop us from doing things, what would they be? Obviously there are more than 10 mistakes that we can make or have made in our life, but teens in Atlanta agree, these are mistakes we all fall into. 1. Putting God in a box Many people today, especially teens, make God into something that they want Him to be. We begin to tell God how and what He can and can't do in our life. Before we know it, we've made God into exactly what we feel comfortable with. God doesn't want us to be comfortable, He wants free reign to work miracles and wonders through us-no matter how uncomfortable that makes you. Don't limit God, let Him out of the box and allow Him to take over your life. 2. Holding on to grudges and not forgiving All us have been hurt. What we do with that hurt can either lead us closer to God or further from Him. For some reason we find comfort not forgiving and holding grudges. Those very grudges build a wall between you and God. When we hold on to those things we tell God that He can't be in control over our feelings and our emotions. Let God take your pain, your unforgiveness and your grudges and He will give you comfort and the ability to forgive. 3. Seeking false intimacy Many people think that intimacy = touch. It doesn't: intimacy has nothing to do with touching. We all crave intimacy and the opportunity to be in intimate relationships with people. However, most times we seek that intimacy by fooling around or having sex. But, God wants us to have intimate healthy relationships. He doesn't want us to destroy our hearts and our souls by seeking intimacy in false ways, ways that will not lead us closer to Him. God put those longings for intimacy inside of us to draw us closer and more intimate with Him. 4. Believing that you are in control of your life It's all about control. If we have control over everything in our life (our future, our present, what we want to do etc....) then we think for some reason that everything will work out. All of the Saints I read about had no control over their life. They finally gave God the complete ability to take control. We are no different. Your life could become more smooth, peaceful, and better than anything we could ever plan or do on our own. Just let go and let God! 5. Refusing to change This is dangerous. People who are unwilling to change are the people who end up being the saddest people of all. Change is good, not bad. God is all about change. He is all about changing us and shaping us into the person He wants us to be. If we develop the mindset that we can't or shouldn't change then we've put ourselves in a place that will only lead us away from God. Be open, don't allow yourself to stay in one place in your faith. 6. Taking life too seriously Yeah that's right. Have fun. Laugh! One of the mistakes that we can make is too take life so seriously that we forget to LIVE. God didn't create us to be miserable. Yeah, there are going to be times that we all have pain, but pain doesn't last forever. For some reason many people even think that Christians can't and shouldn't have fun. Hello, I don't know about you, but I serve a God who knows what life is all about. He knows the joy of living. Don't take life so seriously, have fun and enjoy the LIFE that God has blessed you with. 7. Living for today, without eternity in mind Many teens make decisions without thinking about their future. Too often, immediate pleasure and satisfaction is the driving force to do something. What people don't realize is that one decision can have lifelong consequences-even eternal consequences. If teens made decisions with Heaven in mind, then their decisions would be different. With every decision, always keep your eternal future in mind, and you will be at peace. Heaven-don't miss it for the world. 8. Keeping Catholicism a religion and not a reality Whoa!!! Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that Catholicism is not a religion or shouldn't be a religion. It is a great religion. One that's been around for over 2000 years. Jesus established the Catholic Church. HoSwever, many people separate the obligation of being a Catholic and the calling to live as a Catholic. Being Catholic won't get you to Heaven. Living as a Catholic is the true calling that God has for us. God calls us to be fully Catholic to follow Him and His Church with everything that we have. If being Catholic is just a title, then we have done a disservice to God and the Catholic Church. Make Catholicism a living reality in you life. 9. Denying that evil exists Let's be honest. No one really talks about Satan anymore. It's almost like that we pretend he doesn't exist, and then he doesn't. This is such a lie. The spiritual world is all around us: the good and the bad. Satan is very alive and present, always tempting us to destroy our very lives, but in ways we refuse to see. Satan takes God's truths and turns them into lies, and takes lies and turns them into truths. We can't buy into the lies. We shouldn't give Satan credit or attention, only be aware that he is real and wants to destroy our soul. 10. Believing that God can fix any mistake Let's not mistake forgiveness with God fix'n something. God will forgive us for anything we've done if we truly ask Him. However, He can't stop the consequences of our decision from taking place. It's like gravity. We can pray that gravity won't happen, but the reality is that gravity takes place no matter what we think. The same goes with our choices. The consequences take place whether we want them too or not. We can think that God will fix all of our mistakes that we make but He can't. He can forgive us and He can make good things come out of our bad choices. God is good, but we have to do our part too.

Quote of the day...

"Cause it's yo life" - a very funky gal.

What is?

Being Catholic, and what does that mean, being a child of God.

I'm beginning to realize how much my faith is a part of me. As I grow older, as I face trials, as I rejoice, the one places I always turn to, is Him. I am beginning to understand that no matter how far I think I get away from Him, He is always there to bring me home. My source of strength, my place of comfort in moments of hardship, the One to give thanks to when the sun is that much brighter, the One to honour and love always.

If you say, "But we knew nothing about this,"
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?
- Proverbs 24:12 NIV

I usually prefer the New Living Translation for it's reading ease, but liked the NIV translation of this passage. Here is the NLT translation:

Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.”
For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

- Proverbs 24:12 NLT

(Bible Gateway rocks!!)

This seemed to be fitting for today.

Give Thanks

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son


And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us"
And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us"

It's not about me.

I heard this one on the way home yesterday. The part that sticks out for me the most...

It's not about me
As if You should do things my way
You alone are God
And I surrender to your ways

Jesus Lover of My Soul
(It's all about You)

It's all about You, Jesus
And all this is for You
For Your glory and your fame
It's not about me
As if You should do things my way
You alone are God
And I surrender to your ways

Jesus, lover of my soul
All consuming fire is in Your gaze
Jesus, I want you to know
I will follow you all my days
For no one else in history is like you
And history itself belongs to you
Alpha and Omega, You have loved me
And I will share eternity with You

Lord, light the fire again...

I heard this while on the way to work this morning and couldn't help but sing along.

Light the Fire Again
(Brian Doerksen)

Don’t let my love grow cold
I’m calling out
Light the fire again
Don’t let my vision die
I’m calling out
Light the fire again

You know my heart, my deeds
I’m calling out
Light the fire again
I need your discipline
I’m calling out
Light the fire again

I am here to buy gold
Refined in the fire
Naked and poor
Wretched and blind I come
Clothe me in white
So I won’t be ashamed
Lord, light the fire again

From a bookmark

"I will praise you with all my heart O Lord my God; I will proclaim your greatness forever"

- Psalm 86:12