Why The Spiritual Basics?

We can never get bored with the spiritual basics. Can we? What tempts us to get bored? Why do we think the basics ae relatively unimportant? Do we even think about such things?

Is it because they are too basic. Too elementary? Too simple? Is this why it’s not on our daily radar screen?

Why?

We can never get bored with the basics. Ever! What example do we set for the people following us – family, friends, colleagues and others we don’t even know about.

Tomorrow marks the seven month “anniversary” of starting every day on my knees. After 50 years on our planet, it occurred to me that starting each day on my knees was as basic as it gets. And yet, I had never done it. Why?

jeff noel – Blessed & Stressed

jeff noel, blogger, average guy, Father, Husband, teacher, is blessed and stressed after yesterday.

Blessed because I am all those things.

Stressed because I am not all those things.

Yes, my wife and I conducted an excellent Children’s Liturgy of the Word yesterday. Yet stressed, because at the afternoon birthday party, I realized there is a long way to go with helping our son work through his competitive nature.

He actually has a gift. We all do, don’t we?

Some us simply need help unwrapping it. Now, where did I put those scissors.

Catechist’s Prayer

Catechist’s Prayer:

“Gracious and all loving Father, out of love for all people you spoke your Word who became flesh for our salvation. May your Word transform me so that the message of your Son, our Lord, may be echoed through my teaching. Allow me to guide the hearts of those whom I teach in such a way that they will enter more deeply into your way of truth and salvation. Grant me the insight needed to lead them to know, love, and serve you. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may they become hearers and followers of your Word, so that they may help transform the world to follow the way of life your Son has called us all, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.”

Copyright 2009, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved.

Wednesday nights are reserved on our schedule for Catechism. Our son attends, and I help Miss Jane, the Instructor.

Facebook Can Nurture Our Spirit

Facebook can nurture our spirit. It can! Seriously. At least I think it can.

The other day there was dialogue on my wall about someone hearing a Contemporary Christian song and how the lyrics spoke to this person in a profound way.

That’s what Christian Music is all about. Helping us stay mindful of being blessed beyond measure, even when we are not “presently in the moment”. Being present in the moment takes practice. The payoff is HUGE!

Here are a few of my top three favorite Contemporary Christian Artists:

  • Chris Tomlin
  • Steven Curtis Chapman
  • Jeremy Camp

We keep all our radio dials set at 88.3, here in Central Florida. Make it a great day, and remember, you are blessed beyond measure. Seriously. 🙂

Faith, Hope and Love

Faith, Hope and Love.

Doesn’t get much simpler than that.

And yet there are so many temptations that take us away from simple.

Simple doesn’t mean easy. Take diet and exercise. Two simple concepts to lower cholesterol and maintain a healthy body weight.

Yet, if it were easy, very few of us would have to worry about cholesterol and weight. Ya with me?

So, what does this have to do with Faith, Hope and Love?

Everything! Carpe diem.