Often times, there is a visiting speaker in the Sunday mass who gives the homily, or after communion, gives a speech. You never know what you're going to get. Could be lengthy, could be short, could be right on.
Yesterday, a visiting Priest from Ughanda came to our Parish. His name is Fr. Stan. Stan is short for Stanislaus, and his last name was so long I can't remember it. I gave him my full attention. Stan is my grandfather's name. Anyone with the Stan is good in my book. And true to his name, Stan was right on.
After being educated in the priesthood in the U.S., Stan wen' to a Parish in a French speaking town in East Africa. At first, he wanted to educate the parishioners about Jesus. But he was torn. Just speaking about Jesus was not enough. Stan, along with a group people, felt that providing education, food, and water was the right place to start. After all, this is how Jesus started. Today, Fr. Stan has a mission that educates girls in grammar school and high school.
I felt inspired and filled by the spirit listening to him. We must do the work of Jesus. Besides listening week after week, what are we doing to bring Christ home? There are many things that fill our time, but this should get priority on the list.
While you are enjoying the summer, remember to think about Stan's message and Bring Jesus Home.
Grace & Peace
Tim
Monday, July 13, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
12:34:56 07/08/09
Every day is unique for some reason. On Wednesday of this past week, someone informed me that the time and date numerical sequence was a once in a lifetime occurrence.
Well, if you count both the AM and PM, maybe it occurs twice. Everything happens in time.
For the last month, a local artist who lives on Lincolnwood Avenue has sculptures are on display at the Sears Tower. Mike Finnegan is a persons very patient, creative, and kind. He helps me out with different solutions to construction questions. Mike is a carpenter, a musician, and an artist. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of my own father.
There is an article in this weeks Pioneer Press (Evanston Review) about Mike. In it, he says that creating art is similar to playing a musical instrument. It is a groove that you find and create from.
Apply this to our own faith. Faith, on a shelf, in the family room of your house, is just faith. We have to find the groove apply it, and create it. Jesus did it, and so can we.
Grace & Peace
Tim
Well, if you count both the AM and PM, maybe it occurs twice. Everything happens in time.
For the last month, a local artist who lives on Lincolnwood Avenue has sculptures are on display at the Sears Tower. Mike Finnegan is a persons very patient, creative, and kind. He helps me out with different solutions to construction questions. Mike is a carpenter, a musician, and an artist. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of my own father.
There is an article in this weeks Pioneer Press (Evanston Review) about Mike. In it, he says that creating art is similar to playing a musical instrument. It is a groove that you find and create from.
Apply this to our own faith. Faith, on a shelf, in the family room of your house, is just faith. We have to find the groove apply it, and create it. Jesus did it, and so can we.
Grace & Peace
Tim
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Which Race are we Running?
So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Jesus to the life above - Philippians 3:14
The Parade for the Fourth of July was a wet one. In years past, when it rained, we left. But this rain was light enough to see most of the 140 entries without getting too wet. The hard rain started coming down after float number 89. I wanted to leave along with everyone else, but Joey wanted to stay. There we sat, two chairs, and one umbrella. As we watched the parade, everyone coming down the street would walk up and push candy and gum under the umbrella. There were not too many people to choose from. It was fun and memorable in a way.
The very end of the Parade was a marching band from the South Shore Drill Team. Maybe about 60 Dancers, followed by a huge music cart. The cart had three generators, 4 huge speakers, and a CD player. It took three or four athletic young men to push the cart. It was covered with plastic to protect the electronic equipment from the weather.
When we saw them, music was blasting out of the speakers and the entire crew was performing their routine as if there was no rain. They still had 1 1/2 miles to go, but the were focused on what they had to do.
It was there that I felt the Holy Spirit walking down the street with them. It is this type of dedication that keeps us all connected as Christians in the family of Christ.
Sometimes it rains, sometimes it does not, but regardless of how we feel and the conditions that we are faced with, we need to stay focused on the goal.
Grace & Peace
Tim
The Parade for the Fourth of July was a wet one. In years past, when it rained, we left. But this rain was light enough to see most of the 140 entries without getting too wet. The hard rain started coming down after float number 89. I wanted to leave along with everyone else, but Joey wanted to stay. There we sat, two chairs, and one umbrella. As we watched the parade, everyone coming down the street would walk up and push candy and gum under the umbrella. There were not too many people to choose from. It was fun and memorable in a way.
The very end of the Parade was a marching band from the South Shore Drill Team. Maybe about 60 Dancers, followed by a huge music cart. The cart had three generators, 4 huge speakers, and a CD player. It took three or four athletic young men to push the cart. It was covered with plastic to protect the electronic equipment from the weather.
When we saw them, music was blasting out of the speakers and the entire crew was performing their routine as if there was no rain. They still had 1 1/2 miles to go, but the were focused on what they had to do.
It was there that I felt the Holy Spirit walking down the street with them. It is this type of dedication that keeps us all connected as Christians in the family of Christ.
Sometimes it rains, sometimes it does not, but regardless of how we feel and the conditions that we are faced with, we need to stay focused on the goal.
Grace & Peace
Tim
Monday, July 6, 2009
Growing Up
Several Weeks ago Megan asked if she could take the 'L' to Chicago and State to go shopping with a friend in downtown Chicago on Michigan Avenue. Realizing she had never taken the train anywhere by herself, I offered to ride down with her to make sure she got off at the right spot and headed in the right direction. Before you knew it, she was at the corner of Chicago and Michigan saying - 'Love You - Bye.' I headed home to Evanston, and she was off to see the world.
The train platform at Howard Street was interesting. Life's lessons come where you least expect them. As we boarded the Red Line train, the conductor held the train for 5 minutes as a homeless woman was boarding the same car we were sitting in. Everything she owned was in 8 or 9 boxes and bags that took up several seats. Winter Clothes, Summer Clothes, Lawn Chair, Cleaning Supplies - Everything in one spot. She stood guard over her belongings as the train jerked back and forth an the rails. The girls were a little nervous, but kept on chatting as teenagers sometimes do.
I felt for the woman and looked at her with my sunglasses on. I could only pray that God would comfort her on her journey. In the middle of this woman's bags was the outline of a book. I tried to read the title. It was the Holy Bible.
We don't need much in life beyond the Word of God and our relationship with Him. God is everywhere we go, even on the platform at Howard Street. On the Red Line Train.
Grace & Peace
Tim
The train platform at Howard Street was interesting. Life's lessons come where you least expect them. As we boarded the Red Line train, the conductor held the train for 5 minutes as a homeless woman was boarding the same car we were sitting in. Everything she owned was in 8 or 9 boxes and bags that took up several seats. Winter Clothes, Summer Clothes, Lawn Chair, Cleaning Supplies - Everything in one spot. She stood guard over her belongings as the train jerked back and forth an the rails. The girls were a little nervous, but kept on chatting as teenagers sometimes do.
I felt for the woman and looked at her with my sunglasses on. I could only pray that God would comfort her on her journey. In the middle of this woman's bags was the outline of a book. I tried to read the title. It was the Holy Bible.
We don't need much in life beyond the Word of God and our relationship with Him. God is everywhere we go, even on the platform at Howard Street. On the Red Line Train.
Grace & Peace
Tim
Thursday, July 2, 2009
And One More Thing
Twelve Hour days at work are becoming more normal know. It is not disappointing to have a job, but the demands people in the organization have can be unrealistic. Sitting in a meeting this week, for what I believed would take 15 minutes, we were bombarded with a new 'Process' for the first two hours. It was obvious that the agendas were different.
I wondered on the way home from work.
God's plan is so much simpler, what is on His agenda?
Love one another as I have loved you.
It's a difficult plan to follow some days, especially when we've had it up to our eyeballs with the world, but the reward is great.
Peace & Love
Tim
I wondered on the way home from work.
God's plan is so much simpler, what is on His agenda?
Love one another as I have loved you.
It's a difficult plan to follow some days, especially when we've had it up to our eyeballs with the world, but the reward is great.
Peace & Love
Tim
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