Say What You Need to Say

Personal Accountablity

2010-03-03T17:08:00.003-05:00

It has been since 4th of July 2009 that I posted. I figured I should put some ideas on here again (I dont want it to not work anymore)

******If you are reading this on Facebook, I wrote in on Blogger, and it updated my facebook notes, not the other way around :D--still keeping my Lent*******************************

So this blog, as most of mine do, came from a personal experience. I went to rent something from Family Video yesterday and I remembered that we had outstanding movies. I grabbed them. As I went to checkout, the Clerk told me I owed $50 because my movies were 25 days late (totaling a complete rental period of 30 days). I was shocked. Having been a former video story employee, I know telling people that they owe you $ because they didnt return their videos on time was never a good experience. So, I didnt yell at the guy, I tried to haggle a little, and we settled on an agreeable amount.

Now, what does this have to do with anything?

This just showed a huge lack of Personal Accountability and Responsibility. Man, its sad that we have to charge people money because they arent responsible to return something they borrowed. I am the first one that is awful with Movies or books. How can we move on in our life, if we have overdue Books, Movies or owe a friend $?

A good friend once saw the condition of my desk, and told me "if this is how your desk looks, then I understand why you haven't moved past other things in your life." These words ring true as I look at my desk at work. What things in our past are stopping us from moving forward today?

Take time and tie up loose ends, so you can put them behind you.

God Bless

MLA Sr.

(hopefully this starts a trend of doing this more often)

PS--This Video is great, and ties well with Tying up Loose Ends

National Anthem

2009-07-04T11:28:00.002-04:00

On this 4th of July, I watched this video of how our National Anthem came about, and it stuck me as so very profound.

Let me know what you think.

MLA Sr

Wow--its been awhile

2009-05-24T01:34:00.002-04:00

I feel like I owe you an apology. And by you , I mean the 4 readers that I had before taking some 40+ days off.

During this time, things have been rough. April 6th, my grandfather died. He fell and broke his hip and died of a blood clot. I wasn't sure how to deal with all of this, but it was rough, but I know he is in a better place. He taught me so much about the Great War, and how to have a large loving family. I truly believe my love of food comes from him and my grandma.

After, one of my best friends lost his mom--Rob Giesting. She was diagnosed with cancer our senior of college, and she battled for a long time. I remember just before Laura and I got married she had a tough round of treatment, and she came to the wedding, and you would never had known she had. She died the end of April, and I know she left her legacy with her sons.

Other than that, the boy has kept me busy. Along with having some fun with Laura.

Now, I should head to bed, but I will keep blogging soon.

God Bless

MLA Sr

Jesus in a whole new way

2009-04-15T11:25:00.000-04:00

This is crazy--

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Holy Thursday

2009-04-09T13:30:00.004-04:00

I borrowed this homily from a good friend and former mentor in Indiana, Father Brian Doer. I hope this adds to your Holy Thursday and helps you understand what happens tomorrow for all or our salvation.

Thnx.

MLA Sr

The Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Now begins the great Easter Triduum in which we recall the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ - the highest, most sacred event in the life of the Church. During the sacred hours of the Triduum, Our Blessed Savior, Our Lord Jesus, will mysteriously draw us into his one, holy and perfect sacrifice. We will join him as his witnesses: priests and victims. (O’Connor 302).

Holy Mother Church urges special attention be given on this holy night to three of her greatest mysteries: the institution of the Eucharist, which began at the Lord’s supper and ended on the cross, the institution of the priesthood, which was required for the perpetual offering of the one true sacrifice, and Christ’s command of brotherly love, which is to be the center of our lives as Christians.

It would simply be impossible to exhaust the richness of these three great mysteries. So, tonight, on the eve of the passion and death of Our Lord, I have chosen to focus on one thing which is common to all these mysteries: Sacrifice.

There is no other story in the Scriptures that has inspired me more than the Passover. In this incredible story, we hear of the extraordinary intervention of God who saves his people from their enslavement to the oppressive Egyptian Pharaoh. But there is a hidden message in this great story. It is in this story that God reveals to us exactly how he intended to, one day, save the world from their enslavement to sin and death. The Passover prefigures, or foreshadows, the Paschal sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If we want to understand the Eucharist, we must first understand the Passover.

We all know the story of the Hebrew people and their exodus from Egypt. Hearing the cry of his people, God called Moses to confront Pharaoh and demand the release of his people. But Pharaoh’s heart was hard and he would not allow it. Nine consecutive plagues later, pharaoh still refused to release God’s people. God had had enough. The tenth and final plague was the most dreadful of all - the death of all the first born sons: both man and beast. It was the Passover of the Lord.

On that dark night of God’s wrath, Moses was told to instruct the people Israel to procure a year-old unblemished lamb. The lamb was to be slaughtered in the presence of the community, none of its bones were to be broken, and it’s blood was to be applied to the door posts and lintel of every house. And, that same night, they were to eat the lamb’s roasted flesh. This is key: you were not spared unless you ate of the flesh of the Lamb. It was the Passover of the Lord. There was no choice, either sacrifice a Lamb, or loose a son. What a dreadful night! The night the Lord moved through Egypt striking down all the first born of the land! With that, the Hebrew people were saved.

After the Exodus from Egypt, this memorial feast became a perpetual meal recalling everyone’s pilgrimage to the Lord for the Hebrew people. And so it was for hundreds of years. The Passover feast became the most significant feast of the entire Hebrew year. Then one day, around 1400 years after the Exodus from Egypt, on the bank of the Jordan river, a man named John the Baptist looked up and saw the son of Joseph and Mary of Nazareth... seeing him, John cried out, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!” With these words John announced the dawn of a new era... The heavens rejoiced at these words! The time was near. The hour was at hand.

Close to three years after that, Jesus offered his Last Supper. During this important meal, Jesus first identifies his own body and blood with the bread and wine on the table before him. It was the beginning of a New Covenant with man.

Tomorrow during the Good Friday liturgy, we will read the passion of Jesus from John’s Gospel. As we follow in Christ’s footsteps to Calvary, we will be given undeniable evidence that Jesus truly is the Lamb of God. For example, Jesus wears a tunic without a seam as he carries the cross (the one the soldiers would later cast lots for) - just as the High Priest was required to wear a seamless tunic when he sacrificed offerings in the Temple. Jesus is crucified at noon - the same time the Passover Lambs were sacrificed in the Temple. On Calvary, when the soldiers were ordered to break the legs of the three crucified, they did not break the legs of Jesus - likewise, you were not allowed to break the bones of a Passover lamb. When Jesus said, “I thirst,” a sponge soaked in vinegar was held to his lips on a hyssop branch - and it was a hyssop branch that was used to sprinkle the blood of the lambs on the altar.

The message is dramatically clear. Jesus is the Lamb of God - the true sacrifice. Just as an unblemished lamb was required to save the first-born sons from the Angel of Death, so we too, must offer the Lamb of God so the Angel of Death will Passover us as well. And like the first Passover meal, we, too, must consume the Lamb to be saved. It is just as Jesus told us, “I am the living bread which has come down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

Recently, I came across an article by a Jewish Rabbi. In this article, the proper method of sacrificing an animal for the atonement of sins, was recounted. He writes:

“The owner of the [animal] to be sacrificed [in the Temple] puts his hands on the animal [as it is killed], knowing that it will die because of him. He watches as it is slaughtered, its insides removed and its blood sprinkled around the altar. He is sick with sorrow for the animal, and with regret for his sins which brought about the animal’s demise (Bernstein).”

This struck me deep inside when I read it. If the Jews were to be sick with sorrow for a simple animal which must die in atonement for their sins... how much more should we be sick with sorrow for Our Lord Jesus Christ who dies as our sacrifice for our sins!!!

I imagined, standing before Our Lord, crucified on the cross, and reaching out and touching his bruised, bleeding body... knowing that he will die because of me. He will also die because of you! Does that not indicate the GREAT LOVE of our Savior in this incomprehensible act of self-sacrifice? We should not hear this truth without allowing it to dramatically affect our lives. We know this to be true: there is not, never has been, and never will be a single human being for whom Christ did not suffer! He “loves his own in this world, and would show his love to the end!”

The Rabbi’s also teach that, in Jewish thought, the simple meaning of sacrifice is to give of one’s self. The simple meaning of sacrifice is to give of one’s self! How profound! Even the Didache, an early Church document, which is close to 1800 years old, teaches us to “Sacrifice your life as proof of your love (The Didache).”

As Catholics, we must always remember that the essence, the center of the Christian life, is the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ. Where he went, we go. What he did, we do. He truly becomes our way, and truth and life. And since the paschal mystery is the center of the Christian life, and sacrifice is the center of the paschal mystery, it stands that sacrifice is also the center of the Christian life. With few words, Jesus demonstrates this as he bends to the floor and begins to wash the feet of the apostles. Not only does Jesus establish the priesthood, but he establishes it in the context of self sacrifice. Jesus says, “For I have given you an example, you also should do as I have done to you.” Therefore, whether we are a member of the ordained priesthood, or whether we are Baptized into the common priesthood, the basis of our life is sacrifice... which is to give of one’s self.

Our Holy Father has said that people, whether men or women, know they must live for and with others, they know that their life has meaning to the extent that it becomes a free gift for others. This is the origins of all Christian vocations - whether to the priesthood or religious life, or to marriage and family. He has also taught us that the greatest freedom is the fullest giving of ourselves.

This should never be forgotten: participation in the Eucharist should have profound consequences on our own actions. The sacrament does not stop with receiving Holy Communion: On this holy night, Jesus associates his own body and blood with the bread and wine... but he also associates participation in the Eucharist with service to one another... This cannot be forgotten.... this is THE BASIS OF ALL VOCATIONS.

Tonight, we will have the wonderful opportunity to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament. The Sacrament will be present for worship until midnight -when external solemnity ends - and the day of the Lord’s passion begins. Enter into the mystery! Keep the Triduum holy - and be filled with the graces of Christ’s passion.

Facebook Passion

2009-04-07T01:05:00.001-04:00

I think this is incredibly appropriate and fitting for this week.

Check this out.

http://tinyurl.com/cvpvfv

Intensity

2009-03-30T09:35:00.002-04:00

I think Tiger Woods might be the single greatest competitor of our generation. Few people have the focus or desire to do anything the way He does. People say the eyes are the window to the soul--Just look into Tiger's Eyes, and you know what he is about.

He is another inspiring Tiger moment

What are you intense about???

MLA Sr

What Really Happens at Taco Bell

2009-03-29T15:42:00.001-04:00

I saw this on Chuck Goetschel's Blog, and I have no laughed this hard in a long time.

Makes you wonder what happens at Taco Bell.

MLA Sr

Where is your Attitude

2009-03-26T09:35:00.003-04:00

I was enjoying the morning spending time with my son, and had the chance to finish watching Apollo 13--Amazing Movie. While watching the movie, I was drawn to Gene Kranz (played by Ed Harris). As many of you who have watched the movie know, its a heart wrenching story about the fate of 3 men. What drew me to Kranz was his attitude. Constantly, people were trying to bring his attitude down. Yet, he worked very hard to protect his attitude, because he knew the effect of his attitude on the other people of his crew. Close to the end of the movie, a colleague of Gene's said "this could be NASA's biggest failure"--and Gene replied "I beg your parton sir, but I think this will be NASA's finest hour." Comments like this were all throughout the movie.

Our attitude is the most important thing we have. If we have a negative attitude, it pervades our life and constantly brings us and everyone else down. There are great books out there called Attitude is Everything and Psycology of Winning. These books will radically reform your attitude. In addition, do not spend time around those people that will suck your attitude. It might be tough, but if people are negative, you should not spend time with them, because they are going to effect your attitude.

Protect your attitude, and value the people that are friends with.

GB

MLA

Two More Great Videos

2009-03-19T18:29:00.001-04:00

I am torn over this video!

I am not sure if I ever put a hand on this video for yall!

I hope you enjoy.

MLA Sr

Wow--its be a long time

2009-03-19T09:19:00.002-04:00

I would like to apologize for the month long lay-off without my blog. I know to most of you guys, it was heart wrenching. In the past month I got a job, which is taking a lot of my time. I know, the media would tell you the sky is falling and you can't get a job anywhere. But I walked in, said "i would like to work for you" and was hired on the spot. Now, its probably not a career move, and its not the best area of GR to be working, but they pay and the money spends--and that is pretty much all that matters. In addition to that, Laura and I have just tried to focus on getting out of debt, and helping her be a stay at home mom in 250 days or so 11/25/09. Sadly, that leaves little time for you, my virtual family.

But in my stead, you should check out these blogs, and know that this weekend, there is a chance for some good posts

www.bustedhalo.com (there have a great fast calendar during lent)
http://mariangrace.wordpress.com/
http://chrisbrady.typepad.com/
http://orrinwoodward.blogharbor.com/blog
http://googlinggod.blogspot.com/
http://tiberiusimages.com/blog/

Go ahead and take a look at these blogs and let me know what you think.

In the meantime I thought this was a funny video.

Our Nation Turns its Lonely Eyes to you

2009-02-16T09:42:00.003-05:00

"Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio,
Our nation turns it's lonely eyes to you.
What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson.
Jotting Joe has left and gone away,
Hey hey hey."

I am sure that post people have heard this song before, but do people get these lines right here--probably not. The nation was looking for a hero, and Joe DiMaggio was no where to be found.

I am as big a sports fan as the next guy, but the last two weeks have been very depressing for sports fans. Our heroes have left us wanting more.

Michael Phelps is in trouble for the second time. Shortly after the 2004 Olympics, Phelps received a DUI, and promised to never do it again. On Super Bowl Sunday, another story was released that Phelps was caught "hitting a bong". Now Phelps apologized and said he had learned from all his mistakes, but you are an idol to most kids, you should be better Phelps.

If this didn't shatter the confidence for Americana, Alex Rodriguez told the public that the reports that he had used steroids. Now, if you looked at a picture of A-Roid that doesn't come as a surprise. He said he only used roids while in Texas because of the weight of the contract, but no matter why, he still cheated.

Although baseball is not the pastime anymore, according to most sports purists, people still hold its records dear. Those are so important to us, we do not want a cheater holding American records. This, even though I never liked A-Roid, makes this hurt so much to the American Sports mainstream.

Now, in 1993, Charles Barkley sparked great debate by telling parents to take responsibility for their children and be role models. I agree that we too often put our kids in front of a TV and allow them to pick a role model, instead of encouraging them as they grow. All that being said, if you are making 252 million dollars over a couple years (A-Rods contract when he started using in 2001 at Texas), kids look up to you. If you go win more Olympic medals then anyone else, kids look up to you. If you are going to take the money for showing up on their cereal box, kids are going to look up to you. And if kids look up to you then you have the responsibility to make good choices, just like a parent.

Maybe we need some real heroes to step out.

Leave a comment with who your hero is.

Thnx

God Bless

MLA Sr

Another Amazing Vido

2009-02-16T09:38:00.002-05:00

I am not sure if you know who Steve Jobs is, but the is the CEO of Apple. His commencement speech in 2005 at Stanford is a great talk about life and life's challenges.

I hope you enjoy it!

MLA Sr

2009-02-08T09:33:00.000-05:00

Hey Guys--

This is another great video. Are you validating the people around you?

Great Video

2009-02-06T11:00:00.001-05:00

I saw this yesterday and had to pass it along, it a hilarious video.

I hope you laugh as much as I did.

MLA Sr

"If I knew how to Save a Life"

2009-02-04T14:39:00.002-05:00

Maybe this will help you save a life--

(if on facebook or video doesn't work go here Office )
I have never laughed so loud in my life an episode of the Office, but sadly CPR certification is a serious subject. Are you CPR certified? If you or someone you know needs help, can you save them? Do you know where to learn CPR?

Fortunately, there are many companies that will provide CPR certification, but how do you want to get that certification? What this episode of the Office shows, is traditional CPR certification--sitting in a classroom. Studies have shown that is not the best way to learn CPR. There is a better way.

ProCPR provides online CPR certification that people can take at their own pace. The instruction at the students pace, but also gives amazing instruction. With great videos, ProCPR is the best option in CPR certification.

If you go to www.ProCPR.org and look for CPR training and enter the code AbidBlog you will recieve a discount on your CPR.

Aren't your friends and family worth the investment into CPR training? Mine were.

Good Luck

MLA Sr

How to save a life
(I figured I should put the video in the blog that I quoted)

Favorite Super Bowl Commercials

2009-01-31T09:44:00.002-05:00

Guys

I thought with tomorrow being my own personal Christmas, I would post my favorite Super Bowl commercials. Go ahead and let me know what you think.

I hope you guys enjoyed these commercials as much as I did. Hopefully these year we again have some good ones.

Tomorrow I will have my prediction.

GB

MLA Sr

What Happened to Sportsmenship

2009-01-23T09:16:00.002-05:00

I was listening to the radio this morning and I heard a story about a girls' basketball team in Dallas, Texas that scored 100 points in a game. Not only did they score 100 points, they prevented the other team from scoring any. Now, if you are reading this blog, you probably know that I am a touch on the competitive side. I love winning and I love competition. There are a few schools that if I were coaching against, would be very hard to not run up the score on--but 100 points is ridiculous.

All the stories tell that the players kept shooting 3-pointers even through the 4th quarter when the game is well out of hand. Who does that benefit? It certainly does not benefit the losing team, and moreover it doesn't benefit the team that won.

I think we have gone so far in America, that we no longer keep score in 5th grade sports, because we have no idea what it is like to lose. We have made a generation of people that have no idea how to deal with failure. In my life, the things I have learned most from, are when I failed. All that being said, beating someone to make them feel like they are nothing at all. Embarrassing people is always wrong.

I coached 5th grade football in beautiful Crawfordsville, In a few years back. I always saw my role to teach the game. I would even coach other players during the game--so as to help them and help the program. Sadly, I was a rarity. I remember won game that I had to fill in for a referee--I heard a coach on the sideline after a turnover happened--say "Well Coach ______ just screwed up and lost you the game." What are we teaching our kids???

Shortly after that football season, I got roped into coaching baseball at the 5th grade level again. I remember parents screaming because they did not feel like I was doing the right things, Finally one of the assistant coaches summed up my feelings--"None of you stepped up and decided to coach, so sit down and watch the game."

In addition to coaches running up the score, and parents not getting, professional sports have lead us down a dubious road. Pro sports has made a mockery of the game. Anytime a player does anything that they are paid ridiculous amounts of money to do, they beat their chest and flop around like a bird. I always remember Barry Sanders. He played the game the way that it was supposed to be played. Very time he scored a touch down, he just handed the ball to the official. That part of sports is lost.

Sadly, this team from Dallas (here is the link to the story about it) is just a symptom of the problem that plagues sports. I encourage all of you sports fans to encourage sportsmenship in all aspects of sports.

God Bless

MLA Sr

Freedom--ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!?!?!?!

2009-01-13T09:50:00.003-05:00

It wouldn't be a discussion about Freedom, without my favorite speech about freedom--from Braveheart. The most powerful question he asks is, "What will you do with your freedom?"

In America, we continually hear about how free we are. Isn't that what makes us great? That we are free? Except, in America its a lie.

How can we claim to be free, with so many things that have control over us? I hear these statements alot when I talk to people: "I can't get together then, I have a TV show", "I can't go without my coffee in the morning", "I have no idea where my money goes, I just look in the bank and its gone", "I'm not an alcoholic, just like to drink alot. Especially after a bad day." How can we be free when this is what holds us back?

Things like money and our body are horrible masters, but when we are they masters', they are amazing servants.

Take a look a money--if we just understand how to spend our money, wouldn't we be happier, more free. Now, someone I'm sure someone is saying, "Matt, money will not make you happy." And I agree with that sentiment, BUT if you are constantly worried about money can you be happy? If every minute of every day is filled with the stress of how to pay your bills? If getting the mail worries you because you know there is a late notice there, are you really free? Everyone is worried about money right now, and the TV will make you worry more about it--but are you actively trying to control your money? A couple books I would like to recommend are Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey and God's Plan for Your Finances by Dwight Nichols. Also, if you are struggling right now with money, maybe you should take Dave Ramsey's course--Financial Peace University. There are classes starting in Grand Rapids right now (if this blog has left the GR you can type your zip code in), and if you are ready to make a change, I would suggest to go!

Our body can also make us a slave. How often to do hit snooze, because we are tired? Or do we have to coffee, or in my case Mt. Dew before we can function in the morning? I have heard, because clearly I don't do this often, fasting is an amazing way to put your body into check. Matthew Kelly (yes he really is my BFF) talks about doing small subtle fasts, ones that only you know are happening. Maybe today you deny yourself pop. Maybe at dinner, when you really want to salt your food, you say, no. However you can deny yourself physically, then we can start to be in charge. Because if you are disciplined in small matters, you will be disciplined in large matters. I have a friend that used to not eat after 7pm. I thought that was crazy. He was in great shape, and it was a self-mastery. It is a small thing, but if you can do that, could you lose the weight you want to lose, could you be debt free in 2009, or could you even end your addictions.

I encourage you to start to be free. The way to do that, is to discipline yourself. Because discipline, will come, either from within or outside, and if we are the discipliners (not sure that is a word, but we will go with it), then we can truly start to be free.

New Year's Resolution

2009-01-04T20:16:00.002-05:00

As the Year ends, we often begin to think what we would like to change in the New Year. Many people want to change something in the New Year. Sadly, people say things like, "I want to lose weight"--but if they don't set a goal to it like "I want to lose 15 lbs", then it really is a wish.

I encourage you, when setting your New Year's resolutions, to put a goal on it. Tie it to something measurable. If you look back at the last year, and can't tell if you have grown, then it is a good chance that you haven't set a measurable goal. I am going to put a few of my goals up here for the next year. As I achieve the goals, I'll cross them off and hope to have measurable change in 2009.

Attend daily Mass 100 times in 2009
Lose (X) amount of pounds
Have 1 date/family night every week
Throw an amazing Bachelor Party for my brother (with Robbie's help)
Shoot under a 40 in Golf
Go to Confession once a month
Attend a Matthew Kelly Retreat
Start and Finish 15 books
STP 15x/mnth (if you are in the know, you get that)
Allow Laura to be a stay at home mom by Dec 1st 2009

Good luck in setting some great goals in 2009 and here is to a year of great change.

God Bless

MLA Sr

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T11:48:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year. 2008 was a rough, but good year for the Abid's. Clearly the birth of our son was amazing. We were also excited to have Laura's sister get married and we saw many great friends get married also--Tim and Laura Muma, Brian and Kate Jackson, Tony and Sara Kamershen.

But with Laura's Father having a heart attack in February, and later losing his job; Laura's uncle and grandma passing; the other countless deaths our family has endured; and the moving away of family and friends, 2008 was a rough year.

We can only hope that 2009 will be a better year for our family. We hope and pray that you will be blessed in the coming year.

God Bless

MLA Sr

So This is Christmas

2008-12-30T02:15:00.002-05:00

John Lennon wrote a song that said "So this is Christmas. And What have you done? Another year old, and this one just begun." Christmas is over. At least that is what Society would have you believe. About 10 oclock on Christmas day, I started my car to leave my parents, I had been listening to Christmas music, and I noticed they weren't playing it anymore--is that how Dec 25th ended for you? Did you already pack up your manger and say goodbye to the infant Christ. According to the Church, we still have 13 days of Christmas left--in addition, the wisemen haven't even brought gifts yet to the Christ. I read this One Bread One Body reflection today, and thought it was right on.

Let me know what you think.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

1 John 2:12-17, Psalm 96, Luke 2:36-40
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/123008.shtml

CHRISTMAS OR XMAS?

"Bring gifts, and enter His courts; worship the Lord." —Psalm 96:8-9

We can have two kinds of Christmases — one real and the other fake. Anna
had a real Christmas. This eighty-four year old widow "was constantly in
the temple, worshiping day and night in fasting and prayer" (Lk 2:37).
"She gave thanks to God and talked about the Child" (Lk 2:38). Anna met
and loved Christ. Her Christmas and life were Christ-centered.

The fake Christmas is described as "carnal allurements, enticements for
the eye, the life of empty show" (1 Jn 2:16). This fake Christmas passes
away. It leaves its victims self-centered, empty, and unprepared to deal
with the demands of life and the new year. This fake Christmas prevents us
from experiencing God the Father's love (1 Jn 2:15). It leaves us
spiritually bankrupt of love.

What if you've been deceived into celebrating the fake Christmas? What if
you've still not decided which Christmas you'll celebrate? You can repent
now. The Lord has called you to read this for that very reason. You don't
have to let the devil rob you of Christmas. There are still thirteen more
days remaining in the Christmas season in which you can meet and love
Jesus. You can live for Him. You can have a real Christmas.

Prayer: Father, may I "have no love for the world, nor the things that the
world affords" (1 Jn 2:15).

Promise: "The man who does God's will endures forever." —1 Jn 2:17

Praise: At age 99, Mary still lives a Christ-centered life by attending
daily Mass at her nursing home.

------------------------------

-----------------------------------

Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from
December 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, June 17, 2008

The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.

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God Bless

MLA Sr

When the world Loses a Great Man

2008-12-23T01:34:00.002-05:00

It comes with a very heavy heart that I post this blog. I was informed yesterday that Jim Schaffer died. Jim was 62. He was the athletic director at West Catholic during my freshmen and sophomore years. Never has one man worked so hard to make sure things happened for the kids. He worked his butt off to ensure that every student athlete was recognized for something. Most ADs do not know all the athletes they have, let alone the students in the school who werent athletes--but Schaff worked hard to know everyone.

After he left West he went to Kent City, where he continued at AD. Everytime I saw him, he would always take few minutes to learn about my life, and what was going on with me. To often in life, we rush past people, but he never did. Track meets and football games will not be the same.

When the World Loses a Great Man, there is always a hole. Its almost like a vacuum. Jim Schaffer was one of those people that made the world better and is deeply saddened in his loss. Please keep his wife and family in your prayers, especially during this tough, holiday season.

If you wish to learn more about Jim, click here. The comments by friends of his show the impact he had on the world.

Rest in Peace Mr. Schaffer. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual Light shine upon him; may his soul and all souls, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen, and Amen.

MLA Sr

Christmas Time is Here

2008-12-23T01:10:00.002-05:00

While listening to a podcast "fatherdave's podcast" (he is the host of Busted Halo on Sirus Radio and podcast is downloadable in iTunes), I heard a story that talked about how recently a group of people set a record for watching movies. They watched movies for 123 hours. They couldn't take their eyes of the screen, and only were given 10 minute breaks between the films. Father Dave talks about what if we watched that intently for Christ. In early History, the Christians thought Christ would be here tomorrow. As time has moved on, we have stopped, "watching so intently". Jesus said we wouldn't know what time the Master would come back, because he wants us to long to spend time with him.

Did you spend this Advent longing for Christ? What if He came back today? Would you ready?

I know I wouldn't be ready if he came back today. This 2008 has been a very sad year, too many people that I know have died. I know, I spend most of my life, thinking, "there is always tomorrow." But we never know when the Master will call us home, and we never know when those close to us will be called home. What if during the rest of Christmas, we chased Christ like the wisemen chased the Star of David, that led to the Manger? Would 2009 be different from 2008?

There is value in waiting, and we sadly miss it, because we get caught in the hustle and bustle of the season. I am sad that I had not heard this podcast before. I wish I could have heard how to long for God more this Advent.

I know this may seem like a silly video to post, but it is so the mentality that society has given us about Christmas. Hurry Christmas, Don't be Late.

In this last day, take time to slow down and be ready for the awesome mysteries that will unfold of the next few days.

God Bless

MLA Sr

Becoming the Best Version of Yourself

2008-12-16T23:07:00.003-05:00

Last night, I had the extreme privileged of hearing Matthew Kelly speak. Wow, what a true Advent Blessing that was for me and those who attended.

One of Matthew's big points was talking about what does God want for you in your life? God wants you to become the Best Version of Yourself. God has a plan for you. In order for you to complete God's plan, you must work and become the best version of yourself. Why?? Its not like God would have planned for you to become a second rate version of yourself, or a pretty nice try version of yourself.

When God made you, he made you thinking "If Matt does everything he can, and chooses to become the best version of his self--he will then fill this part of my plan". God wants you to strive for Holiness. To do that, we must dive into the 4 S's--Sacraments, Silence, Solitude, Scripture. This, in addition, to proper health, great relationships, and intellectual improvement will help you become a better version of yourself.

What does this have to do with Advent? With a week until Christmas Eve--we must urgently prepare for the Christ. Just as Mary and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem, we must make our way to be able to prepare for the Lord. One of the best ways to prepare for the Lord, is starting to become the best version of yourself. During the next year, do everything you can to improve yourself.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of the best Christmas movies there is. When Linus explains the meaning of Christmas--I feel like it sums up everything that we miss during this time of year, and in addition, remembering the real meaning of Christmas is essential for becoming the best version of themselves.

Watch this and Enjoy the end of Advent.

God Bless

MLA Sr