X4J

Just wanted to say a few things

2012-01-08T01:17:00.000-05:00

In the midst of our lives Jesus isn't just a friend but a healer. He is the man who came and was born in the most humblest of ways in a manger then died in the most humblest of ways on a cross. He will carry you when times are tough and things don't seem to go your way. This year Christmas was a busy time for me. I had A LOT on my plate. I was working A LOT in electronics and things just didn't seem to be going my way. The days were long and the work not easy, but it all worked out. A week before Christmas I was just praying for it to be over so the customers would be gone and then I could get work done cleaning and such. In my head I just wanted to write off Christmas, because it seemed like a moot point. I was very close to not putting up a tree and just saying who cares this year it means nothing to me. Then Michelle said some thing that hit me in the gut, she said "Why are you being such a scrooge this year"....and I thought about it. That isn't me, I am known for always laughing, smiling, and just having a good time. So in 3 days I gained back all my Christmas joy, because I realized what it is about. It isn't about the hot item, it isn't about then new game or game system. Those things are nice and it is fun to unwrap things and have cool new stuff. But it is about a baby some thing so simple coming into all of our lives to be born to die and to be raised. I think as people we often struggle to look at things that way. We forget what it is about especially those in retail, because we live in the Hell (for lack of a better word) that is the Christmas shopping season from Thanksgiving/black Friday-Christmas eve. 30 days total that we go into it for 5 days a week at least some even more. But remember what it is all really about The Beginning of our faith.

Another thought, we all have are moments of trouble those moments when we sin a lot. That is life we are all born with the innate ability to want to rebel from what we should do and we try to go along with what society tells us we should be doing. I wish I had the anwsers to say this is how you stop doing things like that but I don't. Some thing that helps me get through those times is this poem:

One night I had a dream--
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.
This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me."
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering.
"When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."

~Bobby

For Jesse and my sister...Fawn

2011-10-14T09:00:00.003-04:00

I usually try to stay out of politics while blogging on here or at least talking negatively about politics. But this isn't a political issue...So I guess I should say I stay away from criticism of our military. But today is a different day. Last night I saw a documentary with a friend....OK more than a friend she is a sister. Let me start with the back story this may make more sense. I have a ~~friend~~, Sister at work. Her name is Fawn Jovingo, we have become fast friends and she is like a sister to me as I am like a brother to her. She had a friend named Jesse Buryj, He was one of her best friends growing up since preschool they were friends. Last night she told me she thought he was crazy the first time she met him because he was kicking and screaming at his mom about going to pre-school. A few weeks before Jesse came up but not by name. I was driving her around because her car is pretty much dead. and we were driving in avondale in canton. Fawn then warned me to watch my speed because the cops hang out in this area a lot and her friend who died used to always get speeding tickets down here. Then we passed the Frisbee golf course in a park where they used to play. Jesse's was really good at it but fawn was not so good, and he used to get mad at her because she could only throw it like five feet. She also said I reminded her of Jesse, because we shared the same personality. Always happy trying to do the right thing and smiling through everything. After a few days Fawn told me this she asked me if I would go with her to a Documentary called A second knock at the door: Friendly Fire. It was about her friend that died...I had the day off because of book club so I agreed I would go.

When we got there I had the pleasure of meeting Jesse's Mom Peggy. She was a very nice women with a very powerful story. She told me about how she kept trying to get Jesse to ask Fawn out on a date, and how he would just say "She's my sister, that would be gross." How they met, what they did together...I heard a lot of funny stories last night about the both of them.

I didn't really know what to expect because I have never gone to what I expect to be a very liberal view of the whole deal with friendly fire. Friendly fire is defined as:

Discharge of a military weapon that injures or kills a member of one's own armed forces or an ally.

I expected a lot of Angry War on Terror messages and undertones but Chris Grims the director the most amazing Job I have ever seen he took a very unbiased stance on the issue. He just wanted to get the stories out there of Wives who lost Husbands, Kids Who lost Dads, Mothers & Fathers who lost Sons. He wanted to show the issues that our own Army has with truly reporting the causes of death of our boys in uniform. He showed that even the army it is a issue of caring more about your promotions and their own personal gain. They left men on the field and they let people die. It is like they are almost scared to tell the real truth and nothing but the truth to the people who deserve it.

What I learned last night is these people are proud of the people they lost in their lives. They still morn the loss of their loved ones but they are proud for what they did, they would of rather had the truth when they died not 5 years later.

Last night I met Jesse Buryj yesterday.....and my life will be forever Changed RIP Jesse, justice will happen!

My facebook status...a year ago

2011-09-12T11:09:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, one of my top role models in life is Bob Rice. We hare a lot of the same faith walk and I really look up to him...some may say obsessed. But anyway about a year ago he had a blog that had this:

"I wish Catholics would:
-Drop everything and pray five times a day like Muslims
-Know their faith like Mormons
-Love the Bible like Protestants
-Have the evangelistic zeal of Jehovah’s Witnesses
-Think of themselves as “God’s People” like the Jews
-Love the Eucharist like we should
Wouldn’t that be somethin’?"

That was it just something to think about I guess. And I sat their and read it and thought wow, that would be something...I should make an effort to do these things...So I made it a goal and my facebook status....they have a side bar thing and I am sure you all have noticed it...they will post your status from a year a go....it occured to me...WOW, that was a year ago. and I look at that and I feel like I have done a few of these things. And already did a few of them at the time and still do. But I have a challenge for all of you...Do These things now that life teen is back this would be a great time to pick back up, maybe you lost a little bit of your zeal from the summer fun. Maybe you missed mass a handful of times. Now is the time to pick it up and start anew. The way of being God's people is this way, to PRAY, LOVE THE BIBLE, KNOW THE FAITH, TEACH THE FAITH, THINK, AND LOVE THE EUCHARIST!

That should be your goal no matter what your age is!

Where were you when the world stop turning?

2011-09-11T07:44:00.001-04:00

Today marks an aniversary of the largest terroist attack since Pearl Harbor. And I just want to share my thoughts and emotions from that day. I was in 5th grade in Mr. Germono's class and we were doing math...well I was counting down the mintues till Gym class. I didn't see any tower hit live, because of our age the princeapal decided not to allow any teacher to turn in on. But they all knew it happened. I found out during lunch when a friend of mine Stephen Fynn told me because he was with the tutor and she told the whole class of nine kids what had happened. It had felt like the world litterly stopped for the rest of the day. Who did it?, Why did they do it?, and How are we going to act upon them? were all the questions in my head. My parents didn't pick me up, We live in Green Ohio not DC, NYC, LA, Houston etc, etc. All Mr. G was allowed to tell us after lunch was "Mr. Booth doesn't think you are old enough to watch the coverage. Even if I disagee he gets the final say. I have to listen to him. But yes we were attacked, and don't be surprised if parents are picking up their kids." A week later Mr. Verdee ( the school counselor) came around and talk to every class. So when I got off the bus. I ran home, my mom was crying on the couch glued to the tv as well as my sister. We watched every second of coverage. My dad came home and we watch bombs get dropped on Afghanistan. I didn't go to bed till about midnight because I was not going to miss anything else. So that is where I was 10 years ago room 16 in Green Intermediate. I remeber hearing about the flight 93. All of those passangers are true American Heroes in my mind. They fought and didn't just sit around and wait to die. Then by an act of God their plane when down in a field. Not on a school, or work building. and then plane that went down on the pentagon. Most people see 9/11 as the planes hitting the world trade centers but that is not the case it is all 4 planes and the many people who lost their lives.

Our Country was given a kick in the @$$, we were told to wake up in not the nicest way possible. So we returned it right back. So people don't agree with the way That President Bush handle the situation on his end. But I do, I think the man had one of the toughest Jobs in America and one of the toughest presidencies in American History. I want to add one more thing.

I will NEVER forget, God Bless America!

~Bobby

After the Fact some great music came out, and it is really how I became super interested in Country music. So I will post a few videos for you all to enjoy. and a video of all the live coverage on that day.

be a lovewell

2011-08-09T22:34:00.001-04:00

So usually it isn't that hard for me to do another blog. But how much I know the KFCD's blog meant to a lot of people. It was a very well written piece....and since I am no journalist to me I have a lot of personal attachment to some thing like that...So I wanted to let as many people experience as possible. But I think pretty much a month later it is time to put some thing else up.

At the fest Mercy Me was one of the Key note performers for the day. They did some amazing songs, and I really like Mercy me, but I am not a super fan. I didn't have any of their Cd's I didn't even know the band member's names. But I do know I can only imagine, hold fast, so long self. Prob. 3 of their biggest hits. So when it came time for them Me and 4 teens (Sarah Schlosser, Taylor Mattingtly D-wal (Dan Wallace), and Nick Carson) and 1 recent graduate (Megan Schlosser) went down to the Most Pit. I mean “Most Pit” in the smallest sense of the word...basically it is just a bunch of people standing by the stage. Mercy Me had a very awesome Set. They did a lot of awesome songs of course the hits, but some new stuff and some covers like Won't back down by Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers. Which is one of my fav. Songs but I never saw it as a song that you could make a Christian song. It was awesome. A video of them doing the song is posted at the bottom. Bart the lead singer also did a talk about how we are loved, no matter what is going on in our world. We have a God that loves us. Midst the Tragedy like what has happened to our economic situation as a Country, The 30 some troops that died, what happened in London just yesterday and today and all of those who died in Copley this past weekend. We have a God that sees past our imperfections and loves us. He created us in his image. But we still need to change, and though we talk about it as Christians all the time. How we need to take action and make a revolution. But it is just words...I want to challenge you all my readers...how ever many I have. I want you to do some thing nice for some one everyday and spread the love. Lets start a revolution. Pray for some one for a week, listen to your parents, make some one laugh, give some thing back to your community. Something, lets inspire the upcoming generations. Teach them how to act so we don't have a bunch of MTV cutouts that think it is ok to get pregnant at 15, or act like some one on Jersey Shore. Lets show them the way Christ wants us to love. Fr. Joe said some thing profound to me at our Catechists meeting yesterday. We are all on the same team, we are all fighting the same fight. No matter if you teacher pre school, or Life Teen. We are fighting against MTV, Justin Beiber, Grand theft auto, World of War Craft, Little Wayne and Beer (I LOL'd at that one). So lets fight the good fight against these things, and instil the positive values of Catholic Christian life. go to Mr. Lovewell.com...and sign up join the movement :)

What I learned at VBS....

2011-07-16T00:35:00.007-04:00

This year Vacation Bible School is officially over...the last Chord was played, note sang, snack ate, craft made, game played, and child picked up. This year we did an entirely different program we wrote our own...and Called it Kids For Christ Days/Camp (depending who you ask :)...well anyway a lot of hours were but into writing/argg. songs and skits. Figuring out the games, crafts and snacks...and it has all been really fun...Instead of doing saints this year we did the parables, namely the Sower and the seed, The good Samaritan, the labors in the vineyard, the parable of the talents, and the prodigal son....the words for the day were Learn and Grow, kindness, hope, share, trust/come home...It was a great topic to cover and me being the bible geek that I am was in heaven. The kids seemed to love it as well many of them said they wish it would go all summer long. Which I can see why, they get to have fun all day, get to have see all of their friends all day, and they get to learn about Our Faith all day. The skits were AMAZING and all written by Ann Schlosser. And she did amazing they all were straight and to the point and helped even me understand the parables....I had an amazing band put together of Ben Garton, Chris Garton, Matt Andreski, and Jordan Seman....and we rocked we had drums, bass, guitar, keys, and an amazing voice. But yet again it wasn't about the music this years word(s) for me was Fellowship, trust, love, honesty, Patience and hope. I had fellowship with my band mates from rocking your grace is enough to just soloing on guitar as Benny G did a sweet drum beat. It was an amazing setting with a stage and a full band...I don't know if any pics were taken but man it was awesome when it came to that. I learned what trust really means and how to give trust back. I had grayson again this year but he was a bit more of a handful (see bottom) but I still loved every minute of it. And at the same time I had to give the trust back Jen was giving me with her son. And trust she trusted me with him. I learned love because I can say that I really did and do love watching Grayson, I see his whole family as a part of my ever growing extended family. I will be bold enough to say I see Grayson, Gianna, and Gabe as my siblings and I can feel a real connection...I learned Honesty because Matt was brutally honest all of the time no matter what it was...which was the best thing for me because I need to know some times I am wrong...and I am not perfect. Just see the bottom for pacence you will understand...and Hope...well there was a lot of hopeful moments through the journey. It started with being hopeful that everything would go well seeing as how we changed music no early that 5 days before....then I was hopeful that Gianna wouldn't drop my guitar because she carried it everyday from music to church across a parking lot... :) Also I can't say thank you enough to our AMAZING VBS director Tara Snyder. She was amazing through the whole process letting people have some creative freedom and not be a control freak about everything and want to micro manage. During the week she was even more awesome and relaxed and then gave Birth to Jack the new baby! He also did a great job of not coming early :) It was truly a blessed week...It was weird though at the same time because Michelle wasn't there and usually she helps but she had summer classes so she couldn't it was quite unfortunate and I missed her at times but she had to be in class so one year wasn't too bad...but she better never do it again...but there is one more reason why it was so amazing.

I honestly could write a whole blog on Grayson from this week, but I am going to try and condense it. This is the last year I will have to watch Grayson during VBS so it was bitter sweet in the end really. Because It is awesome he will get to participate in all of the actives and get to make some new friends. But I will miss having him with me all day in music and such. This year it has been completely different...Last year was easy, I could carry him around he wasn't potty trained, and he was just happy to sit there. This year he is in his terrible two's, can talk, walk/run, and is potty trained,.and doesn't get wiped out at 11:45 like last year. He is also very bashful. But he came around about mid week. Then he just didn't stop but I loved every minute of it. I learned even more this year...Like how awesome kids really are. I started to understand what the plan of meeting this amazing family is. How people can see how well things go through out a week. Even to the point of people asking if Grayson was my son or if I was even related in any sort of way. Which I am not to my knowledge but look at the picture above and you can see the resemblance...it is kind of freaky, and it doesn't help responds soooo well to me...and I seriously have grown very fond of him to the point that I feel like I am that adult male figure that he or any person needs in there life...and it is a great feeling. Apparently Gabe, Grayson's older brother told people I was his big brother (meaning that I was Gabe, Gianna, and Grayson's Big Brother). and then I explained to his friends family isn't just blood it is some thing you feel inside of you. It is amazing feeling to know that a child would feel that way. It gave me a mixture of warm fuzzies and goose bumps. but it is a much more mental feeling of what Family really is. That is some thing else I learned and observed over time in my life. Some times your Family is not just your biological family, but it can be much more. Look at the 12 Jesus Chose some of them were really family and others were the scum of the earth but all were apart of the family of 1st Christians. When I talked to Jennifer about this she really liked the idea it seemed of me taking on that role and I am very fond of that role as well. So we will see what happens. Anyway this was a great week! and I can't wait for next year's planning to begin...
AMEN!

~Bobby

21

2011-07-03T16:18:00.001-04:00

When you turn 21 there is one thing every person who is 21 (for the most part) looks foreward to and that is being able to have a drink and not have to worry about being caught...or having your 1st drink ever...So when I turned 21 just like everyone I was looking foreward to this. But I wasn't going to get wasted and have a hang over the next morning just a drink or two. So I did...this isn't going to be pointless. Most people I know who are crazy and Christen they would say "Wo Wo Way Wo" that is a sin. But it isn't when you become of age drinking a beer or any other adult beverage is not a sin because out Goverment has decided that 21 is a fair age that we are responisble to drink. Other countries don't have an age. It is just apart of their culture. But here in the States we do, so we obey the laws of our God and Goverment. the Sin becomes when you get drunk. In the bible it states in
Eph 5:18 "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit"...When are of age you have to have the self controll like all things. That is the lesson. So yes I had a beer or two...but nothing crazy. I even had to work on my birthday at night so I couldn't really party it up anyway...
Just Remember Jesus didn't turn the water in to Moutain Dew!

God is GREAT, Beer is GOOD, and people are CRAZY,
Bobby

(Fr.) John Corapi

2011-06-21T09:39:00.000-04:00

I remember the first time I heard this man speak...It was late and my Mother almost had a heart attack (not literally) about how she had to watch this priest give a talk...Now I do like listening to talks given by Priests and I do love listening to Certain Priests give talks Like Fr. Larry or Fr. J(ohn) the "Official" Life Teen Priest. But I never have been obsessed...anyway so Listened for a few mins. and I realized this guy isn't my favorite priest in fact I don't like the way he is approaching his ministry...Just not for me sort of thing...When I heard about his problems and acustations I was sort of struck then as the case has developed it seems like he was going to stay quite and let it go see what happens and rely on GOD to take care of it...But as the course of everything took its course he aparently felt as though that he wasn't being treated fairly. Because there are certain rules they have to follow. Now In his speech he said nothing about The Eucharist. He just saw the writing on the wall and said screw it, I can do it myself. But when you look at the saints what made them saints. Their pure obedience to the Church and her ways. Many of them were told no, shot down by their bishops and Mother Superior, or even imprisoned for their work. They kept on keeping on It seemed to me that he is trying to take the high road over the Church and he also critized the church by saying:

"Unfortunately, the process used is inherently and fatally flawed, but the bishops have the power, apparently, to operate anyway they see fit. I cannot give a lengthy explanation of what has transpired, but I can tell you that the most likely outcome is that they leave me suspended indefinitely and just let me fade away. They can’t prove I’m guilty of the things alleged because I’m not, and they can’t prove I’m innocent because that is simply illogical and impossible. All civilized societies know that. Certain leaders in the Catholic Church apparently do not."

As I some times do here is an excerpt of Bob Rice's blog about the subject:

Yesterday, John Corapi announced on his website that he believes that there is no way he can receive fair treatment by the Church regarding this accusation, and that he is leaving the priesthood. He described his thought process as the following:

In the final analysis I have only one of only two viable choices:
1. I can quietly lie down and die, or
2. I can go on in ways that I am able to go on.

He’s missing an obvious third option: 3) Spend time in solitude in a life of prayer as you wait in hope for the situation to be positively resolved.

There are many stories of saints who were censured by their religious superiors unjustly, or even imprisoned! What made them saints was their obedience to the Church and faithfulness to God.

Look, I’m not suggesting it’s easy, and if he is unjustly accused it’s quite a cross to bear. But Jesus was also unjustly accused. And this is a man who has spent his life trying to model Jesus for others by what he says and does.

John Corapi has left the Church and is trying to make it seem like he is taking the high road by doing it. He is confident that some authorities in the Church are out to get him and that he can’t get a fair result. What he didn’t mention is that he’s complicated the investigation by filing a civil suit against his accuser because by accusing him she’s breached a non-disclosure clause that he makes people who work for him sign (which also makes you wonder... why would you need people to sign such a thing in the first place?) He didn’t mention that his religious superior reached out to him and offered him to be a quiet part of the community while this gets resolved, but he never even responded to him.

And he didn’t mention was anything about the Eucharist.

A few hours after hearing John Corapi’s announcement, I was leading worship for Eucharistic Adoration with 1,900 teenagers. Christ was moving powerfully that evening. Lives were changed. Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. John Corapi used to hold that presence in his hands, and he’s thrown it away because he feels his “ministry” is more important.

On his website he mentions that he feels that his ministry will grow larger because he’s no longer a Catholic priest. What he doesn’t realize is that his ministry only existed because he was a Catholic priest.

I’m praying for him, and I’m praying for the many who might follow him out of the Church. I’m also praying for myself and all the people I know who are in ministry, that we might never make our ministry our identity and forget that it’s not about us, but about Him.

I will keep praying for John as he does his ministry and I pray that people don't leave the church over this but they do everything they can to stay Catholic. I also pray that he is doing his ministry for the right reasons not just to prove a point. I support the Church and I know that Priests are people to. Mistakes are made and things happen. But that is no reason for him to resign as a Priest. My hope is that he doesn't keep criticizing the church and her view and that he moves on with his Public Ministry.

Stuff

2011-05-28T15:37:00.000-04:00

Well, Hello there...I haven't seen you in a while...I mean this screen on my computer....It has been a long time since I took the time to blog. Mostly because I have been super busy with school. It is over now and I had a really good semester with a 2.64 gpa, and I don't have to take any classes over. So now it is summer and I have a few goals for this Blog.

1. Try to link what I do here link with all of my Life Teen stuff. i.e. X-treme 4 Jesus Bible Study.

2. Less about me more about God. This has always been a goal of mine and it is always a work in progress

anyway those are my goal 1 really gives this blog a point.=)

So just some quick updates that God has granted me to do:

1. the VBS formally known as Heroes Camp is changing completely and being called "Kids for Christ Days" with that said NOTHING is canned or pre-done so I have been working hard on getting stuff done for that music wise. It has really been a chance to write songs and not just "write" songs but give them a purpose and a place...So far I have a theme song done and one day song written...The only other things I have to do is work on the style of the songs, hold a few practices and chose another song or 2 for mass...

2. St. Mary's Music Ministry "Passion" another endevor I have been on for now about 2 months is playing guitar in St. Mary's band Passion. I was invitied by Marie to come and jam...then later that practice to join the band, if I had time. I wasn't sure if I would do it but I have stuck with it and I love it at this point. It is great to give God my talent to praise him. It has its hardships but everything seems to be going pretty well. I fit in great which is always very important while your in a music ministry band...

It has been an amazing to be able to use my musical gifts in the church...it has always been a goal of mine, I have used it before during heroes camp..but now doing it full time on Sundays has been a great gift. There is something about praising Jesus through music that is amazing!

Easter +

2011-04-24T09:44:00.000-04:00

Today is the day! We have been spending 40 days praying, fasting, and giving alms. Now we awaken with the Risen Lord. We can now obtain heaven; we now are truly Catholic. Some times I wonder what the sandhedrians were thinking at this one moment, the temple was cumbled and built back up in 3 days...The Man they had put to death did all of those things. Come back for more later ya'll I don't have a lot of time to b

~Bobby

p.s. happy easter

Lent

2011-04-06T16:34:00.001-04:00

So I know lent is like almost over, at least 1/2 over...I want to talk about the end that we are all coming to. Now we all gave some thing up probably. And at the end of Lent we will prob. eat, drink, listen to, do...Whatever we gave up...There is nothing wrong if you gave up eating meat all lent to have a big strip steak at the end. But that isn't what lent is about. It isn't about arbitrarily giving up meat not realizing what and why you are doing it and having a full rack of ribs. It is about realizing the sacrifice.  I gave up listening to Bob Rice... mostly because people don't think I can do it, and I didn't really know if I could do it. Since I do Play him a lot during Life Teen, but a lot of that is because When I was making WMV's that is what I had that I could find. So most of it is because of a dare, and a lot of it is because it is a challenge. I also want(ed) to get past my personal stuff, and become a lot more organized...This has been the biggest challenge(giving up b-r) and now it is starting to get to me....I want to listen to and praise to Bob Rice I want to worship to Bob Rice...But Christ died and so I made the sacrifice to not listen to my favorite artist. At the end of Lent I will be more grateful and my musical horizons opened...this doesn't mean I won't play him during praise and worship through lent...because that is 1 a Sunday, and 2 It isn't exactly just for me...but for the group (i.e. Days of Elijah)...It hasn't been at all easy and Not fasting on the Annunciation didn't help. But it was a major feast day and He had a new song on his blog that just rocked and fit so well into what I was feeling during lent. It made me really want to listen to him 
:(...there are just 3 more weeks, and I am sure it is going to challege me but that is not even a drop in the bucket compared to what Christ did on the cross. 

Sprechen Sie Jesus? (Do you speak Jesus)

2011-04-06T16:18:00.001-04:00

I was on LifeTeen.com and i came across this artical. what got me to it was a link in german Sprechen Sie Jesus? meaning i really don't know but it was thing

Dieses ist mein Körper; dieses ist mein Blut meaning this is my body this is my blood. the artical exerpt will get into more detail and i will inculed the link to the whole artical.

4 years ago I posted a blog about an article found on Lifeteen.com I thought it was amazing and I want to talk about it again. Just because I can...This is an blurb from the article sadly it isn't on the website anymore...

"Although I had no idea what this local priest was talking about in his homily I knew exactly what was happening a few minutes later when he lifted the host and then the cup up and prayed, "Dieses ist mein Körper; dieses ist mein Blut." "This is my body; this is my blood."

It was the words of consecration and in German or in English I understood what was happening; Transubstantiation, at consecration the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus. Jesus was truly in my midst right there in Cologne, Germany; just like He is there when I attend a mass in California, Louisiana, or Arizona. Wherever and whenever the mass is prayed, one thing always happens - Jesus shows up, no matter what language is spoken. And that is why I am Catholic."

When I think about this it makes me feel very full inside. Because my friends think about it, We are the only people who can say this about our faith. It is truly Universal. If you go the chapel service in Akron and then go to Christ Community church service (not even 10 mins away from one another) it is drastically different the style, the preacher will preach on something completely different, and the music won't even be close to the same. But as Catholics when you go to mass whether it is at Queen of Heaven, St. Mary's in Mass. Ohio, Nativity, St. Francis, St. Paul's they are all the same. You could go to the Mass in Texas and it is going to be the same. Isn't that amazing? I am in awe of it. How can over 1.1 billion people be on the same page every week, every Mass, and fully in belief... There is only ONE and it is US the CATHOLIC CHURCH amazing, huh?

How to....Study the Bible

2011-03-29T14:39:00.003-04:00

It has come to my attention that people don't know how to study the bible....I will try to get across how I study the bible. Mind you I am not the end all be all on how to study the bible, but you could try my way there are many different resources you could use, there is a book called the bible in 365 days where they do some thing like what I am going to show you but it is a daily bible study that takes about 20 mins to go through daily... Here is my way of studying the bible see if it works for you see if it works for you:

A few things you will need

1 A Bible (If you are Catholic I would say use a Catholic Bible (translation New American Bible, NAB)

2 A Notebook of some kind

3 A pen/pencil ( I prefer pens)

4 A place where you can study your bible where you won't be bothered

* Optional Catechism of the Catholic Church, this will help you see the church teaching on say "Being Saved", or "predestination" This will help your journaling...If you don't have a CCC or a Catholic Bible Come see me...I will hook you up =)...You may also want a diconary to define some terms you come across

Now that you have gathered all of that stuff lets talk about how you pick a verse or a book to study. This can be the most daunting task. There are 73 books in the Bible and some are easier to study than others because of the writer of the book. Lets Just start with some thing easy Romans.

Take at least 5 mins and pray if you need a prayer to open do this one:

Lord I come to you to study your word. YOU Inspired the writers to put these words down. Open the eyes of my hear to see your words and your meanings. I come humbly to you asking for the virtues of Wisdom, Understanding, and wonder & awe. In your name I pray AMEN!

I like to spend time looking at the 4 W's (Who, What, When, Why)...Most of this info is found int he Introduction of the Book.

Who is writing and Who is he writing to?

What is He/She (95% of the time He) writing about, What is the Significance?

When is the writer writing, year...Time period?

Why is the writer writing this letter/Book/Gospel

After I explore all those things I actually read the verse(s)

1st time: Just read it for what it is worth (just read what it says)

2nd time : Read it for context clues what is the writer saying

3rd time: Read it to understand, write what you think the writer is saying

Journal for a bit:

What do you think the writer is saying.

What do you feel about what he is saying

Write what you feel after you read this

Now Lets try it, are you ready?

Get all your stuff together....and

Lets Do Romans Chapter 2:1-2

Start with all of the back round info the 5 W's

Who is writing and Who is he writing to?

St. Paul is writing this book to the Romans of Rome in Italy. What do we know about Rome: It is one of the Greatest empires of all time it reached from Great Britain to India (see Map)

Rome (the city) was a place that had all kinds of sin, it was a place where pagans lived and where early Christians were martyred.

What is He/She writing about, What is the Significance?

He is writing to introduce himself as a Christian (because remember Paul was Saul) to the Christians of Rome. It is his 1st letter it has also been the reason why a lot of Catholics believe what we believe.

Paul's Letter to the Romans is a powerful exposition of the doctrine of the supremacy of Christ and of faith in Christ as the source of salvation. It is an implicit plea to the Christians at Rome, and to all Christians, to hold fast to that faith. (from the intro of the letter to the Romans)

When is the writer writing, year...Time period?

We don't exactly know when it was written, we know that it is after he was converted (see acts 9). We also know that he wrote it while he was leaving the holy land and finishes it after leaving Corinth (a city state in Greece).

Why is the writer writing this letter/Book/Gospel

To inform them that they are living against God in what they do, and trying to get them on the straight and narrow path

Now it is time to read the verse:; 1.) Therefore, you are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment. For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things.
: We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true.; * You can journal in between readings, at least I like to:; What I see from these verses is that Paul is talking about Judgment, and how the Romans judge others who sin, but they do the same things. And how though they judge God is the judge in the end.; 2.) Therefore, you are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment. For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things.
: We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true.; 3.) Therefore, you are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment. For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things.
: We know that the judgment of God on those who do such things is true.; Paul is saying that we are not the Judges and we are all going to be judged on the same level not one person will be on a different level it is all one level. It also says how "you judge another you condemn yourself since you, the judge, do the very same things." So when we judge others we condemn ourselves or in simple terms it is a sin to Judge others.; (Journal)

It is that easy, that simple it is a really easy formula to use to study the bible. The whole processes should take at least 20 minutes to a half hour to work all of this out. Make sure that your Notebook is clearly only for your Bible Studying or religious writings. Also remember That you want to stick with one book and then move to the next if you are going to study the bible traditionally. That way you won't be spending time in Romans & then go to Philippians.

~Bobby =)

Seriously a month....Famous or Forgotten?

2011-03-24T19:08:00.001-04:00

No I didn't give up blogging for lent, but often times it is a struggle to blog...It is a time thing, a who reads this thing, what do I have to say, and a Looking for my audience thing. One thing I have come to realize in the many years I have been blogging is that I am not "famous", this isn't about me, and God is my guide...

I want to address each of these things I have learned (in a 2 part series):

1. I am not always the most humble person, I try to be. And I know this is never about me, it is about Christ. But some times I tend to think, wouldn't it be great to be "famous" speaking at Stuby, being a youth minister other y.m.'s look up to, and Getting paid the "Big Bucks"....My whole life I have dreamed about being famous in some way whether it was as a athletics star, video game champ., speaker, rock star, or Analyst...I think we all dream about that. What are we though we are creatures born to die, it is a simple fact. I think the reason we all want to be "famous" is because then we don't think we will be forgotten. Look at the so called famous who have died. No one remembers them for that long, in 2009 there were a lot of "famous" deaths. Micheal Jackson, Farrah Fawecett, Patrick Swayze, Bea Arthur, Les Paul, Edward Kennedy... the list goes on and on. But how long did Hollywood or the main stream mourn the deaths a week, 10 days at the most...Back at the 2010 Oscars they forgot to put Farrah Fawecett in the montage that they do of all the people who had passed in that year. I also think how long did the familes mourn or did they use it for a publistiy stunt. How long did the family mourn the death some of them 10 mins, the funeral, some maybe still might be mourning the death. But When I heard MJ died I was on my way back from stuby thought WOW, the world has lost a great musician, producer, dancer, singer...But all in all I didn't cry, it didn't effected me as a person. I probably thought it was a publicity stunt and he would come back in a year. Now this isn't the main stream I should make that clear I personally think the Jackson family is very misguided, but I am sure it has happened more.

Life would be great to be a speaker, it would...BUT I am much happier in a parish doing the ministry I am called to do, and if I ever get a chance to be THE guy...I will be grateful and if I am just on CORE for a long time I will be grateful as well. If youth Ministry ever becomes about you in my opinion it is best to leave it for awhile. That is also my philosophy on blogging, music, anything you do...if it gets to be about your personal gain then it is time to step away, or maybe "take one of the team." I think as people we get rapped up in ourselves way too much, what about me, me, and me...I think that is why we have so many men addicted to pornography, so many women worried about vanity to the point of plastic surgery , so many kids that don't know how to share...I could go on and on about all of those things, but I won't. I will say what would our great grandparents/grandparents say a perfect example is that Michelle's mom got a new Rolex "time piece" I call them watches. Now personally I think it is a nice watch, and Michelle's grandma look at her and just scoffed. Michelle's grandma is 88 years old, she grew up during the depression, WWII and was a parent in the late 50's...So we are talking about some one who was taught to conserve and not spend a bunch of money. That generation wasn't worried about being famous, having a lot of money, or having a big house. They just wanted to live in a small house, have money for the simple things, and be remembered by their family.

two is a lot like one; therefore I am going to jump to three in the next blog

~Bobby

Very Full Filling

2011-02-23T16:06:00.000-05:00

Do you like the pun, because I do....seriously this past weekend QofH had yet again another retreat. I love when it is retreat time, some times I think it is what I live for. I was some what nervous about this one though, because we had not really planned a lot of things, and I didn't do AV stuff until Thursday and Friday night. Which is not good because I didn't get any sleep...epic fail, and I am not very proud of that fact. anyway...The retreat was Full Filled: being full with Christ. We had a medieval Camelot theme. And it was awesome. Just enough, not too much and didn't look hokey. It was an Epic retreat. So I will recap from the start.
Love hurts, we are going to have to make tough choices and Love is not always easy. God's love will prevail though.
We need to turn to God Because Our Hearts are restless unless the rest in him, bottom line. We need to go to confession to get the oil off and be fully filled with Christ.

We need to trust God, not just that things will be changed and we will be challeged but that HIS plan is far more important than ours.
Pray for your brothers and your sisters in Christ, it is more than just saying it is doing. Meet share your struggles with one another.
We need to make Christ the center of our lives, he is omnipresent, or present everywhere
We are broken vessels. Do you see what God sees, can you see Christ in others?
This Retreat is not a Graduation, but it is just a beginning a new beginning I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN....as long as there is no B.O. ...LOL..

That is just a short recap of the weekend bullet points. But some times that is all we need to look at those and remind ourselves what was learned. Our King of King; Lord of Lords is here he is present, and he loves us we are beloved sons and daughters in Christ! We are made for greatness! We are Beloved! I know we all wish we could stay on the Mountain a little longer, but we have to come down and show what great thing we learned. We cannot build tents and stay on the top. But we can keep running the race, and participate being religious is not something we can do as a spectator, it is some thing to do. Remember Mr. Feeny's last words "Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do good" I have my own words of wisdom:
PRAY, LEARN, Participate in the sacraments, and You are Made for Great things DO THEM!

~Bobby

Revolution

2011-02-10T11:31:00.001-05:00

This is prob. the best blog I never wrote. I went to mattmahermusic.com and this was posted, Matt himself posted it....I felt that I should share it with you.
revolution....
is a scary thing.
for everyone involved.
When i say that word, you might think of many things. What does that word even mean? The Latin root word is revolutio, which means "a turn around"....the word was first used In astronomy and related fields to describe when one body moves around another ("orbiting")....later it changed to describe rapid social change that happens in a short period of time.
One body orbiting around another. rapid change. Interesting.........
In less than 15 years, i have watched the internet and telecommunications fundamentally alter the way that people process and perceive and relay information, culmination in the advent and summit of social networking.
Yes, i believe we've reached the summit. Why do i believe that? Well, because at this point the only thing that will change is how more integrated it gets into your life. Maybe a webcam in your glasses, or a chip in your head that allows you to interact more....but the concept of being connected isn't going to be any more revolutionized.
So the revolution has happened. But whose side of it am i on anyways? Am i on the side that's counter cultural? That is about "real" connections with people? Or am i just riding the surface with everyone else....
Take the new MTV show, "skins". It's a horrible portrayal of a teenagers life in America today. The irony is, it's based on a show that takes place in England, lol.....so much for continuity....anyways, a parent's group complains, because it's basically a mild form of child pornography, and MTV doesn't back down.
Then Taco Bell pulls their advertising money, and all of a sudden, there's talk of canceling the show. Why? Because in our culture, the revolution will be televised as long as there's money behind it - as long as there's scandal.
So what's the revolution there? That money still wins? So i guess nothing is new under that sun....
Take another revolution - the ones happening in North Africa...
I got in an argument two nights ago on twitter, because i retweeted this statement;
"Hey Egypt, hurry up. You only have three more days until America loses its attention span"
An acquaintance (who i humbly admit was kinda right) accused me of being insensitive to the situation, and not being the best steward of my platform of having 14,000 twitter followers. At first, i thought, "wait a second. I didn't ASK any of those people to "follow" me....and if i can't be honest, then why should i waste anybody's time just tweeting always inspirational (almost on the verge of trite) 140 character encouragements.
So we argued, and i apologized, because i didn't do the best job of respecting their arguments.
Later that day, Kenneth Cole (a popular clothing designer) tweets, "People are rioting in the streets of Egypt. They must have heard about our spring collection"
So yet again, how commercial America is choosing to bring about "revolution" really isn't revolutionary at all.
So what is revolutionary? Is it movements like the rise of Fascist Germany in the 30's, or Communist Russia at the beginning of the 20th Century? A bunch of people following an ideal, following someone? Is atheism truly revolutionary? To join the ranks of doubters and non believers who go all the way back to the beginning of civilization? Is humanism revolutionary? to think that man is called to just "self improve" and evolve to a higher state of being with each other and the world around us?
What about love?
What Jesus did at the cross was revolutionary. Unheard of. One laid down His life for many. Even for those who don't even believe in Him. So we could lay down our lives for others. One body orbiting another. Rapid change......
Is the Church truly living and breathing with the revolutionary love of Jesus at the center? I am seeing it in Christians forming living chains around Muslims as they pray their prayers peacefully. Not the hired thugs in support of a dictator (who has been supported by our Government)...that is revolutionary.
How are we to support the revolution here? Certainly by not ignoring it. But real revolution doesn't start with political rallies; real revolution doesn't start on twitter. Real revolution starts with the human heart, rising up against oppression inside yourself. You're trying to find a place to be really free - from everything thrown at you, just so you can be yourself and not an image of what you think everyone and everything wants you to be.
God, start a revolution in my heart. Let it pour out into everything i do; and inspire those around me to do the same.

~Bobby

March For Life

2011-01-27T20:32:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends,

I want to say a few words about the March for Life. OK maybe a more than a few. The March for Life was more than just going on Monday and Marching on our Nations Captial. It was a time for me to find where I stand on the front lines or in the background. It started Saturday Morning, We left for DC at about 6:30 and had a great trip! I could not sleep at all, mostly because when I get a little sleep I stay awake. It was a great trip, along with a trip to the Holocaust Museum. Which I couldn't really appreciate , because of time. But I did get to see all of the Major memorials in our Country. On Sunday we had mass at a hotel, which included music by tony Melendez, which is not not as good as Bob Rice. It is a close second. Then the sessions started. I learned So much from all of the speakers. going in I knew I was pro-life...but the question was am I going to act on being pro-life. Now I know after listening about the battle that is being fought. That I need to be on the front line and storm the beach with all the other pro-lifers. I went to many breakout sessions that talk about things like starting a pro-life group to Overpopulation and how it is a myth.

**************************************************************************************************************

Now to really talk about the March, I heard a number like 18,000 so lets go with that. 18,000 people marched to tell our government that we don't want abortion to be legal and that it should be illegal. We went from the American History Museum to the Supreme Court. I saw amazing things. Like People chanting, people praying, people with Signs that read things like "I AM PART OF THE PRO-LIFE GENERATION!" One of the most amazing things I saw was a group of about 200 singing "Hail Holy Queen" with a statue of the Virgin Mary. I met Congressmen Renssci, Rob Portman. And the Couple who started the March for Life! I saw amazing things that words can't exactly explain. Beyond just what I did. Seeing a pregnant mother, or a family with a young child touched my heart in ways that can't be explained.

My status from when we got back:

"we came, we marched, we now have a long road of prayer for then end of killing inocent babies...people in general. That is the challenge to every one to do that went. sure it is great to march and be know be covered on news networks...be seen by people and chant chants. But what are you doing when the doors are shut are you prayers to stop it. If not NOW is the time God Bless my brothers and Sisters."

Another Pro-Life quote I love comes from Bob Rice (go figure) "

"It starts with us. It starts with me. I don’t think everyone who is pro-choice is evil. They are as much my brother and sister as the unborn child I’m trying to speak for, or the elderly person who is “useless” to society, or the prisoner on death row.

I want to view everyone, whether they are pro-life or pro-choice, Catholic or Protestant, Christian or atheist, young or old, black or white, or guilty or innocent, as my brother and sister. And maybe my example can help them do the same."

Now it is the time for action sure it is great to march, but a march won't abolish abortion. PRAY will though. The Bible Says "With God all things are POSSIBLE" (Mathew 19:26)

Tonight I sit hear with a few thoughts, like thank God that the march was last weekend, because now there is a bunch of snow in DC. That I am totally blessed that my parents chose life. and that Obama, Obama...you had a Pro-Life Momma!

Peace to you all

Bobby

Cloud the "best dog ever"

2011-01-15T20:55:00.000-05:00

Yo whats up,

Today is the 1 year anniversary of having to put my dog Cloud down. Now sure some of you might just say, awwwe I am so sorry to hear that. But some times that isn't what I want to hear. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I woke up and the house it smelled really bad.

I thought today is probably going to be the day. I had known for months that he was sick and needed some kind of medical care, we didn't have the money. I cherished everyday that we had left together. My dog oddly enough was like my best friend, always there with me. He used to just know when I was having a bad day he would just sit by me. Talk about a best friend, he made sure I would wake up in the morning. But that morning he didn't even bark, I knew something was wrong. When I smelled the dog poop I knew something was wrong. and I saw him that morning and well I knew it. So I still went to school (now I don't think I shouldn't have). I kissed him on the head one more time like I always did before I left. When I went down the drive way I let the flood gates loose so to speak.

Went to school didn't pay attention. I had to stay on campus to go get a passport, and that took longer than I expected. I had to wait for my aunt and was freaking out the whole time. I rushed home and went like 95 on the highway at one point. It felt just at the time. Got home and park my car side ways on the driveway and my dad told me all I could say is I know. I got in the car and just petted cloud until we got there. Then I picked up my dog, held him, and bathed him in my tears. When we got there after we did everything you do when you go to the vet. I couldn't say or do anything besides cry, and pet Cloud. a week before I said goodbye to him and did that whole thing, because I didn't know he was going to last.
I remember going home and going downstairs, I sat there for 3 hours just crying, praying and wondering. I cuddled with the blanket I carried him in the vet with.

My dog had a lot of personality Cloud was the only dog I had ever seen smile. He was a dog that would just make you smile by watching him.

Here is to Cloud "the best dog ever" How missed you are,

Bobby

Goodbye (Emotionally Charged blog)

2011-01-12T00:30:00.002-05:00

Some times I write a blog because I love to write them (even if almost no one reads it). Other times I write them because I have a thought, or a teen asks a question about something. Other times it is emotionally charged. This is emotionally charged.

1st off this isn't goodbye to this blog, it is good bye to some one. My last living grand parent. My Grandma Violet died when My mom was 19, My Grandpa Mechling died when I was 7, My Grandma Rosile died when I was 12, My "step" Grandma died when I was 14. The Only real Grand parent left (that I have contact with) is my Grandpa Al. He has recently lost his sight and quit swallowing I don't think he could read anyway (at least that is the story)...

Anyway, He is really sick with skin cancer. And is living his last days. I have had a heck of a lot memories with him in my life. So I thought I would share a story or two.

The 1st one is just a funny story, when my sister was in 1st grade her class did some kind of a play. I don't remember much but what I do remember is a brought a stuff animal/puppet. It was a Zooble Zoo Character. I wasn't allowed to have it during the show for some reason, so it sat in a clothes basket for the whole show. I watched this "play" and I was waiting to get my stuffed animal. At the end of the show my grandpa stuck in in his jacket and hid it. I remember finding it very, very very funny as a 4 year old. I also remember he came to a lot of our school events as a young child open houses and such. He always seem to have a smile and a joke or a story to tell...some thing to talk about and of course old rail road stories.

Another story I remember is one night when I was around a freshman in high school my grandpa spent the night at my house. My dad was at my uncles so it was my mom, sister and I with my grandpa. All night we stayed up and I don't think I fell asleep until 6 am. My grandpa had me rolling about stories from his childhood, One in particular: He was staying at his grand parents house and their was this girl. He was about 11 and she was 13ish....and well he was walking by a bush and she grabbed him and touched his "peeny wennie"...he when home and told his grandpa and his grandpa asked what he did and he said he ran away...I still laugh about referring to your...as a peeny weenie.

There are hundreds of stories I could tell you...but those 2 are 2 really good ones, at least I think so.

**********************************************************************************

If I had to write a eulogy for my grandpa it would go something like this:

My grandpa was a kind man, He always a joke and a story. I want to share a few laughs that I had with my grandpa, one time at the lake house it was just about the last night and I was getting stuff together and looking for Michelle and he said the pirates got her...now I was tired and not thinking clearly so I just went down by the beach and then I found out the joke was on me...who came up with it all, you guessed it. Grandpa....when I walked back up the stairs and saw that Michelle was right there I just laughed. You all might remember his hunting habbits, I will never forget another year when he brought his old pictures but it was one that you have to click to go to each slide. It prob. was from the 60's and no one new how to use it. When it was found out we spent the rest of the night looking at all these old pictures that for some reason Grandpa was not it any of them...and he didn't take them. Well, then we found out that he had the pictures taken so he would know what happened while he was hunting. There are many other memories I have like when I was real young I would hug him and then he would say "You broke my neck" and then I would proceed to try and "fix" it with an invisible screw driver. Now As I am here I think about all those years and all those days leading up to Grandpa's passing. I remember talking to him the last time, and all he could say was I love you, and that is all I could say. But everything else seemed so insignificant to say. It was like that is all I had to say, that was all that was left. I never remember saying those words in the past few years, and to say that. That was it, and it felt like it was enough. I have spent a lot of time thinking about all those good memories I have, from all those years. One year I will never forget it, during vacation we spent the whole week waking up to go see the coal car drop the coal. Every day the would say we aren't going to be doing that today. But everyday he insisted we had to go see this.
Now I want to share some stories I remember being told, one of which has always been my fav. When my mom and siblings were little they went on a drive with my grandpa, this guy wanted to race them in the car. Now full well knowing where a cop car was right around the bend. So my Grandpa said the first one to turn right down the road wins. and they were off, my Grandpa slowed down right before this guy whipped around and a cop car got him right there. And as they drove past they all just looked out the window and waved. A few more great things about my grandfather is that he had a laugh that would make you laugh. Some times at the stupidest things, like a leaf falling from a tree, only he could find humor in that. I would be amiss if I didn't talk about his love for guns, a proud card carrying member of the NRA, his proudest moments in life I think were when he taught his grand kids how to shoot, I can remember the first time I hit the bulls eye dead on with his bb gun from when he was a boy, the look on his face was so proud that I could shoot and hit the target perfectly. He would get that look no matter what it was, whether it was shooting, school, music, sports. He loved it even if we weren't that good. I think my family would remember all my failed attempts at singing, but every time he would look at me and say that was FANTASTIC! He was a hopeless romantic, who admired love, and he could tell when it was really real. He had a love for the rail road that no one else could match, everything about it. I remember being young and he got these videos from the store, then he wanted to watch them so he sat everyone down, and we had to watch all these shots of trains...He had a smile from ear to ear on his face. Everyone else looked bored and just wanted it to stop. But he insisted we watch every single video. Grandpa lived a very storied life. He always had one to tell. I loved talking history with him for hours it would go on it wasn't just a short talk. It was about every piece every side, every thing. i remember just talking about the Bazooka gun, and how Americans got a hold of a Nazi one and modeled ours after theirs. Because it was easier to use. He loved to show his love for his family. I am sure he could go on and on and on about each grand kid, everything he was proud about. It didn't matter he would talk your ear off about it.

I really feel like the readings explained my grandpa, He ran the race, it wasn't at all easy but he finished...and he never complained. That is one thing I will never forget he could be having the worst day ever, but he would still give a smile.

Learn How to live, and you'll know how to die; learn how to die, and you will know how to live- Morrie Schwartz

The Road Less Traveled

2011-01-08T12:54:00.000-05:00

This past couple weeks have been more than busy, between work, getting ready for school, and Life Teen Starting back up again, along with an Underclassmen Bible Study I am taking the lead and starting on with some great friends. We have a retreat coming up, and conformation going on...I have been thinking lately about the Road Not taken. It is a Poem by one of my favorites Robert Frost.


TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I love the message of that poem. You never know, some times that road that we seldom see taken is the better one to take. There is a tough choice of our teen leaders and some retreatens from on of our Local Schools, Winter Formal and Our Spring/winter retreat are the same weekend. I feel for our Seniors and I understand the struggle. My Senior year winter formal, or My last retreat I could experience.

I feel that in that situation I probably would of chosen retreat, but it would of been a huge struggle. I think I would of also gotten a lot of encouragement from Michelle to go on retreat. The way I see it is yes memories are important, but don't forget what you have learned in past years. You want to finish, Finish the race. You might have bought your dress, Ironed your suite, ordered the corsage or boutonniere. But don't let all of that make your decision. This is YOUR choice! This is apart of discernment. Take it from me, some one who has gone the distance; Who ran with you when you were younger. Just don't be afraid to take the Road less traveled, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

~Bobby

Another year in review

2010-12-31T00:45:00.002-05:00

With 2010 coming to an end I can say what a year. From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows...In every high and every low. though the calm and though the storm. God has been there! Let me share with you some highs and lows of this past year.

The highs
Being on CORE.
Gaining stronger friendships with what I see as life long friends.
Learning what my vocation means...and what God was talking about a long time ago about being a "Father"...and to learn I have been following it...some day I promise I will LIVE it
Going to Disney
The Beatles being on Itunes (as a Beatles fan this is HUGE)
Staying together with Michelle for another year. (biggest blessing I have on a day to day basis)
My dad getting like way better than this time last year.
Embracing my Nerd like tendencies
Getting my first Job

The lows
My dad being super sick.
Having the lowest GPA I have ever gotten
Divorce.
My Grandpa getting worse
Not having a lot of money

In 2010 I have seen a lot more highs than lows...I am truly blessed to have all of you in my life...I am truly blessed to have health and live in a free nation!

May your year be blessed and my you have a lot of good times +

With LOVE,
Afro-Bobby

Remember these words of a famous song of this time of year:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

The refrain is my favorite:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne

This year remember to take a cup o' kindness give something back, and pay/pray it forward

LOVE EVERYBODY!!!

What I learned at VBS

2010-11-21T11:57:00.003-05:00

A quick explanation: this was written to go out about a week after heroes camp, but it had to be shelved for awhile aka over five months later (waiting for a picture that never came the picture above is not it). But the lessons are still there and I guess it all happens on God's time really.

For the Past three years I have done some kind of Heroes Camp review. But this year is a little different. Some how this year I felt more apart of VBS (Vacation Bible School) than ever! It was a great feeling it might have to deal with being 20 years old, or maybe the way I approached it, or just knowing more adult people in the church that I respect and that I have their respect. To look back the first year I can say I learned a lot about playing with other musicians and I figured out how to write out capoed chords, but other than that I was very detached because of football practice, there were some days I couldn't be there, when I was there I had to have to guitars electric and acoustic (outsides and inside, really it was only because i just had got my new epiphone Les Paul and wanted to try it out. Another reason was that I just thought that could work, it didn't because I had to go get my electric every time we went to the church after a long day outside. I learned quite a bit about the Heroes and how the whole thing worked but still we were told when we had to play, what we had to do, and that just has to deal with the person in charge. But any way it was fun but I wasn't sure if I would keep doing heroes camp just because I felt awkward some times during the week, I felt like Some of the other people helping with music that are apart of our church band didn't really see the point in me being there. The next year it was just Our music director Matt Andreski, Kay Metzler, and Myself. The songs were so much easier and more fun to play I felt more connected because I had to miss one day, instead of 2 or 3. I felt Matt and I were on the same wavelength and understood what we were bringing to the table. fast forward year later.....

This year the Heroes were Abraham, Zacchaeus, Moses, Mary and of course our hero of heroes Jesus. We had new leadership in Tara Synder, and she did amazing! The Music was quite easy but the highlight of the week had nothing to do with music. It deals with a one and half year old named Grayson, He is the Child of Jennifer Hudas, she teaches in Green and was helping in snack. She couldn't watch Grayson and help with snack mostly because the time didn't allow for it. They were suppose to have babysitting like they have had in the past, I guess no body volunteered to do it. She had a few different people watch him at first. Then I was in the PAC (Parish Activity Center), because we weren't doing music and it just seemed like a good idea to stay and help with some thing. So i went to snack, and saw that some help was needed down stairs, first I helped Tammy Boyea wash celery and then she cut it. then I was just talking to a teen Sarah Schlosser and her friend; whose name I do not remember and an older lady, that now I forget her name. I saw that a teen Sarah was trying to look after this little guy, his mom had to leave and help with snack, Grayson got out of her arms and chased after his mom, and ran into a door and bounced off of it practically. No blood that was a good thing. I sat down in the main room of the PAC and he started handing me teddy grams. I picked him up and set him on my lap and he seem to respond well to me, I continued talking to Sarah and her friend (again I don't remember her name). We went up to the snack area and his mom asked me if I could babysit during Heroes Camp the rest of the week. He wasn't there Tuesday, and Wednesday on account of how divorce works :(. But Thursday I didn't know how it was going to work, was he going to sit still, was he going to listen, or would he be all over the place. It worked out amazingly, he loves music and just sat there and listen watched my hands move the strings bend and put his hands on the guitar. This might be daunting to some people but for me it was really cool! I made some great memories and got to know some teens really well, I also got to learn the easy parts of Fatherhood, the holding and saying no, making a child smile. The thing that got me most is how close I got Gracen, over three days. He grew on me He has two older siblings that also were very cool Gabe, and Gianna. When Jen thanked me, I told her it was my pleasure and an honor (It really was).

It was a great week were the music didn't seem to matter as much that is all a blur to me really. Besides Red group breaking out in song when they weren't suppose to do music on Thursday, because of taking the group picture. They all got tickets for that. I learned some things I didn't know this week, I got to talk to some teens. I got pretty good at Core to teen ministry with people I didn't know. This past week was awesome! Praise Jesus for People stepping up to lead Heroes camp and be great examples!

So I guess what I learned in VBS was about Life and how to hold a young toddler, how to talk to kids, which yes is some thing I have forgotten over my teenage years, and a very short preview of parenthood!

**************************************************************************************************************

Fast foreward about a month later at Funfest. I had seen Jen, and her kids along with meeting her Parents. Of course that means I saw Gracen, and it was wonderful...he was still cute and all. Then it hit me, I need to write a song. A song for Grayson. Now, up until that point I thought I was done writing songs for people who I had met, and love songs (though I love them I have written at least 50 in three years). I was happpy with just writing worship for awhile...even that was getting manganese But after I learned a bit more about the situation, and such it occurred to me that this song had to be written. I can't give anything no money, I can't fix things, I can't do much....I can love, and that was enough for a few weeks. In the long run I might not see him more than for a week once a year, and sporadic Sundays though out the year. I am a song writer and a person all I have is wisdom passed down from my father and his before him. Since Gracen's dad isn't willing to give him his wisdom I will give him mine.
Here are the lyrics:

Grayson's Song

Little Guy

I know your young but you already know this world is right and life ain't easy
I am 20 years old and I still don't have all the anwsers
All I got is some wisdom pass down to me I pass it to you

All ways better yourself don't take a step back
Hold your ground don't give up give some thing back
If you fail pray, and get back up God will provide he will provide
Be a simple man don't cheat on anything, love your Wife, and your God
Try work, hard, and do the best your can

When your my age you won't remember all that you gone though before you were 2
Remember God's always there and he is taking care of you

All ways better yourself don't take a step back
Hold your ground don't give up give some thing back
If you fail pray, and get back up God will provide he will provide
Be a simple man don't cheat on anything, love your Wife, and your God
Try work, hard, and do the best your can

Bridge
Grayson this is all I can give to you
All I have these words of wisdom
Pass down to me, I pass them to you

All ways better yourself don't take a step back
Hold your ground don't give up give some thing back
If you fail pray, and get back up God will provide he will provide
Be a simple man don't cheat on anything, love your Wife, and your God
Try work, hard, and do the best your can

ad lib end
ex:
(Your mom she loves you I can't speak for your dad,
I know that you are young but....)

~Bobby

I might be obessed but he is my role model...

2010-10-25T21:25:00.001-04:00

I am a super fan of Bob Rice, his music has just spoke to me since I 1st heard it. Then I heard him speak, and then read his writings. I even saw a show on ETWN with him on it called Catholic Compass. It was all about youth ministry before the Life Teen year began, and I learned a lot. When I started thinking about getting on Core and into youth ministry, I felt like it would be great to have a role model though I have one at Q of H, some one to look to and say if I need some one "famous" to look to that is who I would look to. Like Some one saying the Beatles influenced them, but they never met The Beatles. The difference is I met Bob Rice, I didn't have my camera... :(

Anyway, coming off the retreat...I felt really good about my teaching, how I did it, how the retreat went, and I felt God was telling me that this could be my future, being a youth minister...I can't really argue with God, I trust some day his plan will happen. As I have posted the retreat was awesome! I checked Bob Rice's web site just to see if he had posted anything new, and he posted this blog. Again, it felt like he was speaking directly to me. This blog gave me a lot to think about. Most of the time when we with of "successful" youth ministers at least I think of the people where their Job is to go around the country and speak. You can't force that though, God qualifies you to do so, would it be great to be one of those people? YES!, will it happen God only knows...I can say I am following my vocation, and some day, God may call me to be a ym. I don't see my self saying no to that!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had a number of young people ask my advice on how to “do what I do”, namely, being someone who travels around the country/world as a speaker or be successful at playing music/making CDs, etc. My first response, which I think is the most important, is: I’m probably not as “successful” as you think! It’s hard to gage what “success” means in ministry, because God’s definition is so different than the world’s. As Mother Theresa once said, it’s about “faithfulness, not success.” But I think one way to define it is that you get an opportunity to do what you love to do, and in turn you make enough money off it to support your needs. If that definition fits, then I’m grateful to God that I’m “successful.” But if you’re looking for a “I’ve conquered the world, I’m the best in my field,” then no—you’ll have to ask someone else. I’m more than happy to share some advice I’ve learned along the way. My advice comes from my own experience and, though two people’s experience will never be the same, I think the principals behind them are foundational. My faith journey really took off in high school when I started attending my local youth group. If you met me in high school, I don’t think you’d peg me as someone with obvious leadership qualities. I was socially awkward, naive, and at times would say insensitive things. But the Bible is filled with under-qualified people who God transforms to do His will. I was certainly one of those people. “God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.” I became very active in my youth group. I attended everything. And I tried to bring what I learned into my everyday life. This is an important step that sometimes people tend to skip! They hear the Good News and want to proclaim the Good News without realizing it’s most important to live the Good News. In today’s Office of Readings, St. Gregory the Great wrote, “Whoever fails in charity toward his neighbor should by no means take upon himself the office of preaching.” Good advice for all of us. As I got older in youth group I began to volunteer for anything I could do to help people come to Christ. When I got to college, I’d spend summers at Christian Camps and volunteered for a local youth group in the area. I never had a big ambition about it, I just wanted to help people spread the word of God’s love. Then someone from Steubenville saw me doing these kind of things and asked me to come help out with the Steubenville Youth Conferences... and they paid me! I would have framed the check, but I really needed the money :)

I moved to Steubenville to do youth ministry, but also to learn more about my faith. Though I never thought I’d get a Master’s degree in Theology, I was excited to learn more about what it means to be Catholic. That wasn’t new for me: all along I would read books about understanding the Bible, I’d ask lots of questions to priests and youth ministers, and I bought the Catechism the day it came out and read it cover to cover. Now I’m excited to work on my PhD. The faith is so simple and yet there is so much to know! Never think you know enough, whether that be as a speaker, a songwriter, or a musician. The people who are really successful are the ones who are really smart and work hard to get better at what they do. From working the Steubenville conferences I started getting asked to speak/play music at other events. Now here’s where my story differs from some other people I know. There came a point where I realized that, with a little work, I could probably do this full time and make a decent living at it. That was the direction God called some friends of mine (like Steve Angrisanno or Matt Maher), but that’s not where he called me. I liked the day job. I loved being a youth minister and now I love being a college professor. Though there was a part of me that was excited about being on stage and traveling more, I felt more peace about not doing it as a full time profession, but as something I do on the side. I feel that was from God, and God really blessed that decision. So that’s how I got to “where I am”, wherever that is! So to sum up what I’ve said, I think I can share the following five pieces of advice:

1)Remember that it’s not about how talented you are. God doesn’t need your talent, He wants your heart.

2)Make sure you are living the Gospel before you start preaching about it. (That doesn’t mean you have to be perfect, or else no one would be able to preach! But it does mean that you are seeking holiness, you repent when you fall, you love those around you.)

3)Say “yes” to every opportunity that you can to help others share the Gospel.

4)Keep getting better at what you do: continue to learn about the faith, practice being a better speaker, be a better musician, etc.

5)Just because you have an opportunity to do more doesn’t mean you should take it. The devil can open doors, too. Discern God’s will through prayer, not circumstance.

6)Don’t be ambitious. Don’t treat one ministry opportunity as a “stepping stone” to another. Every opportunity to share the Gospel is the best opportunity. There is no difference to God between an audience of six thousand or six. Each soul has infinite value. God will put you in the places He wants you to be, and remember that He has a different definition of “success” than you do. And PS, you don’t need to wait for an invitation to share the Gospel—there are plenty of people around you who need to hear about God’s love! Speaking of love...

7)Love the people you meet. Hands down, the coolest thing about traveling around is the crazy cast of characters that I get to know! I guess this ties in with the previous point. Just like you shouldn’t treat an event as a stepping stone, don’t treat people like “good business contacts.” We’re all brothers and sisters in Christ, trying our best to share the love of God. Some people you will like more than others—that’s just human nature. But in the end, we’re all sacrificing a lot to do the same thing.

Hope that helps! I’ll throw an invitation out to other folks in the ministry world to see what they have to say about it, too.

And two more pieces of advice:

Not just friends, but family

2010-10-21T08:53:00.001-04:00

With the close of my 1st retreat as a full time Core member finished and spending some days of reflection upon it. I thought how could I honor my Family. So many times in emails we refer to each other as Family. It is very true, we get into disagreements, say things we don't mean, get annoyed with each other, pick on each other, but at the same time we encourage each other, we can just look at each other and start laughing... We also see a lot of each other! We are family, and my extended family doesn't always feel like a family. It is sad but true. I am so blessed to have a family like this, along with Michelle's family, that I can rely on when I need some encouragement!
Today I want to give an affirmation to all of my Core family!

Paul Dillick: Paul, we have had some great times, and some disagreements about little things. But I am blessed to work with a ym who has a passion and a joy for what he does. I have learned so much in our short time together thus far. Who knows what is going to happen in the coming years but I think it can only get better. You are doing a great job as the y.m. so far, keep up the good work.

Susan M. aka Mom: Mom, you have totally been a Mom the past few years when I have needed one, and it was my pleasure to be in small group this past retreat. I am glad you were able to give me things to work on in small groups. Your kids are great, and it is really a reflection on how you and Joe have raised them. You are truly a blessing for our Core family.

Jenny P.: Jenny, it has been great to be able to work with you so far this year. I can honestly say that the Game Plan For Life small group is where I first really got deep in my faith, you were my small group leader along with Matt Orn. Thank you for being a great Core all these years.

Beth B: Thanks for your years of service in the youth ministry at QofH. You have a great ability to get the teens to listen and pay attention some thing that I love to see. You have inspired generations of kids, and some of them are now on Core. You have been great helping me along the way from a teen to a Core.

Todd W. You have added a lot to Core this year so far. It was great to be able to work with you on this retreat. I can't wait for all the Life Nights and fun moments we have left. I am glad I had Tyler in Small group, and I can tell you have done a great job raising him! It was great to play opposite of you during the skit. I can dance circles around you...

Marie G. Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii MAAAARRRIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!! You have been awesome on Core this year. And I know some times you feel that you might have betrayed St. Mary's, but God has a plan....A reason why you left there and came here, you might not know that plan yet, but I am sure it will make sense some day. I am really glad you have come to Queen of Heaven, and have been so great at teaching but making it fun. I was honored to play Satan in your skit...it isn't that I was Satan, but that there was no panic that I ad libbed half of the skit.

Mike S: It is a blessing to have you on Core, I am very glad I am able to learn from you. I am excited for the years to come. Thank you for running our sports ministry I know soon the numbers will take off. Then we might have to have 2 games going on at once. :)

Sue B: Sue, it amazes me the way that you have grown though the years on Core, I remember your 1st year and you were timid about doing that. Because you signed up to be the support of the support. Now, you have really become a very important part of the family. It is great that you can deal with Nate easily, some times it is a struggle for some of use.

Vicki F: I am glad you finally made it on Core, it is great to have you as a part of the family. Though you might be shy, a lot of Core started out that way. Then they got less shy. It is just going to take Time. Great job this weekend.

Charlie E.: Charlie, it has been great to get to know you better from the past couple retreat, especially this one. I am glad that you are still on Core; I can understand why you wanted to take a step back and let Brendan get used to Life Teen.

Ben S. Ben, our friendship reminds me of the beginning of the tale of two Cities:
"IT WAS the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way- in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."
I know we have had our rough times, but we have gotten though them...and learned from it. I am glad we are back on track, I am sorry some times I can be bullyish, I it is a habit sort of, just say no...It is great to work with you on Core...You were the best defensive player on the Field during the game on Saturday, NFL Caliber. I can't wait for the years we have left to work together!

Janet W.: Great Job this weekend! I am glad that we were able to find the burning bush, it added to the adoration even if I don't really like it, it happens not to be about me :). I am sorry I wasn't there for your session, I had to get ready for adoration music and such. I am sure it was great!

Russ V. : Russ, if any one has grown since starting on Core it is you. I remember your 1st retreat, where you might of told some inappropriate jokes to a few teens. To being a strong Core member that the teens listen to and respect, and don't just see you as a friend. You are a great man of God, and it was great to be apart of your session

Chris M. Critter, you surprised me this weekend, in a very good way. I wasn't sure just going off some of the Teen Core issues that arose. If you would do a great job and you did. Keep up the good work. It was great to have the connections that you have, and it was great to see you doing really good relational ministry!

Kris W.: Great Job this past weekend, I loved how you got all the teens down on the floor and had them listen that way, it was diffrent. I love being able to work with you on Core, you are so easy to work with! I am glad that you do all the service projects and the Money, I have no idea how to do that stuff. So, luckily we have you.

Father Dave: Every Great program stems from the support of their Priest, and it is great to have a Priest that supports us 110%! I love your homilies not just for retreats, but for every mass. Thank you for supporting Life Teen with so much vigor. To even go on our white water rafting trip, and try to be at Life Nights.
I am that you really are apart of Life teen and not just a Figure Head! Thank you for your years of service at QofH

Mike Boyea: Dude, Boyea! Thank you for helping me so much along the way in the transition from teen to Core. I am so glad that you have come back to Queen of Heaven; I used to look at the church directory and see the "Changing Gears" retreat picture. For some reason you always stood out to me. I used to think "hmm I wonder why he isn't on Core anymore, he looks like he could of been awesome." A few years later that same guy was down stairs...then in the same small group I was during the Unstoppable retreat. I learned soooo much from you that retreat. I honestly think you came back for a reason and you are living that reason now. I can't say thank you enough for asking me to be your assistant for the spring retreat last year. It gave me a vocation that I am living and loving. We make a good AV team, because honestly with out you I would still be lost. Thanks for letting me make bald jokes. Your wife and kids are so awesome; Bridget and Gretchen are great little sisters! You truly are my brother from another mother....and decade for that matter :)

Retreat support: You all did an amazing job this weekend. It was awesome, and I can't wait for the next retreat. You all are in my prayers

I love my family!
Afro Bobby

Virtuous Reailty

2010-10-19T22:17:00.002-04:00

In today's society we live in a reality that doesn't feel very virtuous. Every movie seems to have a sex scene, or at least 1 bad word. This past weekend I was apart of a retreat that explored is that the reality or is there a virtuous reality.

So, I am going to give a quick breakdown, share some memories, and just reflect on this awesome retreat.

So there are 7 virtues in the Catholic Church.
Faith
Hope
Love
Prudence (wisdom)
Fortitude (Courage)
Justice
Temperance

This was my first retreat that I had a hand in planning a lot of it. It was different that just being an adult on the retreat, totally different than "Teen leadership" aka Teen Core, and really different than just being a retreaten (person on the retreat).
Mostly because:
I had a small group (Ft. Fortitude!)
I ran all the AV and did all the work for it (it was worth while)
I had a session (which was amazing)

For the first time, I was an adult in a small group, the other Core with me was Susan M., our group from the get go was very connected and all seemed to want to be on retreat. We made the room into a fort and our virtue was Fortitude. Hence Fort Fortitude. I know for me, some times I talked too much, and made some rookie mistakes. It was awesome to have the grow in relationships with teens this weekend, I had 1 teen in my group I didn't already know. It was refreshing to really be able to go deep in small group, even though a teen lost her (Sarah Schlosser) voice. There wasn't one person who wasn't willing to share some thing in the small group.
I saw some of the biggest transformation in teens I wasn't sure about. They were all awesome! I have gotten feed back from parents, that said "My Son was so happy to have you as one of his small group leaders, and he might even go to the spring retreat!"

Because this retreat was a Hollywood theme it was kind of AV heavy, and though we tried to use both screens, but 1 projector was broken, and 50 feet is a long way for a signal go travel though a cable (we will get it next time). I tried to have some thing on the screen at all times, and music playing when it was meal time.

In the past we would have Sent Forth (our ministry band) do the music for adoration. I am a firm believer in every one has their gifts. And for S.F. doing the music for adoration 2 times a year just didn't seem to be one of them. So I "asked" if we could just use canned or recorded music. Some people liked the idea others didn't. But we did it anyway, and it went really well. All the songs were very appropriate, and there were a lot of people singing to Our Lord. But looking back I wish I would of started with the Prepare the Way/Lay it down combo from Bob Rice's CD "You Came to Me".
It would of been perfect for the way we did it, but God had other plans, and the spirit moved in my heart to just do Lay it down by Matt Maher. Everything was going great, it was truly powerful. Then the song I love you lord started to play during the procession. At the end of the song I forgot I put a random Picture of a puppy, it looked cute and it made me smile. Well Kris Wagner saw it and started laughing, and a lot of other Core were laughing. I just looked up and said God you are funny, very funny. It was one of my favorite moments of the retreat.

I am going to put some of my teaching in this blog. To explain when you are up on the stage, sometimes you just say what is on your mind, it is the Sprite running though you.

Fortitude

The movie “facing the Giants” is all about Fortitude. As we saw Brock is a Leader and Captain on the Team. He wasn’t very courageous though, he did not know how to use the gifts God had presented him. He relied on himself, instead of finding his strength in God. He only thought he could get to the 30 yard line, but he got to the end zone. The bible says that God will not put you though anything you cannot go though. I am not saying it is bad to rely on your friends and family when you are going through a tough time, they cannot bear your cross. There is only one man who can, He is on the cross right now. Without God’s strength we have none. You have to lay it all down at God’s feet, that is where are fortitude comes from, Amen?

Do you all take care of your temple, that is right we are temples of God. The bible says so. Our Temple is a place of honor and a way to praise God. You can work out, by walking, running, lifting weights, eating right.

You can’t just do it physically but spiritually as well. One of the best ways is to go to the sacraments. Go to Mass, Adoration, and Confession. You don’t have to go by yourself either. The Bible says that if two more are gathered in his name He will be there. If you need a ride or someone to go with, call up a Core Member. It is a part of our job as youth ministers to get to the sacraments. You could join another church ministry other than Life Teen, Like the Little Rock Bible Study, The Choir, help at PSR, or the Pro Life Group. We are blessed to have so many ministries at this parish you can join. Take advantage of it. The last thing you can do is to fine a devotion that works for you. There are a lot of different ones you can do, The Rosary, Divine Mercy, praying a litany, Liturgy of the Hours, Finding a saint do the devotion they did. One of my fav. saints is:

St. Max. Kolbe was born in 1894 in Poland and became a Franciscan. Before his ordination as a priest, Maximilian founded the Immaculata Movement devoted to Our Lady. After spending time starting many monasteries across the world he had poor health and returned home. In 1936 he returned home because of ill health. After the Nazi invasion in 1939, he was imprisoned and released for a time. But in 1941 he was arrested again and sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. On July 31, 1941, in reprisal for one prisoner's escape, ten men were chosen to die. Father Kolbe offered himself in place of a young husband and father. And he was the last to die, enduring two weeks of starvation, thirst, and neglect. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1982. His feast day is August 14th.

In Mary’s life she showed fortitude a lot. One of my Favorite stories in the bible is the Nativity story. Take a minute and think about all the ways Mary showed fortitude. 1st off she had carried a baby for nine months which is a feat in itself, I don’t know how women do it. She was between 14-17 years old, Joseph and her were supposed to have a special Jewish marriage where you don’t make love. I am sure there was a lot of gossip going around. She also had to travel to be counted in a census, that Cesar was having every one do. So she had to travel on a donkey. Then there were no vacancies, she had to go to a manger. There were cows, sheep, chickens, straw. Then she gave birth, with no drugs, epidural, nothing to ease the pain. She did not know who was going to be there. But she trusted God, and had the fortitude to do it.

The opposite of fortitude is giving up; there was a time in my life where I thought about giving up. There was a time in my life I had hit rock bottom. I was in middle school and a lot of things were changing in my life. My parents’ marriage was falling apart, my grandma had just died of lung cancer, but I blamed myself. My mom also had a surgery that put her in a lot of pain. I was getting in fights at school, acting out in class, and the principals’ office was my second home. I stole, lied and cheated. I felt like God wasn’t there and I had nothing left to give. A million times I thought about ending it all and killing myself. I thought of everything from putting a bullet in my head, to cutting my wrist to even jumping off a tree and breaking my neck. I struggled for two years, but I am way over it, I found my strength. What I am saying is there is hope; there is a place that you can find strength, and it is right here. At Queen of Heaven, it has become a second home for me. Suicide is never the answer, the people you will meet here can help you though everything you can face. The Core here are some of my best friends, I learned over my four years that my strength my courage lies in God.

This retreat opened my eyes to a possible career path, I am not going to transfer schools and major in it, but if I ever get the chance I would take it! I feel that God has made me to great things for him. I grew a lot as a Core member this retreat and it has been unbelievable. I even had a teen who I didn't even know, come up to me and ask if I could burn her a CD of some of the music from this weekend....How could I say no!

You are my prince of Peace and I give my life to you,
~Afro Bobby

p.s. here is our theme song Prince of Peace as sung by Bob Rice

Life Teen...thus far

2010-10-14T09:10:00.000-04:00

Hello friends,

I am sorry that I haven't blogged in the past month. School is crazy, Life Teen has been time consuming, PSR is well PSR. In short I have been busy. After the Retreat this weekend I will once again Blog.
The Fall retreat is this weekend and well I will put my teaching up, and something awesome as ussal.

Check ya later,
Afro-Bobby

I want you.....but

2010-09-09T16:27:00.000-04:00

When it comes to the trinity and religion in general you can't just have peices. often we think we can have parts. I want a Little grace, a little forgiveness, put in some prayers from the saints. I don't want to give anything though, I don't want to give my self to Christ I don't want to give my time to be on Core or teen Core but I want to be there and up there, I want to come to 1/4 of the retreat because my school made it to the State Championship. Some times I catch my self praying Jesus I love you but...I also love this. Then I stop and say but Jesus I really love you. In today's post modern culture, we see this a lot, a lot of buts. We believe in religion, some of the doctrine, not all of it though.

Think about the Story of the rich young man in the Bible, he walks up to Jesus and asks I have all this money, all this power, all this fame. What do I have to do to follow you and Jesus says: you know the commandments, sell everything you own. But when he herd this he became very sad and walk away because he was very rich.

That is how a lot of us are but it isn't money it is sin. Jesus I want you but I just don't have the time to learn who you are, or I want to go on that retreat, but there is a big game coming up that I can't miss, everyone is going to be there it is my last year and I am entitled to do what I want when I want to, I am a senior. I want to help you guys out I am just not willing to give up my Wednesday nights to help. I love you wife, but I also love looking at porn.

St. Paul put it this way:

Now those who belong to Christ (Jesus) have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24)

To really be passionate and Christen you have to give up the desires you have and live for Christ. Tom Booth, a very successful Catholic worship leader, when he was fresh out of high school said in prayer, I don't care where you send me Lord, as long as it is not in Youth Ministry, well he is also was in youth ministry before his music broke.

You cannot be like a divided plate where your corn and beef don't touch, or Religion and personal life. You have to let them go to together and truly follow Jesus

~Bobby

Purgatory

2010-09-01T20:56:00.000-04:00

First off I want to apolgize that I haven't been blogging recently, my computer is on the fritz, and I hate typing on netbooks, there fore I have been in a sticky situation, my dad's girl friends laptop also wasn't working properly. Now it is so I am using a diffrent computer. Also school has started so I have that to deal with...just an fyi the new blogs will prob. be posted Monday and Wensdays and possiable Friday...those are my super short days.

Anyway, like I stated in the Blog about Heaven. I started this because of a question posed by a Teen which was simply "What is Purgatory?"
The Catechism simply says:
All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

'The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:
As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come. (1030-1031)

That is really a lot to take in. Let me break it down easier. Purgatory is a place for people who died in the good grace of God (no mortal sin) but still have some veinal sin, and need to be cleansed in a holy bath with the holy sprirte.
What is mortal and veinal sin?
Mortal sin is sin that kills your chairity and your chances of going to Heaven if you do not repent
(CCC 1861)
Veinal Sin weakens charity and stops the progress of exercieing the virtues and practices of good, it is a temporal punishment. It doesn't break the covenant with God. (CCC 1863)

You can't go to hell from purgatory only heaven. It is a infront not and inbetween.
So because it is an infront, you can't go to hell from it.

Another way of thinking is it is a "Holy Bath of the Holy Spirite" You are getting the last bit of sin off of you so you can go up to see Jesus.
That is a quick look at purgatory
~Bobby

Heaven...the happiest place not on earth

2010-08-12T23:05:00.000-04:00

After talking to a Teen in Life teen Sarah Schlosser at The Fest, I had my 1st Core "home work" given to me by a teen. We were talking almost all things Catholic, vocations, prayer, and purgatory. In the Midst of anwsering her question which was basically what purgatory is. I thought how cool to be a 3 part series on Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory.

I am going start with Heaven, the Happiest place not on Earth.

A lot of people have there "version" of heaven. For some people it is just a paridies that you go around and talk to your friends from earth, hang out, and have fun. Other People it is just a place, they aren't sure what it has to offer but you get to meet Jesus. When I was young I imagined Heaven as a place where you see all the generations of your family, like a family reunion, and you spend the rest of your days learning about them. Anytime you hear some one who has had a vison of heaven it is like mass with evey one present, God at the Head with Jesus, and the Holy spirit next to him.

If you are looking for a blog that says, Heaven looks like this, it smells that this, and this many people are here. This is not one of those post, nor will there ever be a post like that unless I go to Heaven come back and can right that post.

To understand Heaven we have to look in the Bible and the Catechism. The bible doesn't say Heaven is like this or that, hence all the intereptaion. But we can look at what Church teaching and the Bible says about Heaven. Lets start with how you get to Heaven, The Catechism says this about Heaven, Those who die in God's Grace and are perfectly purified live for ever with Christ. They are like God For ever, for they "see him as he is," face to face (CCC 1023). Now, we learn from a young age that the only way we can go to Heaven is though Jesus, if Jesus was not born (the incarantion), did not die on the Cross (the Crucfixion), and the after 3 days rose (the Resurrection) we could not have eternal life, in other words Jesus "opened" Heaven to us...He partners in his heavenly glorification those who have believed in him and remained faithful to his will...in othe words heaven is the blessed community of all who are perfectly incorporated into Christ (CCC 1026). So to anwser the first part Heaven is a place for Christ's followers.
In the Gospel of John 14:2 it says "In my fathers house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, I would have told you that I am going to perpare a place for you."

Heaven is also a place where God shows us his true self, all the the mysteries get anwsered. The Catechism states "Because of his transcendence, God cannot be seen as he is, unless he himself opens up his mystery to man's immediate contemplation and gives him the capacity for it.

Heaven is a place where God shows us his true self and for those who died in God's "good graces", and for people who followed Christ. For people who might of not died in God's "good graces", and need to purified, there is Purgatory. We will explore that next

~(Afro-)Bobby

Waiting

2010-08-10T12:38:00.000-04:00

The title is simple and the thought simpler. Most of our lives we spend waiting for some thing or things. School to start or end. For Christmas, our birthday, Movies, a CD and Books to come out. I can be very impatient (ask Michelle). Part of it is our world and post modern Culture is all about instant gratification, what I can get now and fast. The other part is I just don't like waiting. I think it is a waste of time, I really don't like lines because we wait, wait and wait. One thing that was great about the premier of Eclipse is there was no waiting they just let us go in and get seats in an already almost full theater. Don't get me wrong some things are worth waiting for, because when you get it; it means that much more. That is one things a love about prayer, you pray, then you have to wait for the answer. Reading this you are probably thinking one of 2 things. WOW he hates waiting in a line but loves waiting for prayer, or this almost has no point it does I promise.

Waiting for prayer is different when you pray, I think God takes some time and sees what you really need and then gives it to you. When you conquer a sin that you have been praying for to end, praying for help, and praying for the grace to conquer it, then you do it feels much sweeter because you know God won't put you though anything you can't handle...and you handled it, with his help of course. I remember when I started playing guitar, and I just wanted to get to the being good part, I would try and play a B chord, which is a more advance barre chord, and I would pray Jesus just make me good at playing the guitar, i want to serve you with music. Now I really started playing when I was a freshman. I just finished my first year in college and I gave up trying to play the B, or any real adv advanced chord. I would look at the chord charts and hear a voice in my head saying, my fingers don't bend that way, that chord is impossible. I would just get discouraged and try to make it simple. One day I said you know what I am going for it, and I was able to play a B with no problem. I listened to a voice that was waiting. Waiting for me to fail, wanting me to turn my back and say no, i will just play 4 chord songs the rest of my life. Jim Beckman wrote a book, it is called "God, Help Me: How to Grow in Prayer". When I went to Stuby my senior and last year. He had just published this book. He was talking about these 3 voices we hear in prayer and life. Our voice, God's voice, and the Enemy's voice. This last one bothers me but think about when you are praying. When I was praying after the open house for Core, to see if God is really calling me to be on Core. I heard all 3 voices,

One said "You know, you are too young for this, no reason to do it now you have a lot of sins you need to work on before you can be that guy."

Another said " Well you have wanted to for so long, you seem to know what you are doing, you might be good at it."

The other said "You are one of my beloved sons, I called you to this, this is my will, my plan, and do my work."

This isn't made up I was in adoration and this is what I heard. It wasn't hard for me to figure out which one was which; and who to listen to, If you are a teen there is a few things you need to know about Core, we don't have all the answers, we sin, and we are just people. People who also have to ask question, Ms. Frizal on Magic School Bus said you have to ask questions to get answers, how true.

~Afro-Bobby

The Fest

2010-08-10T12:30:00.001-04:00

The Fest Sunday August 8th. It was really awesome. It was the 10 year aniversary for the fest and it is only gotten bigger, since it is a free event I am not surprised about that though.
The sun was shining, had some great friends there, awesome teens, and great little kids, brothers and sisters! I spent almost all my time with mike tammy and there little girls (Bridget and Gretchen). I ended up holding them for a bulk of the time, which wasn't a bad thing, it was hot though so I couldn't do it all the time. The band line up was pretty awesome between the Afters, Matt Maher, and Newsboys. It was the most rockin' I have ever seen Matt Maher, it was amazing, it is the 3rd time I have seen him and this was in the top 3
;-). What else can I say besides that Mass was amazing also...over 15,000 people gathered to worship at the Mass.

~Bobby

Who I am

2010-08-04T21:29:00.000-04:00

A lot of times I seem to try and be a super hero. Mostly because I don't stop when I start on a project; I keep going until I have finsished. This past summer has been mostly spent either with Michelle, taking my dad places because he couldn't drive (he was really sick check back for blog on that), or working on life teen stuff. When I say most of it spent on LT stuff I mean for the past 3 weeks, I have done 55 wmv files for praise and worship. I had the question asked why would this be important, can't you just click slides and yes you can. But our tech people aka Mike Boyea and I, like these better or at least I do. They are convenant. Any one can have the flash drive they are all on and click play and they are all ready to go. They worked great for the retreat this past spring. I thought "well I could tottally do these and we can have all Catholic artists singing the p&w, for the most part it is. But I also have an inate ablity to do ministry, as a teen I was very good at it and most of it dealt with the tools I used. I had 3 things, a bible, a guitar, and a open ear to listen. Though we had other teens beside me it some times seemed like new teens looked at me as some one that would listen. My last spring retreat I spent an extra hour when the guys couldn't sleep talking using my guitar being very real with other people about my faith and my faith walk. I have so far seemed to do a good job of this as a CORE member. At the same time I got used to this persona as the go to teen, when a Core needed some thing I was the go to guy. Instead of a guy named Bobby I was Bobby "super teen core", when I was burnt out it was a role or persona.

Some times when we would go off site for a retreat when it came time for the start of the retreat and we would get there at 3 right after a long day of school to setup. I would be drained, in the spring we gave so much as "teen core" that we were burnt and we spent the last 5 mins. either trying to be excited or faking it. They would say "OK, remember what we talked about be excited and engergetic!" But ussally more people spent more time going though the motions, this isn't just a Catholic thing this is a People thing. Every one puts on a face in some situation if it is at a family party or even a day of school. We walk in with a face, a persona.

How do we change this and that is though prayer, when you pray, pray for a change in your sprirte and heart to be who God wants you to be, shake yourself and live as he intended. You have to not only trust yourself but trust God, that he will give you that person and it will be enough. the prayer of St. Teresa of Avila:

Let nothing disturb you,

Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

God alone suffices in everything, he is enough he will give you enough, he is the giver of life!

Bobby

Afro-Bobby

2010-07-30T20:28:00.001-04:00

As most of you know Paul Dillick is now the Life Teen Coordinator. He is great at doing it, we have had a few meetings about my role is going to be. So far it is web master, help with teaching small group, retreats, podcaster, and be Queen of Heaven's Afro Greg, aka

Afro-Bobby. I add the dash just for fun. So I am going to share the story on how all this came about. when I graduated Life Teen, I left knowing I was going to be on core some day, I had felt the call. It seemed important to take a year and breathe realize what I would have to do in college and get some other stuff together. Then in the middle of February I was talking to Mike Boyea and his awesome family after a Life Teen mass. Mike asked if I would like to be his assistant during the retreat, learn the ends and outs of what goes on. Help him, take some pressure off of him. I of course said yes, not knowing what I was in for. After I heard the call, and it seemed to be noticed that I had heard the call.

After the open house Paul and I had some great discussion and started on the web site. We also talked about podcasting and having Life night teachings, movie, book, and CD reviews. And that is how Afro-Bobby was born. I am really embracing this, with the Afro, and the personality it is really just a character that will have a media friendly program, things that Fr. Thom always thought would be good but we didn't have the people that had the time.

I am very excited for this year in Life Teen things are changing, and I love the family that we have on core. It is going to be a great year!

~Bobby

Music Ministry

2010-07-30T19:59:00.003-04:00

There is one thing in my life I have never really been apart of outside Heroes Camp. That is music ministry, I have a huge passion for music, and an even bigger one for music that is made to worship God. Though I have never been able to be apart of that, it is OK with me; it is some thing I have always wanted to do, and once even went as far as trying out as drummer for Sent Forth, Queen of Heaven's Life Teen Band, and it failed bad, I was more embarrassed than anything, because I went as far as saying I knew how to drum and could do it. Sure I can hit drums and try to keep a beat. it didn't work, and I walked out knowing it wasn't going to work. Which after the try out I was fine with; I felt like God wasn't Calling me to be apart of that.

Another example is a posted a craigslist add, one time trying to find some Catholic musicians to start a worship band. I got a call from a minister who said, I am not catholic but I need to start a band for my new church. I thought about it before I called him back. My first thought was this is coming from Craigslist, hopefully this won't be creepy, a made a meeting with Pastor Baylor, and we talked for a hour or so. He was a 23 year old guy starting a church that would specialize in "multi cultural" ministry aka Urban Ministry. Well it is now the end of July and he has not called back,but again after I heard God say not yet, it is not time to do this, again I was bothered by it, and I said "God if it is your will it will be done but if not, that is OK." I love the music that worships God, I love the music that praises Jesus, but the call hasn't happened. I don't know if it ever will, and that is OK.

I do know a lot about what it should be in a church or in a youth program. I will use Sent Forth as an example:

They should be apart of your ym program.

They should be open to lending a hand during a retreat, some where other than music.

They should be able to take criticism, and take it to heart.

They shouldn't be about effects solos and how loud they can be.

They shouldn't play all the same songs almost every adoration and mass.

They should have a ever living passion for worship and not just do it because they think they have to or they think it will be a good way to show off.

They should play songs the teens like to sing, not just ones that are all about what the words mean

Now this is kind of a long list of things, and most of them I don't see in our church band. I like Sent Forth to the extent that they are good, they seem to have fun, but i don't like them because it seems like if some one has some thing bad to say the person you say it to kind of gets mad. Some times I think the guitar is too loud or too off from the song other times it is spot on, and sounds great.

If you have ever been to any Steubanville youth conference, the music seems to drive the weekend. When Bob Rice finishes a song every one is anticipating what is next and when it starts you hear an awesome roar from the crowd. They just need some direction to sit down with teens and core to hear what they want, talk to Fr. Dave and see what he wants and bring that. Maybe Father wants more teens in it, or for a member to be a Core member just so there is that connection.

I think though I haven't heard the call to m.m. that i still do have an idea about what teens and core need to get something out of it.

~Bobby

I Shall Be Healed

2010-07-30T17:59:00.000-04:00

Like the last post showed I am a big BR fan, I have almost everything he has ever recorded and happen to be waiting for Back yard Galaxy- Drive-Thru Jesus, I ordered it and it is taking forever (OK it has been a week). I should say it feels like it is taking forever. I got Bob's most recent CD I Shall Be Healed for my birthday, it came out a week before and had to buy it via digstation.com. But I was stoked, for a few reasons

1. I had been waiting for this album all year long.

2. It was all recorded during my last Steubanville (as a teen)

3. It is Bob Rice

4. I previewed every song like 10 times before I even got the CD

This CD is Bob's lighter side. If you want a rocking' you can play it with your non religious friends or like I did in the Weight Room then this is not your CD, Shining Like the Son is that kind of CD, Any way it is 8 tracks of Adoration type Music, all but 1 song Bob wrote, and it just has a great feel. The lyrics are just amazing and catchy. Every one who I have given a copy to have loved it not just because it is Bob Rice, but because you can feel the real presence of God on this album.. It shows it isn't all about jumping up and down and being crazy. I knew before this conference that Bob would be soon putting out a new album, and it might be live, i think via his website. He recorded probably 30 songs the entire weekend, so really this is just a show of things to come aka an EP but it is still great. I hope he comes out with some thing soon that is a longer CD that has more of the upbeat craziness that is Bob Rice.

I think it would be some what ostentatious for me to review the Album, because you know I will say every song is amazing and that Bob Rice is the King of All Catholic Music. I will just say that there will be a QofH Life Teen Podcast that will have a great review by me and hopefully some other people. I can tell you right now that this is one of Bob Rice's best.

Bob-Rice

2010-07-29T23:09:00.001-04:00

If you really know me you probably would discribe me in 4 short lines:
1. Catholic who is very passionate
2 Some who really LOVES is girlfriend
3. A good musician but terrible singer
4. A Bob Rice Super Fan

If you are reading this and don't know who Bob Rice is then check out his web site Bob-Rice.com:

In the Past few Hours I have been reading old blog posts of his. Laughing, smiling, and really learning. When I started this Blog the thought was a blog for teens by a teen but as I have posted it is going to change. I wasn't sure how I could teach the faith, like I would for a Life Night, Retreat, or a just a Talk. So while I was learning I came across a Part of a post that Calls us, as Catholics. Most of the time people who are Catholic Listen to Christen Protestant music (Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Barlow Girl..ect) They read Protestant Books, and they Watch Protestant Preachers. We say things like "yeah, that church band is OK, but they are nothing like at the super church down the road." Or Yeah Fr. ____ is a good guy but his homilies are terrible and I would rather listen to Adam Romans, now he is entertaining and very engaging I saw him at Giant Eagle he said hi to me I only went to his church one time and he remember me". In this Post Bob Calls us to excellence, and to be engaging:

~Bobby

...If we’re going to engage the culture (which is what the Church calls us to do), then there is one simple way- we have to be great. Our music has to be excellent. Our books have to be engaging. Our acting needs to be real. We shouldn’t use the word “Christian” or “Catholic” like a golf handicap.

A great example of this is Matt Maher. If you don’t know him, he’s easily the most popular Catholic musician out there right now. His song, “Your Grace Is Enough” was covered by Chris Tomlin and sold umpty million... I don’t know. But he’s the thing right now.

Why is he so popular? Because he is spiritual? Well, I know Matt personally and he really is very prayerful and spiritual. But he’s also an amazing musician. In fact, he’s one of the best musicians I’ve ever played with. He is sensational at piano as well as guitar, notates music, studied theory, etc. This isn’t someone who just picked up a guitar, learned four chords and started praising the Lord. He is devoted, not just to God, but to his craft. We can all learn from his example.

As Catholics, I feel we need to strive more for excellence. We allow poor music at liturgies (isn’t it nice for them to volunteer their time?), lame homilies from priests (but he is really a nice man when you get to know him), poor writing in books (but doesn’t it have a nice theme?), bad acting in movies... the list goes on. As a musician/writer/teacher/author I am making this challenge as much to myself as to anyone. Have I been the jack of all trades and master of none? To some extent, yes. I’ve skimmed the surface of some of my talents and moved on to others instead of digging deeper and doing the work to find the living water underneath.

It’s hard to do, and I’m not rallying against the lack of success (I’ve tried and failed many times) but the seeming lack of effort. Preaching to the choir is easy because the choir has very low standards. Yes, the choir needs attention- but so does the world.

And maybe that’s what gets me. People seem content to stay in the bubble. But the Church has never acquiesced to such laxity. John Paul II wrote, “Involvement in the mass media, however, is not meant merely to strengthen the preaching of the Gospel. There is a deeper reality involved here: since the very evangelization of modern culture depends to a great extent on the influence of the media, it is not enough to use the media simply to spread the Christian message and the Church's authentic teaching. It is also necessary to integrate that message into the "new culture" created by modern communications.” (Redemptoris Missio 37)

EWTN does great ministry (will it ever air the “backstage” episode I recorded for them in February of 07?!?), but the Christian message also needs to be in NBC sitcoms, CBS dramas, the major radio stations, and the local cineplex. We don’t always need to tie it up in a Catholic bow, like the Mormon commercials that used to end with, “This message was brought to you by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” (Though I wish Catholics had an add campaign of ANY kind. Speaking of that, want to see a killer Catholic commercial? Click here, then give them money so it can be seen on TV.)

What is good? What is evil? How does evil effect us? What is our purpose in life? Is there more than just material things? What is beauty? These are the kind of questions that every human heart asks. God has answers. Catholic artists should use their gifts to express them. I hope I do.

We live in a culture that thinks it can just pick up a microphone and be famous on American Idol. Let’s not fall into that trap, but keep working on our natural talents to build up the supernatural kingdom. As my dad was fond of saying, “The magic is... there is no magic. Just hard work.” Let’s be excellent, yet not rely on our excellence but God’s grace. Jesus can do a lot with a little. A boy gave a few loaves and some fish to Jesus and he fed thousands of men, women, and children.

But the trick is that he gave ALL he had.

Do we?

PS. I hope you noticed not one, but two triple-score vocabulary words in one sentence: acquiesced and laxity. I was going to also use the word ubitquous (one of my favorite new words), but I thought that would be over the top. Besides, I don’t know what “ubitquous” means, nor do I want to. Because the mystery of it makes it sound so... ubitquous. Don’t you think?

reply to the author

Song

2010-07-28T13:48:00.019-04:00

If you have not read the blog on written prayer then check it out
(http://x-tremeforjesus.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html ).
This is going to be a very worship fiilled blog because that is what it is about.
St. Augstine said . Singing is praying. When one sings one prays twice

So sing some worship:

Easy! right!

~Bobby
****************************************************
Now if that is all you think i would talk about then you are very wrong.
When we sing our praises to God it doesn't matter how you sing. weather you are way flat, or sharp, and if you sing perfectly awesome. That is my faviort thing. is that it doesn't matter God loves your voice he loves everything about you that is why you are you.

I am reminded of a Jars of Clay Song

All worship songs have some verse tied to them or some group of verses or atleast are just a thought. We are completely in touch with God all our emotions and the emotions of the song, in the deepest parts of our heart we sing from. I know I have had songs where I just get lost eyes closed and I am just in touch with who I am a beloved son of Christ.

The Catechism says: The musical tradition of the universal church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art...The Church continues and develops this tradition: "Address...one another in psalms and hymms and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the lord with all your heart." "He who sings prays twice." (CCC 1156, Eph 5:19, St. Augustine Confessions)

Though singing is praying twice this doesn't mean that all we do is sing we still have to pray, with out singing, my best advice is to get a great balance. Maybe pray the rosary on the way to school. Then on your way home put your favorite worship CD in, a few of my favorite if you are looking for something are Bob Rice I Shall Be Healed & Bob Rice You Came To Me (anything Rice). Matt Maher Alive Again is also a great one, or Empty and Beautiful The End and The Beginning . Chris Padgett has some great CD's also Impact is my favorite of his, Tom Booth I like The Best Of Tom Booth The best part about any of these CD's is there is at least 1 Core Member with one of these CD's Mike Boyea has all things Matt Maher, I have all things Rice and most things Maher, Ben Sweigret has Impact. Just ask and they will be burned and you will have it soon enough. If you want some great other worship or you want some Catholic rapping I have that to (Just ask). You can also listen to other artists like Skillet, David Crowder, Chris Tomlin, Robin Mark, Darrell Evans, Jars of Clay. Find some thing and sing the songs for Christ For God, and For Our Lady :) (like the Hail Mary).
The Catch with worship is that some times it is the most humbling way to pray to say words like you alpha Omega and I am just a man. You some times really have to say I am not perfect I am a sinner, not every song is Days of Elijah or Trading my Sorrows, Your Grace is Enough (pump up awesome songs). Some times you have to Lay it all down at his feet.

~Bobby

Prayer

2010-07-28T00:16:00.004-04:00

There are many different ways to pray.
But I like to break it down into 3 simple ways
1. Written Prayer
2. Worship
3. Reflective (praying off the cuff, fasting)
I am going to spend 3 blogs on 3 different ways to pray.

The 1st is Written Prayer, 2 of the 1st prayers I remember praying are:
Bless us o Lord and these thy gifts which we are about to receive for thy bounty though Christ our lord amen & angel of God my guardian dear to whom his love commits me here ever this night be at my side to light to guard to rule and guide, amen. Of course I prayed the Hail Mary, and Our Father before bed every night of my childhood.
Now in the bible Christ teaches us how to pray in Matthew 6 he says:

5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one. 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

This is a lot to digest, i know. It is simple though:
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. AMEN

Jesus gives us this prayer in scripture, he teaches us a way to pray and tells us do not do it like these people, or those people. When he says pagans he is talking about pagans for a bit of a history lesson their prayer goes like this:

Healing Chant
Deep in my Bone
the Goddess is alive
Deep in my cells and blood
the Life Force is
Deep in my heart and spirit
I believe I will heal
I feel the Goddess at my core
filling me with faith and health
Abundant Life Forces of the Universe
flow in me, and banish all disease
My blood, my bones, my cells and my body
are healing now, are healing now
The Goddess force is in me
and healing me now

that is what Christ means by babbling praying to false God's that can't fix it, but they think their God's will Hear because of all the words they can say.

How powerful is that prayer that Christ Gave us and Knowing that Christ is God, the Father is God and The Holy spirit is God. God Gave us this Prayer! and It is simple

Then the Hail Mary, which is a combination of the greetings between the angel Gabriel, and St. Elizabeth.

There are other devotionals that Mary has come and given people like St. Dominic and the rosary. She appeared to him in a church and told him to pray it, he developed the Dominicans and it is apart of their daily devotions. The Church has prayed it ever since. I could spend a whole blog just on this topic.

There are also prayers like the Creed which is just a listing of our Catholic beliefs
we say it at every mass, and instead of babbling it because it is just a part of mass truly say it, and feel the power of just that prayer.

There are so many prayers to be said, I can't possibly go over all of them. This is where you go and you start researching start looking and start praying, in your room as Christ calls us to do. Not just as an act; even if you mean it. Like Christ says you will get it in full but that is not how you pray!

~Bobby

Coming Next Song.

Driving

2010-07-26T00:08:00.004-04:00

I have had my drivers license for a 8 months now, and I have learned a few things,
1. watch your speed
2. Look were you are going
3. Most people Can't drive that well
4. make sure you know where you are going
5. make sure you have money for gas

Prayer has a lot of the same this to learn
1. Watch your speed, some times when we pray it is like you just don't have time and you are trying to just get in a pray quota.
2. Look were you are going, in the bible it says not to ramble like the pagans (Matthew 6:7)
3. Mosts people don't know "how" to pray, there are many ways to pray it is up to you which one you can use (songs, written pray, and reflective pray)< check back later for another blog on this.
4. This is the same as 2.
5. Make sure you have the time, and if not FIND the time to pray, that is the important thing. You have to pray, prayer is like a conversation with a great friend, you can't lose track of your best friend!

~Bobby

Catechetics

2010-07-10T17:14:00.002-04:00

Now first let me open by saying this isn't the typical blog, the blog is going to be changing. Like I have changed in the past year, and even the past few months. This will become more catechetical, and more greared also to teen, as now I am a CORE member at queen of heaven this also be used to minster to teens. Some post will be general here is what is going on in my life today maybe some thing cool I got to do. Others will be based off a Life Night or more of an indepth talk from a retreat (those will be for the teens), Then there will be general teaching that has also been the purpose of this blog.

Your Brother in Christ
~Bobby

St. Robert and his pursuits of Holiness

2010-06-24T13:59:00.001-04:00

In reply to a friend who asked him, some
years afterwards, by what means he made him
self so good an Archbishop during his residence
of three years in Capua, he gives this account :
"As when one looks into a mirror, I set my
mind to consider intently the life and conduct of
the most admired Bishops that had been in the
Church before me; endeavouring, by God's help,
to throw off all that was imperfect in myself,
and assume a new exterior, resembling theirs as
nearly as possible, that so I might adapt my
actions thereunto. Therefore read constantly
the histories of those Bishops, perusing in order
the volumes of Surius; and I read, especially,
the lives of the holy Popes Ambrose, Martin,
Augustine, Germanus, Anselm of Canterbury,
Antonine of Florence, Lawrence and others. But
I derived the greatest advantage from the narratives
of those most holy Prelates who went before me in
Capua, Ansbertus and Andoenus ; for both of them
perfectly sustained the name and office of Pastor,
nourishing the souls of their subjects with the
constant preaching of the word of God, their
bodies with liberal charities, and themselves with
the wholesome food of prayer."

AND BREAK

2010-05-08T01:36:00.000-04:00

Podcasts

2010-05-01T16:41:00.003-04:00

Hi,
I just wanting to mention that I have started podcasting :). This is just a short blog telling you I started. Keep praying!, the next thing is that I am also on twitter as xtremeforjesus!

A great day!

2010-04-01T09:27:00.003-04:00

There was a day where we didn't have a Catholic Church, there were Jews, Pagans, Islam..but then a man came though a virgin birth...He lived a normal life, his "father" was very powerful, and his other father was a carpenter...he spent time building things, and learning from his biological father...When he was young, about 12 he was in his "father"'s place of work, with his Mother and we will call him his step father...his parents lost him in the temple and when they found him, and asked what he was doing. he said My fathers work, after that his parents weren't sure when he would really be doing this work. As time past he just kept building things and be a holy man...he recruited some people who he wanted to make "fishers of men"...then at one of those mens weddings he turned some water into wine...after some time past and some other stories for different days occurred, the day came when he knew his time was coming to an end...and he told his friends and followers this...and now today is the day that the end is near, Happy Holy Thursday!...today is a big day today the Eucharist is est. The apostles get their feet washed (and in typical Peter fashion he doesn't want to have it happen)and Jesus gets arrested then 2morrow gets put to death...this is the end of the beginning, Today is a BIG day!!! But not a holy day of obligation, neither is ash Wednesday...but i degrees. If you can make it to mass do it!, if you can't its OK it is a big deal, so at least spend some time thinking about how important today is!
Praise Jesus,
Bobby

Take me out to the ball game...and a new calling

2010-03-30T00:27:00.003-04:00

I know it has been a long time since I put up a blog, but I have been busy, you might not know but my dad has been in the hospital for the past couple weeks...I have been keeping it hush telling who I need to tell...and other than that I have been keeping it to myself...and I have just been very busy...but I thought I could do one tonight and talk about this past retreat...No I wasn't a teen core on this one I was a "Coach" or a CORE member of sorts, more of core in training than anything...doing whatever I was asked to do...even if some other Coaches got mad when I came in and told them how much time was left...but the job had to get done...anyway I met some awesome people this week end...I was given more hope then what I had, I always fig. soon Life teen might not be at Q of H, because it just seemed to be losing teens, fighting a losing battle. I won't lie, I was worried when I got there I was lukewarm like ST. Peter would of been I think, not knowing what was going to happen...then after talking to some core and being heavily envovled it was like I never went away...It was a baseball theme, it was diffrent the witnesses were great and though we had some road blocks I think we helped some people and touch some lives...they teens were awesome...I found some new great brothers in Christ and life, now I just can't wait to be full time CORE and be able to do what I have always done best and that is lead, lead some great teens closer to Christ...the theme song was run take a listen

PRAISE JESUS
Bobby

p.s. I didn't intend on the LOTR theme but it has a lot of allegory in it...and it just is awesome PRAISE GOD!

LENT

2010-02-20T19:44:00.002-05:00

Every year lent seems to sneak up on me, I am just not ready, ready for the sacrifice not ready for no meat on fridays, not ready for easter. This year it will be very diffrent, I am the only Catholic in my house, but people are very accomadating, last night instead of having steakums, I had a fish sandwich, with pepper, onions and cheese, it was awesome. Anyway, what does lent really mean, most CEO's (Chirstmas & Easter Onlys see it as that pain in the butt time that I have to give some thing up half heartedly and not eat meat on Fridays. I as a passionate Catholic see it as a time to refeclt on the past year and what did I have most problems with, was it language, or thoughts, maybe looking at impure things, laziness. I can tell you it was all of these things and that is what I want to work on or "give up".
I can't give a how to blog, I am just a man who strives to be holy, who is a brother, a son, a boyfriend, song writer, worshiper, friend, blogger. I can't be perfect God was not a part of that description, I can tell you I have changed over the years of doing this I have become a Man, instead of being a boy. Lent isn't a time to give stuff up, it is a time to grow and work to be closer to God...that is all it is about. Every day getting closer, at Queen of Heaven you can join the "40 day" club making it to mass everyday for the 40 days of lent...

Lent is a very special time use it to GROW!
Bobby

Changing

2010-01-20T23:49:00.012-05:00

I was just thinking about how some things change and others don't. The snow falls, it melts, the flowers come, they die, the leaves change color we go back to snow and the cycle repeats its self thousands of times. Some things are destined to change, like leaves or musical ability, if you practice really hard at the guitar and you spend countless hours learning good form and tecenic, you will eventually be good. Those kinds of things can change, your experiences can change who you are and who you become. College is a eye opening experience, I see a lot of things just on campus, gay people is a great example and the only one in my head...In little Green, Ohio we did have a gay population but you never saw 2 guys or girls holding hands kissing, or being all up on each other. It was a big change to see that in action...Or the amount of smoking on campus, sometimes it seems more people smoke then in the 1990's, at least the younger crowed the 18-25 demographic. Which might be because in the 1990's almost every one had at least 1 parent who smoked so it just became a norm. That is still a change, basically every where you walk some one is slowly killing themselves. But with all these changes there are things that don't change in this world...Country names, Street signs, how fire works, the color of the sky, the grass, The Gospel that Jesus preached and since the reformation, no other books have been added or taken out of the bible, by Protestants (though they say Catholics added, it has been proven they took out books (which is a whole another blog)! 1st God gave us the 10 commandments and then He gave us the prophets, like Elijah, Samuel, Tobit, Jeremiah, King David/Soloman...Then He gave us his son to died a painful (best words to describe it) death on a cross for us the lowly sinner...We are like empty vessels at birth, and when we sin we lose more of the water that God fills us up with more holy water and as we sin, and our vessel cracks, God puts more more water in no matter what he does it in love...Even life things Change, like our salvation...yes we can lose it, Adam and Eve lost theirs...and we are as human as Adam and Eve..That is where the line is drawn though...if they who were given it can lose it, we can lose it...Paul says "See then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off" (Rom. 11:22; see also Heb. 10:26–29, 2 Pet. 2:20–21).
The Question is what is Paul says "...God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's Kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness otherwise you will be CUT OFF!!!" you might ask how can God cut off my salvation, well he is God and can do what ever he wants. Salvation is a daily struggle to keep up and stay in like the water jug loses water we can lose our salvation.

~Bobby

Got Thanks?

2009-11-26T10:27:00.003-05:00

I have talk a lot this past year about blessings and trials, and I want to talk about somthing that I would be a miss if i didn't talk about it, since today is thanksgiving and we do have some thing a lot of Countries don't have. Perpetual Freedom. I don't think we can thank our brothers and sisters in uniform enough. I was on facebook and I saw all this people saying what they are thankful for, yet no one said freedom. Does it go with out saying, anymore? I don't think so I think that when people give their lives just to protect millions of people, most they don't even know. Whether it is fire, police, the military (active and vets). I feel like you can't thank them enough. I feel as though Americans forget that freedom isn't free. I am also thankful for other things, health school, love, music, friends, teachers, family, turkey, stuffing, pies, sports, Movies.

To me in America we have an inverted sense of what we should say we are thankful for, people say money and other matiral poss.. To me it doesn't go with out saying that we have to be thankful for freedom and other things.

Facing the Gaints

2009-11-21T19:21:00.002-05:00

This is going to be more directed towards men then women...This is one of those blogs where I am going to talk about manly things, facing the snares of sin as a man, being a man, and of course what blog about this would be complete with out talking about pornography. This doesn't mean women stop reading, it just means I am talking to men, so women will get to hear about what men struggle with, in the sense that they will get to know what we struggle with.

Staten is in every dark corner, but also in every religious setting. Even during church he is sitting there, does he want to be there, well the answer is NO. He HATES being there. He doesn't want to sit and hear about how he is losing everyday. At the 1st sin he targeted Eve, the question is why, why did he target the women. Think of what happened she took it to Adam. Then Adam decided to eat the apple.Satan knew he [Adam] would take it from Eve, and eat it.

Since I have grown up, and starting becoming a man I have made one big realization. Being a man is all about making goals and doing the things to get those goals, no matter what it is. Like if you want to be able to stick 25 fireballs in your mouth, then you have to work, start with marshmallows then really work your way up to fireballs (I know it is weird but that is what you have to do, I would know). It is all about making goals, if it is getting an A in math or some other subject you have to make the goal and lean on God, lift it up to him, say if it is your will then it is, just help me do my best and if I fail lst me do my best tomorrow.
The problem with our world is simple, we think being a man comes with virginity, when someone loses it they become a "Man". The real man saves that, I can't say I have been pure,because I haven't I sin, i get temped I can't always stop it, and I am NOT perfect. But the Lord has been my light. He has told me, I am a beloved son of God, and what path I am on is the right course. It wasn't a moment where God came down lighting crash and he was in front of me, he didn't send an angel, or a saint, He told me during the quite of adoration, in the little chapel at 1800 Steese Rd., no not a stuby, not at a retreat but in the quite of a random day I went in to the chapel and was all alone and he told me these things...I know I am not perfect. Becoming a real man isn't easy, it is a very difficult. We face the Giants of sin, everyday and Satan puts these doubts in our mind, you can't pass that, you can do that, one time won't hurt, that felt good, lets do it again, i miss that feeling, that was a great night. He always speaks in the negative, he will tell you that you can't everyday, but you can. Don't let him stop you.

In this world we are very into our sexuality, sex fuels us. But it DOESN'T HAVE TO, it is our job as people to be counter cultural it is really part of us to be that way. Be different start a revolution and RISE UP! This also means in the pornography world, it is a terrible industry but has been fueled since the 1st sin. You are given a choice, what do you want to choose. I can tell you that I deal with this struggle everyday. It is harder in college...sometimes the only thing people talk about is sex, partying "getting some". Some times you just need to walk away, or pray or just take a deep breath and say I love you Jesus. Does this mean we have to loose all of our friends that do those things, well no. Do you have to avoid the Internet, no, it might do more harm then good, Because you might think about it more, and more. Find a buddy, some one that you can lean on, someone to help you to call, to meet with, yeah yeah, I know it sounds like a AA sponsor. Which because it is an addiction it really is. Porn isn't just something you do it is an addiction. If you think about it, it consumes your mind as much as a drug would to a drug addicted. Porn is a drug, the next step is to delete your history and put parental con trolls up on your computer. Use a rubber band and every time you think that you are going to look at that, snap yourself, until it hurts then walk away. Also when you are feeling those temptations do something that doesn't have to do with the computer, whether it is running or playing music (worship), talking to your sponsor, do something. Do what ever you were doing before as long as it doesn't lead to sin.
The next thing to do is to get a devotion to St. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. PRAY, PRAY PRAY....Some blogs I just do for the readers this one, well it is mostly for me...Sometimes you just need to put it down to beileve Praise God!

~Bobby

3 years and still going

2009-10-01T09:09:00.012-04:00

I won't lie this is a big milestone. When I started writing this with still a month to go till the "Big Day". I want to make this BIG, so things that have happened in 3 years.

1. My grammar has gotten better...most of the time
2. We have a new President (whether I agree with him or not he is the President)
3. I can grow a full beard now, and my side burns are awesome...lol
4. Life teen has changed in so many ways, Ms. Sue stepping down, Fr. Thom stepping up, CORE changing, become a BIG family!
5. Big and Rich are taking a break.
6. Tiffany and John have 2 more kids (besides John's from a previous marriage), Matt and Jayme have 2 kids...Jason and Julie have 1 kid...you get where I am going with this.
7. I am a College Freshman Now
8. I made the title shorter instead of bobbyssuperhugecoolblogthings.blogspot.com, what was I thinking.

So we know a lot of things have changed, it is crazy regardless.
I don't really know what to do with this, should I do a bible passage, a random thought, song lyrics. I have done all these things. I spent a long time looking back on old posts, so I have figured it out.

Eccl. 3:1.....not really I think 3 is enough.

Here is the plan, I am going to do a BIG combo of all 3!
1. Bible Passage
2. Worship/pop music song
3. Random thoughts

1 Corinthians 12:4-6
4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

When I was writing this I didn't know where to go with it, 1st I thought I could talk about time, and how God is always there, how alpha and omega means so much. But I wasn't feeling it at all. I didn't know what to say, then I checked out Big Kenny's Twitter (yes, I have a twitter), but anyway so I was on twitter and it form a few days ago he said "I am thinking about how important it is to SEVERE!.....in any way Local communities and abroad. We are family! le bk" So that is today's topic, I can't think of anything that fits this better. Service, the Catholic Church calls us to serve, the homeless, the widows, each other. At our spring retreat we did a meal where all you could do is serve the person next to you. You had to make sure there needs were met, whether it be more of something to drink, a napkin, fork...you get it anything. In what became a fun activity, you learn so much about service, now whats my point?.....you have to serve in what ever way you can, if you can help some one in your back yard, then help 'em in your back yard if your arms feel a little longer reach across an ocean, reach across the world! We are each others family!
To look at the bible verses: In life teen if we were taught anything it was to give your gifts and talents, whether it be wighting, drawing, musically, speaking...getting involved was very important, because the Sprite works in all of us, gives us innate qualities that we only have, that we can share, but it is the same sprite in all of us. How many ways can you serve Local: help out your elderly neighbor do stuff in there yard, help out your family around the house...Feed the homeless...(I think you get what I am getting at), but it is all the same GOD! There are different Good works, there are different ways to work but all the same God works in them: it is simple GIVE, GIVE, GIVE...as much as I love blogging I am ministering and serving and the same time, that doesn't mean you go and get your own blog and start blogging. You need to find what is going to work for you! You just have to remember to make it Christ,Cross, and Eucharist Centered!

with lots of love,
Bobby :)

9/11

2009-09-11T19:36:00.002-04:00

I can't say I am back...complete but I felt like I needed to blog about today...
If you are reading this today it is in fact 9/11...
I don't think I have ever said anything about it...
I was in 5th grade and I remember one of my friends at the time Steve Flynn told me at lunch, It was right after the prisoners in China were released and came home that Sunday (which I remember vividly watching on TV with my dad before PSR)...and I said it had to be them thats the only possible Country. But where was I, Math In Mr. G's class. He didn't say anything about it the princapal told him not to...so at lunch the teachers were told to just tell us what happened at that's it. When I got home the TV was on and over and over I watched the 2nd tower be hit. It mad me angry I didn't know anything else besides that my Country was attacked! I remember that night when Afghanistan was being bombed and Ireland was doing it....8 years ago...and I think Americans have forgotten the feelings and emotions they felt...I know I haven't I know a lot of the people I talk to haven't! We will never forget...Though it lead to a less then popular war... we have to remember that we got in the war to solve a problem... I i support the war because I don't see that the problem has be solved...

much love
bobby

Hautis

2009-08-20T12:12:00.002-04:00

I wanted to throw somthing up quick and simple...I am taking a Hautis from blogging with school fastly approaching and a lot of chanings going on in my life I thought it proper to take one.

I also felt like the content needs work, I have seemed to do about 3 reflections on eccl. 3:1-7, and the vlogs though a blessing I go off in tang. that somtimes have nothing to do what I am blogging about, and some of you say well that is just Bobby Being Bobby, and that is a proper judgement. Also though I do this for fun it is also a minstery none the less so I feel after almost 3 years I need a little break though you all know I have taken little ones and I knew how long they were going to be this one might be longer I don't know yet. I think if I have ever lost readers it wasn't what I was saying, or how I was saying it, it was the fact I stick in my comfort zone and really the process is quite simple, somtimes I see somthing and I say that could be a good blog so I write it down and do it other times they just come to me. One thing I have lost is the Catholic Doc. Though I am 100% Catholic somtimes I just feel like I don't stick to that very well... maybe I am just hyper critical or somthing but this is good bye not forever but just till i learn more, and get a little more concesise...

I love you all~

Bobby~

Seven Spainish angels

2009-07-24T22:48:00.003-04:00

I want to call this the holy grail of all Big and Rich performances....I have spent the better half of the past 3 years looking for this video...it is for the 1st outlaws concert in 2005 or so...it is from myspace videos and it is HQ....here you go...blast it!

Big & Rich - CMT Outlaws Seven Spanish Angels

Sanits of the weeks....

2009-07-23T13:53:00.002-04:00

1st I am sorry I haven't put a saint of the week up...I just couldn't exactly think of one...so I am going to put 2 up this week and next week we will be back to the classic 1 saint a week:

St. Maria Goretti
Feastday: July 6
Patron of youth, young women, purity, and victims of rape
b: 1890 d: 1902

Born in Corinaldo, Ancona, Italy, on October 16 1890; her farmworker father moved his family to Ferrier di Conca, near Anzio. Her father died of malaria and her mother had to struggle to feed her children.

In 1902 an eighteen-year-old neighbor, Alexander, grabbed her from her steps and tried to rape her. When Maria said that she would rather died than submit, Alexander began stabbing her with a knife.

As she lay in the hospital, she forgave Alexander before she died. Her death didn't end her forgivness, however.Alexander was captured and sentenced to thirty years. He was unrepentant until he had a dream that he was in a garden. Maria was there and gave him flowers. When he woke, he was a changed man, repenting of his crime and living a reformed life. When he was released after 27 years he went directly to Maria's mother to beg her forgiveness, which she gave. "If my daughter can forgive him, who am I to withold forgiveness," she said.

When Maria was declared a saint in 1950, Alexander was there in the St. Peter's crowd to celebrate her canonization. She was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950 for her purity as model for youth.

She is called a martyr because she fought against Alexander's attempts at sexual assault. However, the most important aspect of her story is her forgiveness of her attacker -- her concern for her enemy extending even beyond death. Her feast day is July 6. St. Maria Goretti is the patroness of youth and for the victims of rape

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St. John of the Cross
Feastday: December 14

Born in Spain in 1542, John learned the importance of self-sacrificing love from his parents. His father gave up wealth, status, and comfort when he married a weaver's daughter and was disowned by his noble family. After his father died, his mother kept the destitute family together as they wandered homeless in search of work. These were the examples of sacrifice that John followed with his own great love -- God.

When the family finally found work, John still went hungry in the middle of the wealthiest city in Spain. At fourteen, John took a job caring for hospital patients who suffered from incurable diseases and madness. It was out of this poverty and suffering, that John learned to search for beauty and happiness not in the world, but in God.

After John joined the Carmelite order, Saint Teresa of Avila asked him to help her reform movement. John supported her belief that the order should return to its life of prayer. But many Carmelites felt threatened by this reform, and some members of John's own order kidnapped him. He was locked in a cell six feet by ten feet and beaten three times a week by the monks. There was only one tiny window high up near the ceiling. Yet in that unbearable dark, cold, and desolation, his love and faith were like fire and light. He had nothing left but God -- and God brought John his greatest joys in that tiny cell.

After nine months, John escaped by unscrewing the lock on his door and creeping past the guard. Taking only the mystical poetry he had written in his cell, he climbed out a window using a rope made of stirps of blankets. With no idea where he was, he followed a dog to civilization. He hid from pursuers in a convent infirmary where he read his poetry to the nuns. From then on his life was devoted to sharing and explaining his experience of God's love.

His life of poverty and persecution could have produced a bitter cynic. Instead it gave birth to a compassionate mystic, who lived by the beliefs that "Who has ever seen people persuaded to love God by harshness?" and "Where there is no love, put love -- and you will find love."

John left us many books of practical advice on spiritual growth and prayer that are just as relevant today as they were then. These books include:

Ascent of Mount Carmel

Dark Night of the Soul

and A Spiritual Canticle of the Soul and the Bridegroom Christ

Since joy comes only from God, John believed that someone who seeks happiness in the world is like "a famished person who opens his mouth to satisfy himself with air." He taught that only by breaking the rope of our desires could we fly up to God. Above all, he was concerned for those who suffered dryness or depression in their spiritual life and offered encouragement that God loved them and was leading them deeper into faith.

"What more do you want, o soul! And what else do you search for outside, when within yourself you possess your riches, delights, satisfaction and kingdom -- your beloved whom you desire and seek? Desire him there, adore him there. Do not go in pursuit of him outside yourself. You will only become distracted and you won't find him, or enjoy him more than by seeking him within you." -- Saint John of the Cross

In His Footsteps:
John of the Cross believed it was just as dangerous to get attached to spiritual delights as worldly pleasures. Do you expect to get something -- a good feeling, a sense of God -- from prayer or worship? Do you continue to pray and worship when you feel alone or dry?

Prayer:
Saint John of the Cross, in the darkness of your worst moments, when you were alone and persecuted, you found God. Help me to have faith that God is there especially in the times when God seems absent and far away. Amen

Mighty to save...

2009-07-23T13:51:00.002-04:00

This is Michael W. smith singing Mighty to save....we sang it at stuby this past year and I couldn't remeber the song title...until Bob-Rice made a tweet and said I dont' care I am still playing might to save" and it clicked that, that was the song...I love it

How ready are you?

2009-07-12T13:32:00.005-04:00

I have been blogging for a long time, and since I started this Bob Rice Spiritual work out it has become a lot more constant, It not only gives me a great spiritual work out but also gives me great ideas on what to say.

Now, We know that we need to be pure, we need to reconcile, we need to Pray (because other wise how are we supposed to communicate with God). So There is now this Second coming of Jesus. He spoke of it in the gospel with a parable:
He proposed another parable to them.
"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds 10 all through the wheat, and then went off.
When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.
The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?'
He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' His slaves said to him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'

When I read this parable I imagined 2 pictures,
1. The Man Sowing his Field and then his enemy sowing weeds, the harvest of the weeds and grain. Then them burring the weeds.
2. The 2ND coming and the angels "harvesting the people"...Then the "weeds" being sent to the fires of hell.

I started to think how ready am I. Should I be proclaiming the Gospel of the street telling people about Jesus. Should I be in adoration. Praising Our Lord. What would you do?

Picture this: It is the end of the world, we know Jesus is coming back in 24 hours. What are you doing. I know we don't know the time of Christs return but iif we could know what would you do. Its like the ? if you only had 24 hours to live what would you do. I would do a little of everything, I would spend time with my family, I would go to mass/ adoration. I would write on my blog saying Goodbye. I would cuddly with Michelle. I would Go to Confession when the time was closer to death. This would be what I would do. I would also do one last vlog. for the world to see.

But because we never know when it is gonna happen we never will know when our time is small.

Jesus also speaking of the 2nd coming this way in the Gospel of Luke
There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand."

Jesus is Now telling us what the end of the world will be like. This is a clue but He never tells us a year, or month. It is Just going to happen so the ? I am leaving you with is...

HOW ARE YOU GETTING READY?

St. Maximilian Kolbe

2009-07-12T11:01:00.003-04:00

Maximilian was born in 1894 in Poland and became a Franciscan. He contracted tuberculosis and, though he recovered, he remained frail all his life. Before his ordination as a priest, Maximilian founded the Immaculata Movement devoted to Our Lady. After receiving a doctorate in theology, he spread the Movement through a magazine entitled "The Knight of the Immaculata" and helped form a community of 800 men, the largest in the world. Maximilian went to Japan where he built a comparable monastery and then on to India where he furthered the Movement. In 1936 he returned home because of ill health. After the Nazi invasion in 1939, he was imprisoned and released for a time. But in 1941 he was arrested again and sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz.

On July 31, 1941, in reprisal for one prisoner's escape, ten men were chosen to die. Father Kolbe offered himself in place of a young husband and father. And he was the last to die, enduring two weeks of starvation, thirst, and neglect. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1982. His feast day is August 14th.

"If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion."
- St. Maximilian Kolbe

FORGIVENESS

2009-07-11T23:26:00.004-04:00

It's a big word I know, forgiving someone is hard, even your self. Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew has some great words on forgiveness:

Then Peter approaching asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
(matt 18:20-21)

Now if I do the math right, that is about 490 times you are allowed to be forgiven.
No, thats not what it means, you don't have to keep a book of forgiveness. Jesus just gave Peter a big amount to prove the point that you have to forgive.

Later on in that same chapter he has a parable, to discribe a parable it is like a vlog, just a lot more concesse.

That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'
Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. 22 He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.'
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?'
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart." (18:23-35Matt)

This is one of my faviort parables to think I am in this scene, It is a very powerful way of praying and I encourage you pray this way. (Read it and think of a word, then read again what phrase pops out at you then, read it put your self in the scene.)

Well anyway I want to concentrate on the last few verses where it says Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.

Listen to these words UNLESS YOU FORGIVE YOUR FELLOW HUMAN, GOD WILL SEND YOU TO HELL. That is what I am reading into it. You have to forgive, no matter who it is...even yourself I know it is hard but GOD will FORGIVE you, just go to reconsilation.

Before you listen to the vlog read this quote from a Saint The minister to whom confession is made is the delegate of Christ, Who is the Judge of the living and the dead.
Saint Thomas Aquinas

Purity

2009-07-10T23:27:00.006-04:00

I know I know...tough subject to talk about, it is funny though in 1 aspect, as a man purity is a daily struggle. I am willing to admit to the world, it isn't a secret its how the enemy gets to a man using things like porn, sex, short skits tight clothes. We as men think that, that is normal. We don't want to be counterculture, we go to strip clubs and things...In The Book Of Sirach it says

Go not after your lusts, but keep your desires in check.
If you satisfy your lustful appetites they will make you the sport of your enemies.
Have no joy in the pleasures of a moment which bring on poverty redoubled;
Become not a glutton and a winebibber with nothing in your purse

Pray on this verse if you have problems with sinful stares...then Pray to St. Joesph for purity.

On Bob Rice's Blog he has a 35 day spiritual work out today is about purity and he says "St. Paul, when writing on our sexual behavior, doesn't try to "scare" us into purity. He simply says, "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?" Sex is more than a physical activity. It is not just a uniting of bodies, but a uniting of souls.

Jesus gives us a high standard to attain. "Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her," He says. Not only premarital sex, but also pornography, masturbation, and lustful fantasies are all sins against our purity. Christ tells us to cut these things out of our lives. (An important note: no saint ever took this passage literally!)

Obviously, you should avoid pornography. But there are a lot of magazines and web sites that are driven by sex- scantly people on the cover, articles that boast “how to have better sex” or “get more sex!” These kind of things have become accepted by our culture... but not by the kingdom of God."

I can't say it much better, by any means...I can say that really Pornography is an addiction, like all addictions the enemy has us in the mind set if it feels good do it, but that shouldn't be our mind set it. But we shouldn't really cut off our hand or cut out our eye. Christ didn't mean for us to take it literally. But what he means is to avoid what leads us to sin, whether it is going online with out parental controls, or being alone...avoid it put your computer in a different room, I know a lot of people who have there computer in there kitchen or living room. I know it is hard though with Cosmo and other magazines promising BETTER SEX, HOW TO HAVE MORE SEX, TOP TEN BEST WAYS TO SPICE UP YOUR SEX LIFE... lets be honest when you get married if that is your call. You will know now to better your life...I once was in confession when a Priest told me when we get married it isn't sex but it is making love...

My last few tips involve our Blessed Mother Mary:
Pray to Mary and Joesph for purity not to lead your boyfriend/girlfriend into sin,
Pray the Rosary...there have been known great miracles to people (a lot of Men) who pray the rosary for purity
Your Mom will never let you down, she will do everything in her power to get you what you pray for
Make it a devotion to be chaste and pure.

Love,
~Bobby

Mary and the Saints

2009-07-09T02:23:00.002-04:00

It looks like a Japanesse movie, the way the mouth and talking don't line up lol

1 cor 10:13

2009-07-09T02:21:00.001-04:00

Pray for me to have more conecessie Ideas, and words

The New Lay out

2009-07-09T01:12:00.002-04:00

This is a more simplier layout, the reason I wanted to change was 1st some of my videos weren't fitting on the screen. I like this the best of all the lay outs that I have had which is about 4-5.
I hope you guys enjoy it.

~Bobby

Why I am Catholic!

2009-07-08T15:42:00.002-04:00

I found this video on youtube, I couldn't agree more!

An amazing story!

2009-07-07T22:07:00.005-04:00

Have you ever seen this Album cover. It is pretty famous from the 1st Woodstock. and those people on the Cover well they are still together. read this story from yahoo news:

Of all the images snapped during the original Woodstock weekend, one stands above all: a young couple huddled together in a blanket, standing alone in a sea of people lying on wet ground.

It's an enduring image of love, care and protection that earned iconic status through its placement on the cover of the original "Woodstock" album in 1970, as well as on the movie poster.

Forty years later, the couple in the photo - Nick and Bobbi Ercoline, both 60 - remain together. They married two summers after the fabled weekend, and they still live less than an hour's drive from the original concert site of Bethel, N.Y., and within spitting distance of where they both grew up.

Nick Ercoline works for the Orange County, N.Y., Department of Housing. Bobbi is a resident nurse at the elementary school in their hometown of Pine Bush.

The 40th anniversary of the ultimate hippie be-in, this Aug. 15-17, has thrown the Ercolines into the spotlight again - something they never expected or sought.

They say they remember nothing of the original shot, taken by Burk Uzzle. "We weren't striking a pose," Nick says. "We were as surprised as everybody to see that photo on the album cover."

They discovered it while at a friend's house listening to the album and passing around the gatefold jacket. First, Nick recognized the famous yellow butterfly staff in the left corner. "It belonged to this guy Herbie," Nick says. "We latched on to him that day because he was having a very bad experience. He was tripping pretty heavily and he had lost his friends. After I saw that staff I said, 'Hey that's our blanket.' Then I said, 'Hey, that's us.'"

Bobbi, then 20, wasn't overly impressed. "Woodstock was over and done with at that time," she says. "It didn't seem like a big deal. The only thing was that then I had to tell my mother I had gone. She didn't know. But by then, she didn't mind."

The two had arrived in the middle of the weekend, a rare feat given that all main roads were closed by then. "We were local kids, so we knew the back roads," Nick says. "About 5 miles away we abandoned this big white 1965 Chevrolet Impala station wagon."

The two didn't realize the impact their photo had until Woodstock's 20th anniversary, when the world's media began seeking them out. In fact, their memories of the original event have more to do with the scene than the music, because they were too far away to hear or see much.

"I remember the rain, the lack of toilets and the body odor," Bobbi says.

"I also remember an orange haze from the glowing lights of the stage. It was everywhere, lighting up the sky."

The pair had met only three months earlier, over Memorial Day weekend, at the bar where Nick worked. "This waiter brought this beautiful blond in one day and said, 'This is my girlfriend; keep an eye on her,'" Nick explains. "Every night she stood in front of me and we got friendlier and friendlier. Then one weekend he made the mistake of leaving her home while he went to the shore with the guys and he never told her. That was the end of that. And the beginning of this."

Despite all the time gone by, Nick says they still get recognized. "We were in Germany, and right when we walked into the hotel they knew who we were."

As to why their photo was chosen, Nick has a theory. "It's peaceful, which is what the event was about," he says. "And it's an honest representation of a generation. When we look at that photo I don't see Bobbi and me. I see our generation

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2009/07/07/2009-07-07_woodstocks_undercover_lovers_.html#ixzz0Kd6svdSi&C

St. Teresa Of Avila

2009-07-06T09:42:00.002-04:00

Less than twenty years before Teresa was born in 1515, Columbus opened up the Western Hemisphere to European colonization. Two years after she was born, Luther started the Protestant Reformation. Out of all of this change came Teresa pointing the way from outer turmoil to inner peace.

Teresa's father was rigidly honest and pious, but he may have carried his strictness to extremes. Teresa's mother loved romance novels but because her husband objected to these fanciful books, she hid the books from him. This put Teresa in the middle -- especially since she liked the romances too. Her father told her never to lie but her mother told her not to tell her father. Later she said she was always afraid that no matter what she did she was going to do everything wrong.
When she was five years old she convinced her older brother that they should, as she says in her Life, "go off to the land of the Moors and beg them, out of love of God, to cut off our heads there." They got as far as the road from the city before an uncle found them and brought them back. Some people have used this story as an early example of sanctity, but this author think it's better used as an early example of her ability to stir up trouble.

After this incident she led a fairly ordinary life, though she was convinced that she was a horrible sinner. As a teenager, she cared only about boys and clothes and flirting and rebelling -- like other teenagers throughout the ages. When she was 16, her father decided she was out of control and sent her to a convent. At first she hated it but eventually she began to enjoy it -- partly because of her growing love for God, and partly because the convent was a lot less strict than her father.

Still, when the time came for her to choose between marriage and religious life, she had a tough time making the decision. She'd watched a difficult marriage ruin her mother. On the other hand being a nun didn't seem like much fun. When she finally chose religious life, she did so because she though that it was the only safe place for someone as prone to sin as she was.

Once installed at the Carmelite convent permanently, she started to learn and practice mental prayer, in which she "tried as hard as I could to keep Jesus Christ present within me....My imagination is so dull that I had no talent for imagining or coming up with great theological thoughts." Teresa prayed this way off and on for eighteen years without feeling that she was getting results. Part of the reason for her trouble was that the convent was not the safe place she assumed it would be.

Many women who had no place else to go wound up at the convent, whether they had vocations or not. They were encouraged to stay away from the convents for long period of time to cut down on expenses. Nuns would arrange their veils attractively and wear jewelry. Prestige depended not on piety but on money. There was a steady stream of visitors in the parlor and parties that included young men. What spiritual life there was involved hysteria, weeping, exaggerated penance, nosebleeds, and self- induced visions.

Teresa suffered the same problem that Francis of Assisi did -- she was too charming. Everyone liked her and she liked to be liked. She found it too easy to slip into a worldly life and ignore God. The convent encouraged her to have visitors to whom she would teach mental prayer because their gifts helped the community economy. But Teresa got more involved in flattery, vanity and gossip than spiritual guidance. These weren't great sins perhaps but they kept her from God.

Then Teresa fell ill with malaria. When she had a seizure, people were so sure she was dead that after she woke up four days later she learned they had dug a grave for her. Afterwards she was paralyzed for three years and was never completely well. Yet instead of helping her spiritually, her sickness became an excuse to stop her prayer completely: she couldn't be alone enough, she wasn't healthy enough, and so forth. Later she would say, "Prayer is an act of love, words are not needed. Even if sickness distracts from thoughts, all that is needed is the will to love."

For years she hardly prayed at all "under the guise of humility." She thought as a wicked sinner she didn't deserve to get favors from God. But turning away from prayer was like "a baby turning from its mother's breasts, what can be expected but death?"

When she was 41, a priest convinced her to go back to her prayer, but she still found it difficult. "I was more anxious for the hour of prayer to be over than I was to remain there. I don't know what heavy penance I would not have gladly undertaken rather than practice prayer." She was distracted often: "This intellect is so wild that it doesn't seem to be anything else than a frantic madman no one can tie down." Teresa sympathizes with those who have a difficult time in prayer: "All the trials we endure cannot be compared to these interior battles."

Yet her experience gives us wonderful descriptions of mental prayer: "For mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us. The important thing is not to think much but to love much and so do that which best stirs you to love. Love is not great delight but desire to please God in everything."

As she started to pray again, God gave her spiritual delights: the prayer of quiet where God's presence overwhelmed her senses, raptures where God overcame her with glorious foolishness, prayer of union where she felt the sun of God melt her soul away. Sometimes her whole body was raised form the ground. If she felt God was going to levitate her body, she stretched out on the floor and called the nuns to sit on her and hold her down. Far from being excited about these events, she "begged God very much not to give me any more favors in public."

In her books, she analyzed and dissects mystical experiences the way a scientist would. She never saw these gifts as rewards from God but the way he "chastised" her. The more love she felt the harder it was to offend God. She says, "The memory of the favor God has granted does more to bring such a person back to God than all the infernal punishments imaginable."

Her biggest fault was her friendships. Though she wasn't sinning, she was very attached to her friends until God told her "No longer do I want you to converse with human beings but with angels." In an instant he gave her the freedom that she had been unable to achieve through years of effort. After that God always came first in her life.

Some friends, however, did not like what was happening to her and got together to discuss some "remedy" for her. Concluding that she had been deluded by the devil, they sent a Jesuit to analyze her. The Jesuit reassured her that her experiences were from God but soon everyone knew about her and was making fun of her.

One confessor was so sure that the visions were from the devil that her told her to make an obscene gesture called the fig every time she had a vision of Jesus. She cringed but did as she was ordered, all the time apologizing to Jesus. Fortunately, Jesus didn't seem upset but told her that she was right to obey her confessor. In her autobiography she would say, "I am more afraid of those who are terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself." The devil was not to be feared but fought by talking more about God.

Teresa felt that the best evidence that her delights came from God was that the experiences gave her peace, inspiration, and encouragement. "If these effects are not present I would greatly doubt that the raptures come from God; on the contrary I would fear lest they be caused by rabies."

Sometimes, however, she couldn't avoid complaining to her closest Friend about the hostility and gossip that surrounded her. When Jesus told her, "Teresa, that's how I treat my friends" Teresa responded, "No wonder you have so few friends." But since Christ has so few friends, she felt they should be good ones. And that's why she decided to reform her Carmelite order.

At the age of 43, she became determined to found a new convent that went back to the basics of a contemplative order: a simple life of poverty devoted to prayer. This doesn't sound like a big deal, right? Wrong.

When plans leaked out about her first convent, St. Joseph's, she was denounced from the pulpit, told by her sisters she should raise money for the convent she was already in, and threatened with the Inquisition. The town started legal proceedings against her. All because she wanted to try a simple life of prayer. In the face of this open war, she went ahead calmly, as if nothing was wrong, trusting in God.

"May God protect me from gloomy saints," Teresa said, and that's how she ran her convent. To her, spiritual life was an attitude of love, not a rule. Although she proclaimed poverty, she believed in work, not in begging. She believed in obedience to God more than penance. If you do something wrong, don't punish yourself -- change. When someone felt depressed, her advice was that she go some place where she could see the sky and take a walk. When someone was shocked that she was going to eat well, she answered, "There's a time for partridge and a time for penance." To her brother's wish to meditate on hell, she answered, "Don't."

Once she had her own convent, she could lead a life of peace, right? Wrong again. Teresa believed that the most powerful and acceptable prayer was that prayer that leads to action. Good effects were better than pious sensations that only make the person praying feel good.

At St. Joseph's, she spent much of her time writing her Life. She wrote this book not for fun but because she was ordered to. Many people questioned her experiences and this book would clear her or condemn her. Because of this, she used a lot of camouflage in the book, following a profound thought with the statement, "But what do I know. I'm just a wretched woman." The Inquisition liked what they read and cleared her.

At 51, she felt it was time to spread her reform movement. She braved burning sun, ice and snow, thieves, and rat-infested inns to found more convents. But those obstacles were easy compared to what she face from her brothers and sisters in religious life. She was called "a restless disobedient gadabout who has gone about teaching as though she were a professor" by the papal nuncio. When her former convent voted her in as prioress, the leader of the Carmelite order excommunicated the nuns. A vicar general stationed an officer of the law outside the door to keep her out. The other religious orders opposed her wherever she went. She often had to enter a town secretly in the middle of the night to avoid causing a riot.

And the help they received was sometimes worse than the hostility. A princess ordered Teresa to found a convent and then showed up at the door with luggage and maids. When Teresa refused to order her nuns to wait on the princess on their knees, the princess denounced Teresa to the Inquisition.

In another town, they arrived at their new house in the middle of the night, only to wake up the next morning to find that one wall of the building was missing.

Why was everyone so upset? Teresa said, "Truly it seems that now there are no more of those considered mad for being true lovers of Christ." No one in religious orders or in the world wanted Teresa reminding them of the way God said they should live.

Teresa looked on these difficulties as good publicity. Soon she had postulants clamoring to get into her reform convents. Many people thought about what she said and wanted to learn about prayer from her. Soon her ideas about prayer swept not only through Spain but all of Europe.

In 1582, she was invited to found a convent by an Archbishop but when she arrived in the middle of the pouring rain, he ordered her to leave. "And the weather so delightful too" was Teresa's comment. Though very ill, she was commanded to attend a noblewoman giving birth. By the time they got there, the baby had already arrived so, as Teresa said, "The saint won't be needed after all." Too ill to leave, she died on October 4 at the age of 67.

She is the founder of the Discalced Carmelites. In 1970 she was declared a Doctor of the Church for her writing and teaching on prayer, one of two women to be honored in this way.

St. Teresa is the patron saint of Headache sufferers. Her symbol is a heart, an arrow, and a book. She was canonized in 1622.

St. Augstine

2009-06-30T09:19:00.003-04:00

I have decided to put a Saint of the Week up this week it is St. Augstine of Hippo ( cause aparently there is about 6 diffrent ones) He is a doctor of our Catholic Faith and one of my faviorts. Here is his story

St. Augustine of Hippo is the patron of brewers because of his conversion from a former life of loose living, which included parties, entertainment, and worldly ambitions. His complete turnaround and conversion has been an inspiration to many who struggle with a particular vice or habit they long to break.

This famous son of St. Monica was born in Africa and spent many years of his life in wicked living and in false beliefs. Though he was one of the most intelligent men who ever lived and though he had been brought up a Christian, his sins of impurity and his pride darkened his mind so much, that he could not see or understand the Divine Truth anymore. Through the prayers of his holy mother and the marvelous preaching of St. Ambrose, Augustine finally became convinced that Christianity was the one true religion. Yet he did not become a Christian then, because he thought he could never live a pure life. One day, however, he heard about two men who had suddenly been converted on reading the life of St. Antony, and he felt terrible ashamed of himself. "What are we doing?" he cried to his friend Alipius. "Unlearned people are taking Heaven by force, while we, with all our knowledge, are so cowardly that we keep rolling around in the mud of our sins!"

Full of bitter sorrow, Augustine flung himself out into the garden and cried out to God, "How long more, O Lord? Why does not this hour put an end to my sins?" Just then he heard a child singing, "Take up and read!" Thinking that God intended him to hear those words, he picked up the book of the Letters of St. Paul, and read the first passage his gaze fell on. It was just what Augustine needed, for in it, St. Paul says to put away all impurity and to live in imitation of Jesus. That did it! From then on, Augustine began a new life.

He was baptized, became a priest, a bishop, a famous Catholic writer, Founder of religious priests, and one of the greatest saints that ever lived. He became very devout and charitable, too. On the wall of his room he had the following sentence written in large letters: "Here we do not speak evil of anyone." St. Augustine overcame strong heresies, practiced great poverty and supported the poor, preached very often and prayed with great fervor right up until his death. "Too late have I loved You!" he once cried to God, but with his holy life he certainly made up for the sins he committed before his conversion. His feast day is August 28th.
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=418

3 steps to avoid sin and turn to God

2009-06-24T23:45:00.002-04:00

In our staint Paul bible study we went over 3 steps to turing to God, we were talking about how when you have a BIG sin on your hands like hate or looking at dirty things things like that, How you can't beat it with out turning to God. It was 3 simple steps:
Flee the area
Get on your knees
Turn to our savior

It sounds really simple and we all have our own ways when we face the looming of sin, we either can read the bible....pray....sing songs of worship...go to a sacrement (mass, confession...)...read spritual reading (confessions of St. Augestien...

It sounds simple doesn't it, well I know it can be really hard to do this in the middle of sinning but if you are about to sin just say, I LOVE YOU LORD, HELP ME JESUS...somthing like that...Mother Mary Help me...

Leave the area
run away
then PRAY
and TURN TO GOD..

Love,
Bobby

Eph. 6 10-18

2009-06-24T23:39:00.004-04:00

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints

This is a lot of good stuff...lets take it peice by peice but instead of taking each verse and breaking it down I am just going to disect what Paul is saying; This is all about putting on our amour that God gives us at our brith Rising up and fighting. Sounds like a retreat song we had this past year rise up.

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

I want you to do what Sister Therese Marie,TOR said to do down in stuby read this part 3 times
1st pick out a word
2nd a verse/phrase
3rd put your self in the story, in this case Think about what Paul is discribing, putting on the armor of God...

then do it with this part:

14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints

Now This is a very spelled out what Paul is writing, trying to get across, he uses great discription and it makes it easy to visualize, but it is simple.
TEMPTATION IS COMING, SIN IS GOING TO BE THERE BUT EQUIPT YOUR SELF WITH THE ARMOR OF GOD DONOT PUT IN ON THE SHELF, USE IT!

~Bobby :)

The Ballad of Grandma K

2009-06-20T15:58:00.002-04:00

if you want the lyrics just comment and I will post them....sorry the singing is kinda low...and the guitar is kinda loud...

JOHN RICH

2009-06-13T20:14:00.002-04:00

I know I don't do the polictical stuff most of the time but I have been wanting to put this video up...it is John Rich from Big and Rich shuttin detroit down I hope you enjoi...Pray for all those you have lost their Jobs it is the biggest problem...and OUR president isn't doing anything to help those in need...he seems to be too busy going out to france and new york city on dates with his wife...if you really know me you know how I feel...Bush was a pretty great man of GOD and He atleast took this and put in on his shoulders no matter if it was or wasn't his fault...Obama seems to say it is the other guys fault...but now it is his problem...i hope he learns that very soon...Peace out LOVE YOUR FELLOW MAN...

John Rich (country) More CMT Music More CMT Music Videos

Just some fun...and some updates

2009-06-05T18:44:00.003-04:00

how madel with hair

What happens at the 1.10 happens to me all the time...

The adress again is loveyourfellowman.webs.com

O and a BIG SHOUT out to Grandma K, one of my best friends grandmas...HEY GRANDMA K I HOPE YOU ARE FEELING BETTER!!

Is there a diffrence

2009-05-31T12:50:00.002-04:00

I went to 11 o'clock mass today because we had a graduation mass for all college and high school grad's. I couldn't help but notice the diffence between the elderly and the younger crowd. We will call the elderly 60 and up and the younger crowd anything younger than 60 (but consentrating on the 10-30 crowd). Anyway I couldn't help but notice a few things like dress, the elderly were dawning suites and sunday dresses. The younger polo's and khaki shorts, blouses and khaki capris (that is just one of the many).

I am wondering if we are getting this split almost a old way and a neo or new way. Do we want to be called as young and old the Neo Catholics and the Old Way Catholics? and we setting ourselves up for it, with programs geared toward teens and then ones for the elderly? Or is the Fresh prince and Jazzy Jeff right, Partents just don't understand?

1st I am so NOT against having programs like Lifeteen and God Squad and monday night youth groups they are awesome, they bring people to the church. But at the same time we have a out pooring of the "older crowd".

I don't like the fact that I think about the Neo Catholic and Old way Catholic.
I find it disturbing, I think though we might of set ourselves up we also can fix that. Older folks need to understand things like Lifeteen are great, though I know we have the support of some just not all.

In my mind we need to bridge the gap between ages, have times where older people listen to a "younger person" speak about what is going on and why we listen to the new christen music, almost forgetting hyms and pslams. Why Matt Maher and Chris tomlin and colaberating and making great works of God. When years ago NonCatholics weren't allowed in the church. (Remembering Catholic Means Universal)

And the Young need to listen to the old. About tradition and how the church used to be. Like a camp fire talk.

With God all things are possiable....facing the giants

2009-05-02T17:02:00.002-04:00

Lasts

2009-05-02T16:52:00.002-04:00

A vlog about lasts and doors closing windows opening I hope you enjoy.
the other video is the byrds turn turn turn...while listening think about how everything changes but you get led to greater things...

Somthing New

2009-03-27T11:43:00.002-04:00

I have decided to do somthing a little diffrent every once and awhile,I will call it simply movie reveiws. Somtime after I watch a movie I will put a post of what I thought. Wether it a Christen movie or not, and I will Post a "christen" 1-5 star, so if you are looking for a moral values movie, fire proof or Facing the giants for an expample. Then I will put a rating of the world's veiw, so like Rocky, Tommy Boy or Step Brothers...I will put the trail on and a plot sypnopis from imdb.com and then my rating

1. Step Brothers

Brennan Huff and Dale Doback are both about 40 when Brennan's mom and Dale's dad marry. The sons still live with the parents so they must now share a room. Initial antipathy threatens the household's peace and the parents' relationship. Dad lays down the law: both slackers have a week to find a job. Out of the job search and their love of music comes a pact that leads to friendship but more domestic disarray compounded by the boys' sleepwalking. Hovering nearby are Brennan's successful brother and his lonely wife: the brother wants to help sell his step-father's house, the wife wants Dale's attention, and the newlyweds want to retire and sail the seven seas. Can harmony come from the discord? Written by {jhailey@hotmail.com}

I really enjoyed the comdey in this movie, It was very funny. But the language is not want kids below 6th grade to even know. The F word was used more times then I have herd in a movie since Hoffa.

religous scale- *
World scale- ****

2. Fireproof

Capt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter's adage: Never leave your partner behind. Inside burning buildings, it's his natural instinct. In the cooling embers of his marriage, it's another story.

After seven years of marriage, Caleb and Catherine Holt have drifted so far apart that they are ready to move on without each other. Yet as they prepare to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb's dad asks his son to try an experiment: The Love Dare.

While hoping The Love Dare has nothing to do with his parents' newfound faith, Caleb commits to the challenge. But can he attempt to love his wife while avoiding God's love for him? Will he be able to demonstrate love over and over again to a person that's no longer receptive to his love? Or is this just another marriage destined to go up in smoke?

This moive is one of the best moives I have seen in a long time. For Married couple who have been married for 50 years to couple who have just started dating it is the perfect date movie. With A mix of comedy and a powerful story/message.

Religous- *****
World- *****

with love

Bobby

Amazing Basketball

2009-03-26T11:43:00.002-04:00

Though this is a blog ment to teach and learn about religon,Once I saw this news story I couldn't not put it on here. I was on Big Kenny of Big and Rich...He is the Big part....It is about a Teen with autsim and he was the Basketball team manger they put him in their last game....just watch the story

with love
Bobby

Part 2 10 step

2009-03-18T22:59:00.002-04:00

*Declaimer* a lot of this blog is not doctorine or medation on a verse but oppion on what I think this is about and what my fellow ST. PAUL BIBLE STUDIERS THINK***

I am going to reveiw the 10 step:

1. Encounter the Gospel
2. Realize there is a God
3. Admit that it is not you
4. Acknowledge that Christ is God
5. Admit that you are in sin
6. Realize that you need a Savior
7. Repent and Reconcile
8. Believe in the Gospel
9. Change the way you live
10. Share the Gospel with others so theycan encounter it.

I want to say one thing, when we were at bible study. We talked about this, idea I didn't think of it as the rest of the people their (John Thomas, Jen Harig and Paul Dillick) did part of the reason is past life experinace, going to the new Green Campus of Parkside church. It wasn't a bad experince but you could only listen to this as a 10 things to do then your christen, and then you start believeing it. But Paul saw it diffrently, he said it was more of a guide to your life and how to livebit. More of a Circle, because think how many times we Go around this circle. Defantly 5-7 and then 9, I also think step 3 and 4. We do 4 all the time at mass. I can say that 3 is repeted in my life every day. In just the way that I am not God or a God, I am a sinner trying to be a saint.

Then next thing we talked about was step 10 and how hard for a lot of Catholics it is to do but to non Catholics it comes easy. I would say that it is because they practice that a lot, talking about their faith. Unlike a lot of young Catholics end up with a 2nd grade education in religion. I know if I was to compare myself to a non Catholic I would have about a 6th grade education of my faith. I feel that it is somthing the Lifeteen Program has done for me, With my non Catholic or even non religous friends I have been able to practice.

To talk a little bit more about the circle Idea, I think that non Catholics go though the circle a bunch of times in their lives and Catholics might only go though it once or twice. But it is not the times you go thought it or quanity but the quality in which you do it, think about it if you went though this process 100 times in your life but never put your full being into it. But then someone goes though it once but they put everything into it the quality is most important.

Somtimes Non Catholics like I have stated they use this as a 1 time 10 program. But like AA Alchohalics ana. it is a ever going process like how as Catholics we see slavation not like Baptist or other Protant sects see it as a one time process...

LOVE,
Bobby