Good coffee won’t save your soul – Part 2

Posted on by chriskmn

Why are we so infatuated with coffee or preaching or music, if it isn’t the most important thing?  Are we that shallow? Why do we lose the point in the midst of all the things trying to make the point?CoffeWorship

We know when we have a good cup of coffee.

Things like coffee can be judged and measured. We know when we have heard a good homily because we have an emotional or intellectual reaction. We know when the music works for us because our toe taps, and we are tempted, dare I say it, to sing and pray along.  We know when we walk into a church, look up into the mosaic covered dome and utter “Oh my God” (not at all in vain) in reaction the undeniable beauty before our eyes.

We want to know something has happened when we go to Church. We want to be able to observe or even measure the value we received.  If Church is going to be worth our time, we want to know that it worked.  Not only do we want Church to be actually good for us, we want to be aware, to know, that it was good.

Thus, we put more importance on good music, entertaining preaching (did I laugh?), and coffee because when those things are good, we know we got something out of Mass.  When those things aren’t good we often walk out of Mass and don’t know that we were affected.  We may even think nothing has happened. Read More

Social Media Activism…Does It Work?

Posted on by ymkbird

I don’t know about the rest of you, but my Facebook and Twitter blew up yesterday.  It hasn’t been since Steve Jobs died that so many of my friends and followers were all posting about the same thing.  If you’ve been living under a social media rock (particularly possible if you gave up Facebook for Lent), then here’s the basics:

A non-profit activist group called Invisible Children released a campaign called Kony 2012 which is designed to increase awareness and drum up popular US support for the continued presence of US military advisors in Uganda whose aim is assisting the Ugandan army in capturing a nasty, evil warlord named Joseph Kony.  The video IC released has had over 2.1 million hits – it went crazy viral.

Within a few hours of the video making its big hit, criticisms of the video, the Invisible Children organization, and all those who were supporting it went viral as well.  I don’t want to get into all those discussions here (mostly because I’m still educating myself on the issue and trying to figure out the complexities of what those people really need), but there is one criticism I want to talk about:

This meme sums up the criticism I want to deal with rather nicely...plus it has Willy Wonka.

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I ♥ Being Catholic! (And, Here’s Why…)

Posted on by RRMM

I love being Catholic.

But, if you are reading this blog, this shouldn’t be earth shattering information to you.  I’m writing a Catholic blog – a blog that’s pro-God, pro-Catholic Church, pro-life, pro-ministry, pro-family, pro-pro.  So, it should be pretty clear…

I love being Catholic.

I have never really explained why I love being Catholic, though.  And, to be honest, it would probably take years worth of blogs to explain all the things I love about the Catholic church, my Catholic faith, and my Catholic upbringing. Read More

Good coffee won’t save your soul – Part 1

Posted on by chriskmn

There is a plague that has run rampant in Catholic Churches for years. Few have sought to end this scourge. Most have just accepted this fact as an unchangeable reality. The elderly sigh and talk about the good ol’ days when things were different. The young don’t bother to come to the Church for this anymore because they can get fancier, flashier versions somewhere else. The world has become so relativistic that some even challenge the notion that there is good and bad of this fundamental substance.

Of course, I’m talking about coffee.Coffee Cup

Church coffee is notoriously bad. When our bulletin folders are in the office, the coffee is so thin you could read the bulletin through it. For some reason, when particular people make coffee, there is this oily film covering the top. Some days the coffee is so wretched to call it burnt sludge would be an insult to burnt sludge.

Frustrated and deeply desiring a “real” cup of coffee, I made a desperate move. I went to Target and purchased an $18 coffee maker, $3 worth of filters, and an $8 bag of good beans. I brought them back to my office and brewed myself some good coffee. It was magnificent. Read More

Jesus Trusts ME?!?

Posted on by RRMM

This morning at the Wednesday morning Mass with some of the teens from our youth group, Fr. Joy made a very interesting point in his homily.  He said that Jesus had to trust his apostles and disciples, that they would carry out the mission he had left for them.

Jesus had to trust others.  He had to trust those he was teaching and guiding.



Jesus had to trust.

Trusting is a very human thing.  It’s something that we have to constantly work on and make a concerted effort to have.  We work to have trustworthy friends and spouses.  We pray that we might be able to trust in the Lord, in His plan for our lives.  Many of us struggle with trusting due to things that have happened to us throughout our life that have broken our ability to easily trust.

And, yet, Jesus had to trust, too.  Jesus, who was God, who knew how it would all turn out, had to work on the very human act of trusting in his followers. Read More

Well so was J.C. Wow. You’re in good company.

Posted on by chriskmn

I spent most of Thursday afternoon woodworking in my basement. Seriously.

Besides constructing some made-from-scratch coat hook racks for the laundry room, I spent the afternoon refinishing some chairs for our office space at the house.  I spent almost 3 hours sanding and priming. I honestly can’t believe I sat in one place for 3 hours doing anything, much less something so mundane.

Turns out, I loved it.

Not because I am trying to be more like J.C. (cue the Meet the Parents quote), but Owen Wilson just wants to refinish chairsbecause my focus was totally and completely centered on one thing. While I was working, all worries, concerns, and future work melted away.  I was left with the chair in front of me and piece of sand covered paper.  I instantly and clearly saw whether I was accomplishing my goal or not.  At the end of the three hours, I had two sanded and primed chairs.

I also had 180 minutes of Fr. Mike Schmitz homilies listened to.

Fr. Mike runs the Newman center at University of Minnesota Duluth.  He speaks at various youth ministry events all over the country.  And his homily caused me to weep while I distributed communion during the closing Mass of our Parish Mission last Lent.  He is a gifted speaker and all around awesome dude.  Because his homily is recorded and podcasted each week, one click and I am challenged, inspired, and moved.

Next time you have some mundane moments (driving, waiting, watching a middle school volleyball tournament) give Fr. Mike Schmitz’s homily podcast a try. It will be worth your time.

Yeah, but…

Posted on by ymkbird

When I was in high school, my parents used to refer to me as “the yeah buts girl.”  My husband will tell you that if you that I am a master of excuses (I prefer to call them “reasons”) and always seem to manage to get out of doing things I don’t want to do.  My friends will tell you that I my favorite word is “actually” as in:

No matter how you pronounce it - it's sweet creamy chocolatey heaven in a jar!

Friend:  Have you ever experienced the hazelnut and chocolate deliciousness that is Nutella?

Me:  Actually, it’s pronounced New-tella.

I like to argue and debate.  I enjoy the challenge of using reason and logic to manipulate my way out of tasks I don’t enjoy or into projects that pique my interest.

I haven’t decided yet if it is fortunate or unfortunate that my son has inherited my affinity for debate.  He’s only 7, but is quickly honing is manipulation skills. Here’s a taste of a typical scenario:

Vinny, I need you to go clean up the toy room.

Awww…Mom, do I have to clean it up all by myself?  I wasn’t the only one to make the mess.  It would be fairer if you had Elizabeth come help me since most of it is her mess.

No, Elizabeth is doing something else for me right now, I want you to go clean up the toy room.

How about if I just clean up half of the mess and then when she’s done she can clean up the other half?

Vinny, I just want you to go down and start cleaning.  Don’t worry about what your sister is doing, just get it done.

Can I clean for just 15 minutes?

No, you’ll clean until it’s done.

But what about Elizabeth?  What about her toys?

Vinny (said in the “mom tone” that warns, “I’m starting to lose my patience”).  Go. Down. And. Clean. Up. The. Toy. Room.

Can I get a drink first?

(By this point, I’m almost ready to yell.) No. Now!

When he first started working in his debate skills, I’d let it slide.  After all, given my track record I thought it would only be fair to give him his chance to try to change my mind.  It quickly got to the point, though, that I would dread hearing the phrase “how about…” come out of his mouth every time I asked him to do something.  My husband and I agreed to change tactics and now, whenever we hear him gearing up for an argument we gently remind him that he needs to be obedient. Now the scenario sounds more like this: Read More

We’re Not in Kansas Anymore

Posted on by RRMM

Believe it or not, Alabama (along with much of the Southeast) is kind of a 2nd Tornado Alley to places like Oklahoma and Kansas.  I’ve dealt with the reality of severe and very scary weather for the entirety of my life.  I know well the sounds of a tornado siren and I have a working knowledge of what kind of space I should go to if I am not at home when  those sirens go off.

Yup, you're deep in the heart of Dixie!

In the past several years, these tornadoes seem to have gotten worse and worse.  Last spring, in fact, a gigantic tornado tore through a town about 40 miles away from my house, headed in our direction, pushed north, and ripped a line across north-central Alabama instead.  Many people I know personally were affected by this life-changing storm – people lost their entire homes, many people died, and security was shattered.

The reality of natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, etc. force me to contemplate and accept the reality of the power of God.  Because, when it comes to these types of events, there’s really nothing anyone can do to control or stop them.

Sure, it’s important for people to avoid making stupid decisions that would put them in imminent danger (like driving TOWARDS a tornado, which people actually do).  We have to be informed and we have to make proper choices in order to do our best to be safe.

But, it’s in the course of these disasters unfolding that I stand in awe of the hand (or, maybe fist) of our Almighty God.  For whatever reasons, He shakes up the earth in one place, allowing thousands of lives to be sacrificed.  Or, He pushes the winds at breakneck speeds through a residential area, allowing this house to be passed over and that one to be decimated.  His power and might is beyond frightening and beautiful.  It’s shocking and fascinating.

I don’t believe in a vengeful God who has nothing else to do but to allow suffering among His beloved creations.  And, I don’t believe that weather is just scientific (all those weather patterns had to start somewhere!).  I believe we have a God who has an understanding and vision greater than anything I can imagine, who has a plan that is perfect, even if I don’t get it.

Today, schools are being let out early and people will be hurrying home from work as meteorologists are predicting terrible weather again for our state (in fact, this morning, homes have already been damaged by tornadoes).  Admittedly, my heart races a little every time I hear the sirens go off or I see that little red box of “warning” going over my city.

I try my best, though, to remember that I have a God who loves me, who doesn’t do things arbitrarily.  I won’t make any stupid choices that could harm me or my family, but if God sees fit to do some damage, all I can do is stand in wonder and awe of His might and praise Him in the storm.

Tornado that ripped across Alabama Apr. 22, 2011...it was a mile wide.

Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself…Or Maybe Do

Posted on by ymkbird

I’m a little nervous as I sit down to write this blog today.  I’m nervous because although these thoughts have been rattling around in my brain for a few days now, I’m fully aware of the implications of embracing them. Putting them in writing makes them real and makes me accountable to them.

There are times, when good enough, isn't really good enough.

I am a wife and mother with 3 kids, a side scrapbooking business, a blog, volunteer work, and a full time job in ministry who just finished a Master’s degree.  I keep myself pretty busy, and I enjoy each and every part of my life (except laundry).  One of the downsides of having so many things going on is that I drop the ball – a lot.  I frequently feel like I don’t spend enough time with my husband and that I need to be more attentive to my children when I am home with them.  I often feel guilty that I don’t make at least one Holy Hour each week in our city-wide perpetual adoration chapel and that I don’t get to daily Mass more often.  I wish I could polish our youth ministry nights a little more and that I could make the time to get to more of the teens’ sporting events.

Now, let’s be clear about something.  I am not a perfectionist (just ask my husband).  My Dad taught me a motto a long time ago that I have been very comfortable with for most of my life:  Perfect is the enemy of good enough.  At the time he was talking about business plans and project meetings, not motherhood and ministry, but I’ve adapted it to fit a lot of different areas of my life.  I’m a good enough mom.  I’m a good enough wife.  I’m a good enough youth minister.  I’m a good enough housekeeper, and I’m a good enough Catholic.

Read More

Slow Down, You’re Moving Too Fast!

Posted on by RRMM

In the past couple of weeks, my 14 month old finally got off his lazy crawling knees and began walking around. Feel free to scoff at us and pat yourself on the back about how advanced your child was to be walking before he/she was 1.  I’m not jealous.  Because, as anyone who has children will tell you, once they start walking, everything changes.

The first big change, of course, is that my son doesn’t like riding in a cart, being held, or being relegated to a seat or stroller nearly as much.  He wants to have those two little feet on the ground so he can practice walking.  Even at home, though he still plays with his toys, he’s been more interested in carrying them as he does laps around the kitchen and living room.

Even these guys move faster than my son...

I know there will come a time when I don’t think the walking, nay running away, isn’t cute anymore.  But, for now, I love watching my little  “drunken sailor”.  You know, the wide legged, arms up for balance, wobbling around walk. It’s just the cutest thing.

But, the best thing about my son learning to walk?  He has slowed me down.

Contrary to the Southern stereotype, I actually have never been very good at “moseying about”.  Yes, life moves slower in the South and compared to my Northern friends and relatives, I don’t move fast.  But, walking with a 14 month old is even slower than moseying – it’s a snail’s pace.

It’s tough for this fast walker to slow down.  But, I have to say, I’m really enjoying it.  I’m enjoying taking in the world in a different way.  I like noticing things that I wouldn’t have noticed before.  I love seeing what my son is discovering about the world as he touches, smells, licks (yes, licks), and looks at new and exciting things that he couldn’t see when he was crawling on his belly.

How quickly we tend to rush through life!  Half of the time, we don’t even notice other cars on the road when we’re driving our regular routes because it’s become practically robotic movements for us.  How can we notice the blooming trees or beauty of people when we don’t even really see the road?  How can we be polite and generous to others around us in stores and restaurants or at work when we can’t be bothered to notice them?

Not my child, but he does the same thing - taste the flowers.

People are right – every stage of your child’s life is interesting and exciting.  But, contrary to everyone’s opinions, I like this walking stage.  It’s a big change for the little guy that’s giving him a new lease on life.  And, it’s a welcome change for me, as he teaches me to slow down and smell (and, sometimes even lick!) the roses.