Category: Articles

The Danger of Being Comfortable Articles

The Danger of Being Comfortable

For me it's being curled up in a plush chair with a good book and a cup of coffee in the early morning. You know, before the kids are up as the sun rises up over the mountains, peaking through the trees behind the back patio. For you it might be a mud mask and deep tissue massage at the fanciest, most luxurious spa you can think of. Being comfortable is something that we spend a great deal of time thinking about and hoping for. Our hope is to live a perfect, happy, comfortable little life without bothering anyone and without anyone bothering us. Free from worry. Safe from struggle. Comfortable.
Why Effective Leaders Must “Live With” Their Followers Articles

Why Effective Leaders Must “Live With” Their Followers

Our leaders are often people we place on a pedestal, out of our reach, beyond our grasp, on another level. They aren't like us. They are better than us, that's why they are the leaders. But this kind of leadership is usually not successful. For if your followers can't relate to you, then they won't follow you.
How Fear Keeps Us from Action Articles

How Fear Keeps Us from Action

Fear is the number one reason we fail. Fear is what prevents us from putting into practice our goals and dreams. When we allow fear to stop us dead in our tracks, we are unable to become the best-version-of-ourselves, to become the holy men and women God has created us to be. Fear keeps us from action.
Why Jesus Washed Judas’ Feet at the Last Supper Articles

Why Jesus Washed Judas’ Feet at the Last Supper

Our reflections on the Last Supper usually focus on the table. We talk about the bread and the cup and the institution of the Eucharist. But in the Gospel of John we hear a different take on this gathering, namely, the washing of the disciples' feet. Tonight I realized something rather profound about this simple act of humility that I had never before considered—Jesus washed Judas' feet at the Last Supper.
The Dysfunctional Disciples at the Last Supper Articles

The Dysfunctional Disciples at the Last Supper

Jesus chose twelve men to be His disciples—to follow Him. These men were far from perfect. They all had their downfalls and shortcomings. Nevertheless, He chose them to be the leaders of His Church. But before they were sent out as apostles, time and time again we hear of their faults and failures, the most shocking of which take place gathered at table with Jesus to celebrate the Passover, the Last Supper. As we begin Holy Week and walk towards the light of the resurrection, let's take a look at these dysfunctional disciples in the hope that we might learn something.
What the Movie Gravity Taught Me About Prayer Articles

What the Movie Gravity Taught Me About Prayer

There is a scene in the hit movie Gravity, where the protagonist – a young, female PhD taken out of the comfort and safety of her science lab and sent into space to help make upgrades to the Hubble Space Telescope – is running out of oxygen, stuck inside of an escape module that has run out of gas. She thinks she is going to die and has all but given up trying to contact mission control.
The Catholic Toolbelt: The Gifts of the Spirit Articles

The Catholic Toolbelt: The Gifts of the Spirit

If you're a Christian you've got a great responsibility to put your faith into action, to build up the kingdom, to change the world. But how? It seems so monumental a task. Impossible. It's not about what you can do, but what God can do through you.
Leadership: Following the Leader Articles

Leadership: Following the Leader

There are leaders and there are followers. Some a born leaders. Others are made so. Either way, grace is involved. Jesus leads in a way different from that we have grown accustomed to. He is the Good Shepherd, the leader of leaders. However, as a leader He remembers that He is also a follower. He depends completely on the will of the Father.
Why You Can’t Explain Your Relationship with God Articles

Why You Can’t Explain Your Relationship with God

We talk a lot about God, explaining what He is like. We want people to know God like we do, to invite them to share in the same love affair. So why don't we seem to get through to them? We can't expect them to know or understand, that is, until they too have experienced the personal encounter with our God who is love.
Three Things You MUST Do Today! Articles

Three Things You MUST Do Today!

Today is a good day. Every day is a good day, because every day is another opportunity for us to know, love, and serve our gracious God. I thought I'd do something a little different and share a few awesome things you as a Catholic can do today.
The Meaning of Manhood and a Promise to Parents Articles

The Meaning of Manhood and a Promise to Parents

What does it mean to be manly? I think God teaches us a lot about manhood in the Bible and the people and stories told in scripture are so often seen as fairy tales and folklore, but these were real people who lived and breathed and walked the Earth just like we do today. They had problems and shortcomings, joys and sorrows, and sought the answers to the deepest questions just like we do.
Conversion: From Darkness to Discipleship Articles

Conversion: From Darkness to Discipleship

Our readings at Mass this Sunday lay out the roadmap of what we call conversion. However, such a word can often become just a technical term that we rob of its richness and profundity. We think of conversion as a change in our religious persuasion, but conversion is much more than that. It is God reaching into the depths of our being and touching our heart in such a way that our lives are changed forever.