The Gettysburg Address

It is one of the most famous speeches of all-time... it was surprising to the crowd how short it was, but its brevity only enhances the message.

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"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

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Hopefully our nation and its inhabitants are still dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Both those born and unborn.

The Annunciaton

Last week was the Feast of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Bible verses that chiefly talk about this just so happen to include the one that this site is named after.

"Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."

I love this verse, it is my favorite in the whole Bible.

It helps to look at the context of it. The Archangel Gabriel had just told Mary that she was pregnant with the Son of God, even though she was still a virgin. She was almost certainly still a teenager. She was not married, and she would had to have thought that Joseph (to whom she was betrothed) would no longer be with her, and her reputation would be ruined. Furthermore, it is (I imagine) hard enough having to raise a normal child! Now being in the charge of the development of Jesus, that is a tough task. Talk about being called to a higher standard.

For all of these reasons, it would have been easy to see why Mary might have gotten scared, or nervous, or told Gabriel that this was a responsibility that she did not want to shoulder.

Instead, she does the opposite. In short, she tells Gabriel, "I am here only to do God's work. Let His will be done, I will do what He wants." Despite the difficulties surrounding this, she does not need time to think, she trusts that if it is God's will, it is what she wants also.

I strive to always have that same attitude, to follow in the example of Mary, to say to God, "Let it be done to me according to your word."

Lou Gehrig Speech

Lou Gehrig is well-known both by those who follow baseball, and those who don't. For baseball fans, they know him as perhaps the great first baseman of all-time. For everyone else, they know him by the disease ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Another way that he is known is through the eloquence and inspiration of his speech given at Yankee Stadium. The full text of the speech is:

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.

"Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky.

"When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift - that's something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies - that's something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter - that's something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body - it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that's the finest I know.

"So I close in saying that I may have had a bad break, but I have an awful lot to live for."

Let us always keep that in mind... we've got an awful lot to live for.

Scripture Sunday: 1 Thessalonians 5: 14-18

Every Sunday on this site I will take some time to look at a passage from the Bible that I like and think is great... though they could obviously be presented by themselves without further mention, I will throw my two cents in on what the verse(s) mean to me.

Today's Bible verses deal with a lot of different topics in a short period of time, and offer a great amount of advice. The verses say:

"We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all. See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good [both] for each other and for all. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5: 14-18)

There are lots of little great nuggets here. Some of the main points to my untrained eye:

- Be patient and positive - Inevitably, people will let us down, or be sad, or make us angry and frustrated. These are the times when we must be strong, encourage those that need it (whether because they are not living up to what they should be or because they are discouraged), and be patient with those with whom we find it difficult to be.

- Love your enemies - If someone does you wrong or does evil towards you, do not respond in kind, but respond with love. Seek still to love them, and to do what is best for them. In the end, this will be best for you, and for everyone, because they will see your love.

- Give thanks to God - The writer says to rejoice always, and pray without ceasing. We can do this if we have an attitude of thanks towards God and all that He has done for us. We must always remember the great gifts and blessings that He has given us. Praying always does not mean that you must sit in a chapel all day long, it means you must live your love in a way that radiates the love of God, and the love that you have for Him.

If you are able to live out these three things, then certainly you are well on your way to living a Godly life.

Lessons From Mere Christianity: Turning It Over to God

This is a post from my topic called Lessons From Mere Christianity.

Most people strive to be independent (to some degree), to have their own identity, to be individuals. This also applies when they have problems or concerns about something... often (if they are personal problems) they try to handle this themselves and do not seek out help from others, thinking it would be a weakness if they needed help from somebody else.

I know I have been guilty of this.

This can apply to our thoughts on God too. We might think that if we let God too much into our lives, it will take away our individuality. CS Lewis says just the opposite:

"The more we get what we now call 'ourselves' out of the way and let Him take us over, the more ourselves we truly become." (225)

He is saying, of course, that by allowing God to enter our lives and the more that we turn ourselves over to Him, He does not take away our personality or individuality, but rather He allows it to truly shine.

When we look only to serve ourselves and to get "ours," we ultimately become selfish people, and selfishness does not lead to greatness nor does it lead to a fulfilling life, but rather one that is rooted in jealousy and loneliness. However, when we seek Christ, when we seek to define who we are through our relationship with Christ, that is when we shine, when the best of us comes out. Lewis says as much in the final words of the entire book, and also some of the best:

"Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishesevery day and death of your whole body in the end: submit with every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing. Nothing that you have not given away will be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in." (226)

What are you keeping back from Christ?

Keeping Things In Perspective

In this life, it is easy for us to blow things out of perspective, and lose sight of the things that are really important (or should be really important), and instead focus on other things.

This can especially manifest itself in focusing on negative things. It is generally far easier and simpler for us to focus on our problems and the unfairness of life, rather than the good things that we do have, or the many blessings that we receive. For me, when I have to work late, I think it stinks that I have to work late... instead of focusing on the fact that I am fortunate to have a good job, or that I live above the poverty line, or that I don't have to worry about where I am going to sleep tonight or where my next meal will come from.

For most people, the good things in life laughably outnumber the bad things, but the bad things are all anyone focuses on. I read a reflection once that talked about perspective:

"Am I good at keeping things in perspective - or do I blow things out of proportion? Do my fears rule me or do I view them against the backdrop of God's love? In whom does my hope lie?"

Of course, it is not easy when things go wrong to have an eternal perspective, but that is exactly what we should strive for. To know that even when little things in life go wrong, God is still in our side, so does the litter inconvenience really matter? (The Lord is my shepherd, whom shall I fear?)

When we keep things in perspective and give them the proper weight that they deserve, we find that the little things in life don't really matter. Or, more so, they are simply trivial when we have our hope in the Lord.

Where does your hope lie?

(Photo from here)

St. Therese of Lisieux - "Story of a Soul" Quotes

One of the best books I have ever read was "The Story of a Soul" by St. Therese of Lisieux, one of the most famous and inspiring books in Catholic (or more, so Christian, but it was written by a Catholic Saint) literature.

Her nickname was "The Little Flower," and on the surface there was nothing that was necessarily extraordinary about her. She was a simple nun, who placed all of her trust, hope, and love in the Lord, and it allowed her to create this book that has been an inspiration to countless people.

If you have never read it, I urge you to get it and read it. If you have read it, read it again. And again. And again.

Anywho, here are some of the quotes from the book that really stuck out to me as I read the book:

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- "This desire might seem presumptuous, seeing how week and imperfect I was and still am, even after eight years as a nun, yet I always feel the same fearless uncertainty that I shall become a great saint. I'm not relying on my own merits, as I have none, but I put my hope in Him who is goodness and holiness Himself. It is He alone who, satisfied with my feeble efforts, will raise me to Him, will clothe me with His infinite merits, and will make me a saint." (37-38)

- "She showed me how one could achieve sanctity by being faithful in the smallest matters." (39)

- "Sometimes I felt lonely, very lonely, but then peace and courage would come back to me if I repeated the line: 'The world's thy ship and not thy home.'" (48)

- "It's absolutely true that 'nothing is impossible to love, for love is convinced it may and can do all things.'" (64)

- "I realized very clearly that happiness has nothing to do with the material things which surround us; it dwells in the very depths of the soul." (79)

- "I know that every soul cannot be alike. There must be different kinds so that each of the perfections of God can be specially honored." (109)

- "He knows very well that although I had not the consolation of faith, I forced myself to act as if I had. I have made more acts of faith in the last year than in the whole of my life." (118)

- "For is there any greater joy than to suffer for love of You? The more intense and hidden the suffering is, the more pleasing it is to You." (118)

- "There my only aim would be to do the will of God and to welcome every sacrifice He wished. I know I should not be disappointed, for the slightest pleasure is a surprise when one expects nothing but suffering. And suffering itself becomes the greatest of all joys when one seeks it like a precious treasure." (121)

- "But now I realize that true charity consists in putting up with all one's neighbor's faults, never being surprised by his weakness, and being inspired by the least of his virtues." (122-123)

- "When a soul has been captivated by the intoxicating odor of Your ointments, she cannot run alone. Every soul she loves is drawn after her - a natural consequence of her being drawn to You." (149)

- "I want to be fascinated by Your gaze." (165)

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We should all desire to be fascinated by the Lord's gaze.

Eric Bibb - The Cape

I came across a great song.... It is called "The Cape" by Eric Bibb, one of the best songs I have heard in a while :)

Here is the song and then the lyrics right below it! Enjoy!!



Eight years old with a floursack cape
Tied all around his neck
He climbed up on the garage
Figurin' what the heck
He screwed his courage up so tight
The whole thing came unwound
He got a runnin' start and bless his heart
He headed for the ground

He's one of those who knows that life
Is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold your breath
And always trust your cape

All grown up with a floursack cape
Tied all around his dreams
He was full of piss and vinegar
And he's bustin' at the seams
Well he licked his finger and he checked the wind
It was gonna be do or die
He wasn't scared of nothin' boys
And he was pretty sure he could fly

He's one of those who knows that life
Is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold your breath
And always trust your cape

Old and gray with a floursack cape
Tied all around his head
He's still jumpin' off the garage
Will be til he's dead
All these years the people said
He's actin' like a kid
He did not know he could not fly
So he did

He's one of those who knows that life
Is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold your breath
And always trust your cape

Scripture Sunday: Romans 12:2

Every Sunday on this site I will take some time to look at a passage from the Bible that I like and think is great... though they could obviously be presented by themselves without further mention, I will throw my two cents in on what the verse(s) mean to me.

This week let us look at a good passage that talks about how society, and how we need to sometimes ignore the rest of society and the ways of it if we truly want to follow God.

"Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:2)

There are many things in our society that can influence us very easily if we allow them to, from money, fame, power, sex, TV, internet, and so on and so forth. One does not have to look very hard or very far to find something in society that can lead us away from God if we allow it to transform our mind.

Of course, there are other options to fill our mind. Romans says to be transformed by the renewal of the mind so that we may discern what is the will of God. But what does that mean? As I am writing this, it seems like there are three main things that we can do to "renew" our mind and allow us to discern the will of God:

- Prayer - This one should be obvious. The classroom of silence, where we talk to God, and more importantly, allow Him to talk to us. If we do not have this, then we cannot know the will of God to be able to properly discern our path in life.

- Spiritual reading - This one will vary a little more by person, but I have found this to be a great method of really focusing my mind on what is really important in life and opening me up to new ideas and new ways of thinking. This can obviously be through the Bible, or through a ton of other great spiritual books. If you ever need any recommendations, just let me know :)

- Service - It is when we serve others and selflessly give of our time, talent, and treasure that we can come to know God on a more intimate level. Jesus tells us that whatever we do for the least of His people, we do for him. When was the last time you served somebody?

If we work on these three things, I believe we can renew our mind to discern the will of God. It is when these things are present on a consistent basis in our lives that we are able to block out the temptations that society throws at us.

Lessons From Mere Christianity: Jesus

This is a post from my topic called Lessons From Mere Christianity.

CS Lewis talks a lot about Jesus in Mere Christianity, as you would imagine based on the book's title and topic (it would be strange to have a Christian book and not talk about Jesus). Included is one of the most oft-quoted literary passages about Jesus, which talks about how me must view Jesus, or, how we cannot view Jesus.

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God.' This is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would be either a lunatic - on a level of a man who says he is a poached egg - or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." (52)

This, of course, is often cited as the liar/lunatic/Lord theory.

Next, I am sure the question has been asked many times, if Jesus is the Son of God, why did he have to die? The human race was suffering and in need of saving, but why did God choose this manner of saving us, as opposed to any other manner (as he is omnipotent). Lewis tackles this topic.

"But unfortunately we now need God's help in order to do something which God, in His own nature, never does at all - to surrender, to suffer, to submit, to die." (57-58)

Lewis goes on to say that we need God's help more than ever, but in God's normal nature and state of being, how can He show us? Because we are with sin and He is not, it is very unnatural for Him.

"But supposing God became a man - suppose our human nature which can suffer and die was amalgamated with God's nature in one person - then that person could help us. He could surrender His will, and suffer and die, because He was man; and He could do it perfectly because He was God. You and I can go through this process only if God does it in us; but God can only do it if He becomes man." (58)

God became man to show us the way to Him. By being fully God and fully man, He is able to experience all of the temptation that we face, but He is able to show us how to resist them, by placing full trust and surrending to God's will.

Of course, this will lead some people to wonder if Jesus is really any help to us. Since he is God, is He really a model that we can legitimately follow?

"The perfect submission, the perfect suffering, the perfect death were not only easier to Jesus because He was God, but were possible only because He was God. But surely that is a very odd reason for not accepting them? The teacher is able to form the letters for the child because the teacher is grown-up and knows how to write. That, of course, makes it easier for the teacher; and only because it is easier for him can he help the child. If it rejected him because 'it's easy for grown-ups' and waited to learn writing from another child who could not write itself (and so had no 'unfair' advantage), it would not get on very quickly." (58-59)

Jesus, I Trust In You

Quotes by Abraham Lincoln

One of my favorite people ever is Abraham Lincoln (and not just because I share a birthday with him... although that helps!) He was a man of great integrity and honesty, and it is because of this that he is known as the greatest United States President in the history of this great nation.

He was also pretty smart too, and had some great quotes along the way. Here are some of his best ones, as selected by me:

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"A house divided against itself cannot stand."

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other."

"Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?"

"Every one desires to live long, but no one would be old."

"How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."

"Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

"My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure."

"Whatever you are, be a good one."

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."

"The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just."

"Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally."

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Do you have any other good Abraham Lincoln quotes?

Other Abe Lincoln Links
- The Gettysburg Address
- Recommended Biography of Abraham Lincoln

The Pursuit of Knowledge

There is a lot to be learned in the world - the pursuit of knowledge is literally endless. However, I don't think that should stop us.

In a book I read, "The Best American Travel Writing," there was this little nugget in the introduction that I thought was very interesting. It read:

"The more we know of particular things, the more we know of God." (xii)

In this case, it was something to inspire you to travel more, and I think it works in that capacity. In my opinion, the more that we travel, the more we understand of other people and places, and this allows us to understand God. When we know more of His creation, we can know more of him. (Of course, and hopefully this goes without saying, this does not mean that those who travel more by default know more about God).

I think this goes for all walks of life. On the surface, what is the point of reading a fiction novel, or in learning math, or science, or history, or any other such thing that we can learn about? In order to love and worship God, we do not need these things.

However, anything, everything, can help us understand God better. If they did not, then they would never have been created. But the more we know of God's creation, the better it may help us to understand Him.

It's All In How You Look At Things

I read a quote from the book "Pippi Longstocking" by Astrid Lingren that I thought was a great image of embracing things that others might see as weaknesses... and a great example that life is all about how you look at things.

The section from the book is:

"The children came to a perfume shop. In the show window was a large jar of freckle salve, and beside the jar was a sign, which read: DO YOU SUFFER FROM FRECKLES?

What does the sign say?” ask Pippi. She couldn’t read very well because she didn’t want to go to school as other children did.
It says, ‘Do you suffer from freckles?’” said Annika.
Does it indeed?” said Pippi thoughtfully. “Well, a civil question deserves a civil answer. Let’s go in.”

She opened the door and entered the shop, closely followed by Tommy and Annika. An elderly lady stood back of the counter. Pippi went right up to her. “No!” she said decidedly.

What is it you want?” asked the lady.
No,” said Pippi once more.
I don’t understand what you mean,” said the lady.
No, I don’t suffer from freckles,” said Pippi.

Then the lady understood, but she took one look at Pippi and burst out, “But, my dear child, your whole face is covered with freckles!”

I know it,” said Pippi, “but I don’t suffer from them. I love them. Good morning.”

She turned to leave, but when she got to the door she looked back and cried, “But if you should happen to get in any salve that gives people more freckles, then you can send me seven or eight jars."

Quote taken from here.

Not that having freckles is a weakness (obviously it is not), but it is seen in the story as something to be "suffered." Instead, she says it is a strength, and something for which she is extremely proud. Instead of it being a weakness or something she is ashamed of, it is a strength.

Life is all about how you look at things.

"It doesn't matter what you look at, it's what you see." - Henry David Thoreau

Scripture Sunday: Jeremiah 17:7

Every Sunday on this site I will take some time to look at a passage from the Bible that I like and think is great... though they could obviously be presented by themselves without further mention, I will throw my two cents in on what the verse(s) mean to me.

Today we look at a short, simple verse from Jeremiah. But as always with the Bible, a small verse that can have a lot of truth and meaning.

"Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord." (Jeremiah 17:7)

When it seems like all of our thoughts and dreams are on things other than God, Jeremiah offers this simple reminder. We are blessed when we have trust in the Lord and when we hope in the Lord. When we know that God will take care of us, we receive many blessings and graces.

In addition, we must have our hope in the Lord. What does this mean? I think it means that we cannot let the things of the world despair us. We must have our sights, our eyes, our goals on the next life... Trust and hope go hand in hand. When we trust God will take care of us, our hope is in the Lord.

Aim for heaven, and trust that if you follow the path of the Lord, you will get there.

Why College Basketball Is So Great :)

Listen to the excitement of Gus Johnson, the announcer.... such a great sport! :)

Lessons From Mere Christianity: Heaven

This is a post from my series called Lessons From Mere Christianity.

Hopefully, our biggest goal is to have eternal life with God in Heaven. This is a broad goal, and yet a goal that would not be more specific. CS Lewis offers some insight on the road there.

Some people may see heaven as a far off notion, something to be worried about later. Life on earth is busy enough, who has time to worry about heaven? Of course, it should come as no surprise that our priorities should be the exact opposite.

"If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next." (134)

Lewis says that we have become enamored about success in this world, and if that is our focus, ultimately we get neither heaven nor the joy that earth can provide.

"Aim at Heaven and you will get earth 'thrown in': aim at earth and you will get neither." (134)

Many of us seem to go through our lives always searching for the next big thing, or believing that the next thing, next idea, new job, new relationship, etc. would make us happy. But ultimately, we will continue to find that nothing in this world will make us perfectly happy, that will always be that little extra we are searching for.

If you do not feel completely fulfilled in this life, there is nothing wrong with you. There is a reason you feel this way.

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." (136)

Of course, one of the easiest ways to get bogged down in this life is to constantly compare ourselves to others, to judge others, and constantly focus our mind and attention on the things of this world. But when we come face to face with God, certainly none of that will matter one bit.

"If there is a God, you are, in a sense, alone with Him. You cannot put Him off with speculations about your next door neighbors or memories of what you have read in books. What will all that matter and hearsay count (will you even be able to remember it?) when the anaesthetic fog which we call 'nature' or 'the real world' fades away and the Presence in which you have always stood becomes palpable, immediate, and unavoidable?" (217)

Are you focused on Heaven?

North Dakota Beauty: Sheyenne River Valley

When people think of North Dakota, they think of the land right along the interstates, which is generally very boring, flat, and treeless (exceptions are on the Western side of the state, which gets into the Badlands, which we'll talk about another time). However, there are lots of cool things to see in North Dakota!

One such place of beauty is the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway. It is basically straight south of Valley City (technically, the Byway starts a little bit south of Valley), and the whole Byway runs about 60 miles.

If you have ever been through the hills of New York or Pennsylvania, that is what this looks like. There are trees and trees and trees (seriously.... and it's in ND), and lots of hills. It follows the river, so there is obviously some beauty that comes along with that.

They have some very cool historical markers along the way, which was actually maybe my favorite part. You got to learn about the area, from the first schools, businesses, churches, and people in the area. Very cool to see all of the original buildings and the way that things were.

If you are looking for some natural beauty in ND and are tired of I-94, check out a little detour on the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway!


* Image by Scooter Pursley

Mother Teresa's Pro-Life Speech in Washington DC

If you are looking for a little bit on inspiration today, take a look at the text (or listen to it) of Mother Teresa's Speech in Washington DC in 1994.

Here is a link to the speech.

I hope and pray that someday this great country of America will realize the vision of Mother Teresa, and will embrace the view of the sanctity of life that comes from the pro-life movement.

If we remember that God loves us, and that we can love others as He loves us, then America can become a sign of peace for the world.

From here, a sign of care for the weakest of the weak - the unborn child - must go out to the world. If you become a burning light of justice and peace in the world, then really you will be true to what the founders of this country stood for. God bless you!

Say a prayer today for the health of unborn children everywhere, that they may receive the mercy and love that they deserve.

On Simplicity

How happy is the little Stone
That rambles in the Road alone,
And doesn't care about Careers
And Exigencies never fears --
Whose Coat of elemental Brown
A passing Universe put on,
And independent as the Sun
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute Decree
In casual simplicity --
- Emily Dickinson

Scripture Sunday: Matthew 6:21

Every Sunday on this site I will take some time to look at a passage from the Bible that I like and think is great... though they could obviously be presented by themselves without further mention, I will throw my two cents in on what the verse(s) mean to me.

Today we look at a short but powerful message from the Gospel of Matthew:

"For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." (Matthew 6:21)

What are the things that you value in life, and find to be most important. What is your treasure? These are the things which you spend most of your energy, time, and passion on.

For many people, their treasure is misplaced, in things such as money, power, or admiration. Since this is where their treasure lies, this is where their heart is, and this becomes their ultimate goal in life. As Jesus says elsewhere, you cannot serve two masters... if your treasure is in worldly things, you will serve a worldly master.

Our treasure should be to love God, and to seek to do His will. When this is true, that is what our heart will desire... it will be restless until in rests in God.

Take some time today to really truthfully examine where your treasure lies... is it in God? Or in something of this world? Always remind yourself... where your treasure is, that is where your heart will be.

Building a Culture of Life

Archbishop Charles Chaput of the Denver Archdiocese gave a talk on building a culture of life, and there was one point that I thought was especially poignant. Food for thought in your life.

"The aim of the pro-life movement, the archbishop stressed, is nothing less than ending abortion. “If we really believe that abortion is an intimate act of violence, then we can’t aim at anything less than ending abortion. It doesn’t matter that some abortions have always occurred, or that some abortions will always occur. If we really believe that abortion kills a developing, unborn human life, then we can never be satisfied with mere ‘reductions’ in the body count.”

In order to succeed in the goal, pro-lifers must be willing to become martyrs, he said. “In the America of our lifetimes, we may never be asked to shed our blood in witnessing for our faith. But we do see character assassinations, mud-slinging and lies used against good people every day in the public media. And we should be ready to pay the same price. Nothing, not even our good name, should stop us from doing what we know to be right,” emphasized Chaput."

Full article can be found here.

Places in the USA I most want to visit

I think it's very important to have dreams and goals, and a lot of mine center around travel and places that I would love to visit and see and experience. Traveling allows you to see all of the beauty of creation, to experience new people and cultures, and just kick back and relax and enjoy life the way you were meant to enjoy life.

So that said, here are the top places as of now that I want to visit (not counting places in Colorado, of which there are tons that I am excited to explore upon my permanent arrival in the state!)

- Crater Lake (Oregon)- This is atop my travel wish list.... just looks incredibly beautiful. I'd love to visit Oregon as a whole, and Crater Lake tops the list of things I want to see there.

- Yosemite National Park (California) - "Yosemite National Park, one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more."

- Maine and Vermont - There is a lot of beauty here, along the coast, in the Green Mountains, in Acadia National Park, the trees.... I am just very excited to explore it all!

- Glacier National Park (Montana) - The glaciers are quickly becoming an endangered species out in nature, so hopefully I will be able to visit soon. Between the glaciers themselves and all of the mountain lakes and wildlife, it would be an incredible Park to be able to visit.

- Alaska - The vast region features too many breathtaking spots to only list a couple. The whole state really looks incredible and just filled with beauty.

- Utah National Parks (Bryce Canyon, Arches, Zion, et al) - A ton of variety out there, with incredible rock formations, hikes, unique geological wonders.... basically they would all be incredible!

What places do you want to visit most?

Places in the world I most want to visit

Much like my list of places in the USA that I would most love to visit, I also have some places in the mind from the rest of the world that interest me the most and I would most want to visit.

There are hundreds of thousands of incredible things out there in the world, and narrowing the list down to a few is very difficult, but that is OK. I have traveled overseas once, and I can't wait to do it again. Even more than traveling in the USA, it opens you up to a whole different part of the world that is very fun and interesting to be able to experience. Some of the places on my list...

- Machu Picchu (Peru) - To me, it looks like the most breathtaking place on the planet. I can't wait to visit! All of the history of the Incan people combined with the beauty of the area and the incredible things that they left behind make it an incredible looking place.

- Rome and Italy - This is where I got the opportunity to visit, and I can't wait to go back. Rome is such an unreal city, you turn a corner while walking down the street and there is another remarkable landmark and incredible piece of architecture. Italy as a whole is a beautiful country with incredible depth and variety.

- New Zealand/Greece/Ireland - I put these three together only because they are all countries that have really caught my eye has being just beautiful and diverse in what they have to offer. The different types of landscapes and scenery and cultures all seem fascinating. I imagine you could spend a ton of time in these places and see something totally different every day.

- Aztec/Mayan ruins - This is just a personal interest of mine, I love reading and learning about these ancient cultures. The things that they left behind and the knowledge that they had just blows my mind. I think we can learn a lot just by seeing what they left behind.

Where do you most want to visit?

Quotes about Mary

Here are some quotes about Mary from a calendar that was in my parents basement!

"Every good, every help, and every grace that human beings have received and will receive from God until the end of time came and will come to them by the intercession and through then hands of Mary." - Blessed Raymond Jordano

"O sorrowful Virgin, give me strength to accept my little crosses with patience and joy." - Saint Bonaventure

"Let us run to her, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence." - Saint Francis de Sales

"He who asks favors of God without the intercession of Mary is like a bird who tries to fly without wings." - Saint Antonius

"I could convert the whole world, if I had an army praying the rosary." Blessed Pope Pis IX

"Mary seeks those who approach her devoutly and with reverence, for such she loves, nourishes, and adopts as her children." - Saint Bonaventure

"O Blessed Virgin, nothing resists your power. God the Father looks upon your glory as if it were His own." - Saint Gregory of Nicemedia

"It is almost impossible to reach Jesus except through Mary." - Saint John Bosco

"Great was the love that Mary possessed. So great indeed that it gave rise to that perfect beauty by which she captivated the Heart of her God!" - Saint Thomas of Villanova

"Let the storm rage and the sky darken - we shall not be dismayed. If we trust as we should in Mary, we shall recognize in her, the Virgin Most Powerful 'who with virginal foot did crush the head of the serpent.'" - Pope Saint Pius X

"As mariners are guided into port by the light of a star, so Christians are guided into heaven by Mary." - Saint Thomas Aquinas

"Whoever does not have a great love for the Mother of God cannot have a great love for her Son." - Saint Joseph Cafasso