The Singing in the Wood

Taking a Small Bite out of a Big Microsoft (Office Live to 365)

2012-02-24T19:13:00.006-08:00

We were fairly content as Microsoft customers. We had three domains through Office Live, and we had been with Microsoft for years. Then, out of nowhere earlier this year, Microsoft announced they were transitioning to a new system, and that existing customers would not only have to pay a monthly fee (that's excusable in my mind), but that we would have to manually transfer all our website content and e-mails to the new system. According to Microsoft, one should expect each transition to take at least a few hours; it's not a simple process. On top of it all, we only had a couple months to make the move.

In fact, the whole transition process from Office Live to 365 seems remarkably slipshod and convoluted. Why can't Microsoft make something that works seamlessly--like say, an Apple product? I've always been ambivalent towards Microsoft, but now I'm starting to see them as increasingly irrelevant. On top of that, they've managed to really alienate longtime customers this time 'round.

I tried to begin the transition process a couple times, but, let's face it, I'm an English major--not a techie. I was getting frustrated enough to write on the topic in my silly blog, The Restless Auditor. I gave it my best, and I even inquired into hiring someone to make the changes for me. Then, I lost all patience that remained...

Finally, I decided to explore alternative solutions. Through chat boards like this one, I heard of other options which were not only arguably better and more user friendly, but they were also FREE. As a state government worker and writer on the side, I particularly like the free part!

For some mysterious reason, a lot of smart people have been asking me for advice on this transition. So, I thought I'd outline what I did. If you have any questions, feel free to let me know. They're free--as long as you follow my blog(s). (Just kidding.)

Keep in mind that this is very rough. These are just the broad brush strokes of a somewhat complicated painting, and it just outlines one direction you may wish to pursue. By the way, you can check out our sites at Karl Erickson and Kimberly Erickson. (My site, in particular, remains a work-in-progress.)

1. Backup important e-mails and consider saving a copy of your websites onto your hard drive.

2. Go to manage domains section of your Office Live account. Initiate the domain transfer to Melbourne IT.

3. Create the user account at Melbourne IT and go ahead and activate the DNS Management option setting under "Manage Services."

4. Go to Weebly.com, and follow the simple directions to create a new website--for FREE!

5. At this point, I just copied some information over from the original site to the new Weebly pages. (This worked especially well for artwork and other images.)

6. Once done at Weebly, go ahead and cancel your Office Live account. Be prepared to lose your e-mailing ability from those accounts soon. (There was a 24-hour delay, or so, for me.)

7. Follow the clear directions at Weebly to setup your Google App domain e-mail for FREE--depending on number of users.

8. The Google App process is not bad, and their support is actually quite good. (I was surprised to receive a call from one of their polite technicians--with a British accent no less.) If you encounter problems, my suggestion is to take a break and come back to it the next day.

10. Remember to keep track of the usernames and passwords you decide upon, and don't be afraid to follow the instructions for contacting their support.

11. My one suggestion for Weebly and Google Apps' required domain verification is to read the Weebly instructions carefully. They really did a great job at making a powerful yet intuitive user interface accompanied by remarkably understandable instructions; they're in English!

10. When you're ready to flip the switch and turn on your domain, you just need to follow the DNS instructions in order to basically project your Weebly website onto your domain. This may take a few hours before it's up. I did it the night before, then it was up the next morning.

Hope this helped! Don't forget...Weebly may wobble, but it won't fall down. (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

NEW WEBSITE ANNOUNCEMENT!

2012-02-20T10:41:00.000-08:00

Kimberly's photo of rock cliff face in area of Seal Rock, Oregon.

We're happy to announce that we have updated websites today. Hope you can drop by and introduce yourself!

Karl Erickson

Kimberly Erickson

By the way, please note that communicating with us might be a bit more challenging, because we said goodbye to several e-mail addresses that we've had for years. Although I can't say it was exactly intentional, the streamlining may prove beneficial. If you'd like to get hold of us, one of the best ways is to go to the contact page of our websites. Those messages will be directly relayed to us.

God's Love & True Love

2012-02-19T14:07:00.000-08:00

Well, better late than never, as they say. (I suppose this might have been better timed for Valentine's Day.) In a similar vein as "Closer than a Brother," I wanted to pause and offer a few short reflections on...love.

The first reflection focuses on what's often derided as a romantic cliche. It's the idea that there is one person for you, your own mister or "Mis'ess" right. A number of intelligent people have made the argument that married couples could find happiness with any number of people, and that the idea of that "perfect match" is overly romantic, betraying a naive worldview.

I'm not sure why this particular opinion rankles my brain, but perhaps it's because I believe the opinion itself to be employed as a kind of dismissive excuse. In a day and age where divorce is skyrocketing and broken families are becoming the norm, I think it's time well spent to examine the argument's reasoning.

First, the argument opposing the idea of that perfect someone relies heavily upon the hypothetical. In my mind, it's also an example of circular reasoning. That is, the argument goes that any one of us could be happy with any number of partners, so why give thought to that special someone? It's a kind of intellectual arrogance based upon an error in logic. Because, of course, the obvious error is that we cannot really ever know this supposition to be true or false; it's an opinion based upon a hypothetical existence--i.e. an existence or reality that does not in itself exist.

I suppose the counter argument could be made that a person who has lived long and survived past spouses might have some particular insight on this topic. Even there, however, we are not islands. People affect and change us. The older woman who is happily married to her second or third husband is not necessarily the same person she was when she married her first.

So, in one real sense the argument appears to be rooted in a false idea of reality vs the hypothetical, an argument that gives more weight to the unreal than the real. As mentioned before, I also sense it's a line of reasoning brought forth by people who may be struggling with guilt, infidelity, or even jealousy. In my mind, at least, it seems to open the door to a brave new way of looking at relationships. Yet, the view that tries to systematically tear away at the magic may hide something darker at its own core.

Second, I think the argument betrays a misunderstanding of the nature of God and eternity. That is, if God is eternal and outside of time, He has foreknowledge of our choices. The foreknowledge doesn't suggest influence, but it implies a single reality, what becomes with the passage of time an historical truth. If we agree that the best scenario, with regards to romantic love, is one man and woman united in marriage for life, then this suggests there is indeed a special person, set aside as it were, for us. My reasoning may not be particularly airtight, but I offer this as food for thought concerning how God shows His love of us through others.

Not to widely digress here, but the second observation concerns other ways where God can pass along His love and care of us in a unique way. I am a firm believer that animals can play a special role in ministering to us at times of great stress. When a close relative of mine passed away last year, for example, I found myself standing at a fence with a couple horses on the other side. One of these beautiful creatures came over to where I was and put its head over the fence and laid it against my chest, just leaving it there for a few moments. The friends who were with me at the time were astonished, remarking that this horse did not get along with people in general--especially strangers. It was kind of like God placing His hand on my shoulder and saying that all would be well. It meant a lot, and it still does.

The Coercive Attack on Free Speech

2012-02-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

Last Friday evening I had the opportunity to interview a man whom I've known for some time. (Unfortunately, he needs to remain anonymous.) He currently serves in the Army as a Chaplain Candidate. He has very strong feelings about what is happening to our First Amendment rights, but, in case you've missed some of the news, let's begin with some quick background.

An important part of President Obama's mandated health care plan has become the controversial requirement that all insurance plans must soon include contraception, abortion, and sterilization benefit options. Then, just last Friday, a "compromise" was offered with regards to religious organizations--but we'll get to that later.

I'd like to focus on one dimension of this debate that has become increasingly chilling to those for whom Free Speech is a sacred and treasured right. It's happening in the military. Recently, Archbishop Timothy Paul Andrew Broglio, overseeing the military chaplains, had planned to distribute a letter to Catholic chaplains to be read to their congregations in Mass. The letter was an eloquent and powerful protest of the the administration's health mandates, and was written by Bishop Thomas Olmsted of the Phoenix Diocese. When the Chief of Chaplains, Donald Rutherford, got wind of the contents of the letter, he forbade it from being read in Mass. Here is an excerpt of the letter in question, the letter that could not be read in churches presided over by Catholic chaplains who served in the US Army.

We cannot — we will not — comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second-class citizens. ... In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. (Letter quoted in its entirety at the end of the blog.)

So, mandated health care is bad enough, but there is something perhaps even more chilling, Orwellian even, when we have the US military dictating what can and cannot be said within a voluntarily attended religious service.

At the conclusion of the following interview, I will offer a few more thoughts on the purported health care compromise.

1. Why should we all care about the Health Care Mandate, and how does the birth control requirement effect free speech?

The precedent here goes far beyond the issue of contraception. There’s also the issue of the abortive medications as well and sterilization. The intrusion of federal government into the free exercise of religion is unprecedented. I don’t know of other cases of this happening in the USA before. I’m familiar with examples of this with regards to Russian history and in Germany...

To require anyone to purchase a product is unconstitutional, and this takes away a freedom. To coerce people to go against their beliefs in these actions...it's forcing people to violate either the law or their conscience--effectively removing them from their ministry and service If we violate our conscience, we are turning against the nature of God and ignoring the very mission of God in following Christ.

According to Dr. Richard Land, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, Christians will be jailed if Obama has his way.

1. 2. What do you think is behind this action? Does this reflect a larger agenda, or open the door to more serious troubles down the road?

The issues raised are so troubling that I find myself questioning what I'm doing in the Army. I'm nervous about the future.

While Broglio and Rutherford are both Catholic, it's important to understand that the Chief of Chaplain's position is not one of shepherding; that is not, and never was, Rutherford's job. In fact, this high position could belong to anyone of any faith tradition. This is more than an internal disagreement within the Catholic Church.

Someone higher up obviously wanted the Chief of Chaplain's to intervene and stop this letter from being read from the pulpits. It's one thing for the command structure to direct a chaplain to say or not say something at a public ceremony, because the chaplain is representing the state. When voluntary services are held, however, the chaplain is no longer representing the state. The government has no authority there. For the government to come into a religious service and censor what's said from the pulpit is just unbelievable.

3. What are your thoughts on today's "compromise"?

The President is getting a lot of flack for this, and it's not going away. The references to a compromise...it doesn't appear to be a compromise at all. It's the principal of a thing, and not the logistics of it. The references to a compromise doesn't make it a compromise. Pushing this issue seems to run counter to the President's own party. The political fallout is too great, and he's trying to backpedal.

Calling it a compromise is an empty and lawyerly gesture. First Amendment rights shouldn't have to be compromised.

4. Some have commented that the Army seems particularly soft when it comes to issues like this. Do you think the Army has become too "touchy-feely?"

Well, there are definitely different cultures within different branches of the service. There are different cultures even in the same service--support and logistics versus the foot soldier, for example. My sense with regards to the Marines, for instance, is that they tend to be more professional; no one cares about your feelings there.

5. Any parting thoughts on this freedom of religious speech issue?

The Chief of Chaplains may not have realized the gravity of his objections. It could have been an honest mistake, but a person at this level should know better. He should be acting as an advocate for the chaplains against governmental intrusion and political correctness. Using his governmental authority to trump the bishop's authority clearly sets an awful precedent.

(Interview Conclusion)

I find the mandated health care compromise foolish on multiple levels, but it also offers fascinating insight into our opponents' thinking. I believe they really thought the act of pushing the mandate off upon the insurance companies was a perfect solution, but it reveals such a shallow grasp of ethical thought that it would be humorous--if this weren't such a serious Free Speech battle.

As it was described in the interview, it's very "lawyerly" indeed. In fact, that's the perfect word to describe it. First of all, it suggests that all Christians care about is appearances--the letter of the law so to speak. It's embracing the line of misguided reasoning that says you can do whatever you wish on Sunday, but, come to work, you better not let religion color your thought or actions. Of course, if it doesn't color our thoughts and deeds, it's hardly worth the time, is it? As any person of faith knows, living a life of faith is all about the struggle to infuse every part of one's being with the grace and message of our Savior. We're not looking for excuses; we're looking for truth and lives of meaning.

It's a clear case of cause and effect. Having the insurer, provided by the religious employer, covering inherhently immoral practices (clearly opposed by the employer on religious grounds) still creates a situation where the religious institution is facilitating an intrinsically evil act. The link is still plain as day, and that link should not be permitted under any circumstances.

The lawyerly compromise from the current administration also fails to recognize or acknowledge the actual financial relationships here. The insurance company has been contracted by the religious institution to provide services. To say that the insurance company will provide those services for free is silly--the difference will be made up elsewhere. What's being proposed is a meaningless distinction that would only afford peace of conscience to the most shallow and unreasoning of believers. As Jimmy Akin pointed out on Friday in National Catholic Register, it's not like the insurance companies print money; it has to come from somewhere. This is a classic shell game, and those of faith are the "marks." (As an aside, it's important to note that we haven't even scratched the surface when it comes to religious institutions who are self-insured.)

I would like to conclude by pointing out that President Obama has made his opposition to faith and Christianity abundantly clear now. Personally, I don't see how a Christian--let alone an informed Catholic--in good conscience could vote for him. His aim seems to be to make it as easy and convenient as possible to destroy the lives of the unborn, served up upon the altar of Moloch.

...But the worshippers of Moloch were not gross or primitive. They were members of a mature and polished civilization abounding in refinements and luxuries; they were probably far more civilized than the Romans. And Moloch was not a myth; or at any rate his meal was not a myth. These highly civilized people really met together to invoke the blessing of heaven on their empire by throwing hundreds of their infants into a large furnace. We can only realize the combination by imagining a number of Manchester merchants with chimneypot hats and mutton-chop whiskers, going to church every Sunday at eleven o'clock to see a baby roasted alive. (Everlasting Man, by G.K. Chesterton)

Further reading offered in three categories:

1. Religious

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Humanae Vitae

Father Tim Mockaitis interview (touched on some related issues)

2. Political and free speech

United States Bill of Rights

United States Constitution

3. My Related blog posts

Just a Stay-at-home Mom

What is the Legacy of Margaret Sanger

A Few More Words on Sanger--and Life

Bishop Olmsted's Letter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people - the Catholic population - and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion- inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the insurance policies they write. Almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their health insurance plans.
In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our Nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. As a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled either to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

We cannot - we will not - comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

Therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Pray the rosary, asking Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of our Nation, to intercede for us. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration’s decision.

United in prayer and in confidence in God’s mercy, I remain Sincerely yours in Christ,

Thomas J. Olmsted Bishop of Phoenix

Reflections Upon Laughter

2012-02-05T15:09:00.000-08:00

It's a funny thing, but most people who know me in an official capacity (that is, the office), think of me as a very serious and focused individual. This makes sense, of course, because work is our professional side. I can't imagine having my identity tied-up with my profession of number-crunching. In fact, I'd say that my work right now I think is a sure sign that God indeed has a marvelous sense of humor.

For me, at least, humor is an important outlet in keeping things in their proper perspective. In the past, I was able to explore the humorous side in my children's books: Tristan's Travels and Toupee Mice (coming later this year). Today, I have my silly blog: the Restless Auditor (for an older audience). I suppose this kind of thing might be referred to as sublimation by some out there--e.g. I can't wear a dead chicken on my head at the office, so writing silly and zany stuff is a positive outlet.

There's probably some truth in that, but I think, in a more significant sense, good humor offers us a glimpse of ourselves in a larger context than our daily life. Let's face it, being able to laugh at yourself is certainly a sure sign in favor of sanity. In this day and age, I'd say that humor gives us both this ability to stand back and laugh, which comes down to perspective and balance, as well helping us cope with uncomfortable or stressful situations.

As a child, for instance, I relied on humor as a way to see me through childhood as an overweight kid of divorced parents in a town that I felt, at times, was a backwards joke. (My views have softened since on my hometown.) Faith was more important, but the humor seemed to go hand-in-hand with it at times. It was like God was reminding me that I would not be in junior high forever. Being the class clown was not always a good experience, but it was a tool to help me cope.

I think too often we try to exclude or push away humor as unimportant or trivial or in bad taste. Of course, many times humor does cross that line of good taste, but it doesn't have to do so. I have a number of very serious-minded friends who seem to avoid reading fiction or humor, because, I think, they see it as serving no purpose. I guess a laugh or a good story are not a purpose in and of themselves, pointing to the mystery and depth of us as people created in the image of God.

It's interesting to pause and reflect on how great Catholic writers of the past have used humor. Flannery O'Connor's characters, for instance, are cases in point of tragic humor. For instance, who can forget Hazel Motes in "Wise Blood?" He refuses to acknowledge that everything he does is a frantic search or flailing for Christ's truth. His desperation becomes comic as much as it is tragic at its core. Redemption is something Hazel can't bring his conscious to ever accept, but his subconscious certainly recognizes its presence.

I'd say that there is also a deep humor running through much of G.K. Chesterton's works. It's like he's pointing fun at the world, while, at the same time, acknowledging the seriousness of it all, as well. Particularly strong examples of this would be The Man Who was Thursday and The Everlasting Man. Chesterton and Flannery O'Connor aren't the only great Catholic writers to be associated with humor--Hilaire Belloc would be another whose cutting satire and irony reflected a greater truth. (Someday, I'd like to talk to Dr. Joseph Pearce about Shakespeare's use of humor.)

Of course, not all humor is going to rise to such a powerful level, but it can, and it does. Laughter can be a cathartic tool in helping people deal with hardship, and it doesn't have to be limited to a clown visiting the hospital. Humor and laughter aren't just for children either. I'll conclude with an observation from Chesterton. That is, God's humor is evidenced by His creation. In other words, if you watch some birds or animals (or neighbors) you can't come away with any other sense that God must be smiling . An entirely serious God would have no business creating the clown fish or tufted puffin, after all.

The Ethical Danger of "Co-Parenting"

2012-01-29T11:24:00.000-08:00

Apparently the "hot" new thing when it comes to raising kids is something called co-parenting. It used to refer to divorced or separated parents trying to amicably work together to ensure that their child was raised well. (As a a kid from a divorced family, I know a lot about this.) Now, using sites like co-parents.net, people are coming together to have children outside of any formalized relationship or commitment.

It may sound like a convenient solution to some, but, as someone who grew up in a household touched by divorce, I can't in my wildest imagination understand why parents would willingly wish this upon their children. If they want a pet, go get a dog or a cat. A child is not a pet, and a child deserves two parents devoted to each other in a loving, committed, and formalized relationship.

In essence, this practice is using the tragedy of divorce and of children being shuttled between parents like luggage as its operational model. Talk about self-centered. How about considering for a moment the best interest of the child instead of yourself. It will be interesting (and profoundly sad) t o see how dysfunctional and cynical the children of these imaginary relationships become as young adults.

Karl's Famous Pretzels (Encore Post)

2012-01-22T13:22:00.000-08:00

I’ve been perfecting this recipe for several years now, and I think you will enjoy it. One word of advice is not to skip the quick immersion in the boiling water! This step makes all the difference in their final texture, creating pretzels that are moist yet crisp. I don't go into a lot of detail here about forming the pretzels, but just do your best. It takes a little practice. Even if they look odd, they should still taste great!

Ingredients and Preparation

1 1/2 cup water (1/4 cup of it warm for the yeast)

3 cups bread flour

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

about 1 1/2 tsp of dry yeast

2 tbsp softened butter (optional)

1-4 tbsp of sourdough sponge

1 or two beaten eggs

course salt

sesame seeds

1/2 stick of butter

Activate the yeast separately by adding it to the water and sugar. If you have a bread machine, try using this to prepare and knead the dough. (It helps if you add the water first.) If it’s too large a batch for the machine, try cutting the recipe in half. Otherwise, prepare the dough as you would for an ordinary loaf of homemade bread.

Neither the butter nor the sourdough is a required ingredient, but I think both help make a better finished product. The sourdough enhances the depth and richness of flavor. The butter not only improves both the texture and flavor, but it also seems to help when it comes time to form the pretzels.

Watch the dough’s progress in the bread machine (or food processor) carefully. It often requires a little fine-tuning with additional water and/or flour in order to achieve a proper ball of dough. You will want the dough to rise for several hours, and, depending on the size and habits of your bread machine, you may decide to transfer before long to a bread pan inside a barely heated oven and cover with a moist towel. (I pre-heat to a couple hundred degrees, put the bread in, then turn off the oven.) As an alternative, you may also want to form the pretzels now, then place in the oven under the towel to rise.

When it looks like it’s done rising, it’s time to get everything else ready. Beat your eggs for the wash and set aside. Get a deep pan and fill it halfway with water and bring it to a boil. Begin forming the pretzels by making eight-inch ropes. Once they're formed into their classic shape, carefully pick each up and dip in the boiling water for ten seconds before returning to the greased baking sheet.

When this step is complete and they’ve all had their hot bath, then brush the egg wash over each and season with the course salt and sesame seeds. Bake until lightly browned for about 20 minutes at 450 degrees. Enjoy with melted butter.

Some Quick Pretzel History

Pretzels are said to have had their origin in Europe in the 600s, and were used by monks to reward children for memorizing their prayers and studies. The History of Science and Technology, by Bryan Bunch and Alexander Hellemans, describe their invention by a monk "...as a reward to children who learn their prayers. He calls the strips of baked dough, folded to resemble arms crossing the chest, 'pretiola' ("little rewards")". Pretzels were also used as a teaching tool for the mysterious three-in-one nature of the Holy Trinity.

A Short Analogy for the Christian Journey

2012-01-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

A simple analogy occurred to me recently for the Christian walk. As believers, I think we sometimes fail to fathom the real depths of harm arising from our daily temptations. Their very ordinary nature lulls us to a spiritual complacency. Our free will, our choice is a frightening thing indeed when we fail to recognize the foolishness and harm arising from our own choices. There is, after all, no such thing as a victimless sin.

The analogy that came to mind was of people trying to stay afloat in an ocean storm. Their arms and legs are moving, but they are close to going under. Someone (representing temptation) offers them something, and their eyes light up. Their hands reach eagerly up and out of the water towards what's offered--temptation becoming sin--and the weight of the sin draws them even lower in the water, but their eyes continually to hungrily eye new temptations to sink their souls down to the depths of despair.

No temptation has seized you except which is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so you can stand up under it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

When Did Corpse Desecration Become a Military Tactic?

2012-01-13T07:29:00.000-08:00

By now, everyone has undoubtedly heard the news of the Marines urinating on the dead taliban. What began on YouTube, has now hit all the news media.

What's prompted me to write a few words is the way in which many of my fellow conservatives have taken the position that this is acceptable behavior. They make arguments which may make for a good soundbite, but their reasoning is spurious and misleading. They say for instance that radical Islamic terrorists are killing people everyday in horrible and obscene ways--e.g. young suicide bombers or beheadings.

Yet, as I pointed out to Dana Loesch on Twitter yesterday, that argument is really irrelevant to this discussion. Military is all about chain of command and order. The only thing this action shows on the part of those Marines is a feeble attempt at male bravado and a willingness to break the rules and conduct expectations of military personnel.

While I was considering a law enforcement career, I spent a lot of time with veterans as a young man, and they were some of the most wonderful people around--for the most part. Every once in a while, though, I would observe an officer (usually a former military man) who was really more of a bully at heart. In the late 1980s in Yakima, for instance, I remember an officer who especially liked to pull over Hispanics for any traffic offense he could find. No matter the traffic contact, his hand always hovered over his sidearm in a nice, friendly way. He's gone on now (to the great Lieutenant in the sky?), but that was a chilling shift indeed. Another time while taking a civil service exam in the Seattle area, I remember a veteran remarking to a friend that he wanted to pursue law enforcement because he liked to push people around--not help them.

Those people are the exception to the rule, but they are out there nonetheless. We need to do a better job screening our prospective soldiers to keep the ones like this out of the uniform.

Returning to the central issue, then, these particular Marines are simply bullies with exceedingly poor judgement. To support their action is to be blind to the serious loss of the moral high ground it gives us in our dealings with the enemy. Really, I'd also argue that failure to hold those Marines accountable also ignores fundamental lessons of western civilization and decency. Maybe we should all read Sophocles' Antigone again. As I tweeted yesterday, "Since when did corpse desecration become a favored tactic? Are we to become as they (Taliban) already are?"

As an aside here, there's been an idea put forward with regards to dealing with militant Islam which suggests that terrorists killed by US troops should be buried with parts of "unclean" animals--e.g. pigs--as a means to discourage further acts of terrorism. It's an interesting suggestion, and one that may warrant serious consideration. It is not, however, the place of the frontline soldier to take it upon himself to perform such an action. If this were going to be undertaken, its purpose would be to discourage terrorists, a warning. If you act before you warn, you lose any value from what's being proposed. It changes it from a measured strategy to a soldier's foolish impulse.

For Christians, I thought I'd conclude my reflections today with a quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and charity, in faith and hope of the Resurrection. The burial of the dead is a corporal work of mercy;92 it honors the children of God, who are temples of the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Truth & Reflections Upon Coming Home

2012-01-04T15:18:00.000-08:00

Oregon Coast (not Whidbey Island)

Below, is a reprint from an essay which was published a few years ago by Episcopal Church News. (For another perspective upon returning home, see On Coming Home.)

When we recently had the opportunity to spend a few days at Seattle Pacific University’s Camp Casey, situated on the Admiralty Inlet side of Whidbey Island across the choppy strait from Port Townsend, it reminded me of some experiences I had working there as a college student during the summer of 1988.

I decided to take my daughter Sarah on a walk one cool afternoon along some of the forest trails to the north of the conference center grounds. The path wound its familiar way up among the wind-swept evergreens and the occasional madrona. We paused to explore an old fort from the 1890s; its once busy walkways and concrete bunkers now quiet and much overgrown with blackberry bushes and tall weeds, and its stories and pictures slowly fading from collective memory. (Fort Casey State Park itself lies a mile or two to the south.)

We then proceeded on along the needle-lined trail, heading up a gradually leveling incline with the forest on our right and a cliff overlooking the crashing surf some twenty feet off to our left. Making certain that Sarah was safely standing on the trail, I carefully stepped towards the left, searching for the place where I recalled having devotions from time to time during the summer of 1988.

I found what appeared to be the right location, but its look was quite different now. Instead of the broad sandy cliff face with a fairly clear path to its center that I remembered, the cliff now seemed much higher and closer to the trail. Not being particularly comfortable with heights (just try to get me on the 4-mile Astoria-Megler Bridge again!), I returned to the path, and we resumed our trek to the north for a time until the trail faded and then disappeared entirely among the grass and trees. We plodded back to Camp Casey to watch and wait for the late afternoon’s arrival of the grazing deer.

It occurred to me recently that this experience was instructional in a spiritual sense. When we return to places from our past, they frequently seem smaller--not more expansive. It’s something akin to visiting your hometown for the first time after being away in college (depending on where you're from). This homecoming is reminiscent of times long gone and the community may stand smaller than recalled.

So, this experience of returning to a place I held close from younger days was odd in that it did not conform to the usual and comfortable perceptions. The vantage point from which I recalled reading and gazing upon the gray heaving waves below had changed a great deal over the past decade. Considering the winter storms that lash Whidbey Island, that alteration of scenery and environment should not have been so surprising.

What it does remind one of, however, is that while much concerning us personally, and the landscape surrounding us for a time, undergoes a continual "sea change" or evolution, our God "does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17). Instead, He is the same yesterday as He will be tomorrow. In a time of national crisis and an uneasy future, there is something comforting in acknowledging this simple, yet profound, attribute of our God. No matter what changes here, we hold that what is most important stands eternal, and that we need not be pulled-down by the continual disintegration and moral entropy sweeping in our lives from all sides.

(This was re-printed from the April 2003 issue of Oregon's Episcopal Church News. Some editorial changes by the magazine's editor have been reversed, and the writer has made other slight editorial adjustments.)

Blog Happenings & Interview Update

2012-01-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

I've really enjoyed the opportunity to bring some fresh interviews to my blog over the last six months. From Sean Astin and Lino Rulli to Raymond Arroyo and Donna Cori Gibson, I had a blast doing these interviews, and the positive reader feedback was greatly appreciated. Opening a dialogue with such engaging people continues to be a rich experience indeed.

For the next year, or so, I will be curtailing the frequency of featured interviews from monthly to quarterly. This should help me concentrate more on my upcoming book, Toupee Mice, as well as the new novel I'm writing--not to mention the ol' day job for the State of Oregon. (Yes, I'm a busy guy...)

Speaking of the novel, here's a little photographic teaser for The Blood Cries Out. Can you guess where I took this shot?

PS. I hope you can drop by my new author page!

Solemnity of Mary, Theotokos

2012-01-01T16:27:00.000-08:00

Given today's special feast day in the Catholic Church, I compiled some of my past writings (both published and unpublished) concerning Mary and revised them for you into a single short essay. It highlights some of the changes in our own thinking which began to take place after our good saviour took our hands, leading us safely across the Tiber.

I hope you enjoy today's offering, and I pray that you all have a wonderful New Year! Special thanks to Catholic Answers' This Rock as well as Catholic apologist Dave Armstrong for recently sharing this essay's accompanying artwork, Madonna Del Granduca by Raphael, within his lovely Christmas card.

When my wife and I were studying in preparation to join the Catholic Church some years ago, the concept of Mary was one of the hardest ideas to get our minds around. Coming from the Evangelical tradition, most of the new concepts we learned were simply a result of a more logical and consistent interpretation of Scripture—e.g. the sixth chapter of John. Understanding Mary, however, required something beyond mere Biblical interpretation.

It required trust, and it all felt very foreign to us at first. Once it finally made sense and the pieces began to fit together, I was profoundly grateful for the opportunity to see Mary for who she was and is today. This Catholic understanding of Mary hinges on an acceptance of her as the new Eve. Where Eve disobeyed God’s call, Mary listened wholeheartedly and obeyed in a spirit of selfless love.

While Protestants usually declare that many of our Marian beliefs represent meaningless and extra-biblical concepts which have no value when applied to our faith, there are core beliefs we share which are likewise not clearly defined or articulated in the Bible. The Trinity, for instance, is never spelled out in so many words, but its truth is made abundantly clear through a careful reading of the Bible and the wisdom of the saints who came before us (tradition).

In conversations with skeptical Protestants, I often explain the Catholic perspective this way. The Protestant tradition is like an artist's canvas which contains all the necessary artistic elements in the foreground. The background, however, lies bare of color or shape, simply white canvas awaiting the painter's brush. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, is represented by a canvas of rich and vibrant colors which seem to leap forth from the painting. Every inch of the canvas is used and it is filled seemingly to the point of bursting with color, textures, motion, and deep meaning. It’s one of those pictures from which you can actually imagine catching the scent of roses or pine.

The mainline Evangelical, for example, arguably has access to the minimum elements necessary for salvation in Christ, but he's missing that bigger picture. His understanding could be so enriched if he caught sight of the second picture and drank in its rich meaning. Sadly, he's content to limit his understanding of the nature of God and man to an unfinished painting reflecting an essentially identical truth. It is by God’s grace that Catholics have access to this larger picture, a perfect dovetailing of faith and reason.

As we are reminded in Romans 14:21, we should avoid creating roadblocks to Protestants who desire to come home to the Catholic Church—such as the author, who arrived from the Episcopal and Lutheran traditions. Some accuse the Catholic Church as being lukewarm to evangelization and prone to following politically correct issues while ignoring some of the more weighty social problems. Are we doing all that we can to obey the Great Commission, or are we making it harder to convert new believers? Pope John Paul II reminded all of us that a "constant awareness of Christ’s will to offer salvation to all cannot fail to inspire us with fresh missionary fervor" (This Rock, Holy Thursday letter to priests, March 13, 2005).

If we truly understand who Mary is, she will become the most powerful aid in our evangelical efforts, but that understanding is critical. The Catholic Church has not always done a good job in educating new and young Catholics as to their faith. Knowledge without understanding creates more problems than it solves—from witnessing to addressing the moral tragedies of the day. If we have a sure foundation of knowledge and understanding, though, I wholeheartedly agree that understanding Mary as both the Mediatrix and as the New Eve will be the spiritual meat that will nourish and sustain our walk with Christ.

The Politicization of Scholarship at NYU

2011-12-19T20:29:00.000-08:00

James Franco is an actor whose performances I used to really enjoy. Maybe not quite so much anymore, though. I read today that his New York University professor, Jose Angel Santana, lost his job after he dared to give the celebrity a D grade. (Apparently, there was a puzzling expectation that students would actually attend the class.) Now, Dr. Santana is suing NYU over his termination.

This issue dovetails remarkably well with my last blog offering. While no one is being accused of plagiarism, the expectation of a higher grade because of "who one is" smells like it came from the same malodorous source. This politicization of scholarship is a dangerous thing indeed, because it cheapens the educational commodity itself, diminishing the objective value of the degree for all the students.

Just as many professors and administrators apparently look the other way when it comes to cheating and plagiarizing students, now there's a high profile example of university administration being more than willing to look the other way in order to retain their celebrity student--and his smug satisfaction. One doesn't need "spidey senses" to get an unpleasant tingling sensation at this state of affairs.

NYU, you must be so proud.

Plagiarism...and Ravens

2011-12-17T14:57:00.000-08:00

As you've read here in past postings like "What I Learned From Meeting Brian Jacques," one thing that really bothers me is when authors fail to strive for honest originality, stealing instead from the hard work and creative genius of others. (Brian Jacques being an author who was so concerned about originality that he avoided reading similar books to his masterful Redwall series.) It makes no difference to me whether, or not, the original author is living or dead. Whether a student or author, using the unattributed writings of others, is both a form of theft as well as a blatant lie. Perhaps in times like these when moral relativism seems the moral compass of so many, we shouldn't be so surprised.

Still, I consider it important to make a sufficient stink about plagiarism when it raises its ugly end. The most recent case-in-point is Lenore Hart's The Raven's Bride. While Saint Martin's Press is defending its author from the charges concerning her novel on the life of Edgar Allan Poe and his young wife, Virginia Clemm Poe, the mounting evidence against Lenore Hart seems quite convincing indeed.

Writers such as Jeremy Duns have already done a great job documenting the plagiarism, so it's not my intention to rebuild the case they have already presented so convincingly. (Interesting exchange here via Google cached content.) I was a little dismayed earlier today, however, when I tried to add a comment to Saint Martin's Press' Facebook page. It appears that my comment has been blocked, effectively preventing some users from reading it. To the end of addressing this case of censorship, here are the thoughts I shared online earlier today.

Any writer is familiar with the disappointment and annoyance of finding a particular phrase of theirs to have been used many times before. When we google our own favorite turns of phrase, the results remind us of the inherent difficulties of stringing a few words together which are entirely new and original to the language--"moral entropy," for instance. There is never a question of plagiarism in our minds, since we were entirely unaware of the other uses of the phrase in question, but what Mr. Duns is highlighting is entirely different and goes straight to the heart of the author's integrity--as well as the publisher's. There is a world of difference between coincidental similarities in short passages or phrases--due to inherent mathematical limits concerning the order of words, conceptual similarities, as well as other limitations of the English language--and wholesale plagiarism of another author's content. Mr. Dunn has clearly demonstrated that too many "coincidences" exist for any reasonable person to believe that plagiarism has not taken place here. As a mainline publisher, you have a responsibility to your readers to do the right thing. In an age when everyone from authors to students seem to think nothing of plagiarism, it's time we all put down our collective foot on this issue, declaring "Enough!"

Bring Tristan Home for Christmas!

2011-12-15T17:02:00.000-08:00

In case you missed all the excitement, I hope you'll take a moment to check out my children's book, Tristan's Travels! With the current special on priority shipping, it couldn't be a better time to bring this book home for Christmas.

What are they saying about Tristan's Travels? Here is a short sampling of reviews and feedback...

"With a Disney-like quality of imagination, adventure, and insight, Karl Erickson weaves his allegory on friendship and faith in this delightful tale..."

Fr. Tim Mockaits

"It reminds me of the work of A.A. Milne in its delightfully simple humor, of Beatrix Potter in its simply delightful depiction of anthropomorphous beasts, of Kenneth Grahame in its debt to literary tradition..."

Joseph Pearce

"For anyone who has lived in Astoria, Oregon--for anyone who has watched animals read--for anyone who has or hasn't wanted an adventure, Karl Erickson's beautifully illustrated, lovingly written fable about the life and particularity of a seagull named Tristan is a worthwhile journey."

Sean Astin

"Inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi and the writings of C.S. Lewis Erickson's narrative is one of pure delight. It's imaginative, action-packed adventure of faith and friendship will enchant readers of all ages."

Gail Welborn

"Tristan’s Travels weaves a theme of grace into a tale of animals trying to surmount an impossible distance to help someone they love. It is a tale that has deeper themes and Catholic undertones without shoving them down the reader’s throat. This is the sort of book I imagine myself — and my children — rereading many times, enjoying some new pearl and all the old laughs again each time."

Sarah Reinhard

Links:

Video Trailer

Tristan's Travels at Rafka Press (discounted priority shipping currently available)*

* The customer will need to change the shipping method from Standard Domestic to Priority.

After they “Add to cart” and

“Check out” and select

“Don’t have a PayPal account” (or they can “Check out with PayPal”) and

“Review and Continue”

Then they’ll be able to change the shipping method to Priority.

Breaking Book News... for a sneak peek at the artwork for our upcoming book Toupee Mice, please visit my new author page on Facebook!

Etiquette at Mass Revisited

2011-12-12T07:09:00.000-08:00

I remember attending a Free Methodist church service as a child where the "mother cat" in front of us repeatedly licked her hands and patted down her young son's hair. This went on for a long time--and it really got distracting after the first 30 seconds, or so. (One has to wonder if the child is a hairstylist now...)

Earlier in the year I shared some thoughts on Etiquette at Mass, and now I would like to address one additional area. Like the "mother cat" description above, church is not really the appropriate place to attend to one's personal grooming for an extended period of time. After all, we're not there to learn about your hair. These thoughts came to mind at a recent service where the teenage-girls sitting in front of us seemed to discover their respective heads-of-hair for the first time. The fiddling, styling, and snickering lasted throughout the entire service. Enough with the hair...please!

Visiting the Grotto

2011-12-03T22:06:00.000-08:00

If you haven't visited the Grotto in northeast Portland, Oregon it is well worth your time this Advent Season--or anytime, for that matter. After Thanksgiving, a magical transformation takes place throughout the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother. While it's always a place of beauty, peace, and spiritual meaning, the 500,000 sparkling Christmas lights and more than a hundred choirs make this an event like none other. For us, it doesn't feel like Christmas unless we've made this annual visit. It reminds us of the simple joy and hope which are at the heart of the season. I hope you can drop by.

I put together a very short video of our Christmas visits over the past few years. It gives you a little inkling of what it's like--minus the Ericksons and friends unless you have really good coffee.

A few of my other Grotto photos are shared below. Hope you enjoy!

(Special thanks to the Franklin High School Concert Choir for the video's background music.)

Donna Cora Gibson Interview

2011-12-01T07:15:00.000-08:00

1. In the interview featured on your website, you described yourself initially as a lukewarm Catholic. What happened in your life to bring you to a deeper spiritual level?

Unfortunately, like so many of God’s children, we don’t come running to him until we are in desperate need. I was living life my way and by my rules and made a complete mess of things. My fiancé “postponed” the wedding indefinitely, I had no job and was looking at having no place to live. My music contacts were dried up or ruined and I had no other skills. I prayed for death, but when I woke up the next morning I had still died inside and decided that since I was still here, though “dead”, that I would live God’s way. Though I knew the basics of the Faith, I still had to learn so much, like “how to live for God,” how to be friends with Him, what does He want? Etc. You can’t love someone you don’t know, so I started reading my Bible (again) from the beginning, but this time didn’t quit. I studied, prayed a lot (the Chaplet of Divine Mercy was important for me at the turn around point), went to regular prayer meetings and never missed Mass. I also got very heavy into all those end times prophecies and the many apparitions of Our Lady. While I don’t follow any of them anymore, they had an important impact on me as I got to finally consider that God was intimately involved in my life. He was very close, not just some big entity “out there” somewhere. He became like a friend. I didn’t want to hurt my true friend ever again.

2. Would you describe your experience as a second conversion, a conscious turning towards Christ? (As a family of former Evangelical protestants who crossed the Tiber in 2005, this question is always of interest to me.)

Yes, because I remember when I was young thinking that being a Christian was the right thing to be. I certainly always believed in God and just flowed in that “direction.” Later, there was a conscious turning towards Christ because there was no flowing anymore. There was a deliberate halting and a painful turning and changing and purging and active pursuit that definitely was “upstream.”

3. You talk about a "death to self" in this renewed commitment to God. What exactly do you mean by this?

Since I had messed up so royally doing things “my way,” I just “quit being me” so to speak. I completely died to my own will and was docile to whatever the Lord had planned for me. I just knew I had to stay close to Him so I could know His direction. I was content to be a secretary and never sing again if that’s what the Lord wanted. I really didn’t care either way about it.

4. How do you write your music? Do ideas come to you throughout the day, or does it work best when you have time to quietly reflect?

Oh, you make songwriting sound so glamorous. Like any other project in the world, it’s only 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. If I’m going to write a song, I have to decide that “now I’m going to write a song.” I have to block off the time first and foremost – a few undisturbed hours. (Lately it’s been on a plane or a long car ride.) I either have an overview of the project I am writing for, or I go looking for an idea. If I’m setting an already written prayer or scripture to music, I start playing with melodies until I’m happy with it and can make the rest work. I always do it in my head first, then I go to the piano to figure out what I’ve been “hearing.” If I get stumped, I leave it and do something else for a while, like a chore or shower, all the while playing with a melody. Once I got something completely unrelated stuck in my head and decided to go with it for the song, taking it in a totally different direction, but hey, I finished it in an hour. I usually finish them quickly, but sometimes they just get stuck forever. I wrote the verse to “You Are Not Alone” six different times before I came up with the final one. As soon as I “wrote” it, I knew that was it, but then I still had to hammer out the words again to make them fit the new melody. I don’t even remember writing the chorus. It just seemed to always be. I had been singing it in the shower for 10 years already. If I’m writing a song out of nothing, I write pages and pages of phrases, ideas, or related scriptures. It’s called a “stream of consciousness.” Then I look for the catchiest phrase and try making a hook out of it. Sometime having to pick another and other times just reworking it over and over until it “sounds right.”

5. Your music is loved by Catholics and Protestants alike. Any thoughts on what gives your songs such crossover appeal?

God is so big. There is so much to love about Him. His love and truth permeate any barrier. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice.” It’s not me at all. God just resonates in the hearts of all believers. I just contribute a melody that draws the listener into the words. One listener told me once, “You sing it the way I feel it.” How cool is that?

6. Your songs set prayers to music. I recently discovered the profound beauty of ancient Catholic hymns. Have you ever considered setting some of the classic Latin hymns to music again--e.g. Hymn at Matins in Passion-tide?

No, I’m a “pop” singer. While I can sing and write any style of music, just because I can, doesn’t mean I should. It’s best to stick to one style and not confuse my audience as to what they can expect from the next album. There are plenty of people doing classics and Latin and they do it very well. Personally, I love that kind of music and when I go to Mass, that’s what I want to hear. I even sing them to myself or as lullabies to my children. I also don’t want to go the contemporary Christian route either for the same reasons. There are far fewer people doing contemporary Catholic music well. I feel there is a need there and I’m filling the void.

7. How does God speak to you though your music?

That depends entirely on the song. If it’s scripture based, singing it allows for more time to internalize it, like a meditation. The words are alive and God is present and speaking through it right in the moment, drawing you closer. It’s easier to fly by it when you’re just reading it. Perhaps that’s why St. Augustine said, “He who sings prays twice.”

Another aspect to the question could be “my doing music in general,” which mirrors by own spiritual life. It’s never good enough. My soul is not perfect either. I have to keep trying to improve both and sometimes have to just let go and let God accept what I am and have to give, trusting that when offered in love and submission, it/I will be acceptable and can even be useful in my/it’s imperfect state in His omnipotent hand. God writes straight with crooked lines. He does it all. I’m just the pencil.

8. What does redemptive suffering mean to you?

Offering every aspect of my life, especially the difficult times, in union with the sufferings of Christ offered to the Father in atonement for the sins of all mankind. St. Paul says, to “take joy in your sufferings, for in them we make up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His body, the Church.” It’s the greatest gift God can give us. We resemble His Son in this and the Father sits up and takes notice. It’s very hard, but very cool to be another Christ. Lord, grant us the grace…

9. What's the biggest problem with Catholic music today?

My pastor once asked that I read the book “Why Catholics Can’t Sing.” I wasn’t interested because I was very turned off by the title, but he insisted. The book was right on the reason. Music in Catholic churches today have strayed so far from the traditional hymns which have the same “verse” melody sung over and over, making it very easy for the average person in the pew to learn and participate in. The current melodies are abrupt, dissonant, meandering and require a music degree to be able to sing, sight read, or play the piano. For the most part, they leave no invitation to enter in to try to master the melody. It’s a workout and a relief when it’s over. To make matters worse, most churches will not pay people with the necessary skills to make this difficult music, or ANY music for that matter in many cases, listenable. If no one with the ability steps forward to donate their time, then the whole congregation is made to suffer. If professionals are hired, they are usually the only ones who can sing/play the music, turning what is supposed to be congregational singing into a solo performance. Our family drives 40 minutes in each direction to attend Mass where the music is played by professionals who don’t perform but lead. There are no solos, just a schola, chant, and traditional hymns that all know and love to sing loudly.

10. It seems that in letting your dream for music go in favor of devoting your time to your new family, God gave the dream back to you in a way you couldn't have imagined before. Would you say this is this true?

Absolutely. I had quit music and had no desire to ever sing again. My father-in-law insisted that I do something and my husband encouraged me as well. I didn’t even go looking for inspiration. I feel I was commissioned to do what I do now. Even pushed – by friends, priests and even Our Lady, but that’s another story.

11. As a fellow Pacific Northwesterner, what unique challenges do you see as prevalent for believers in the soggy Northwest?

Well, I’m from the East Coast. For the most part, everyone either goes to Church there or they did when they were little. There are so many old and beautiful churches and shrines and places of pilgrimage. It seems like God chases you there. In the NW, there is far less tradition. More rebellion, liberalism, unbelief, even more witchcraft. I once heard a girl proclaim herself to a group as a pagan. There is much more open opposition to Christianity here. You have to be quick on your feet with an answer for the Faith, because you’ll be challenged straight out. Conversely, there is an attitude of indifference. Live and let be, so what, nothing matters anyway. You’re a Christian, that’s nice, I’m a pagan, nice to meet you. Then again, my experience here is very limited. I live under a rock most of the time, staying mostly at home, homeschooling my four kids.

12. What can you tell us about your latest project?

I just finished a CD of the Stations of the Cross. I wrote a song for each of the 14 stations. It’s called “The Way of the Cross.” It’s very powerful. It makes you cry, fills you with joy and just draws you so much closer to Jesus, causing you to feel most definitely the depth of His love for you personally. I offer a free download of the first song/station on my website www.DonnaCoriGibson.com At concerts, there will be videos showing behind me to enhance all the stations.

Upcoming Interview (Donna Cori Gibson)

2011-11-26T11:48:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that on Thursday, December 1st, I will share my interview of the popular singer Donna Cori Gibson. Hope you can stop by! As I'm trying to make some serious headway on my novel, this will be my last interview until February 2012, or so.

Your Black Friday Report from Western Oregon

2011-11-25T15:27:00.000-08:00

I've never really shopped on Black Friday before. Between needing to get a particular item for my daughter at Best Buy as well as feeling an obligation to go simply out of the misguided Occupy Black Friday movement, we found ourselves shopping all night long--not arriving home until after 4am. Yawn!

While I don't think I'll venture out to anything like this again for a long time, we were fortunate to get a couple amazing deals for Christmas. In fact, I think this is the first time ever when we're nearly done with our most important Christmas shopping before even reaching December. That's a nice thing, I suppose.

The people-watching was sometimes a little disturbing, but people were by and large polite to each other. I would like to point out a couple things, though, to the corporate leadership of Best Buy. Admittedly, this popular electronics retailer likely had more people waiting at the single entrance than Kohls had waiting between their multiple entrances. Still, Kohls proceeded to handle the crowds of shoppers with courtesy and efficiency while Best Buy herded us like cattle, weaving in and out of the aisles like sleepy zombies--hungering for electronics more than fresh brains.

I repeatedly noticed Best Buy employees wandering aimlessly around the store, looking tired and frazzled. We arrived an hour, or so, after the initial opening at Best Buy, because we opted to visit Kohls first. Even arriving around 1am and starting the line around 1:30, we were waiting in the line for at least two-hours. Instead of opening temporary registers at strategic points around the store, all the cashiers were frantically working up front of the store; this didn't work so well, and it was easy to sense the growing frustration and anger in the shoppers--not to mention the interesting smells.

Before coming to work for the State of Oregon about fifteen years ago, I worked in the retail loss prevention field. I realize there are loss prevention and theft challenges with having employees cashiering at other points in the store, but I suggest that this concern can be mitigated by employing plainclothes and uniformed security personnel inside and outside the store--along with the "eyes in the sky" and clear lines for customers to follow to registers and out of the store.

While I considered it important to do my little patriotic part for the economy this year, I don't plan to venture into this retail maelstrom again, if I can avoid it--especially at stores that treat their customers more like a herd of cattle than valued individuals who are tired and just want to purchase their haul and go home to bed.

As an aside, Apple gets the form over substance award this year for their promotion of "The day you've waited 364 days for." We would have seriously considered buying one or two Apple products this year, except their hyped Black Friday discounts averaged only around 10% off on their popular products. Come on, Apple, is that the best you can do? That's about as exciting a deal as a dollar off door stops at the local hardware store. My iPhone and I went elsewhere this time 'round.

Best Buy in Salem around 11:30pm.

Waiting for Kohls to open around midnight.

Profit Break

2011-11-21T08:39:00.000-08:00

With Christmas rapidly approaching, here are some items from yours truly for your shopping pleasure. Hope you can check them out! :)

Tristan's Travels

Calendar featuring my photography from NE Oregon (Drop me a note about coupons, if interested.)

Calendar version 2 (Contact me about coupons.)

Tristan's Travels mug

"Happy Mouse" mug

"Light in the Darkness" (Free)

"Stars Within the Glass"

Recreational vs. Professional Blogging

2011-11-21T08:25:00.001-08:00

The last time I gave a talk to elementary school students, I emphasized the importance of practice for the writer. Write as much as you can and read good books, too. I think there's value to the writer in keeping the writing going, but sometimes it's hard to categorize one's writing. In other words, what does the professional writer do who enjoys writing unprofessionally at times?

For example, as the readers of Tristan's Travels already know, I have a tendency towards silliness. The problem was that I didn't really want to associate the silly writing too closely with the more serious writing found on this blog. Not sure why I never thought of it before...but I have created a second blog entitled The Restless Auditor; it's very silly. So far, the content is taken from revised posts from sometime ago. New content will eventually follow.

Besides being another form of writing practice for me, the silly blog serves as a kind of recreational release valve. It's a way of responding to annoyances with humor, and it seems to work for me anyway. I hope you can check out The Restless Auditor--and let me know what you think (maybe).

Why I Left Facebook

2011-11-17T20:39:00.000-08:00

Well, I haven't completely removed myself from Facebook, but I, at least temporarily, deactivated my primary account late this afternoon. It's not that I have anything against social media... On second thought, maybe I do have a little something against social media. In many ways, I think it encourages some of the poorest dimensions of our already bankrupt modern culture: shallowness, pettiness, and meaningless busyness--the antitheses of reflection and substantive work. So much of Facebook to me really boils down to pettiness and silly acts of pointless reciprocation. I'm friends with some authors who seem unaffected by it, always upbeat and positive. With my particular personality, though, it seems less than a positive focus, encouraging an unhealthy dynamic and distracting from the important things, the eternal things.

I found, for instance, that I was talking about writing more than I was actually writing--a sure sign of trouble for an author. Yes, marketing is a necessary evil when it comes to writing, but I think the correct balance between timing and saturation is critical. Not that I was over marketing or promoting myself (well, maybe sometimes...a little), but the content has to come first. If the content becomes secondary to the marketing, you might as well be selling air. While it can certainly bring people together, Facebook also has a way of focusing us far too much upon ourselves.

That's why I thought it'd be good just to step back from a lot of that stuff and concentrate on what I'm good at: writing fiction. When I've finished the final page of revisions of the novel, I'll consider giving it another crack. Until then, please pardon my absence on Facebook for a while. Now, be sure to "like" this post....

(Two of my other reflections on social media and its ilk may be found at Connection Illusion and Internet Ramblings.)

Father Tim Mockaitis' Audio Interview

2011-11-12T18:36:00.000-08:00

Fr. Tim at blessing of Kimberly's gilded frames.

This morning's in-person interview of our priest, Father Tim Mockaitis, may prove to be one of my favorites. It was really more of a far-ranging conversation than a typical interview, exploring everything from his book, The Seal, concerning the 1996 surreptitious recording by the Lane County Prosecutor of a prisoner's sacramental confession to the larger issues regarding this sacrament as well as the morality of the death penalty--and even touching upon the thorny issue of Pro-Choice Catholic politicians.

It had my intention to transcribe the entire interview for the purpose of this post, but I came to the conclusion that this would actually make it less engaging an experience. I suggest that you listen to the entire interview, but I also will include some time markers--in case you want to quickly listen to particular sections and return later for the rest.

Since it wasn't my initial intention to use the audio, it's been necessary for me to do quite a bit of editing via Apple's Garage Band software. I've removed a few of our topic digressions--as well as some of my throat clearing, and even some of my "is it recording?" episodes. All things taken into account, though, the sound is pretty good for a simple iPhone recording. Way to go Apple!

Again, thank you to Father Tim for taking an hour out of his busy morning to answer these questions in such a thoughtful and personal way. I hope you enjoy this month's interview as much as I enjoyed making it!

1. What warning should all Christians, and Catholics in particular, take from the egregious taping of this Sacrament of Confession on April 22, 1996 by the Lane County Prosecutor's Office?

2. When did you decide that you needed to write The Seal? (4 minutes and 10 seconds)

3. To the best of your knowledge, does this tape still exist as evidence in the Lane County Sheriff's Office? If so, how does this make you feel? (8 minutes and 20 seconds)

4. Has this experience helped form your personal belief concerning the morality of the death penalty? (13 minutes)

5. If the opportunity to read a taped confession were to come about within a publication such as a newspaper, do you believe that a Catholic's reading of the immorally-taped confession constitutes a serious sin? (38 minutes and 20 seconds)

6. For the most heinous murderers, do you see a sense in which it acts as a mechanism of self defense for society at large? In other words, these people will never escape or be released in error to murder again. (15 minutes and 20 seconds)

7. I don't know the statistics, but it seems that the Sacrament of Confession is being ignored by more and more Catholics. Have these numbers indeed fallen over the last few decades? If so, why do you think more people don't highly value Reconciliation? (18 minutes and 30 seconds)

8. When did you decide you wanted to be a priest? In a related vein, did you have a particular moment as a younger man where you experienced a second conversion, a conscious turning towards Christ? (As a family of former Evangelical protestants who crossed the Tiber in 2005, this question is always of interest to me.) (23 minutes and 55 seconds)

9. Who would you say are some of your favorite authors and why? (29 minutes and 55 seconds)

10. In a few words, what are some of the top challenges you think are currently facing the Catholic Church? (32 minutes and 15 seconds)

(Click Picture to listen to interview.)

What I Learned From Meeting Brian Jacques

2011-11-08T19:51:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to briefly meet Brian Jacques (June 1939 - February 2011), acclaimed author of the Redwall series. I recall he was particularly fond of an illustration of my wife's which was on our business cards at the time. While talking with him for a few minutes was great, what I really took away from the evening was his talk on writing for children. One item that stuck with me concerned his response when he was asked about whether, or not, he read books similar to his own: the competition. He replied that he avoided doing so. It was his worry, he explained, that doing this might unconsciously influence his own characters and the originality of their adventures. That was the degree to which he cared about safeguarding his own originality.

Granted, it may be much easier for an extraordinarily popular writer to avoid mixing with the competition than for the rest of us more average writers, but I think there’s a message here for all of us. Of course, not everyone agrees with this view. One literary agent I met in Seattle took the position that it’s a mistake if the writer fails to immerse himself in his own genre, and it is true that writers should to be able to intelligently compare their work to the competition. Still, as I said, I think there’s more truth than error in Mr. Jacques’ position.

I irritate my family to no end at times, because of the ways I try to implement this wise advice. If there’s a movie that comes too close to my writing for children, for instance, I’ll avoid going—unless seriously outvoted. It seems to me that there’s a general apathy to originality in the creative marketplace of today. Sometimes, we mistake originality with simply “being different,” but it’s more than that.

One example, a personal pet peeve, that comes to mind is the tendency for more and more authors to try to re-write classic works with their own modern spin. While I have seen this work artistically a few times (and commercially more times), it too often makes the reader only too aware of how much better the classic actually is. This holds even more true when the author betrays ignorance concerning the original work.

If we look at these re-writes, in particular, we’re likely to hear several explanations or excuses from their producers—it introduces younger readers to the classics, satisfies public appetite for this style of writing, or, hey!, there’s only so many plots from which to choose! Broadly speaking, I think the first position is the most tenable, but none is convincing to me. In my mind, it’s still a symptom of the larger disease of creative apathy. If you’re a writer, do your job! Create your own memorable characters, settings, and plots from scratch. An example of a re-write work along these lines might be Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Of course, this is just my personal opinion, and there are clear exceptions--for example, the great movie Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? as inspired by Homer’s Odyssey.

To digress into a bit of a philosophical vein here, if creativity and originality are likened to a pool from which successive generations of artists, writers, and composers draw their inspirations, I’d have to say that the water has become somewhat shallow of late. Mysterious places and phenomenon of our planet are regularly unmasked by science. Each stone that is turned over in pursuit of science is one less stone under which the fairy may fly—to put it in romantic terms. (I can imagine my late uncle Phil Rand cringing at this expression of sentimentality.) It's not that I'm lamenting "progress" exactly, but I'm suggesting there's a downside, too. The more we come to know, the less mystery or unknown there is in the air, and it's that sense of mystery and adventure which has inspired some of the West's greatest books.

I’d also take the position that unique experiences of individuals from which creative work is born or nurtured has been lessened to some degree by shared media, shared experiences. Instead of experiencing our own adventures, we are content to watch and listen to those of strangers. All of these things—from the felling of the forests to the flickering television in our living rooms—seem to have drained the pool of creativity bit by bit. Of course, there’s always hope, because God is the greatest source of real inspiration. In conclusion, I'd like to end with the words of my father-in-law, John Collier.

Five hundred years ago if you wanted to hear the greatest words being spoken, see the greatest sculpture being carved, see the greatest painting and hear the best music, you went to church.

Eric Holder Needs to Go!

2011-11-02T15:52:00.000-07:00

Back in the early 1990s, I was seriously considering a job in federal law enforcement. To this end, I spent most of a shift riding-along with a US Border Patrol Agent out of the Blaine Sector field office. To say that it was interesting work would be a big understatement.

These officers are impressive in their knowledge of law enforcement practices as well as very complex immigration law and, of course, they must be fluent in Spanish. Their daily work is both dangerous and challenging--both mentally and physically. Although my career ultimately took me in a different direction of service, I have great respect for those who wear the badge of Border Patrol or Customs Agent. It can be an incredibly difficult and risky job, and they deserve all the support we can give them.

This is precisely why it's so important for the Obama Administration's Attorney General Eric Holder to waste no further time in submitting his resignation. As I tweeted on October 10th,"Fast and Furious suggests that Eric Holder was either (a) a disconnected manager or (b) untruthful in his recent testimony--or both." The fact that Fast and Furious was such an inane endeavor is bad enough, but that Mr. Holder appears to be lying about what he did and did not know about the ill-conceived gunrunning seals it--he needs to hit the road.

According to news reports, guns from this program are linked to the death US Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and also at least one attack on two Arizona police officers. The guns have also found their way south to Mexico where they were recently discovered in the residence of an arrested drug cartel kingpin. This being the case, they have undoubtedly been used to kill men, women, and perhaps children in the cauldron of violence which Mexico has become. One must ask, therefore, what responsibility does the US bear for the use of these weapons within Mexico? While there may not be legal responsibility or liability, the moral culpability is unquestionable.

On May 3rd, Eric Holder testified before the House Judiciary Committee that he "...probably heard about Fast and Furious for the first time over the last few weeks." As widely reported, Holder now appears to have been much more in the communication loop than he has previously disclosed. As suggested earlier, the (unlikely) prospect of him being blissfully unaware altogether would betray such an unfathomable lack of organizational leadership, that it wouldn't really put him in a better position; it's a lose or lose scenario. The evidence at this point, however, clearly suggests that Mr. Holder was deeply ensnared in this illegal and profoundly foolish gunrunning operation.

I'd also argue that this kind of ill-conceived and strange thinking is also evident in some of Mr. Holder's other official actions. Who, for instance, can forget his bewildering approach to the Black Panther Voter Intimidation case from 2008? This is an individual who appears to be using his public office to further his disturbing personal agenda.

In honor and respect of the US law enforcement officers and their families who have suffered tragedy because of these weapons as well as the innocents killed or maimed in Mexican drug violence, and the whistle-blowers such as Agent John Dodson, it's high time that Attorney General Eric Holder resign his post effective immediately.

..."Dodson just about came apart all over them (his supervisors). In a 'screaming match' that was heard throughout the Phoenix office by many employees, Dodson yelled at Voth and Assistant Special Agent in Charge George Gillett, 'Why not just go direct and empty out the (ATF) arms room?" (to the cartels), or words to that effect.'

(Fox News, September 26, 2011)

Pet Peeves Revisited

2011-10-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

Some things just bear repeating. I've touched on this issue before, but...sometimes a week comes along where all you can do is just laugh at the foolishness of it at all. Whether we're talking free book seekers, magazine editors who seek donated articles only to turn around and try to sell them online, or the classic dysfunctional committee, daily annoyances can get the better of us if we're not careful.

As I said in the earlier post, sometimes some quiet reflection helps to quietly put things in perspective. In addition to trying to offer up our daily struggles to God, it also helps to see the humor in daily life. When you feel like your pet peeves are overpowering you, just imagine what your neighbor probably thinks of you--and smile. When all else fails, pink flamingos on their lawns are always a good alternative...

A Technical Digression / Resetting iPhone Password

2011-10-23T13:26:00.000-07:00

I recently inherited an iPhone 4, and I had no idea how to change its Apple password--necessary to install updates and acquire new applications. I stopped by to ask at the local Mac Store, and the young clerk assured me that it couldn't be done. That being the case, I thought I'd explain how simple it was to actually do. I'm doing this for people like myself who find a legitimate need to do this, but I'll also end with some suggestions to improve overall device security.

I'll begin with mentioning that the relative from whom I inherited this device left no password information, except a few cryptic security phrase notes in his wallet and a couple references to password reset when I searched the iPhone itself. He was a security expert, so I didn't have much hope in coming up with the correct password through trial and error.

When attempts to crack the password the traditional way were unsuccessful, I eventually received a message inquiring whether, or not, I wanted to reset the Apple password. I indicated that I did and, since his e-mail still resided on the device, I requested to reset the account using his e-mail. The e-mail arrived moments later, and I created the new password. That was indeed thankfully easy.

Bear in mind that the Apple password is not the same as the pass code or screen lock. Fortunately, this iPhone had no screen lock, or my job would have been much more difficult. On earlier iPhones, however, this can be broken by selecting emergency call from the lock screen, then navigating away. I don't know whether this particular vulnerability remains in the later models.

Should you wish to make your iPhone more secure, you may wish to consider requiring a screen pass code. In addition, I recommend registering your device through Aps such as Find iPhone.

If you have many electronic devices on which you've stored important family information and records, it's strongly recommended that you retain your passwords somewhere with the rest of your important papers. Should something happen to you, it makes the settling of your affairs a little simpler.

(By the way, changing the device name can easily by right-clicking on it within iTunes. I suggest also that you create a new Apple id, then sign-out of the old, and sign-into the new.)

Interview of Carlos Espinosa (Holy Wood Acting Studio Founder)

2011-10-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

Max, StellaMaris, Karla, and Carlos Espinosa

Today's interview features Carlos Espinosa, founder of the Holy Wood Acting Studio in Los Angeles. He offers a unique and fascinating look into what it means to be an actor and artist for God in today's world. Thank you very much, Carlos, for taking the time to answer these questions so honestly!

1. What can you tell us about Holy Wood Acting Studio? What do you see as its mission?

Even if they not know it, actors are called to be leaders. Leaders tend to be the center of attention which is a huge peril for them and his/her followers if the first are not properly instructed and trained. We can see the devastating effects on many actors after they have just a little success doing what their vocation is telling them to do. An actor that fulfills his call in its entirety would be guiding the audiences to the light, to a happier life towards God. This is the mission, to train future actors to be torches of light to the world and by that being the happiest persons on earth.

2. What prompted you to start the business? How is your faith reflected within this vocation?

My son Max worked for an actor and they were always approached by many who wanted to be actors and actresses but didn't know where to be trained. We saw that there is no place anywhere that trains actors (or any other activity) that forms the person before the actor, so we did it and trough prayer and discernment; a very effective program was created.

3. Has the field and business of acting changed a great deal in the last twenty years, or has it remained much the same--as everything around it has changed?

Acting has been a magnet for people who understand its immense power to guide masses. So, this God given craft has changed and developed into a more driven ability and its artist must convey a message that most of the times is not the best for the families and the world.

4. There seems to be a tendency among some Christians to look at the field of acting and drama with suspicion. Why do you think actors are often negatively stereotyped by those of faith? What can be done about this?

Holy Wood Acting Studio is the answer to their prayers, because God keeps giving His children His own power to create beauty and fill the hearts of many with hope and joy but up until today there was no other place where a talented person could get a proper training to avoid the cause of that rightful suspicion which is the dangers of bad-managed fame, power and money.

5. Being a great actor isn't enough for the successful performer these days. He/she also needs to be an expert promoter, business person, negotiator, etc. Do your students sometimes question the value of learning those kinds of life and business skills necessary to achieve (and maintain) success later in their careers?

If a future actor wants to succeed, he needs to know how to move and effectively ascend the ladder of the hard world of acting, and he needs to know it as much as the best (or more). The business of acting is one of many of our classes and each and every one of the teachers and coaches are not only experts in coaching, but also have worked many years in the movie industry. Passion, is a must and that is our fuel so needed for the talented one also.

6. I interviewed Sean Astin last summer, and one of the things he remarked on was the thankfulness he has just to find good work. It seems that an actor's life is often feast and famine. If this is true, how do you teach a student to prepare for periods of professional and private hardship?

Personal Growth and Development is a class that teaches them how to love themselves as much as God loves them, and that is the key to have a sound and really strong confidence. When you have that, you not only never worry for the mountain of rejections you may face, but you feel that those, and all the problems they may encounter, are but a preparation for a greater mission. The bigger the challenge, the greater the mission, and you experience that He, Your Father provides all your needs (including difficult exercises of faith, hope and love, of course).

7. Was there a particular point in your life where you made a conscious decision for Christ, a "Second Conversion?" (As converts from the Evangelical tradition, this is an area of interest. I'm going to try to usually ask this question in the future interviews.)

My wife and I were rescued by Jesus for a second time (from being lukewarm Catholics) and by the Grace of God His Spirit grants us His passion of Love for Jesus almost 20 years ago. My son Max and daughter Karla have had their own passioned affair with Our Lord and God Jesus.

8. Technology has so changed the face and voice of media over the past decade, or so. What do you see as some of the greatest challenges for actors in coming years?

I see that if an actor focuses his/her life in a disciplined life of prayer and study, the effect of the technology which is so great especially on un-educated people will be used by them to make a bigger success for Jesus, for them, for their families and the for the world.

9. Is there a saint or two for whom you share a special affinity or appreciation?

We try to see Our Lady in the same way Jesus was seeing Her when He was a baby... totally dependent, abandoned, and confident on Her. St. Padre Pio makes his rounds of checking everyday though...

10. Has your friend Jim Caviezel ever stopped by Holy Wood Acting Studio to talk or work with students? Are there well-known actors and actresses involved in the process? What do you think about actors as role models?

I met Jim only once in a dinner party, and he hasn't come (yet) to our facility. The culture of celebrity is way too strong to even grasp by our minds, so we try not to look for it nor depend upon it for our support. If an actor wants to endorse us, it's is a blessing, but if not we know that we always count with the full support and love of the Only Real Celebrity.

11. What would you say is the hardest thing for your students to learn or accept?

Humility (the hardest for me too!), which we understand it as the source of real power and real authority over ourselves and over others.

12. Suppose that there is a young man or woman reading this who would love to pursue an acting career, but they don't know where to begin. What advice would you offer them today?

To read every page of our web site where everything is explained in detail and to call 310-428-6165 for further information, but before that... to pray, pray, pray!!!

Internet Ramblings

2011-10-18T21:44:00.000-07:00

Ever thought about how the internet has changed communication? I don't mean speed. We all know it's fast, but what's the tradeoff for that blazing speed? Take the publishing field, for instance. It's very common to send an e-mail to an editor or fellow writer and for the response to take so long (if at all) that one almost forgets what the original question was about. If you're like me, non-responses are a pet peeve. In my day job, they are easy enough to understand, but I tend to be more irked by them as a writer. (Suggestion of the day, use an "out of office" automatic reply to tell senders when to expect a response. It's courteous and informative.)

The thing is, though, that more than likely the person can't manage their e-mails and Farmville simultaneously. So, while we let petty annoyances build over such silly things as unanswered e-mails, there's probably a good chance the person hasn't even seen the message--or whatever else you may be waiting for the person to address. For all you know, then, there is no reason at all to let yourself be annoyed by it. Want to feel better? Just imagine the fellow staring blankly at a growing e-mail inbox. It works for me. (Pink flamingos on their front lawn are also always a nice touch.)

I know I've trudged along some of this dusty trail before with the "Connection Illusion," but the internet's effect upon how we communicate greatly interests me. I don't know the statistics, but the annecdotal evidence certainly suggests that writing quality for students within the halls of higher education is becoming poorer. Between e-mail, instant messaging, and Facebook, it seems that it's hard to write is a decent sentence it is. LOL. (Joke, people.)

Researching topics is another interesting area. Do young people even know how to write a research paper without the internet? I know when I looked it up on Google, it said that... Oh, never mind.

Anyway, that's it for today. Sorry it was such a rotten post, but I have to check my Facebook.

Nook Book Update

2011-10-16T13:11:00.000-07:00

Happy to announce that my short story entitled "Stars Within the Glass" is now available through Barnes and Noble. Hope you can take a look at this Nook Book! It's also available at iBooks and at Lulu.

Psst... A certain seagull reminded me to mention a particular children's tale by the name of Tristan's Travels. It can be found at select independent bookstores, as well as online at Rafka Press and Amazon!

Parting Thougts on the Occupy Movement and Higher Education

2011-10-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

It's not my intention to stay on this topic too much longer, but I'd like to raise a few more points today. One of the frequent gripes of the movement is the cost of higher education. While I agree with the complaint, I differ with them on their approach for rectifying it. I do want to point out that I agree that something is wrong with the higher and higher costs for attending universities. Our daughter is at this stage now, and the costs are indeed stunning. Why the dramatic increase in tuition--far outpacing inflation? I'm no economist, but I suspect that the "education bubble" has much to do with rising healthcare costs as well as the willingness for some students and families to take on huge debts to finance education.

This touches on a personal pet peeve. Lately on social media, I've seen several versions of a photograph of young person holding up a handwritten sign praising his own sound financial and life choices. These choices usually boil down to living below one's means and attending public university instead of an expensive private university. Besides the self-congratulatory or prideful tone, I object to this dismissive characterization of all private universities.

Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with a good public university education, and I'm sure there are many cases where it's better than private. Still, there's a sense in these kind of exchanges that private education is being viewed something like a name brand vs generic product, and that's where it needs to be pointed out that education is more than a retail commodity. Yes, there is a commonsense cost/value awareness that needs to be taken into the equation, but university is more for the learning and less about the diploma--isn't it?

Our daughter, for example, is looking for a solid Catholic education. She looks forward to learning more about her faith from professors--not student teachers. Private schools by and large (especially Catholic or Evangelical) offer a much deeper education in these areas. If smaller class size is important, private schools are also the way to go. If you have a pair of binoculars you enjoy using to watch your professor in the large lecture hall, go for it!

Lastly, I've been hearing from any number of people that it's possible to attend private university for less than public if you're successful with your aid search. As I understand it, there's often more aid available for the private universities than the public. So, don't dismiss a family's sacrifice for a private education, if the student is looking for more than just the diploma. Education is too important to compromise. (If your family is looking for a good Catholic university in the Pacific Northwest, may I suggest University of Portland.)

Lastly, below is a response to a friend's concerns with regards to my last blog post. Without her permission, I'm not comfortable mentioning her by name or linking to her thoughtful essay, but I thought I'd offer this--for what it's worth.

You make some interesting points. While I agree with some of your individual suggestions, I don't concur with your conclusions or logic. I think the central and simplest perspective is to analyze what is meant by social and "economic equity." That's just Socialism by a different name. Striving to address legitimate social justice issues such as poverty, homelessness, and lack of opportunities are laudable goals, but it's entirely different than "economic equity," which suggests (to me anyway) a redistribution of wealth to take everyone to the same standard.

Since that involves the taking of assets not otherwise belonging to you, I see that as a breaking of the 7th Commandment; whether, or not, the government is doing the confiscating and redistribution, it is morally comparable to theft. If that's all Occupy Wall Street is about, that's just as greedy as the people they are supposedly protesting. While consumerism itself is not a good thing, economic activity and prosperity are. They represent the livelihood of individuals, families, and communities. While we may wish for a simpler--agrarian, for instance--life, that bell can't be unrung. (See my "Connection Illusion" blog post for more.) Instead, we as Catholics need to constructively engage our culture and demonstrate the love of Christ--not Socialism. (You might want to read the CCC, Part 3, Section 2, Chapter 2, Article 7.)

Occupy Wall Street's Retreat from Relevancy--& Suggestions!

2011-10-13T21:08:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I turned and watched the Occupy protesters as I drove past their little camp in downtown Salem earlier today. They're an interesting bunch, and in some ways I feel a real ambivalence towards what they're doing--or trying to do, at least. For several years early in our marriage, we were so poor that we made church mice look filthy rich. Even at the worst of times, though, I think the idea of protesting our situation would have seemed pretty silly to me. Instead, I worked three pretty rotten jobs to hold things together, and I was always looking and competing for that dream job. I suppose it's the fact that I've survived with little myself that I don't have a lot of patience for complainers--especially complainers who can't seem to say anything of consequence regarding their movement or its goals.

If they're complaining about not having jobs, it's just possible they might have more luck if they put down those signs and actually began looking for work. I am not saying it will be easy process, but it's a good starting point.

My impression is that (1) they can't articulate what they're actually protesting against except in vague generalities, and (2) the union involvement in the Occupy movement belies their claims for financial accountability. (Let's face it, unions aren't exactly the poster children for accountability or financial transparency.)

So, I figure that this would be an opportune moment to put on my rain-soaked sweater, dirty jeans, and smelly dreadlocks (clip-ons) to really give these misguided folks some thoughtful advice for turning things around, not just achieving numbers but aiming for meaning, too.

First, remind everyone how terrible a proposition President Obama's stimulus package really was. Second, point out the foolish and over-reaching pursuit of Obamacare in the midst of this Great Recession. Third, while their hearts might have been in the right place, the latest round of banking and credit card regulations have really added insult to economic injury for the American people. Yes, Bank of America corporate leadership may need a good spanking, but the most significant thing you can do is to...close your account. President Obama's misguided policies have created an ecomonic environment of uncertainty and speculation.

It's unfortunate that these protesters can't recognize the irony and humour of the situation (as suggested in the photograph I shared above). They're protesting corporations and capitalism itself while simultaneously reaping the benefits and innovations of both. The power of social media, for instance, is being put to great use by these Occupy organizers. While they've achieved the flash mob status, there not sure what to do now--or what demands to even seek.

On the other hand, the few protesters that can successfully articulate what they're looking for too often betray a Socialist mindset. Read the following quote, for instance, from Occupy Portland chat forum.

Why do we care if the people are behind us? I am against "democracy" as a political system for this very reason. We, a minority know that this empire needs to be brought down so why do we care if we are in the minority? Why do we care about trying to convince the majority to be on our side. Are we trying to convince people or change the political structure?

After all, socialism has such a fine track record of economic success and environmental stewardship, doesn't it? It's sad...a good protest is such a terrible thing to waste.

In conclusion this evening, I'd like to share a wise observation Father Robert A. Sirico of the Acton Institute made recently on EWTN's World Over. The following is his response when he was asked about the moral obligation of "economic equity."

...I don't think economic equity is the real question. What we care about most is the vulnerability of the poor. It's not the gap between the rich and the poor; it's the floor. That is, how well are the poorest and most vulnerable people living? So, the fact that Warren Buffet has less money than Bill Gates is not the moral dilemma. The Gap is not the moral dilemma, and I think they're focusing on the wrong question. The question is not how do we distribute money, but how to create it...

By the way, be sure to read my second post on this general topic.

Top 10 Blog Recap for Singing in the Wood

2011-10-09T14:53:00.000-07:00

I was shocked to realize today that my blog has existed now for longer than a year. Granted, its present format is younger than that, but I'm still pleased (and a bit surprised) that I've managed to keep it going this long. While I'm sure its continued existence may only annoy any number of good people, here's to another great year ahead of us!

In a sort of belated birthday extravaganza, I thought I'd post the top ten most popular blog posts first, then I'd share ten of my personal favorites. (That's not to say some of the most popular group might otherwise be in my personal favorite list, too.) It's hard to say what makes a post one of my favorites. Sometimes, my favorite is because of the topic, but it's also often because of the wonderful feedback I receive from my readers. While I may not have a great many regular followers as yet for my relatively new blog, it's always exciting to note the far-reaching locations where visitors originate--from London to Spain and all across the USA. I appreciate my readers very much, and I hope the content continues to appeal and interest you in the year(s) to come! Lastly, I'd also like to extend a special thank you to those people who have graciously given of their time to facilitate the interviews I've shared here: Sean Astin, Raymond Arroyo, and Lino Rulli. More coming...

Stances of Grace, Living the Faith

2011-10-08T12:12:00.000-07:00

I happened across a new book by Michael Novak and William E. Simon entitled Living the Call: An Introduction to Lay Vocation. After reading an opinion piece on Fox by its author, I was reminded by similar notes I sounded years ago in an essay I penned called "Stances of Grace." Mr. Simon's new book on living the faith looks to be very timely indeed, and I look forward to reading it. I hope up you will pick-up a copy (or get it via Kindle, as I did) and share your thoughts!

I hope you enjoy my essay below. It should be perhaps noted that as a writer sometimes I will "recycle" elements from previously unpublished works within published essays. Other than very simple references, I don't believe "Stances of Grace" has been used before in this way. Should I be in error, I hope the publisher will excuse any writer oversight!

"Stances of Grace"

We are often reminded of the need to live each day for Christ—not just during Sunday Mass alone. The idea being that we too often compartmentalize ourselves; our church and spiritual lives on one side and our secular lives on the other. As a recent convert to the Catholic Church, the merging of these two distinct halves has been something I have personally struggled with, and I believe that the Eucharist has been instrumental in helping me to slowly, and with faltering steps, become the whole person God intends me to be. While it’s easy to observe the necessity that we, the Body of Christ, must carry the Church from the inside to the outside of our church walls, it is more challenging to identify how exactly we bring Christ to the world through our daily examples.

Our attitudes often betray the essence of who we are, or who we are in danger of becoming. I remember one episode recently when I was driving to an evening Bible study, and I noticed that the car behind me was tailgating. I tried to ignore the driver until he pulled alongside at a light down the block. As I glanced over, I was stunned to recognize a friend. This fine and upstanding gentleman apparently did not think twice of expressing his own frustration at being late for some appointment by behaving in a discourteous way towards a person he mistakenly assumed to be a stranger. We are all guilty of thoughtless and selfish behavior at times, but how do we take the church outside when we feel frustrated or angry with our fellow man? We all have pet peeves, and, when those internal buttons are pressed, we feel the need to express our displeasure. In fact, sometimes a restrained anger can serve a legitimate purpose.

If we don’t oppose what’s wrong, for instance, we are simply condoning it. Remember Christ and the temple moneychangers. Our Lord wasn’t any too pleased, and He expressed himself in a definite and concrete way. It’s when we feed and nourish those feelings of anger that the likelihood of achieving any lasting good from the situation slips away, and we place our soul in peril.

Sometimes a mnemonic aid can help when trying to learn or apply a difficult concept. My daughter, for example, use to find it helpful to learn her multiplication tables by putting them to music. The melody helped her to connect the dots and more quickly retrieve the memorized information. Is there a way to apply something similar to our spiritual lives? Perhaps one way to do so is to recall the variety of physical stances one takes during Mass: standing, sitting, kneeling, waiting in line to receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord, and greeting our fellow parishioners. If we think of the church every time we find ourselves in a similar physical position, then we're beginning to take the church from the inside to the outside.

When I find myself becoming irritated while waiting in line, my mind may recall waiting in line to receive the Eucharist. Since Christ died for all of us, it’s true that every person we meet within our hectic daily schedules is someone for whom His blood was spilled, and, therefore, a fellow member or potential member, of the Body of Christ. As C.S. Lewis reminds us in The Weight of Glory, there aren’t “ordinary people”. We all have everlasting souls. Cultures and civilizations will vanish, but that grocery clerk you may be inclined to snap at has the profound gift of an eternal soul and may be in heaven with you throughout eternity. If we can apply a kind of internal reverence to our daily lives, we are offering those routine activities up to Christ, and we infuse them with deep meaning. In this way, we are also acknowledging that we our identity is greater than what our daily life may trick us to think. That is, our identity should not be tied too closely to our work or vocation, if our work is secular in nature. When we understand this, we are transforming the mundane to the eternal and creating stances of grace as we strive to live Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians 10:31: “whatever you do, do for the glory of God.”

A second, but related, approach to engaging our culture and society is to use our specific gifts and talents to create a better world, doing works for God. In this way, we are also being imitators of Christ. At times, though, there seems to be a puzzling tendency among some Catholics to engage only in the superficial issues. There is frequently a strong inclination among some well-meaning Catholics, for instance, to take on issues dealing more with environmental stewardship, social justice, or simple political correctness than the pure and simple ministry of Christ--or controversial issues such as abortion. It sometimes boils down to something akin to a misplacement of cause and effect. Take, for instance, the issue of environmental stewardship.

It is certainly a valid concern in this day and age, but how is this issue often handled in our parishes? Wouldn’t we understand environmental stewardship more clearly if we first examined the life a great saint—such as Saint Francis? This saint’s love of nature was hinged on the fact that it was (and is) created by God. In other words, nature points to God. If we have a solid spiritual foundation, this connection is quickly grasped. As Saint Augustine wrote in Confessions, “There are many, in fact, who find your creation pleasing, because it is good, but what they find pleasing in it is not you. They choose to look for happiness, not in you, but in what you have created.” In a culture where environmentalism might be described as a kind of religion in and of itself—even if it’s a religion purporting to abandon all religions--I think we would be wise to ensure that we are preaching Christ first and foremost.

There is a possibility that some Catholics view issues such as abortion more along the lines of "fundamentalist" causes instead of Christian causes. I am not saying that we should stop talking about hot topics such as Global Warming, but I suggest that we also stand united with our separated brethren to ensure that our voices are raised in unison against the real evils of our day. Some of our other causes may simply be clever distractions foisted on us by the enemy.

My wife and I sometimes sit and watch those who receive the Eucharist at Mass and meditate on the mystery of it all. The believer who approaches the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ is a sinner, but the person returning to his pew becomes a little more like Christ. If you will permit another quote from Saint Augustine, he wrote the following concerning the Eucharist in Confessions, “I am the food of full-grown men. Grow and you shall feed on me. But you shall not change me into your own substance, as you do with the food of your body. Instead you shall be changed into me." In our efforts to carry the church to the outside world, we should strive to preach the saving story of Christ daily in our clearly expressed thoughts, words, and deeds. In this way, we are working and cooperating in the saving work of Christ by being examples of His boundless love to a lost and fallen world.

Lino Rulli ("The Catholic Guy") Interview

2011-10-05T18:38:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to share today's blog interview of... Lino Rulli, Emmy-award winner for "Generation Cross," bestselling author of Sinner, The Catholic Guy's Funny, Feeble Attempts to Be a Faithful Catholic, not to mention the great host of the "Catholic Guy" on Sirrus/ XM Radio. Lino is the latest person to graciously answer far too many e-mailed questions from yours truly. A big thank you to Lino for taking the time from his hectic schedule to provide such thoughtful answers--on far too many questions!

1. For those who may not be familiar with your new book, Sinner, what made you decide to tell your story? What do you hope readers take away?

What made me write the book was...well, the advance! Money makes a person do crazy things: like write a Catholic book. And I really hope readers take away the reminder that we're all sinners. We're all struggling. Hopefully they can have some laughs at my expense and realize they're not the only ones who aren't perfect.

2. What's its release date, and will it be available in Kindle format?

It was released September 1 and is a paperback, kindle, audio cd, and audiobook. No excuses to not buy it! It's everywhere...

3. I really enjoyed reading the preview of a portion of the first chapter ("Monkey Boy") on Amazon. As a guy who played McGruff the Crime Dog as well as Reepicheep in the late 1980s, I think I can sympathize with the costume... Did the monkey suit work give you an introduction to performing in front of people that appealed to you--or did that really come later?

Yeah, it certainly helped. But more than anything, it gave me an example of the need to be different. My dad took a different path in life, and that encouraged me to try and do the same thing.

4. When did you decide to pursue a career in
broadcasting?

I always loved media. Just before graduating college, I decided to get "serious" about Catholicism - and thought that a practicing Catholic shouldn't be involved with trivial media stuff. But a few years later, God literally put me back into the media world. So it seems like He decided for me.

5. As the Catholic Guy on Sirrus XM Radio, you've had the opportunity to visit many exciting places. What are a couple of your favorites--Rome? On the opposite end of the spectrum, any places where you probably would like to avoid a second visit?

Rome is the best. I'm Italian, though, so I might be biased. The show has brought us a lot of cool places, but you can't beat Rome. I can't think of anyplace I wouldn't visit again!

6. Are you exploring any new directions or format changes to your show in the coming years?

I'm a big believer in the idea that if you're not changing, you're stagnant. So I don't have any specific directions or format changes to announce here :), but I'm always working on it.

7. Do you plan on writing more books in the future? Any topics of interest? Ever considered fiction?

I've gotten a few publishers contacting me to write another book, so with any luck I'll be writing again soon. I don't think I'd do fiction, however, because I think life is stranger than fiction.

8. What were some of the highlights that will stay in your memory from World Youth Day Madrid?

The Saturday Night Vigil, nearly 2 million people, the Pope is there, and a rainstorm hits! We had an absolute blast out in the rain. Then, it stops raining, the Pope continues talking, and we're having Eucharistic Adoration. 2 million people praying. Complete silence. Then, after the Pope left, it started raining again. It was great.

9. What do you see as one of the major challenges facing the Catholic Church in the United States at this time?

Wow, that's a tough one. I think the major challenges facing the Church is credibility and a sense of being relatable. A lot of people are turned off by Catholicism, and we have to try to win 'em back...

10. Was there a particular point in your life as a young man where you made a conscious decision for Christ, a "Second Conversion?" (As converts from the Evangelical tradition, this is an area of interest. I'm going to try to usually ask this question in the future interviews.)

I've had a few times in my life where I've had a "Second Conversion" like experience, but the truth is I'm a guy who was born and raised Catholic, and I need to be converted every day!

11. Have you spent much time in western Oregon? Any upcoming visits to our neck of the woods in the near future?

I've been to 6 of the 7 continents. 48 of the 50 states. And never Oregon! Sorry. Would love to visit sometime.

12. I remember listening to one of your shows in late June when you were talking about co-ed dormitories at Catholic universities. We recently visited a school in the Seattle area with our daughter where men and women were rooming right next door to each other. It seems to run counter to common sense as well as Catholic morality and modesty, creating an environment where the occasion to sin is present unnecessarily. I just don't see why we have to burden our kids with these temptations. Do you think more and more Catholic institutions of higher learning are taking a second look at this?

I think the idea of Catholic identity is becoming more and more important at all sorts of Catholic institutions. And that's a good thing. Some things, like co-ed dorms, are just a crazy idea.

13. Technology has so changed the face and voice of media over the past decade, or so. What do you see as some of the challenges for print and broadcast media in the future?

Media is becoming more and more splintered, and it's a challenge to build and maintain an audience with so many options. I think the biggest challenge is having a sizable audience - and making money! Everyone likes making money.

14. Is there a saint or two for whom you share a special affinity or appreciation?

Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII. JPII because he was a hero for so many of us, and I got a chance to meet him. I was there at his funeral and there at his beatification. And John the 23rd, because he was Italian and had a great sense of humor.

15. We recently were dealing with a family member battling a serious illness, and I was curious how your faith helps you personally handle those more difficult times in your life? For instance, what does redemptive suffering mean to you?

I'm sorry to hear that. And as for faith helping during difficult times, I'm not great with redemptive suffering...but when I have nowhere else to turn, God is there. And I find comfort in that.

A Call to Christian Unity

2011-10-01T13:49:00.000-07:00

Several years ago, I received a strange envelope from a penitentiary to the east. Enclosed was a long handwritten letter from a man identifying himself as a former priest who was now serving time in prison for an undisclosed crime. He wrote me in response to a religious article of mine which he had come across. One could hardly miss his deep grief as reflected in the furious cursive of his pen. His writing betrayed a longing to be accepted again and to regain that lost connection to the Church. This former priest views himself as an outcast from the Church and the community due to his acts of grave sin. After all, sin, by its nature, separates not only man from God (and man from the Church), but also man from man.

The letter brought home the image of the Christian body as a single family, united in its belief in Christ and yet gravely separated. This separation originated in the disobedience of Adam and Eve. Their choices made sin a reality in the world. Sin, by its very nature, pushes us towards disunity. In Mary, we clearly see Eve’s opposite. Where Eve’s disobedience opened the world to sin, Mary’s obedience and cooperation paved the way to its redemption. Perhaps we should see the history of the Church in the simpler terms of a family in crisis? One of the early examples of the broken unity within this family concerns the actions of Martin Luther. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church recognizes in the section entitled “Wounds to Unity”, Martin Luther raised many important concerns that deserved substantive dialogue—from corruption in the sale of indulgences to the allegations of misuse of the church’s mounting wealth.

Many saints of the past have also spent their lives struggling to change attitudes or practices within the Church they loved. Several centuries earlier, Saint Francis worked tirelessly for the poor, and Saint Thomas Aquinas labored to remind us that faith and reason are not mutually exclusive. The difference between the endeavors of the saints and those of Martin Luther hinges, in part, on the nature of pride and the sin of separation. The saints paid as little attention as possible to self, or “brother ass”, as Saint Francis called his own body in jest.

Instead, the saints always worked to place the good of others ahead of themselves and to promote unity at every turn. Martin Luther, on the other hand, concluded that starting anew was better than laboring to correct the problems present within the Catholic Church. When pride creeps into our minds, it transforms otherwise laudable goals into a dishonorable agenda or even a personal crusade. Those demanding reform within the church lost touch with the vital place unity holds within the Christian family and failed to see unity itself as a reflection of God’s loving plan. Martin Luther moved ahead against the Catholic Church, bringing profound separation to bear against the faithful. Turning his back on biblical passages calling us to unity, such as 1 Corinthians 3:1-23 and John 17:11, he pressed harder and harder until the very fabric of the Christian family tore. It continues to tear today.

While it is true in a sense that the sin of pride continues to echo afresh with each new denomination, it is also important to keep things in their perspective. It was that initial split from the Catholic Church which Catholics find particularly egregious—after all, it was separation from the one true Church. The new denominations springing up constantly are simply the logical consequence of churches struggling for moral direction. We can’t necessarily fault each Protestant denomination for breaking with its parent church. In fact, we might find their motivations to be nearly above reproach. Take, for instance, the Free Methodist Church. This denomination broke from the Methodist Church over such issues as slavery and the sale and renting of pews. The founders wanted a place that welcomed everyone—poor or rich, slave or free.

When asked to comment on the nature of Christian unity, a Free Methodist pastor from north Seattle, Mark Nordvedt, shared the following. “Jesus called for unity but not at the expense of biblical truth and biblical morality. If one compromises on the authority of the Scriptures, the Bible, you are lost on a sea of subjectivity and relativism and lose any basis of belief or action upon which to be united.” Whether he realizes it, or not, this pastor’s simple observation highlights our similarities more than it exposes our differences. Despite the doctrinal challenges that keep us apart, the desire to fervently follow Scriptures is shared by Catholics and Protestants alike. If more Catholics could simply articulate the beauty and fullness of our faith and traditions and demonstrate God’s love within their own lives, our churches would be overflowing come each Mass. If we are like members of a broken family, then perhaps what is needed is the calm love of an older brother or sister to convey what the Catholic Church is all about. Our separated brethren already have that passion for Jesus, and He certainly wants them to come into the Catholic Church, to learn to know Him better.

It should come as no surprise that the broken family of Christ often carries over to affect the family life found within many of our homes, sin begetting sin. The separation of family members on the grounds of religious intolerance mirrors the broken unity of the Christian faithful worldwide. If the Christian church is seen as the “Body of Christ” as explained in verses such as 1 Corinthians 12:27 and Ephesians 1:22-23, then how can this separation be the better choice? As if there were any doubt as to the answer, we have the beautiful message of John 17:22-23.

22 The glory which thou hast given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,

23 I in them and thou in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them even as thou hast loved me.

The very triune nature of God points to the fundamental unity of the Trinity. We simply need to offer ourselves humbly before Christ in an effort to discern what we can contribute towards the reconciliation of our spiritual family.

Though mankind today may view itself as the perfected result of thousands of years of evolution, the sobering reality is that it has been falling towards moral entropy since the Fall of Man. This descent is a frightening thing to witness. Just as the sin of Adam, separated man from God and man from man, the sin of separation, as well as pride, has made the chasm between God and man just that much wider and deeper. Like the profound truth reflected in Michelangelo’s famous painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, God continues to stretch out His arm across the gulf to reach man below. Sadly, man too often ignores the hand of his savior. Even non-Catholic writers seem to recognize that something is missing. C.S Lewis wrote the following on November 10, 1952, as it appears in Letters to an American Lady.

Though you have taken a way which is not for me I nevertheless can congratulate you -- I suppose because your faith and joy are so obviously increased. Naturally, I do not draw from that the same conclusions as you, but . . . I believe we are very near to one another . . . In the present divided state of Christendom, those who are at the heart of each division are all closer to one another than those who are at the fringes . . . Let us by all means pray for one another: it is perhaps the only form of "work for reunion" which never does anything but good. God bless you. © William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

A good place to begin in the dismantling of the fences between Catholics and Protestants might be avoidance of terms that polarize rather than unite—especially when the terms themselves offer little in the way of illumination. Generalizations and labels are not the way to build dialogue. The key to communication is to build upon our commonalties and not accentuate our differences. If Catholics are properly catechized, they should have no problem explaining how our traditions have grown closer over issues like the profound gift of sanctifying grace. They might also mention how Catholics often work together with Protestants to battle such cultural tragedies as abortion and pornography. It’s also worth noting that some of the present divisive issues were of little or no concern to Martin Luther—for example, infant baptism or Mary’s place of honor within the Catholic Church.

One illustrative example of an area of frequent confusion between Catholics and Protestants might be the debate concerning faith (or grace) and works. The Protestant is likely to confuse the Catholic position (perhaps on account of never having heard it clearly articulated) and incorrectly assert that the Catholic believes in earning his way to heaven through works. While the Catholic believes no such thing, the Protestant may point to traditions and rituals which, when not understood in their historical and religious context, may confuse non-Catholics. The reason I selected this particular example, however, is because the truth is so easily reached by a careful reading of Scripture as well as an application of both common sense and logic.

As Saint James makes abundantly clear in his second chapter, works are a reflection of the grace within. Many subscribe to a false and misleading dichotomy regarding faith and works; they’re as inseparable as the flame is from the candle. If faith doesn’t have an effect upon works, it’s not a real or substantive faith. Paragraph 2001 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it in the following way.

The preparation of man for the reception of grace is already a work of grace. This latter is needed to arouse and sustain our collaboration in justification through faith, and in sanctification through charity. God brings to completion in us what he has begun, "since he who completes his work by cooperating with our will began by working so that we might will it:

Indeed we also work, but we are only collaborating with God who works, for his mercy has gone before us. It has gone before us so that we may be healed, and follows us so that once healed, we may be given life; it goes before us so that we may be called, and follows us so that we may be glorified; it goes before us so that we may live devoutly, and follows us so that we may always live with God: for without him we can do nothing.

In the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Mark, there’s an enlightening account of Christ’s miraculous curing of an epileptic boy after His disciples were unable to do so. When privately questioned later, Christ explains to his disciples that their inability to cure the child was because of the need for serious prayer. It’s interesting to note that the King James version refers to “prayer and fasting.” This is an example of our cooperation with God requiring a commitment of time and energy (works) before the desired result can be achieved through Christ. It doesn’t mean, of course, that the prayer and/or fasting brings about the cause of the change; God remains the mover, but we should understand the critical part that our actions play within our own spiritual and prayer life. Saint Paul reminds us of this in his letter to the Colossians (1:24-27).

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

25 of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,

26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints.

27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

As a recent convert from the Evangelical tradition, I urge Catholics to take a fresh look at both evangelization and the studying of their own faith to help them bring Protestants back home. Whether it is explaining the simple differences in vocabulary which often raise barriers to effective communication, or simply taking the time to thoughtfully discuss our positions, this will accomplish much for unity. It was Pope John Paul II’s tireless ecumenical work that first caught our attention years ago. Slowly, it dawned on my Protestant family that the pope was indeed right. In the same loving spirit so evident in this great pope’s book entitled Crossing the Threshold of Hope, we must do everything in our power to encourage our separated brethren to return home, and we should demonstrate that there is less separating us today than they may guess. We need to bring the message to them and pray for Christ to work upon their hearts. In the name of Christ, let us do everything we can to facilitate a reunion of our broken family at Christ’s table. Whether Protestant or Catholic, we all follow the same Good Shepherd, and it’s time this separated family came back to the house of their fathers.

Coming up next...hope to publish Lino Rulli's interview next week, or so.

"Just a Stay-at-Home Mom"

2011-09-22T21:20:00.001-07:00

If you want to know how to quickly get on my nerves, try ridiculing the stay at home mom. That kind of derisive and ignorant comment usually reveals utterly self-absorbed people, caught-up by the lie of materialism. They're also frequently without a substantive moral compass, since they have so thoroughly embraced the Culture of Death which seeks to undermine the value of new life and the profound role and gift of motherhood. Unfortunately, though, I seem to hear this sentiment expressed more and more these days by people who really should know better.

Am I saying that all mothers are worthy of praise? While, of course, that's not the case, it is indeed a sad and tragic thing that society places so little value on such an important and vital role. As C.S. Lewis reminded us, "The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career."

I realize that not all mothers can afford to stay home to raise their children, but I suggest that many times working outside of the home can be avoided or delayed by careful budgeting and simple living. After all, fifty-years hence, your children won't remember that second car, high definition television, or other luxuries. No, they will, however, remember the love of their mother and father in the home. Love and laughter of a Christ-centered family is what it's all about. Something to think about. ...Now, husbands, I hope you will go thank your wife--and your mothers, too.

Proverbs 31:10-31

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ ^[a]A wife of noble character who can find?
   She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
   and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
   and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
   bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
   she provides food for her family
   and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
   her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
   and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
   and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
   and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

A Short Review of "Heaven is for Real"

2011-09-15T22:21:00.000-07:00

If you've noticed, I tend to avoid book reviews. For one thing, there's the obligatory summary or plot outline which often can evoke a yawn from me about as quickly as if I were cracking open one of my exciting accounting reference books. Still, something was different about this simple book entitled Heaven is for Real, A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo (and with Lynn Vincent).

I have to admit, though, that my wife actually picked this book up first. I glanced at it, returned it to its Costco display table, only to retrieve the title again a moment later. Something piqued my interest after reading just a paragraph, or so. For one thing, it's written in an unusually simple, unvarnished style that is quickly engaging. It's not a book you're likely to read for literary value, but, that said, it's much better written than a lot in the "pop" spiritual market--The Shack, par exemple. In fact, as someone who was raised in the Nazarene denomination before our family of four (as well as my in-laws) crossed the Tiber to the Catholic Church, it reminds me a little of the missionary books that were distributed at church when I was growing up: a very simple, decidedly unselfconscious style.

So, I can't disappoint my readers with a long summarization of the story (because I don't want to), but I will say that the young boy recounts an out of body experience following a close call on the operating table due to his appendix breaking open. Colton Burpo shares his experience later with his astonished parents, and the book really focuses on the parents' processing and questioning of their son over the years to come. The details that Colton conveys are startling and perhaps hard for an adult to accept. For instance, his insistence of everyone, except Jesus, having angelic wings in heaven was particularly troubling because it seemed to imply that we become angels--which I don't believe is true.

Still, the angel issue is similar to other details in that I suggest that we're seeing the images of heaven through the lens of a child's mind. If we accept the account as true, which I do by and large, then we need to recognize that heaven would have probably looked different to an adult on a similar journey. This is how this child processed the information, which begins to make other small details less troublesome--to me, anyway.

The most startling passage of the book may be when Colton asks his mother if his sister died in his mother's tummy. The innocent question reveals that Colton met his unborn sister (of whom his parents had never spoken with him) on his celestial visit: deeply encouraging news for his family. I was also deeply impressed by the way the little boy describes the nature of time in heaven. It's been something of an area of interest to me for years, and I think the boy unknowingly described that "eternal present" remarkably well.

I've been reading many reviews of this title over the past few days, and it's interesting how varied the perspectives are. Atheist writer Susan Jacoby penned a particularly weak attack of the book in her own online review. It really didn't offer any original or persuasive insights, but just blasted the book as appealing to the "immature American mind." Since I think it takes more faith to be an atheist than a believer in a higher power, though, I wasn't impressed.

Some evangelical reviews, such as the one written by Tim Challies, seem really torn as to how to respond to the book. In the end, it's as if this rather unfriendly reviewer is telling God, that "no, you can't do this." It's us dictating to the Creator what He may or may not do with regards to His creation; I wasn't persuaded by his arguments opposing the book. Much closer to the mark, I think, are the more thoughtful reviews--like the one written by Scott Lencke.

I think it's important to approach all accounts of miracles with a healthy degree of skepticism, but this account rings true for me. (Of course, as C.S. Lewis pointed out, God turns water to wine each year in the vineyard, and we fail to recognize this kind of natural wonder for the miracle that it truly is.) As an example of personal revelation, we're, of course, not bound to believe, but we do need to realize that God may do whatever He wishes when it comes to His creation. He's not bound by natural laws. I would concur with some of the comments by reviewers such as Tim Challies in that we should be careful of our faith being affected too much by sensational accounts--even the true ones. Our faith should lie deeper and stronger than our passing feelings.

Lastly, some have argued that Colton's experience contradicts their interpretation of the book of Revelation. I would suggest that Revelation contains multiple levels of meanings--for many generations of believers. A particularly strong commentary on this book is Revelation, A Divine Message of Hope by Father Bruce Vawter.

In short, I found this book to be a heartwarming account of a child's journey to God and back again. As I wrote some years ago in "Mysterious Tools," the heart of God definitely holds a special place for children. We should all strive for more of a child-like faith in our own spiritual journey.

In Memoriam...September 11th

2011-09-07T20:45:00.000-07:00

September 11th, 2001. The day began bright and clear in western Oregon. I first learned of the tragedy on the way in to the office, and I was in such a state of shock that I had to come home shortly after I arrived. I recall a co-worker almost brushing it off and getting back to the office routine, but I just couldn't do it. It may have been Oregon, but our thoughts and prayers were certainly with the good people of New York City that day--and the dark days that followed.

The attack happened only six-months, or so, after we bought our house in south Salem. I remember standing on the front steps of our home and looking into the cloudless blue the sky. Not one aircraft could be seen. Everything seemed eerily quiet in our neighborhood, as well. As the footage of the falling towers was played over and over again, I just sat in shock watching the news reports; it seemed to just get worse and worse. In particular, it was heartbreaking to witness the people leaping to their deaths from the windows of the burning towers. It wasn't just debris raining on the streets below, but lives.

I was profoundly thankful for the powerful leaders we had at the time in New York and Washington D.C. Mayor Rudy Giuliani indeed made us all proud, and President Bush gave the steady hand of leadership that we all needed so terribly at that time. There were innumerable heroes that day, as well. We should never forget the selflessness of people such as Todd Beamer and those many emergency responders. The world has certainly changed much since that September day a decade ago, but the heroes' names will be remembered forever, while the terrorists' names are already fading from collective memory.

In memory of the nearly 3,000 murdered that day (more than 10% of them belonging to the FDNY family), I'd like to share the Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero. The sculptor is my father-in-law, John Carroll Collier. I hope you will read about the memorial and take a moment to look at the sculptures. Better yet, hopefully you can make the journey and see it personally at Saint Joseph's Chapel of Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church in New York City. Although we witnessed the exhibit before it was transported to New York, I hope to visit Saint Joseph's Chapel in NYC at some point in the future to see the pieces again. In particular, the sculpture of Saint Michael was deeply inspiring.

I had the opportunity to spend time with John a few months after the 9-11 tragedy, and I remember him talking to me about his idea for a memorial. I'm indeed glad that something meaningful like this has been created to honor those killed on that day and remind us all that any permanence or truth is illusory unless firmly anchored in our savior, Jesus Christ.

Sharing a Few Words on Appeasement

There are a couple of misconceptions that arise out of well-meaning people's reflections or search for meaning concerning the 9-11 tragedy. First, it's important to bear in mind that the admonition to "turn the other cheek" fails to apply to nations; it's directed at individuals. Nowhere in Scripture or sacred writings are nations instructed to leave their citizens without a defense. (Saint Thomas Aquinas reinforces the right of self-defense as well as just war within his masterpiece Summa Theologica.) This isn't to say, of course, that we should be quick to war, but it's important that we understand government's moral obligation to defend its citizens. We may not always agree with our nation's course--especially perhaps with regards to the Bush Doctrine--but we would be wise to grasp its true responsibility before we offer the criticism.

Second, I don't subscribe to the view that we permit terrorists to (in effect) encourage our own introspection over national policy. Better that this dialogue and introspection be sparked by something other than horrific acts against God and man. While real good may be mysteriously wrought from terrible injustice and evil, whining "Why do they hate us?" comes too close to legitimizing the work of the terrorists--giving them some of what they want. It also bears the dangerous trademarks of appeasement. Evil should neither be coddled nor appeased, but extinguished with courage and determination.

Instead, let's focus on prayer for the fallen and prayer for our continued safety. Later, we can take a second look at matters of social justice. I suggest avoiding the connection of the two lest we give the terrorists a voice they should never have. Lastly, forgiveness is something for which we can continually strive. Forgiveness in this context does not betray a naivete with regards to national security, but, instead, it focuses upon our personal reaction to tragedies of this nature.

Perhaps a reasonable argument can be made that I'm splitting hairs here, that its only natural that good--e.g. issues of social justice--flow from the evil of 9-11. I suggest, however, that we seriously consider the ramifications of giving a voice to the terrorists and indirectly helping their causes. If we, for example, make a personal decision against further support of Israel (a terrible personal choice, incidentally), it would be foolish to do so because of the terrorists that murdered our brothers and sisters that day.

PRAYER TO
SAINT MICHAEL
THE ARCHANGEL

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen..

9-11 Links (in no particular order)

9-11 Memorial
Flight 93 Memorial
Todd Beamer
9-11 Digital Archive
9-11 Events Timeline
News Archive
911 Photos (Google)
Memorial Commentary
Sept. 14th Memorial Service Recording

Catholic Memorial at Ground Zero Dedication
"Sculpting a Tribute" from EpiscopalLife
USCCB's 9/11 Memorial Page
Pope Benedict's message on 9/11
Blog Touching Upon Catholic Memorial

Wiki Leaks' Pager Data

Homeland Security
NYPD
FDNY

(As a last aside, if anyone else experienced strange dreams shortly before 9-11, I would be very interested to hear from you. I've heard bits and pieces of accounts, but I never retained any details of others' dream accounts. I'd be happy to share more info on my own outside of my blog.)

Writer's Retreat

2011-09-03T19:40:00.001-07:00

The Catholic Writers' Guild asked me to share this press release. Hope you can make it!

Press Release

June 9, 2011

Contacts:

Ann Margaret Lewis,

Catholic Writers Guild President

317-755-2693 annlewis@joesystems.com

Michael Marshall

517.853.7600

mmarshall@faithcatholic.com

For Immediate Release

Catholic Writers to Enjoy Special Spiritual Retreat

Lansing, MI: In collaboration with FAITH Catholic Publishing and Communications, The Catholic Writers Guild, will sponsor Your Word is My Delight, a Catholic writers' retreat, Oct 5-9, 2011. Come and delight in God's word and sacrament, and pray in a beautiful and serene retreat setting.

The retreat's key presenter is Pat Gohn, Catholic columnist, podcaster and catechist. Other presenters are Father Charles E. Irvin, David Krajewski, Father David Rosenberg and Father Larry Delaney.

Writers will enjoy five spiritually-enriching days of daily Mass, adoration, the sacrament of reconciliation and many hours of writing time. Talks will explore how God speaks to and encourages writers through Scripture, papal writings and other topics in order to promote faith-filled writing.

Opportunities for networking also will be offered through an informal "book bash and social hour" Wednesday evening and Faith Catholic's one-on-one "pitch sessions" that give writers the chance to sell their current writing projects.

Cost for the four-day retreat is $450, which includes meals and accommodations. Deadline for registration is Sept 28. A nonrefundable deposit of $45 is required at registration.

To view a schedule of events, click here.

To download a brochure, click here.

To register for the retreat click here.