jeff noel.org

Pray.

Until.

Something.

Happens.

Lowell, MA Church Sign

Pray, Pay, Obey

What does that mean exactly?  Growing up Luthern, in a small Pennsylvania town, there weren’t many Catholics. In fact, I don’t recall knowing what a Catholic was until college.

Well, life comes full circle and here I am, a devoted Catholic for over a decade. There are something like 15,000 members of our Holy Family congregation. All walks of like.

One of them, I see occasionally at Gold’s Gym.  We recently had a nice conversation with these highlights:

Draw nearer to God and God will draw nearer to you. James 4:8.

True love doesnt force anything.

Greed, sloth, doubt, hypocracy – the four points in the circle surrounding the four squares.

Pay, pray and obey Catholic.  This is how my friend (60-something) described himself.

God does not want good men in heaven, he wants Saints.

Gotta go.  Time to work on praying, obeying, paying and demonstrating.

Couldn't Do It

Couldn’t watch TV yesterday.

This isn’t a stretch for me because I rarely watch it anyway.

But I hear about it on Facebook, Twitter and emails.

And it comes as no surprise.  Humanity always wants to help during disasters.

Haiti.

Devastation.  Suffering.

Faith.  Hope.

What good does God do when disaster happens?

You have an answer, right?

Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.

At dinner last night, a friend reminded me that the day before was the anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor.  This came up because I had mentioned that John Lennon was assassinated December 8, 1980.

I can’t explain to you why, but I felt particularly stupid for remembering a rock star milestone, but not an American milestone.

Well, actually, I hadn’t remembered John Lennon’s death.  Was reminded of that by a Facebook friend.  Anyway, I had a spiritual moment that gently reminded me that the  world has always been a tough, uncertain place.

It prompted me to silently, and discreetly, count my blessings and give thanks for what we have today.

From Wikipedia: Despite numerous historical precedents of unannounced military action, the lack of any formal declaration prior to the attack led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim “December 7th, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy”.

And while it’s proper to remember American milestones, it’s even greater to remember another day that will live on forever – Christmas.

Click here.

November 10, 2009

9:30AM (exactly)

Dropped our son off at school

Late work schedule today – morning free

Sitting in my 20 year-old car, Macbook Pro on my lap

Back seat, door open, windy day

Z88.3 medium loud on the radio

Contemporary Christian Music – “Safe for the little Ears”

Please pray for Kevin DeGiamamrino, his wife and child – Kevin is in Houston, again, for another Brain cancer surgery

Please pray for my Family

I’m praying for yours

Forgive the length of this post, I think

Pray for World Peace, an end to hunger, poverty, abortion, injustice, discrimination, greed

Go easy on yourself if you are really trying hard

Kick your own butt if you are wallowing in self-pity

Pray without ceasing – in everything give thanks

Consider donating to ZRadio – listening to it now

Can’t imagine life without the Z

Surrender.  Self Control. Service.

Blogging to make a difference – passion, purpose, humility

Impossible is nothing

So I get to Church yesterday morning and panicked realized I’m not Lectoring until next Sunday.  Oh well, chalk one up (another one actually) to being crazy busy.

Wouldn’t trade it for anything though.  There are others among us, and you may be one of them, who have far greater things on your mind, or on your heart.

The Fort Hood shootings, the Orlando shootings, a friend undergoing brain surgery (again) for brain cancer, an ache that won’t go away.

Far from perfect, I still try to do my best every day.  Do you find yourself trying really hard?  Every day?

Do you find the courage to not give up?  The strength to not give in? Do you find it?

Today, let’s not only lift others up in prayer, but why not lift ourselves up as well.  What could it hurt?  Carpe diem.

Is it?

Is today the day you do the thing you’ve been wanting to do, but haven’t found the courage?

Do what you fear and the death of that fear is certain.

If not today, when?

Seriously.  Carpe diem.

Be strong?

Yes.

What does that mean?

Today, let’s use our imagination to to find a new way to see a long standing challenge we face.

That’s what I intend to do.  It’s what I try to do everyday.

Do you?

Will you?

Today?

Anchorage Alaska is feeding my spirit.  How could it not.