Remembrances: young Joshua- alert for Catholic moms, good stuff here.

Whilst blogging around Catholic Blogdom today I commented on two different blogs about wonderful memories I had of my third oldest son, Joshua, about 2 separate occasions of parental delight. I post them here, gentle reader, for your enjoyment.

When my 20 yo son. Josh, was about four I was on a tape recording binge for a couple of weeks. We were driving down the road one day with the recorder on:
Me: Do you love Jesus?
Josh: Yes.
Me: Why?
Josh: (pause) Because he loves me!!

He intuituively repeated the truth found in the scripture 1 John 4:19:
"We love him, because he first loved us."
I was astounded.

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One day while in a grocery store young Joshua started belting out peals of laughter. Not because anything was funny but because he had just mastered the ability to laugh at will. I was in a grumpy mood and was trying to quiet him down when a man next to me said, "He's trying to make us laugh!"

Right then it dawned on me what a perfect gift this child of mine was demonstrating. I went from being grumpy to being proud.

That's my boy!

Iced tea on my toes- Saturday morning events

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Aargh- I just wrote this long post on my day and was checking a link to see if it worked and lost the whole thing. Rats! Well, let's see if I can reproduce it:

Woke up early this morning still feeling kind of gnarly in the mood, but am just plodding along, offering it up to the Lord. I got ready to help feed the poor at the Catholic Worker. Got to their house and entered the kitchen where I saw Mark standing on a milk crate stirring 4 pots of Ramen soup smiling down on me. Mark often smiles and always greets one warmly.

We did the Catholic Worker version of Morning Prayer with about nine others. Then we loaded up the ramen and several pots of iced tea into the trailer and drove over to the feeding site just down the road from their house.

There were more people than last week gathered there. I served the iced tea. Drops of the cold stuff would drip off my pitcher and splash on my toes. That made me smile and it occurred to me that I could blog about that unique experience. I often get ideas throughout the day that I can blog about. Does that happen to you, gentle reader? I seem to always be in blog mode.

After that was over we went back to the house and helped wash dishes- my favorite chore. We said our goodbyes and left.

We went to Starbucks for an enjoyable hour and a half. We discussed several things: my future possibilites- the post office, a new trade and stuff; how his love, Lady Katie, was doing- she is leaving this morning for one of her frequent camping trips (her license plate says CAMPINKATE) and she also has had a weeklong migraine which just started letting up yesterday; his window cleaning business and his latest spiritual adventures- a month ago he finished memorizing 15 of the main teachings of Brother Lawrence's Practice Of The Presence of God, and says that he has arrived at the heart of Brother Lawrence's thoughts, that he is basking in their wonder, he has great spiritual adventures, things that give me much to ponder.

After we parted company I went to the Chapel at St. Bridget's for Adoration. I was kind of antzy and only stayed a few minutes, however. I felt sheepish when I left.

Then I drove here to the public library where I can blog for free, although I frequently get booted off and have to skip from open computer to open computer.

There, I think I remembered most of it. Whew!

So, now for some prayer requests, gentle reader:

For Katie, to be relieved of her migraine, and to be spiritually blessed on her vacation.
For Mark, healing for his leg which he hurt by falling down some stairs, the clumsy oaf, and for more jobs for his business.
For the poor and homeless, that Christ would comfort them and meet their needs.
For me to receive wisdom from God and comfort and to find a great new job opportunity.
For you, gentle reader, to be inspired by the Holy Spirit and guided along your particular path.

Well, the myth is exposed- My Bree is fake!

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I just saw the MTV interview of the main characters and I am now convinced, Lonelygirl 15 is all a Hollywood production....

These guys are brilliant! I mean, they have to be to fool me, right? Heh! Maybe I'm just gullible. They really had me going.

Well, they are still producing videos, just released one a hour ago.


Wow, what a ride. They plan on continuing the show. I, for one, am gonna be a fan. They got me hooked. I *blush* even had dreams about the controversy of this saga. Wierd, huh?

Oh well, my kids were homeschooled and I have a daughter her age. They are messing with the archetypes of my mind....

More thoughts on offering up our sufferings

Tom Kreitzberg on his Disputations blog has a great piece on the value of offering up our sufferings to the Lord as I blogged about in the below post.

In this post he makes a great point:

Here's a thought: The suffering we experience in this life and offer to God, in reparation or expiation or obedience or charity, will in some way be transformed into a spiritual beauty, to the glory of Christ, in the heavenly kingdom. The suffering we experience but don't offer to God will be washed away (in the water from Christ's side, it could be said), but will not produce any spiritual beauty within ourselves. That potential for spiritual beauty won't be wasted -- it will be exercised, so to speak, in Christ's act of washing away that suffering -- but it will be a missed opportunity for us to bring glory to God.

I want to be as beautiful in heaven as I can. I also want any valuable thing that I got coming to me. Don't you?

So let's consistently offer up our sufferings to the Lord.

just another day in Paradise...

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Feeling kinda low today.

It's sort of a low grade rolling misery lumbering along in my darkened heart. It's temporary, I know. I'm not letting it interfere with my daily activities: morning prayer, Adoration of the Lord and blogging....

It's just there and I'm feeling it.

It's making me go to the Lord to "offer up" my suffering to him to be joined with his suffering. It's great being a Christian Catholic. You still feel the miseries of life but you have this extra dimension where it's not all about you. Where you receive benefits amidst your troubles.

As sparks fly upward, so man is born for trouble.- I think that's from Job. Good one, that.

How about you, gentle reader, what are your miseries?

well... day 2 of unemployment

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I'm trying to get everything sorted in my head. Am I being discriminated against or was I a bad boy for using company time for personal internet use?

I am sticking to my daily routine- morning prayer, adoration and now blogging at the internet cafe. I'm gonna give my daughter a ride this afternoon and run a friend to the bank.

So, I'm wondering, can you get Unemployment Benefits if you get fired? My friend says, no. What say you?

She tells me the our Post Office is offering $20/hr to start. Hmmm, that's $41,0000/yr! Wow. I could use a raise like that. She said when she called she was told the average salary was $57,000/yr. Sheesh! I had no idea. I was thinking about working there a year ago when I made the switch to the Collections department. Then the starting wage was $13/hr. This is a whole different story.

My mother did suggest that I seek to increase my income last month when we went out for lunch. It was a challenging thought. Well, I'm in a challenging position right now. It would sure be nice to be able to own my own condo or something. I'm tired of putting up with landlords.

I could go for another call center Collections Agent job.... Do the same ole, same ole....

I could try and be a Casino Dealer again like some of my family members do. That would entail a big cut in income for a couple of years before I could work my way into a casino that has decent tips.

Ack! First I get fired and now Bree is a fake?

Been doing some research on YouTube and someone posted the url for a website that has some pics of actress Jessica Rose. She sure looks like Bree. Hmmm.

Not another blow to my battered soul....

Dang! I can't upload pics on this stupid computer!! Must be some junk problem with this computer here at the internet cafe where I am at.

Well, gentle reader, if you give a hoot, go to the site linked above and take a peek and see if you think it looks like Bree. She does seem to be more mature. Bree in the lonelygirl15 videos seems skinnier, could it be her big sister?

Hope springs eternal.

(Do I seem like an unemployed blog addict?)

No joke- I got fired- for blogging

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Yep, after 6 1/2 years I got fired today for the internet activities I mentioned here.

And it was specifically mentioned that the theme of my blog surfing being religion was against their diversity principles and that someone somewhere in the company might become offended. I usually went to Catholic blogsites when at work. They also sited my involvement with Lonelygirl15 as an issue. But I never went to any site of hers. I posted a comment to a Catholic blog (BettNet.com) about her and read a news article discussing her. My department head said that that was age-inappropriate.

I asked her what she meant by that and she said something about them not allowing girlie magazines in the workplace. Gawd! If she only knew what she was talking about! Bree has nothing in common with a girlie magazine.

Does anybody know what age-inappropriate means? Would it have made a difference if Bree was 32?

Ah,well. So, another bump in the road in the life of the Lonely Man. I guess I was doing personal stuff on company time. But my time on the phone with customers was within guidelines (I spent the most time on the phone on my whole team) and my collection activities were high enough last month when I did all the blogging to earn me a sizable bonus.

Do you think I can get paid as a professional blogger? Heh!

Okay, gentle reader, you know what this means. This means I need your prayers. I want God to guide me in my career decisions. I want wisdom.

Thank you.

Quick comedy

Don't blink!



Watch it over and over again- it's crazy, but it doesn't get old!

Ok, it's RCIA tonite

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Well, I printed up a copy of Catholic Answers article on Common Catholic Prayers today for class tonight.

I'll make copies and distribute them to the open minds at RCIA. I realize this is the time to make an impression, when their minds are open. There is a window of opportunity here that may not exist for the rest of their lives. They are green and wide-eyed now, so I will strike while the pan is hot.



Pray, gentle reader, that the Lord will work upon their hearts and minds to make a lifelong impact on their souls. That they will be properly catechized especially in prayer during this season of RCIA.

This is a golden opportunity that I don't want to miss!

Ahh, sadness...

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For several weeks I have had full-blown internet access at work. I could blog at work! Folks, this was a wonderful time. In between hassling with customers over their unpaid credit card bills I could read wonderful Catholic blogs. An oasis in the desert! A breath of fresh air!

Alas, it all came to an end today.

There I was, clicking from one blog to the next when- whammo!



Access Denied. That message showed up in a field of all-white. It said to call the Help Desk.

Crap! I thought to myself. I knew the game was no longer afoot. The powers that be, the corporate weenies at my company, pulled access to the internet from us regular workers. Now, I am doomed to view only corporate weenie-approved intranet websites. Aaaargh!

Life just isn't fair, sometimes.

Speaking about Morning Prayer...

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace,
peace for his people and his friends
and those who turn to him in their hearts.
His help is near for those who fear him
and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.


A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever!
For the Lord is an eternal Rock.

My soul yearns for you in the night,
yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;
when your judgment dawns upon the earth,
the world's inhabitants learn justice.


O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help.

Long live Bree!

Okay, maybe some of you saw my YouTube video of lonelygirl15, aka Bree, down below when she went swimming.

Well, little did you know, this girl is rocking the cyber world with an incredible following of millions of views of her videos. For instance, she just posted one yesterday and she already has over 420,000 views!

She is an internet phenemon. Many cretins have been saying that she is a Hollywood production, in their lame attempt to make sense of her incredible popularity. The New York Magazine, LA Times Online and countless other ne'er-do-wells are bringing up conspiracy theory after another trying to prove that she is less than what she appears to be.

Domenico Bettinelli and I have been going at it since he posted about this so-called revelation of Bree's unmasking. Which I point out in the comments has not been definitively proven.

So the whole world is blogging about her nefarious identity and she just keeps posting her sweet and innocent video blogs oblivious of the rancor around her. Her latest one is called, "House Arrest," in which she tells us she has been grounded for two weeks for going to a party against her parent's wishes.

Bree is a phenemon because she is a sweet young girl who was homeschooled in a religious household. She is separated from the rest of the world due to this background and offers the cyber world an untainted, fresh outlook on life that is free from many of the spoils of modernity.

So, listen up, cyber world, Bree is real, she is not a Hollywood production- heh- Hollywood would be lucky if it could produce a character as winsome as Lonelygirl15. Just you see, time will prove me out.

Witness to Adoration

Well, a friend of mine often commented on how peaceful I seemed after seeing me when I had just finished my time at Adoration of the Lord before the Blessed Sacrament. Eventually, she asked to join me. So yesterday we went to the little chapel on 14th and Garces near downtown Las Vegas for a half hour.

We went again today and she sent me this email later:

Prayer Chapel!
Thank you Tim , for telling me about the Chapel and for taking me there. There is such peace and a sweet presence of G-d. It is wonderful to be with other people who love G-d and want His Presence, Love, and Peace. And Blessings. If I were to use two words to describe what I felt, it would be Peace and Blessings. A cessation of the clamor, striving, worry and fears of the world and because of that; a clean, a white, an unmarred spirit peacefully waiting as G-d's Blessings float down to caress and permeate the soul. My soul. The other's souls. Those there in the Chapel, those prayed for, those yearning for G-d.

It is hard to leave, to switch gears to this world we live in. What a blessing to live in the realm of G-d it is going to be.

Thanks.

(She is Jewish, hence the unique spelling of God)

I told Mark about this and he got very excited. He's going to Regis University, a Jesuit satellite campus here in town working on a degree in religious studies. He told me tonight that he is including this story in a paper he is writing for his Contemporary Catholicism class which is about evangelization.

What a privilege for me to just be myself moping along in my Catholic journey and to attract a friend to the Blessed Sacrament in the Holy Eucharist....

God is good.

Jon Stewart at his best...

The Anchoress points us to a great video of Jon Stewart of the Daily News show giving his first broadcast since the 9/11 attack. It is moving and memorable.
Please view it:

This is Michael Lynch

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Michael Lynch

I am honoring Michael Lynch for the 2996 Project.

Problem is, there is more than one Michael Lynch! I had the pic of one assigned to me by the project and then a family member of the other contacted me through my blog and thanked me for honoring her Michael Lynch. So, I have two to honor, well, that is just fine with me!

Michael Lynch

Now, gentle reader, please forgive me if I confuse the two pics with the facts of the two men's lives....

Here are some website excerpts about their stories:

Firefighter Michael F. Lynch, 31, of the Bronx, went into battle with a Manhattan engine company to which he was temporarily assigned. "Michael would have always linked himself first" with his home firehouse in the Bronx, said his father, Jack. If the family had its wish, he said, the memorial listing would read, "FF. Michael F. Lynch, Badge No. 2315, Engine 40-Ladder 35, on rotation from Engine 62-Ladder 32." "This accurately describes Michael's service with both firehouses," his father said.

The Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation is a scholarship program. Its purpose is to provide grants to enable children of firefighters and other victims of the September 11 attacks and other fires and disasters to afford higher education.
Updated: November 3, 2005
The Foundation is a 501(c)3 public charity and donations are tax deductible. In addition to general donations, the Foundation generates funds through various fundraising events and activities.
Between 2002 and 2005, we granted 22 scholarships totaling over $400,000. Our commitment to give has been enhanced by strong fundraising.

Eternal Life Grant to the Michaels O Lord

and may Your perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace.

Amen.

On Being Interviewed By The Woman Of Grace

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Woman of Grace

I was disappointed to learn at Catholic Worker this morning that Lady Katie, Mark's true love, was not going to go out for breakfast after feeding the homeless today. She said there were so many volunteers this morning that she would go volunteer at Child Haven instead.

So I sighed and went on with my duties. When we were done I decided to go to Starbucks until Mass at 9 am with the Carmelites.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the two love birds, Mark and Katie, sitting there in front of the cafe on the sidewalk. How quaint.

Mark had to take off for an early meeting with the other Carmelite Council members so Katie and I were there together alone.

At which point the wonderful lady began to interview me in her sweet, inimitable manner. It was an unveiling of the darker secrets of the life of Tim, the Lonely Man. It was one of those moments were friendship gets sealed by trust. Where two hearts meet that find safety within one another because of the pervading love of the Holy Spirit and the fellowship that arises from the common bond of Christian committment.

She erected a zone of safety in which I unveiled my tougher moments in life. Where I talked about my more troubled times of coping with the dark side.

Wouldn't you like to hear the sordid details? Hehe! Well, you can't! I'm not ready yet. I'm not sure how personal I want to get in my blog. I have to decide how vulnerable to be. So, gentle reader, you will have to wait, or, perhaps, you may never know the skinny on the Lonely Man. I just don't know, yet.

But, I will say that it was a blessed time with wonderful Katie, who worries that I blog too much. She even shared some about herself and come to find out, we have some things in common that I didn't know about. What an refreshing surprise. I had to go just when she started to open up so some time in the next few months we may be able to open up to each other again and form a deeper bond.

And to think that I used to fear Mark falling in love with another who might deprive me of fellowship with him. Here I have found another rich source of God's companionship.

I'm telling you, gentle reader, God is very good to me.

Speaking about Morning Prayer...

I left my prayer book at Mark's house last Sunday and haven't picked it up yet hence, no Liturgy of the Hours excerpts lately. Today at my Carmelite meeting someone gave me the One Volume version of the prayer book:

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to make music to your name, O Most High,
to proclaim your love in the morning
and your truth in the watches of the night...

Your deeds, O Lord, have made me glad;
for the work of your hands I shout with joy.
O Lord, how great are your works!
How deep are your designs!
The foolish man cannot know this
and the fool cannot understand.


For I will sing the Lord's renouwn.
Oh, proclain the greatness of our God!
The Rock- how faultless are his deeds,
how right all his ways!
A faithful God, without deceit,
how just and upright he is!


Look on the needs of the saints as your own; be generous in offering hospitality. Bless your persecutors; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same attitude toward all. Put away ambitious thoughts and associate wtih those who are lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never repay injury with injury. See that your conduct is honorable in the eyes of all.

Catholic video: The Reason

It brought a tear to my eye....

YouTube at it again... Why I Am A Catholic

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