The Thin Veil

Weekly Giveaway (01/27)

2012-01-27T08:46:00.000-05:00

"Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others." - St. Augustine

Because I've built up a large collection of duplicate books and resources, each week I'm giving away one or more of these items, absolutely free, no strings attached.

You can enter anytime during each week for that week's giveaway, with a new giveaway beginning each Friday. To see a list of past giveaways, go here.

This week's giveaway is themed around the recent March for Life. One winner will receive a copy of Blessed Pope John Paul II's magnificent encyclical, The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae). Written in 1995, it grounded the Catholic Church in its embrace of life at all stages. Here's more from OFWC Media:

"Beginning with an overview of threats to human life both past and present, the encyclical gives a brief history of the many Biblical prohibitions against killing. The encyclical then addresses specific actions in light of these passages, including abortion (quoting Tertullian, who called abortion "anticipated murder to prevent someone from being born"), and euthanasia (which John Paul II calls "a disturbing perversion of mercy").

The encyclical then addresses social and ecological factors, stressing the importance of a society which is built around the family rather than a wish to improve efficiency, and emphasizing the duty to care for the poor and the sick."

In order to win this week's giveaway, leave a comment below answering this question:

If John Paul was still alive today, what do you think he would say to the world?

The winning comments will be randomly selected on Friday morning using a random number generator, and the giveaway will be sent out, free-of-charge, shortly thereafter to the three winners.

In the future I'll be giving away many more books and resources--sometimes multiple items per giveaway. So check back next Friday!

(One entry per person, please. The deadline for each entry will be 11:59pm each Friday. Since I'm covering the shipping costs, only residents within the continental United States will be eligible to win.)

The Rebellion

2012-01-25T09:24:00.000-05:00

As he did last year, the gifted Marc Barnes made a highlight reel from the annual March for Life. The March took place yesterday and depending on your source, somewhere between 200,000-500,000 people braved the inclement weather to support life in our nation's capitol.

If there's one thing that's clear it's this: the culture is turning toward life. Look at the people in this video. They're young, joyful, and filled with hope; that's the future of this country. On the other hand, the pro-abortion radicals are few and far between. They're the polar opposite: they're mostly old, angry, and sullen and their own philosophy--that children are a burden, not a gift--is the very thing that's led to their own demise. Simply put, the pro-life movement is growing while the culture of death is sterile.

I'm convinced that in my lifetime we'll see the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, the most deadly and misguided legislation in the history of our country. And I don't think we'll have to wait much longer.

The Rebellion has already begun.

Tonight: "Your Family and Cyberspace: Raising Saints in a Digital Age"

2012-01-23T07:00:00.030-05:00

If you're in the Orlando area tonight, come out to St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Parish at 7:00pm. In the main church I'll be giving a talk titled, "Your Families and Cyberspace: Raising Saints in a Digital Age" which will help parents understand and master new media technology and use it to raise virtuous children. The talk will be followed by some time for Q&A.

If you can't make it out tonight, we're hosting a duplicate event this Saturday morning (1/28) at 10:00am, same topic, same place.

And for a taste of what to expect, check out my latest article for FathersForGood.org:

"Navigating the dangerous waters of the web with your kids is difficult but not impossible.

Like Alice, who passed through the mirror and found herself in Wonderland, many of us dads have also been swept into a strange new world —a world of Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, blogs, text messages, and more. What makes this world even more daunting is that it’s loaded with young people who speak an unfamiliar language.

It’s definitely scary. Almost every day we hear internet horror stories: children being cyberbullied to death; kids surfing into pornography; teenagers addicted to cell phones and social media; the malignant spread of distraction and narcissism. What’s a parent to do? These tools seem to be only growing in force, and placing a wedge between parent and child. So how can we raise saints in this digital world?"

Read the rest of the article here.

Weekly Giveaway (01/20)

2012-01-21T13:33:00.001-05:00

This week's giveaway is a copy of Tereso Tomeo's new book, Extreme Makover: Women Transformed By Christ, Not By Culture. Here's an excerpt from my recent review:

"Author Meg Meeker claims that "Extreme Makeover will be one of the most significant books for women in the 21st century. It pulls back the curtain on why every woman feels confused and hurt."

I completely agree with that. Extreme Makeover is the key for young women to unlock the prison of false womanhood--a true guide to feminine freedom. It's valuable, timely, and should be in the hands of every young woman you know."

In order to win this week's giveaway, leave a comment below answering this question:

If you could say one thing to a young woman today, what would it be?

The winning comments will be randomly selected on Friday morning using a random number generator, and the giveaway will be sent out, free-of-charge, shortly thereafter to the three winners.

In the future I'll be giving away many more books and resources--sometimes multiple items per giveaway. So check back next Friday!

Update: The drawing is closed for the week of Friday, January 20. Congratulations to Robert K for winning this week! Check your e-mail for instructions on receiving the book. If you don't see an e-mail from me, check your spam box--apparently e-mails with "giveaway" in the subject line often end up there.

5 Reasons Why You Should Wake Up Early

2012-01-19T00:09:00.000-05:00

This article is a follow-up to Jen Fulwiler's excellent piece today at the Register. With her usual clarity and wit she makes several great arguments for waking up early, even though she's a self-proclaimed night owl. If you aren't reading Jen's blog on a regular basis you're missing out on some really great stuff. Check it out!

I've always been a morning person, though in the past that meant waking up at 7:00am. With that schedule, I was getting out of bed just a few minutes before the average American, who according to one survey rises at about 7:15am each day. But three months ago, I made a drastic change:

I decided to wake up at 4:45am every single day.

So far it's been one of the best decisions I've made. I'm able to get so much done before the official workday begins--productive writing, a solid workout, and even daily Mass. And I'm able to devote most nights to my wife and family.

Here's a look at my typical morning schedule (click to enlarge):

Now I know the thought of rising early can send shivers down the spines of most night-owls--here's looking at you, Jen Fulwiler. I know that as soon as you see 4:45am the warning bells start ringing and the internal censor shouts, "I could never wake up that early!"

However there's plenty of data--and even a whole blog--showing that rising early is really a beneficial move. Each morning person has their own reasons for waking up early, but here are my top five:

1. Most saints woke up early--and so did Jesus.

Let's just begin with the ultimate early-bird trump card which, for many people, is reason enough. If you scan each century of Church history you'll find that most holy people consistently woke before dawn. Jen points to St. Josemaria Escriva as one example, but there are plenty more.

St. Benedict is one. He was known to rise in the early hours to recite the Psalms, a practice he eventually commended to his entire religious order. Even today many monastic orders wake up at 3:00am or 4:00am for communal prayer. Mother Teresa's nuns, the Missionaries of Charity, are early birds, too. They start their busy schedule each day at 4:30am.

If that's not enough, consider this: Christ himself liked to wake up early:

"Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed." - Mark 1:35

"Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple." - Luke 21:37-38

So if nothing else, waking up early puts you in very good company. But there are more reasons.

2. You'll begin the day satisfied.

One of the best parts of rising early is that you're able to knock out so much work. Instead of slogging through the day lamenting all you have to do that night, you can bask in the satisfaction of your morning accomplishments.

As Jen confesses, "When I’ve drifted back onto my natural schedule of staying up late and sleeping late, there’s always a question mark looming over my day as to whether I’ll use my quiet time for something fruitful."

I'll tell you, if I plan to work-out, write, or pray at night-time, it can be extremely daunting after a long day at work. Even though I know I'll be glad after I do those things, their specter hangs over my day like a dark cloud and it's tough to summon the will-power I need. When I wake up early and conquer those activities first thing in the morning, that cloud fades and my day is bright and clear.

As usual, Jen articulates it well: "A prayerful and productive morning gives me a sense of accomplishment that I can carry with me throughout the day, no matter what else may go wrong."

3. Your work will be constrained.

This one didn't strike me until recently. Yet if you're waking up early in order to read or write, it's huge. Think about this. When you work at night, there's no time limit pressing you to work efficiently. What's the difference between working until midnight, or 1:00am, or 2:00am? Either way you're going to wake-up tired so there's no real urgency to wrap up your work. Even more, without external pressure to finish your work by a certain time, it's much easier to surf the web, slow down, or become distracted by other things.

Mornings are different, however, since they with a built-in constraint. When I begin writing at 4:45am, I know that no matter where I am in my work, I have to stop at 5:55am to eat breakfast and help with the kids. Each morning has a built-in deadline that forces me to focus and not waste time. For me, that's been extremely helpful and it's led to more productive writing.

4. Mass and exercise.

OK, technically I'm squeezing two reasons into one, and at first glance they may not seem to have much in common. But I think they're two sides of the same coin--one is fuel for the spirit, the other for the body. So consider this my hypostatic argument (there's one or my fellow theo-nerds).

First, we'll talk about Mass. Now any Mass you go to, whatever the time, is phenomenal. You're meeting Jesus Christ in the flesh and participating in the Heavenly Banquet. Since every Mass is equally fruitful, there's no inherent benefit to going in the morning instead of at night. Practically speaking, however, more parishes offer daily Mass in the morning instead of the afternoon or evening. So if your main goal is to attend Mass each day--and I couldn't recommend it more--the morning typically gives you more options to choose from.

When it comes to exercise, morning is best here, too. Several studies show that exercising at night can have disastrous effects on your sleep. Because your heart rate and bloodflow are so high, it's difficult to drift into sleep, but even when you do you'll typically face a restless night.

Exercising in the morning is just the opposite. Raising your heart rate and moving your body starts your day with spring and vivacity. In my own experience, I have much more energy during the days I work out, especially in the early afternoon when I otherwise begin to fade.

5. Good dreams require hustle.

The other four reasons are good, but for me this is the ultimate one. Don Miller, in his phenomenal book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, talks a lot about conflict. Every good story has it. Every good tale has some sort of resistance, or push-back, or moment when it looks like the hero isn't going to make it.

However in the face of impossible odds, he somehow does. He somehow overcomes his opposition and gets the girl, destroys the Ring, defeats the villain, or saves the world. His victory does come at a price. It's hard and tiring, painful and perilous, and it usually requires every last ounce of energy.

And that's what makes the pursuit worth chasing.

That kind of difficulty is what makes some goals worthy and others vain, and it's a sign that you're on the right path. Simply put, if it's a dream worth chasing, you're going to face resistance--internal or external--and that resistance demands a sacrifice.

Now I have many goals. I want to write another book. I want to get in shape for my wife and kids. I want to draw as close to God as possible. And to accomplish those things I know I'll have to fight. I'll have to sacrifice and struggle and push from all directions.

Waking up early to accomplish my goals is that type of action. Call it what you will--hustle, discipline, will-power, grit. Whatever you call it, it's the energy you need to fuel your dreams. It's what gets you out of bed when the covers beg you to stay and the voice in your head says, "You'd much rather be sleeping." It's what forces you to write even though you're empty and you're sure nothing good will come of it. It's what separates dreamers from doers and visions from visionaries. Choosing to wake up early says, "even though my goals seems daunting, they're worth the daily struggle of rising in the dark."

The good news is that the battle isn't even as tough as it seems. When all is said and done, all you have to do is move three short feet from your bed to the floor. That's it.

If you can rise as soon as your alarm clock rings--if you can master St. Josemaria's 'heroic minute'--you've already won. And you've proven your dream is worth the chase.

Now I know some night-owls will read this and remain skeptical. Some people, they'll claim, are just wired to be late-risers. I get that. And I also understand the biology--your blood sugar levels are at their lowest in the morning, which makes many people groggy and lethargic.

So I won't go so far as to say early-rising is objectively the best way to go. But if you can muster the will, if you can train your body and conquer your mental resistance, the benefits are incredible. I've only been doing this for three months, but I've already decided to make it a lifelong habit.

How about you? When do you wake up and why?

Slicing Salvation In Half

2012-01-18T19:09:00.000-05:00

A YouTubing priest who loves religion answers a young man who hates it:

Fr. Barron does a bang-up job explaining why this video has gone viral. The video, he notes, is the result of the American emphasis on 'freedom'. Properly understood, freedom is a great thing. Freedom from oppression, indignity, bondage, and sin are all noble pursuits. But in today's lingo, 'freedom' usually boils down to 'liberation from rules, obedience, commands, structures, and--most importantly--anything that rankles my comfort.' Since religion can be challenging, and since it doesn't always console and affirm, it's often thrown under the bus by proponents of this pseudo-freedom.

That's an interesting insight, but even more intriguing are his remarks regarding 'justification by faith' and the success of this video. Adding a little clarification to what Fr. Barron said, Catholics actually agree with Protestants that we're "justified by faith through grace"--so long as "faith" is understood not just as intellectual assent but as faith-working-in-charity.

As Fr. Barron points out, this understanding of faith is particularly evident in Matthew 25, which shows faith must be tied to action. Yet the core idea of 'justification by faith' resonates throughout Scripture, especially in the writings of St. Paul:

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God." - Ephesians 2:8

"For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law." - Romans 3:28

(Note: When St. Paul is devaluing"works of the law", he's referring to the Old Testament Levitical requirements, not good works in general.)

So both Protestants and Catholics agree that we're justified (saved) by faith. The split occurs then when Protestants claim we're justified by faith alone, sola fide, where faith is nothing more than interior assent. As Fr. Barron suggests, the operative word here is "alone", which stands as the proverbial line in the sand between Catholics and Protestants--and between religion and spirituality.

Most Protestants are unaware that the word "alone" is actually an artificial addition to Scripture. It was inserted into Romans 3:28 by none other than Martin Luther, the leading Protestant reformer. Luther popped the word into his personal translation so as to align Scripture with his own beliefs. Here's Luther's own reasoning:

"You tell me what a great fuss the Papists are making because the word 'alone' in not in the text of Paul…say right out to him: 'Dr. Martin Luther will have it so,'…I will have it so, and I order it to be so, and my will is reason enough. I know very well that the word 'alone' is not in the Latin or the Greek text." - Martin Luther, as quoted in Rebuilding a Lost Faith by J. Stoddard

Which takes us back to the YouTube video. As Fr. Barron explains, the young poet really channels the spirit of Luther as he echoes the sixteenth-century claim that faith alone is enough. You don't need any of those messy additions like charity, churches, sacraments, or commandments.

Catholics say otherwise--and they have for 2,000 years. Catholicism says that true faith is not merely personal belief, though that's important. Instead, it's grounded in the Incarnation.

Therefore our faith--and our salvation--is wrapped in the mess and grime of the physical world. It now permeates our institutions, our hierarchies, our art, and our theology and is inseparable from so-called religion. The Incarnation binds all this together as Fr. Barron explains in Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith:

"Catholics sense the Incarnation in the oil, water, bread, imposed hands, wine, and salt of the sacraments; they appreciate it in the texts, arguments, and debates of the theologians; they sense it in the graced governance of popes and bishops; they love it in the struggles and missions of the saints; they know it in the writings of Catholic poets and in the cathedrals crafted by Catholic architects, artists, and workers."

Most of all, we sense the Incarnation in salvation. When Jesus became man, salvation became physical. He connected personal faith to the grit of religion and established a Church to hold both together.

Through adding the word 'alone', Luther cut these two in half. Four hundred years later, a YouTube poet is wielding the same sword and he's slicing salvation down the same line.

(If you're looking or a great book on the Catholic and Protestant views of salvation, check out Jimmy Akin's Salvation Controversy. I'm about halfway through it an it's helped clarify many sticky theological questions. Jimmy is a clear, careful writer who, as a convert from Protestantism, know both sides of the fence.)

MLK: A Hero and a Prophet

2012-01-16T09:50:00.001-05:00

Today we celebrate one of my greatest heroes who, despite many personal failings, stood as perhaps the twentieth century's greatest prophet (I think John Paul II holds the only rival claim). Like Christ, this man chose non-violence in the fight against hate and, in line with Catholic social teaching, recognized the dignity of all people--friends and enemies alike.

Today we honor this great justice leader, a modern Isaiah who showed words still have power, and a man from whom my son gets his middle-name:

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

If you want a great taste of King's prophetic writings, my favorite book is A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. At a hefty 736 pages, the tome includes several of his speeches, letters, sermons, and writings, including his famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail." It lets you see all sides of King--poet, prophet, preacher, philosopher, and theologian.

But King can't be simply read; he must be seen and heard. If you've never watched any of his speeches in full, you owe it to yourself. Sit down today and watch one. The obvious choice is his famous "I Have a Dream" masterpiece.

There you'll see a master orator at work, weaving cadences, parallelisms, and rich imagery into an energizing call to arms, a poetic vision that captivated a nation.

I imagine that when Jesus delivered the Beatitudes, he spoke with the same electricity. And, like King, his provocative words cost him his life. Would they we all have the courage and power to speak truth.

And here's Fr. Robert Barron explaining why King still matters:

(A couple years ago on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I shared some of my experiences with solidarity in my local community.)

More Responses to "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus"

2012-01-15T18:45:00.000-05:00

As the viral "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus" video crosses the 10 million-view mark, the responses keep rolling in. This one's my favorite as I think it's both cogent and charitable:

Marcel LeJeune has a running list of video and textual responses, while apologist Jimmy Akin has posted his own cleverly-titled rebuttal, "Why I Hate People Hating on Religion".

Weekly Giveaway (1/13)

2012-01-13T06:06:00.001-05:00

How to Win the Culture War: A Christian Battle Plan for a Society in Crisis
by Peter Kreeft

Today's giveaway is a timely book by one of my favorite writers. Here's the description from Amazon:

"The battle lines have been drawn. Many Christians have fallen into the trap of proclaiming "Peace! Peace!" when there is no peace. Hiding their eyes from the pressing issues of the day, they believe that resistance to the prevailing culture is useless. At the same time, other Christians have been too quick to declare war, mistaking battlefield casualties as enemies rather than victims.

In How to Win the Culture War Peter Kreeft issues a rousing call to arms. Christians must understand the true nature of the culture war--a war between the culture of life and the culture of death. Kreeft identifies the real enemies facing the church today and maps out key battlefields. He then issues a strategy for engagement and equips Christians with the weapons needed for a successful campaign. Above all, Kreeft assures us that the war can be won--in fact, it will be won. For those who hope in Christ, victory is assured, because good triumphs over evil and life conquers death. Love never gives up. Neither must we."

To win this week's giveaway, leave a comment below answering this question:

What do you think is the best way to counter the "culture of death"?

The winning comments will be randomly selected on Friday morning using a random number generator, and the giveaway will be sent out, free-of-charge, shortly thereafter to the three winners.

In the future I'll be giving away many more books and resources--sometimes multiple items per giveaway. So check back next Friday!

Update: The drawing is closed for the week of Friday, January 20. Congratulations to Carleen for winning this week! Check your e-mail for instructions on receiving the book. If you don't see an e-mail from me, check your spam box--apparently e-mails with "giveaway" in the subject line often end up there.

"I want Jesus, not religion."

2012-01-12T16:27:00.001-05:00

There's a beautiful, well-made video making the rounds that's become a sort of manifesto for the "spiritual-but-not-religious" folk. The video echoes the views of many "emergent Christians" and modern evangelicals, bemoaning dusty old "religion"--that dated, slavish system which shackles us to mindless ritual and obedience.

I used to believe the same way as this guy. I was convinced that Jesus didn't establish--or continue--a religion. In my mind, Scripture was clear that Jesus was against all tradition, ritual, and rote prayer. I was confident that he didn't want to "tie us down" with empty Rosaries, liturgies, and systematic theologies. After all, he did say his "burden was light". Yet most of the Christianity I saw seemed uncomfortable and demanding.

Even more than that, I thought the supreme distortion of religion were those that were most institutional, with complex hierarchies and leadership structures, and those whose authority was centralized in one place or among a certain people.

Or to say it another way, the Catholic Church.

Though our man in the video doesn't explicitly mention Catholicism, he's no doubt aiming his barbs toward Rome. His dichotomies are simply veiled potshots at the Faith, comparisons of the "empty religion" of Rome with true faith in Christ.

I was preparing a line-by-line commentary on the video, but to my chagrin I found that two of my favorite writers have already answers brilliantly.

Here's Marcel LeJeune over at Aggie Catholics asking, "Does Jesus Hate Religion? Should You?":

"I can't see how Jesus would hate a set of beliefs, a moral code or ritual observances, when he came to teach us these things. The sermon on the Mount, the Last Supper, the parables, etc. all teach us these things. So, Jesus certainly doesn't hate them.

Furthermore, Jesus wouldn't want us to be taught these things and then not follow them or observe the practice of them.

So, the problem isn't with religion, but hypocricy - saying you are a Christian and living far from him. This is a different argument.

Jesus certainly didn't come to "abolish religion". You might say he came to complete it, purify it, raise it up, etc. He certainly didn't want to do away with it."

And here's the erudite Marc Barnes--self-admitted Bad Catholic--who deconstructs the video with hilarity and poise:

"A common theme throughout the video is our man’s complaint that religion is just behavior modification, a list of rules to follow, and thus doesn’t get to the core of the matter — the call to love Christ as a response to his sacrifice on the cross. First of all, this is an absolutely valid critique of what religion should not be. If it is just a set of rules and not a love affair, it is dead. You can’t have works without faith any more than you can have faith without works. But the idea that following rules is inherently contradictory to loving Christ flies in the face — yet again — not of religion, but of Christ. He says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Love of Christ requires obedience to his commands. You cannot have one without the other.

Our man then clarifies — He loves the Bible. This is interesting. Did Christ hand out Bibles before he ascended into Heaven? No. The Bible is the product of a religion. A religion called Catholicism."

Baptize Your Child's Imagination

2012-01-10T18:52:00.000-05:00

My latest at FathersForGood.org:

"One day while waiting at a train station, a young atheist wandered over to a bookrack. He browsed the selections, picked up a small fairy tale on a whim, then sat down and began reading. He was immediately hit with odd sensations. It felt like a waterfall had engulfed him. Suddenly his mind was washed with wonder and life. And all of his boredom and cynicism felt as if they were being wiped away.

Some years later the young man marked the event as his “baptism of imagination.” This one book — a fantasy story — ignited his wonder and forever changed his view of the world. A few years later, the young man renounced his atheistic views and became a devout Christian.

Most of us can probably relate to the great power of stories. From our boyhood we remember being drawn into tales of pirates and knights, soldiers and cowboys. Most of us can still recall the great adventures, enchanting mysteries, and exciting journeys that captivated us as children."

Read the rest here.

(Image: ColekColek)

The Joy of Books

2012-01-10T12:47:00.000-05:00

HT: Marcel at Aggie Catholics

One interesting fact and one tragic blasphemy

2012-01-10T09:50:00.002-05:00

Fact: In 1961, C. S. Lewis nominated his friend, J. R. R. Tolkien, for the Nobel Prize in literature.

Blasphemy: Tolkien was dismissed by the selection committee because, "his prose did not in any way measure up to storytelling of the highest quality."

It boggles me how you can arrive at that conclusion after reading passages like this:

"Almost it seemed that the words took shape, and visions of far lands and bright things that he had never yet imagined opened out before him; and the firelit hall became like a golden mist above seas of foam that sighed upon the margins of the world. Then the enchantment became more dreamlike, until he felt that an endless river of swelling gold and silver was flowing over him, too multitudinous for its pattern to be comprehended; it became part of the throbbing air about him, and it drenched and drowned him. Swiftly he sank under its shining weight into a deep realm of sleep." – The Fellowship of the Ring

"They walked as it were in a black vapour wrought of veritable darkness itself that, as it was breathed, brought blindness not only to the eyes but to the mind, so that even the memory of colours and of forms and of any light faded out of thought. Night always had been, and always would be, and night was all." - The Two Towers

"And all the host laughed and wept, and in the midst of their merriment and tears the clear voice of the minstrel rose like silver and gold, and all men were hushed. And he sang to them, now in the Elven-tongue, now in the speech of the West, until their hearts, wounded with sweet words, overflowed, and their joy was like swords, and they passed in thought out to regions where pain and delight flow together and tears are the very wine of blessedness." - The Return of the King

Interestingly, Robert Frost and Graham Greene were also passed over that year in favor of Yugoslavian writer Iva Andri.

HT: Neatorama

Advice for Authors

2012-01-09T09:41:00.001-05:00

If you aren't reading Seth Godin on a regular basis, you're really missing out. Seth is the quintessential guru. He has a personal blog, and writes over at The Domino Project, where every day he offers pithy insights on writing, art, marketing, and eBooks.

Seth likes to subvert conventional wisdom--like the belief that giving your product away is a bad move--which helps you to see the world through a new lens. His thoughts on "tribes", the pricing of eBooks, and viral marketing are truly paradigmatic. The best way to understand Seth is this: while some writers think outside the box, Seth asks, "what box?"

Today, he turns that whimsical worldview to publishing. His article titled "Advice for Authors" is interesting in and of itself, but it's especially helpful if you're thinking about writing a book. The self-publishing revolution is making that easier every day so take heed:

"I get a fair number of notes from well respected, intelligent people who are embarking on their first non-fiction book project. They tend to ask very similar questions, so I thought I’d go ahead and put down my five big ideas in one place to make it easier for everyone.

I guarantee you that you won’t agree with all of them, but, as they say, your mileage my vary.

1. Please understand that book publishing is an organized hobby, not a business.
The return on equity and return on time for authors and for publishers is horrendous. If you’re doing it for the money, you’re going to be disappointed.

On the other hand, a book gives you leverage to spread an idea and a brand far and wide. There’s a worldview that’s quite common that says that people who write books know what they are talking about and that a book confers some sort of authority.

2. The timeframe for the launch of books has gone from silly to unrealistic.
When the world moved more slowly, waiting more than a year for a book to come out was not great, but tolerable. Today, even though all other media has accelerated rapidly, books still take a year or more. You need to consider what the shelf life of your idea is."

Read the rest here.

And be sure to check out Seth's blog and his Domino Project.

Weekly Giveaway (1/6)

2012-01-06T08:32:00.001-05:00

Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait
by Fr. Leo Maasburg

Today's giveaway is a fascinating book on perhaps the holiest woman of the twentieth century. In Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait (Ignatius Press, hardcover, 265 pages), friend and spiritual director Fr. Leo Maasburg shares dozens of stories about Mother Teresa that have never been published before. The book reveals a much more human and, at times, humorous picture of this captivating saint. Here's a snippet from my review:

"Since her death in 1997, we've seen a steady stream of books about Mother Teresa. A quick Amazon search reveals that there are more than 10,000 titles on this holy woman.

Now that's not a bad thing. I think more people need to discover her; I agree with Dr. Peter Kreeft who says that if you want to be a saint in the modern world, all you need is to read Mother Teresa and John Paul II. One problem with all of these titles, though, is redundancy. Most books tell the same stories in the same ways and feature the same prayers and words of wisdom.

That’s why I was so excited to read a new book by Fr. Leo Maasburg titled Mother Teresa of Calcutta: A Personal Portrait. This book is special--certainly set apart from the other 10,000--precisely because Fr. Maasburg was Mother Teresa’s friend, confessor, spiritual advisor, and translator for many years. He brings a unique perspective and in the book shares fifty stories that have never been published before."

To win this week's giveaway, leave a comment below answering this question:

What do you most admire about Mother Teresa?

The winning comment will be randomly selected on Friday morning using a random number generator, and the giveaway item(s) will be sent out, free-of-charge, shortly thereafter.

In the future I'll be giving away many more books and resources--sometimes multiple items per giveaway. So check back next Friday!

Update: The drawing is closed for the week of Friday, January 6. Congratulations to Rosemary D. for winning this week! Check your e-mail for instructions on receiving the book. If you don't see an e-mail from me, check your spam box--apparently e-mails with "giveaway" in the subject line often end up there.

30-Second Book Reviews (1/5)

2012-01-05T21:18:00.001-05:00

Here's another round of 30-second book reviews:

Faith at Work: Finding Purpose Beyond the Paycheck
Kevin Lowry

One of the strongest movements in the Church right now is the so-called New Evangelization. Sparked by Pope Paul VI, fueled by John Paul II, and flamed by Benedict XVI, this surge is meant to reawaken the world's dormant faith and pierce all layers of culture with the Gospel.

In Faith at Work: Finding Purpose Beyond Your Paycheck (Our Sunday Visitor, paperback, 135 pages), Kevin Lowry shows us how to ignite the New Evangelization in the most common of places—the workplace. Most Americans spend most of their time on the job, which means the workplace is a vast mission field. But how do we spread our faith in such secular environments?

According to Kevin, not through obnoxious proselytizing. Instead we should develop a virtuous work ethic, ground our success on more than our title or salary, and display a resilient charity that brings light to the workplace. As Kevin explains, living our faith on the job is primarily about how we act day-to-day. He follows Pope Paul VI who noted, “modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.”

And Kevin’s a great witness himself. Throughout the book he shares his wisdom on what’s worked and not worked throughout his career. Yet the book is also packed with plenty of other examples. From the friend who abstains from office gossip, to the co-worker who finds meaning beyond the daily grind, Kevin’s stories provide blueprints for effective witnessing at work.

If you’re looking for a helpful, yet challenging guide to faith in the workplace, Faith at Work is it. Here’s what I said in my endorsement:

“What if your job was not just a job? What if your work was actually central to your faith? In Faith at Work, Kevin Lowry shows how Christians can bring their faith to the world of cubicles, emails, bosses, and factories. Through personal examples, stories of success, and Biblical guidelines, Kevin paves the way toward a "spirituality of work". If you work--and who doesn't?--this book will help you tremendously.” - Brandon Vogt, author of The Church and New Media

Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas Reflections for Families
Sarah Reinhard

With two small children and another on the way, my family needs all the help we can get when it comes to prayer. Nightly prayer times are hit and miss--they either result in 10-minute symphonies of contemplation or 5-minute cacophonies of temper. Add in all the hustle and bustle of the holidays and it's even more difficult.

That’s why I was excited to check out Sarah Reinhard’s new little booklet titled, Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas Reflections for Families (Liguori Publications, paperback, 48 pages). The booklet contains entries for every day during the Advent and Christmas liturgical season. All the entries are structured the same way with a Scripture quote, a short reflection (Think), a prayer (Pray), and a simple activity for kids to enjoy (Act). I liked how each devotion is short and engaging—depending on your kids, you only need about 5-10 minutes each night. That's a good amount of time to meditate and pray over the Gospel readings without things getting out of control.

Though the Christmas season is almost over, it’s not too early to plan for next Advent. If you have small kids, I highly recommend this devotional--and at $1.99, you can hardly go wrong.

Discover Christ: Developing a Personal Relationship With Jesus
Bert Ghezzi and David Nodar

The subtitle of Discover Christ: Developing a Personal Relationship With Jesus (Our Sunday Visitor, paperback, 120 pages) might grate against some Catholic ears. But it shouldn't. As Pope Benedict XVI reminds, a personal relationship with Jesus is at the very heart of Christianity:

“Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.”

The preparation document for the upcoming Synod on the New Evangelization puts it even more simply:

“The goal of the transmission of faith is the realization of a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.”

With that end in mind, Bert Ghezzi and David Nodar have written a superb guide. The chapters in Discover Christ are arranged in question and answer format, and are designed to walk non-believers into a relationship with Jesus. It tackles some of the biggest questions many non-Christians have like:

What is the meaning of life?
Why does Jesus matter?
Why do I need a savior?
Who is the Holy Spirit?

The book also covers basic elements of Christian discipleship like spiritual formation, celebrating the sacraments, participating in community, and spreading the Gospel themselves.

In short, Discover Christ is a compact guide to living the Christian life. Those strong in their faith might find it a bit simplistic, but Discover Christ is the perfect book for the new seeker or anyone wading in the shallows of faith.

School Spirit: A Profound Journey Through the Gospels for Teachers
Timothy J. Burdick

This new devotional book by Timothy Burdick, School Spirit: A Profound Journey Through the Gospels for Teachers (Lulu, paperback, 181 pages) is not just for schoolteachers. The 180 Biblical reflections within would help anybody who teaches at home, church, the workplace, or in the community.

Burdick essentially journeys through the entire Gospel of Mark, gazing on certain passage through the lens of teaching. What he finds is pretty interesting. He sees in Jesus’ repetitive parables a model for driving points home—to deliver messages with a “tremendous whack” as Churchill would say. Burdick uses Peter’s denial of Christ to demonstrate the need for self-correction, to teach young people how to overcome their own mistakes.

School Spirit is self-published and does carry a couple of minor typesetting issues. Nevertheless any teacher would find much to meditate on. If you;re looking for an end-of-the-year gift for a teacher, catechist, or coach, this would be a great choice.

What I've Been Up To

2012-01-04T21:07:00.003-05:00

Here's a brief update on some articles and interviews I've done in the last couple of months:

Christianity Today Article

Christianity Today, an evangelical magazine started by Billy Graham, has a regular roundtable discussion in each issue. For the month of December they focused on the impact of social media on church fellowship, and they collected some great insights from author Matthew Lee Anderson (MereOrthodoxy.com) and Doug Groothuis, professor of philosophy at Denver seminary.

To balance out those two geniuses, they also asked me to share a few thoughts. You can read the article below.

READ: "How to Think About Social Networking in Churches"

Also, don't miss the accompanying caricature--that's me in the middle. With my no-look texting, sophisticated suit, and oversized head (which of course suggests an oversized brain), this photo is definitely going on my business card.

FathersForGood.org Articles

For all of the great things the Knights of Colombus do, one of my favorites is FathersForGood.org. The site was designed to strengthen fatherhood and to build better men in general. During the month of January I'll be contributing five articles on fatherhood. Here's the first:

READ: "The $75 Slushie"

Radio Interviews

Finally, over the last couple months I've done a number of radio interviews. Here were three of my favorites:

Catholic Answers Live
12/08/2011 – “Catholic Answers Live” with Patrick Coffin
TOPIC: New media evangelization

Download the mp3 (10 minutes)

"Morning Air" on Relevant Radio
12/19/2011 – “Morning Air” with Sean Herriott
TOPIC: My favorite books of 2011

Download the mp3 (23 minutes)

Register Radio
11/25/2011 – “Register Radio” with Thom Price and Tim Drake
TOPIC: The Church and New Media book

Download the mp3 (13 minutes)

The New Evangelizers

2012-01-02T08:12:00.001-05:00

Greg and Jennifer Willits, hosts of The Catholics Next Door show on Sirius XM and the founders of several other ministries like Rosary Army, have launched another exciting project to unite all their work under one roof.

The New Evangelizers is a website that provides free tools and resources to help Catholics know their faith, live their faith, and share their faith more effectively. In a nutshell, it exists to give away free Catholic stuff to promote New Evangelization.

You'll find free rosaries, CD's, DVD's, and more to give away to friends an. You'll also find helpful resources such as an online bulletin board community, a relevant blog with news and discussions, and plenty of podcasts and video from the hilariously helpful Willits.

Whether you want guidance and tools to help you become a better evangelist or if you're looking for a like-minded community to kick around ideas, check out this dazzling new site.

Check out New Evangelizers through their website, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Weekly Giveaway (12/30)

2011-12-30T08:48:00.003-05:00

Strengthening Your Family: A Catholic Approach to Holiness at Home
by Marge Fenelon

Today's giveaway includes THREE COPIES of a great new book. Three different winners will receive Marge Fenelon's Strengthening Your Family: A Catholic Approach to Holiness at Home (Our Sunday Visitor, paperback, 192 pages). In this book you'll find simple, practical ways to foster a holy atmosphere in your home from which everything else can flow. You'll learn how to live in the world, but not of the world, as you help your family develop the skills and attitudes that will serve them well, no matter what the challenge. Check out these two glowing endorsements:

"Strengthening Your Family presents a treasure trove of timeless truths of the Catholic Church that provide help, hope, and inspiration even in the most challenging of parenting situations." - Teresa Tomeo, Syndicated Catholic Talk Show Host

"Marge gets it right as she relates how focusing on encouraging and expecting growth in virtue and character will lead to the only real, true, ultimate goal holiness of life."
- Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York

To win this week's giveaway, leave a comment below answering this question:

What do you do to make your own home a holy place?

The winning comment will be randomly selected on Friday morning using a random number generator, and the giveaway item(s) will be sent out, free-of-charge, shortly thereafter.

In the future I'll be giving away many more books and resources--sometimes multiple items per giveaway. So check back next Friday!

Update: The drawing is closed for the week of Friday, December 30. Congratulations to Sarah, Ana, and Cory for winning this week! Check your e-mail for instructions on receiving the book. If you don't see an e-mail from me, check your spam box--apparently e-mails with "giveaway" in the subject line often end up there.

10 Reasons for Hope - 2011 Edition

2011-12-29T16:35:00.000-05:00

Inspiring video from CatholicVote (and the talented Spirit Juice Studios):

Review - "Surrender!" by Fr. Larry Richards

2011-12-29T12:48:00.000-05:00

Fr. Larry Richards is certainly one of the most dynamic teachers in the Catholic Church (watch this video and see what I mean.) His preaching is electric and fiery and his blunt aphorisms often provide a needed spiritual shock therapy. His unique style bled through the pages of his first book, Be A Man!: Becoming the Man God Created You to Be, which challenged men to pursue heroic sanctity and Godly manhood. I think that title is the best Catholic book out there on masculine spirituality.

Fr. Richards’ newest book, Surrender! The Life-Changing Power of Doing God’s Will (Our Sunday Visitor, paperback, 155 pages), packs a similar punch. In the book, Fr. Richards explains that the first step to discovering God’s will is obvious: converse with Him daily through prayer and ask Him what He wants. But after we discover God’s will, which in many cases is the easy part, we’re faced with the difficult question of whether we surrender to it or not.

“It’s as simple as that,” says Fr. Richards. “Are we going to do God’s will, even if we don’t want to? That’s the real question, isn’t it? It goes beyond knowing what God wants us to do—to being willing to carry through and do it.”

Reading Surrender! is like having a wise spiritual director walk you through one of Christianity’s murkiest questions: “what is God’s will for my life?” Fr. Richards provides sharp advice to help cut through our paralyzing fears and stubborn self-wills, the resistances we build to carrying out God's plan. Surrender! would be an especially good book for young Christians who are discerning their path in life, but all can benefit from Fr. Richards’ powerful advice.

My 2012 Reading List

2011-12-28T13:40:00.000-05:00

Besides continuing my Year of C.S. Lewis, here are some books I'm planning to finish in 2012:

- Confessions by St. Augustine (reading)
- The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (reading)
- Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (reading)
- The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton
- Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales
- The Iliad by Homer
- The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
- Apologia Pro Vita Sua by Cardinal John Henry Newman
- An Essay on the Development of Doctrine by Cardinal John Henry Newman
- Theology for Beginners by Frank Sheed
- Life of Christ by Fulton Sheen
- Witness to Hope by George Weigel

Have you read any of these?
Which books are you planning to read in 2012?

Fr. Barron: Why I Loved to Listen to Christopher Hitchens

2011-12-28T11:25:00.001-05:00

Also check out Marc Barnes tribute to Hitchens' admittedly brilliant style. Hitchens may have been a poor philosopher and theologian, but the man could write.

Whenever I read his poetic flourish, quotable wit, and keen British humor I thought, "This man is exactly what C.S. Lewis would have been had he remained an atheist."

Why I'm Glad the Pope is 'Just a Man'

2011-12-28T09:16:00.000-05:00

My latest article over at IgnitumToday.com (formerly VirtuousPla.net):

“You actually follow the Pope?!” people have asked me, sure that this is just as silly as believing in fairies. “He’s just a man like you and me! What are you brainwashed?”

For many years, I wondered the same thing about Catholics. Before I entered the Church I questioned why so many people were devoted to a simple, strange old fellow in a white dress. After all, he’s just a man, right?

But today the fact that the Pope is “just a man” no longer keeps me away from the Church. In fact now it’s just the opposite; it’s one more reason I embrace her."

Read the rest of the article at IgnitumToday.

What will books look like in the future?

2011-12-27T15:00:00.000-05:00

The Huffington Post has a fascinating interview with David Prichard, President and CEO of Ingram Content Group. Ingram is the world's largest book distributor and a leading force in the eBook revolution.

Here are some of David's insights (emphasis mine):

"Enhanced e-books are only in their infancy, allowing authors to add alternative endings or interviews. Down the road, who knows what's possible? Maybe we will have biometric devices that can sense your pulse and body temperature and change the plot based on your feelings -- and you think Stephen King is scary now."

........

"Piracy isn't a new issue. In fact, the majority of pirated copies are from print books being photocopied and distributed rather than from the distribution of digital copies. Keep in mind that what separates books from other forms of entertainment: for those who can't or don't want to pay for books, they've always been available for free from libraries."

........

"Ingram also purchased VitalSource, an electronic textbook platform that is our fastest growing business. We now have 2 million students using the platform worldwide. It's transforming the way students interact with educational material. Textbooks come alive using video, audio, and text, and allow students to share notes. It has technology that allows us to tell a publisher: "Nobody is reading Chapter 8." Or, "People like these three chapters best so you might want to expand them." It helps the students learn better by engaging with the material in the way that they learn best."

Read the rest of the article here.