Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving joys and hopes!

 Today I write from Pittsburgh PA where I am visiting family and friends. Today baked some Sara Lee Apple and Pumpkin Pies, and tomorrow……… I will be making some homemade cranberry sauce!

Here’s a funny video of the ultimate sacrifice offered by the plump and juicy cranberries!

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Perennial Seekers of Christ

Christians Never Cease to be Seekers of Christ

“The desire for God is written on the human heart.”

When we speak of “perennials” we are often referring to plants that bloom in the Spring, die in the Winter and bloom again in the following Spring from their “rootedness” left deep within the earth.  Similarly, each Christian disciple is called to die and bloom anew as one rooted deep within, what St. Augustine called, “the groundless sea of God.” 

Year after year, Christian disciples seek anew the depths of Christ’s truth, love, message and mission.  Each Christian is called to be a perennial seeker and “prefer nothing to the love of Christ Jesus.”

Everyday Christians are called to connect their daily “dyings and rising” to that of Christ. 

How are you deepening your roots into the way, the truth and the life of Christ Jesus?  What are you seeking?

NOTE:  Wayne Hipley, posted a great blog today and asked, “what are you searching for?”

Agent of Change or the Status Quo?

Are You an Agent of Change or of the Status Quo? 

Most people claim that change is good; but they don’t want it to happen to them.  Often we are able to identify the brokenness within systems, families, friendships and work environments when looking at someone else, but are not able to see how we  contribute to the status quo.  I’ve even heard it said recently:  “everyone else needs to change, but we are fine.” 

Perhaps change is acceptable as long as it doesn’t happen to you?  Jesus had a message for just this type of prophet of “Change”  It goes like this:

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.  Matthew 7:3-5

You’re a good man Charlie Brown

Happiness

Happiness is having a great day, with a fun friend and enjoying a stage show!  Thanks to the family who generously made it possible.   Happiness is those who sing with you!

Serving the Body of Christ

Liturgical Ministries Workshop

Today shared a full day with liturgical ministers from across the Archdiocese of Baltimore!  My workshops group of lectors and liturgy committee members was awesome.  And J. Glenn Murray rocked the house with rousing words reminding us that we are children of God!

As promised to the workshop participants, here is the Power Point on the resurrection worship ofc  Don’t forget to share your lists by clicking the comment section below! 

An Entrepreneurial Spirit of Evangelization

What if we imagined our parish ministry of evangelization through the lens of a entrepreneurial spirit and applied the same kind of passion, risk, enthusiasm and creativity to our outreach and proclamation of the Gospel as an innovative, pioneering business person might?

Would this change the way we imagine ourselves as Church so that as 21th Century evangelizers we might better proclaim Christ to the 70% of unintersted, uninvolved and virtually unchurched but self-identified Catholics, and the countless others who have yet to hear a convincing proposal of the Gospel?

Deep down inside each disciple is an entrepreneurial spirit.   

Entrepreneurs are true pioneers willing to take risks, expend creativity, foster outside the box thought.  They have a dream and a vision, but also the passion and skill to follow through and make it happen. 

It is precisely this type of spirit to which the Church of the 21st Century evangelizer is called.

“We must commit to a new ‘new evangelization–new in methods, new in expression, and new in ardor.’” — Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia in America, 9.

Evangelization not simply one program among many, but rather it is the guiding principle upon which all aspects of parish life are oriented; it is the lens through with all of parish life is viewed.

And He summoned the multitude with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”  Mark 8:34

Leaders invite people on a journey

A reader of the blog knows that my doctoral work and ongoing personal discernment and enrichment process is focusing intently on the qualities of leadership, and the significance of being an agent of change.  Here’s a little look at a collection of famous quotes on leadership.  If you were to attach your own thoughts to this collection… what would you say about leadership?

Workplace Bullying – A Professional Update

Critical Skills Update

Each week I receive an email from Critical Skills.  Which is an online and training organization that offers advice for challenging relationship and workplace situations.  This week’s article speaks of bullying at work.

Bullying has found its way into the corporate vernacular. While the government continues to enforce harassment laws, many employees are beginning to wonder if certain actions that aren’t necessarily inspired by gender, race, or belief biases, but still seem highly inappropriate, should also be prohibited at work. These “below the waterline” behaviors include actions such as making false accusations, glaring, discounting others’ ideas, backbiting, gossiping, constantly criticizing, giving people the silent treatment, making impossible demands, etc. All are examples of not treating people with the respect they deserve. As leaders, it’s important to make it clear that all forms of disrespect, dishonesty, and lack of teamwork are not permitted at work.  To get a feel for various forms of bullying, visit the Workplace Bullying Institute.

C – is for Cookie! Happy Birthday Cookie Monster!

November 2nd is Cookie Monster’s Birthday!  I was going to attempt to come up with some clever “C is for Catechesis that’s good enough for me!” song, but why mess with the classic “Cookie Monster Song!”

Pittsburgh! Some Place Special!

Home for Halloween!

Took a whirlwind tour of Maryland and Pennsylvania and visited the parental units.  Did a power shopping tour with my Dad which resulted in a super-sonic-spin-cycle!  Its a long story!  Hung out for an hour with a long time and dear friend Kristen.  It was a good weekend all around!