MY NEW PRAYER

I used to ask God for strength...

And,

He kept giving me things to be strong about.

Now,

I pray for mercy...

I can't take any more of His strength training!

The Huntington Men's Chorus Annual Spring Concert

Our beloved Deacon Jim is a member of The Huntington Men's Chorus...a wonderfully gifted and talented group of men...who at their performances have everyone...from the youngest to the oldest in attendance...tapping their feet, swaying to the music, and just having a grand old time!!!

Their next concert is May 1st...and...is a tribute to Long Island's own Harry Chapin!!

Long Island Cares...Mr. Chapin's own charity...will be collecting canned goods for our dangerously low food pantries across the island.

A good time...supporting a great cause...what more can you ask, for the nominal cost of $10 (Seniors and Students: $8) and a can of food??

And, if Jim has a solo...you are in for a rare treat indeed!!

My canned goods and I will be in attendance.

How about YOU?


If you would like to purchase tickets, please leave a comment and I will forward Deacon Jim's email address so you can contact him directly!

God Bless!!

JUST CALL ME THE COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT

Some days, I feel like I am the complaint department for the parish, the diocese, and the entire Catholic Church!

In the last month, I have had complaints about catechists teaching that abortion is murder; complaints that we expect the children AND their families to actually attend mass; complaints that we are rigid (WHAT does that even mean?); complaints that there are too many meetings; complaints that there are not enough meetings; complaints that each class must do an end of the year review; complaints that all I do is defend (again, WHAT does that mean?); and complaints that expecting Confirmation Candidates to fulfill a few requirements (a saint report, 4 service projects, 2 service reports, 10 mass reflection papers, and completion of information and sponsor forms over the course of an entire school year) on the journey, is asking too much...and...that it is not asking enough!

My all-time favorite complaint by far is this: "Exactly WHY does the sponsor have to be CATHOLIC? My sister-in-law is 'born again,' and she's a better Christian than you will ever be!"

(Well, that may be true; but if you want your child to be a baseball player you don't bring him to a basketball coach!! Is that really so difficult to understand?!?)

At times, I think that those complaining really believe that I personally make the rules, and sit up nights trying to come up with new and more tortuous ways to make their life difficult.

When the complaints begin, I usually take a breath and then begin the explanations that unfortunately at times simply fall on deaf ears.

Then I am told, "I don't know why I bother, all you do is defend!"

At times, I ask myself, "Why do I bother?"

And then I remember...

I bother because I care...because I believe that Jesus Christ took on human flesh to walk this earth to show ME the path to salvation.

I bother because I want to help others share in that salvation.

I bother because I believe that even with all the mistakes that have been made throughout the centuries, it is the Catholic Church that has immediate succession from Christ.

I bother because I worry about the immortal souls and the eternal life of us all.

I bother because Christ bothered to die for ME...AND...YOU!!

So then the question becomes: "If YOU say YOU believe, are YOU bothering, too?"

LIFE IS A GIFT

Feeling...

...put upon?

...alienated?

...angry?

Then let these words sent by a very wise religious brother, sink in.

And then, proceed with your day!


Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life -Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children -Think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another...

Remember...

that not one of us is without faults and we all answer to one MAKER.

And, when depressing thoughts seem to get you down...

Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you're alive and still around to see another day!

LENT 2010

BUSY - A Thought Provoking E-mail I Received Today

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.

In his opening address he said,

"We can't keep Christians from going to church.

We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth.

We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their savior.

Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken.

So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ."

"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:

"Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow.

Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.

Keep them from spending time with their children.

As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!

Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice.

Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive.

To keep the TV, VCR, Cd's and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly.

This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.

Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers.

Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day.

Invade their driving moments with billboards.

Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.

Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives.

Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night.

Give them headaches too!

If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere.

That will fragment their families quickly!

Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas.

Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death.

Even in their recreation, let them be excessive.

Have them return from their recreation exhausted.

Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead.

Keep them busy, busy, busy!

And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences.

Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus.

Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause.

It will work!

It will work!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.

Having little time for their God or their families.

Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

YOU be the judge!

Does "BUSY" mean:

B-eing

U-nder

S-atan's

Y-oke?

~ Author Unknown ~

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain when it will end.

Nor do I really know myself.

And the fact that I think I am following Your will does not mean I am actually following Your will.

But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You.

And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this You will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore, I will trust You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.

~ Thomas Merton ~
Thoughts in Solitude

We are now six days into a new year...SO, how are you doing with those resolutions made in the merriment of New Year's Eve?

At the beginning of each New Year, it is assumed we will look inside ourselves and make a list of flaws to be worked on...fixed...removed.

We make big plans to change, and then inevitably become overwhelmed, fall back into old patterns, and leave our best intentions at the curb.

While we should always seek to improve ourselves, our faith, our health, and our relationships, this year, I suggest we not dwell on the negative aspects of these areas of our lives...but, instead let us make a list of everything we are doing right with them.

Let our New Year's Resolution be to build upon all the goodness we already are, have, and are doing.

As we keep building...good upon good...and, taking time to recognize it, we will grow a more positive attitude, squeeze out the negatives, and leave them at the curb instead.

All-powerful God,

increase our strength of will for doing good

that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming

and call us to his side in the kingdom of heaven

where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

Twenty-ten is only 6 days old...it's not too late!

I wish YOU a New Year filled with all goodness and blessings!!

Christianity is not a voice in the wilderness, but a life in the world.

It is not a idea in the air but feet on the ground, going Gods way.

It is not an exotic to be kept under glass, but a hardy plant to bear twelve months of fruits in all kinds of weather. Fidelity to duty its roots and branch.

Nothing we can say to the Lord, no calling Him by great or dear names, can take the place of the plain doing of His will.

We may cry about the duty of eating bread with Him in His kingdom, but it is wasted bread and rootless hope, unless we plant and plow in His kingdom here and now.

To remember Him at His table and to forget Him at ours, is to have invested in bad securities.

There is no substitute for plain, everyday goodness.

~Author Unknown~

THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING

As one liturgical year comes to an end, and another begins next week with the First Sunday of Advent, it is time to reflect...on how our relationship with Christ has grown...or weakened...over the last twelve months.

Have we kept Christ as the King of our hearts...our souls...and our lives?

Have our words and actions loving shown this truth to others?

OR...

Have we made ourselves the king...or queen...of our own universe?

Have our words and actions shown to others a love of dominance above all else?

Is it always YOUR way or the highway...in your family and professional relationships?

Can YOU bend with circumstances...or...do YOU bend circumstances to suit YOURSELF?

Do YOU always have to have the last word?

Are YOU always right...in spite of what the facts may prove?

The time is right to change that dynamic...to put Christ back where He belongs...as the King of YOUR heart...YOUR soul...and YOUR life!

Turn back to Christ...give Him back His rightful place in YOUR life...the time is NOW!

FOR DOG LOVERS