Falling Rocks

Falling Rocks - one road way sign that you do not want to see - warning drivers of potential danger - from above. On long road trips - for many drivers - exhaustion - poor road conditions - unfamiliar roads - increases the risk of injury. It is imperative that drivers on these roads exercise due diligence- pay attention to all warning signs.  Observing all the signs on the path - assures a safe trip.

God calls each of us to a special relationship with Him - He sends us messages - some obvious - others not as obvious. Normally He works  through the everyday events of our lives - not dramatic - out of the ordinary. Some look to the skies for - spinning suns - other to dramatic events of nature. In reality God more often - whispers - does not shout. He is present in the gentle breeze of a summer afternoon - the soft ringing of outdoor chimes. In all of life - God is always there - quietly sending signs - quietly calling our names.

Deacon Dale 

Fireman

A fireman is a specialist trained in the art of battling fires - learning the life of the fire - how it acts - reacts - to that which helps it grow - that which stifles - causes it to die out - to go cold. Fire is one of those things in nature that can be friend or foe - sometimes both at the same time. It radiates warmth - light - heat - to make comfortable - to light the path - to cook meals.  It also is capable of extreme heat - burning people - possessions - homes - causing massive destruction - loss. To control fire - one has to draw close - to learn - what it likes - dislikes - how it lives - how it dies.

God is the original fireman - sending the fire of the Holy Spirit - upon the disciples - at Pentecost - to us - at baptism - confirmation - moments of grace. His fire does not harm - rather it empowers - men - women - to live lives of faith energized - by His Spirit - faith fanned by the flames of the Holy Spirit - strengthening - guiding - enlightening - His disciples. As the Church celebrates Pentecost this Sunday - may we - His modern day followers - celebrate the gift freely given to each of us.  May we draw closer to the light of Christ - to learn - to understand - to become one - with Him - as we seek to share our faith - as we seek to bring others - to their own personal day of Pentecost.

Deacon Dale 

Lost in Time

I cannot believe that I have been lost in time - lost with chores - lots of chores. Returning from Arizona - time consumed with yard work. In spite of the fact that my neighbor had mowed the lawn for me - twice - I have been doing battle with little green blades of grass since I returned home. In two weeks I have mowed the lawn no less than five times - only now is the lawn finally under control. In addition to mowing the lawn - time to edge the flower beds and spread some 150 bags of mulch around the property. Luckily - that ritual is only done once every other year or so. The lawn looks good - nicely trimmed - new plants in place - time to relax and take a little road trip - praying that it stays as is for five more days - until our return.

Jesus - in many ways - lost in time - lost in peoples' hearts - minds - thoughts. Too many seem occupied with everything - but - God - salvation - redemption - being Christian.  To some - Christianity worn like a jacket - to be taken off frequently - cast over a chair - not worn often at all.  Placing their - faith - hope - in themselves - playing with fire - the devil's brew.  Thankfully when that does not work out - Jesus - will be there - to save - rescue - from the fiery pit of damnation. When your life is in  a hole - when you have nowhere to turn - turn to Jesus - He is there - just for you.

Deacon Dale 

Part II

On occasion part II is never reached - part I being too frustrating - boring - uninteresting. Many great books have never been completely read - due to a slow beginning - loaded with details - boring - not catching the reader's full interest.  Many projects are also like that - early assessment - quick start - slow or no progress - put by the wayside - waiting for another day - another bit of inspiration. Today I was attempting to solve an issue with a shower that stopped delivering hot water. All lines were checked - no leaks - bit by bit took the faucet assembly apart - tried to see where the part had failed. After purchasing a new cartridge - installing - testing the outcome - issue still existed. After a failed second and third attempt - finally looked further. Discovery - the cartridge system has two parts - the first cartridge was fine - the second - overlooked cartridge - the issue - sold as individual parts - not as a set.. Replacing the proper part - assembling the complete set - testing the shower - success. When all else fails - go to the beginning and start from the basics - works almost every time.

Many people become obsessed with Jesus' crucifixion - His suffering - His agony - His hanging on the cross - His death. Part II - overlooked by some - resurrection - the rest of the story - the complete package. When looking at Jesus' life - all parts must be considered - not just the beginning - not just the middle - not just the end. He is a total package - His entire life - how He lived - what He did - How He died - what He taught after resurrection - all important. You cannot have a victory without a struggle - you cannot have a battle without a result. Jesus is the real deal - beginning to end. To really know Jesus - is to know His entire life - His entire story - only then can you really accept Him - as your Lord and Saviour.

Deacon Dale 

Mum's Day

Mum - mother - mom - mommy - all variations of affection shown to our mothers. This Sunday we celebrated Mother's Day - in the USA - around the world this special day recognizing mothers - many various dates of celebration. According to Wikipedia Mother's Day has a somewhat complicated history and understanding. The celebration in the USA is only 101 years old since Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation in 1914 - creating Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May. It is important to note that it is Mother's Day - singular - not Mothers' Day - plural - leading observers to focus on their own mother and not all mothers in general - honoring the woman who gave you life - who made uncounted sacrifices in helping you to grow into the person you have become.

In the Church - on Mother's Day - Catholics - in particular - focus on Mary - the mother of Jesus - the mother of the Church. Through her self sacrifice - taking the risk of an unwed woman - in Israel - subject to the law of the time - she bore the Christ child - the One sent by the Father - to save mankind from their sins - from themselves. Whenever we recognize Jesus - we also recognize Mary - His mother - Joseph - His step father - His Holy Family. Accepting Jesus as Lord - we also accept Mary - Joseph as part of our Christian family - following in their footsteps - learning how to live - as a Christian family.

Deacon Dale

Cum Laude

Anyone attending college graduation in the United States - Indonesia - Philippines - many countries of continental Europe - may notice in the ceremony program that some graduates receive certain honors - Cum Laude - with praise or honor - Magna Cum Laude - with great honor - Summa Cum Laude - with highest honor - indicating that the graduate not only met the requirements for graduation - due to extra effort - excellent results - have been awarded the distinction of laude - praise. Attending my granddaughter's graduation this Saturday - her father - mother - entire family - excited to learn that she was granted the Magna Cum Laude distinction. Gaby is a very hard worker and not surprisingly - deserving of this distinction.

As a simple carpenter - local boy - known by everyone - most people not completely comfortable with the praise - laude - heaped upon Jesus. Stating that a prophet is not readily recognized in his home town - Jesus - had to travel outside Nazareth to have many take Him serious - accept His teachings.  Is this not Jesus the son of Joseph and Mary - just a boy from the neighborhood - unbelievable that one of simple origins could possibly be the long awaited Messiah. Eventually - after time - Jesus was recognized for whom He really was. Today - we honor Him - we give Him the praise due to Him - King of Kings - Lord of Lords - Summa Cum Laude - the only one to whom all praise and honor is due.

Deacon Dale 

In The Thick of It

Now that we are back home in Illinois - spring chores to tackle. The first task - mowing the lawn - getting the yard in condition for the family. While we were gone - our friend raked and mowed the lawn. Keeping the grass at a reasonable length. Friday my first time to take over the mowing task - grass much longer than anticipated - some patches very thick - causing the mower to stall - too much grass - to heavy to quickly cut the grass. On top of the heavy growth - the threat of rain - mowing halted half way through. Rain in the forecast for the next few days so resuming mowing will mean recutting that area already mowed. Best estimate a solid week to get the length down to a manageable height.

As Jesus' disciples were walking the road to Emmaus - in the thick of it - confused with the issues of crucifixion - rumors of resurrection. Trying very hard to hold to their faith - not sure exactly what had happened - confused about mysterious reports about an empty tomb - strange sightings of the risen Lord. As modern day disciples - we too - end up in the  thick of it - sorting out fact - fiction - rumors - myths - trying to understand our faith. Through all of this God constantly speaks to our minds - hearts - lovingly leading us along the Way - the path to Truth. We are called to be faithful - to not worry about things we cannot comprehend - to be people of faith - trusting that Jesus walks with us constabtly - through thick and thin.

Deacon Dale 

BIGAWIND

When I was little - my one uncle used to say "bigawind" - which was his way of saying " big wind" - referring to hurricanes - tornadoes. The other day - on our way back to Illinois - we experienced a "bigawind" - driving through Oklahoma City. Had we not turned on the radio - we would have never known how close we were to the tornadoes in Oklahoma. With the aid of an iPhone and Google maps - we were able to determine the location of the towns being threatened and our risk of encountering one.  Happily we were a good two hours ahead of the storm and quickly driving away. When we checked into our hotel for the night we learned of the flooding in Oklahoma City and the damage that had been caused. Mother Nature - not one to fool with - need to take precautions and observe warning signs.

Unlike a tornado - Jesus did not whirl into town - like a "bigawind" - rather He was unassuming - a normal person to any casual observer.  It was not until He began performing miracles - using powers out of the ordinary - that people started talking about Him - who He was - where He came from. His power - the Holy Spirit- from His heavenly Father - more powerful than any tornado - hurricane - monsoon. Unlike Mother Nature's display of power - His was to heal - cure - teach - forgive - create New Life. Those who live in fear of "bigawinds" - need to connect to the real source of the greatest power - God - Jesus the Saviour. When life seems like one giant whirlwind - the calming affect of Jesus needs to pervade your life. Peace - trust - faith - combat the daily problems the world gives. Only in Jesus - may your soul be at rest.

Deacon Dale 

Setting The Hook

Everyone who has gone fishing - lost the big one - knows how important it is to properly set the hook. Timing - reeling in excess line - using enough force - while being securely planted on your feet - in your seat - all important factors. Ignoring these basics improves the chance you will lose your catch. Once set - important to reel in with steady force - strong enough to keep your fish on the line -not so over powering that you rip the hook out of its mouth. Set - reel - catch. Sounds easy but not always what happens. Timing is critical for all your actions - otherwise you end up with just another - fish story.

Jesus' disciples had to follow the same tactics when evangelizing - spreading His Good News. Drop a line- a few words about the Messiah - mention a miracle - set the hook - get them interested - continue to share the miracles - reel them in slowly - catch them with - resurrection. Modern day preachers need to follow the same tactics - fishing for men -women - youth. Drop a line about God's love - set the hook with unconditional forgiveness - lovingly but strongly bring them into the flock - catch them with Jesus' promise of New Life. Sounds simple - worked for Jesus - worked for His disciples - not always for today's preachers. Too many put the cart before the horse - celebrate success before the work has been done - pulling in the line before setting the hook - feeding them fluff when they wanted solid preaching - leaving slack in their line - treating the new Christian too casually - letting them slip off the Jesus hook - drifting away.  Jesus asks us to be fishers of men - women - for Him - following the basic rules of fishing - hook - line - sinker.

Deacon Dale   

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo - May 5th - according to Wikipedia - a day to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 - under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. In the United States - Cinco de Mayo - frequently mistaken to be Mexico's Independence Day - the most important national holiday in Mexico - celebrated on September 16th - not May 5th.  It boils down to a day of celebration - by Americans - Mexicans - celebrating a win over opposing forces - a day to rejoice - with friends - family - no matter your ethnic background. The festivals - the food and drink - the camaraderie - is what makes this day so special. We should all celebrate friendship more often.

Jesus loved to gather with people - all kinds of people - thieves - prostitutes - tax collectors - people shunned by society - invisible people- those who had no voice - those who did not matter - except to God. It was not to the rich and wealthy - to the ordinary - those with no hope. Jesus gave those people reason to celebrate - to rejoice - hope for the future - hope for a better life.  Crowds gather around the world - celebrating favorite saints - patron saints - of different towns - villages.  In all these gatherings - Jesus is present - in the hearts and minds of those not afraid to publicly display their faith - their joy in God's blessings. Pick any day you wish - Jesus is waiting - to celebrate - with you.

Deacon Dale