Tattoos evil ?

Some think that I am anti tattoo - I am not. In fact sometimes I think they're cool- but not always. Paul says that "all things are permissible but not all things are beneficial". I'll go with Paul on the subject of tattoos. Are tattoos evil? most of the time no - can they be ?- yeah - I've seen a couple that have spurred me to pray. Are they beneficial - well maybe if you had a treasure map tattooed on your thigh or maybe the dates of your anniversary and wife's b-day on your wrist or something.
If I ever go to the Holy Land (Israel- Charlie, Borders is a blessed place but not the Holy Land) I might get a an Armenian pilgrims tattoo which is a very small budded cross with the year of your pilgrimage.
People don't get tattoos for the same reasons that the prohibition was given in Leviticus. Those tattoos had more to do with a specific Babylonian magical practice.
It's just ink on skin - but it is for ever- so pray it about - yep you can even pray about getting a tattoo -
Go Big

My Tattoo

If I were to ever get a tattoo (not likely to happen )it would simply be dark gothic letters that said" Leviticus 19:28"
What would your tattoo look like ?
Oh and look up that Leviticus verse-

God has you covered?

A few you weeks back I started telling people "God has you covered". For some this is comforting and for others those are just the words of a simpleton priest. When I say "God has you covered " I'm talking about His grace and mercy. Imagine God's grace as much needed rain in the desert. Picture the beautiful rain falling down on thousands of whithering plants and all of a sudden you see many of the plants pulling out umbrellas to shelter themselves from the rain. BUT IT'S LIFE GIVING RAIN! Why ever would they not want to receive it. They are dying without it yet they actually protect themselves from it as though it is poison. I put away my umbrella awhile ago. LET IT POUR!
God's grace is constant and eternal. The very nature of God's grace and mercy is to cover all people and give them life. Jesus is that grace and mercy. Jesus (God) wants to cover us with grace and mercy that we would live NOW AND FOREVER! God's grace and mercy like the rain in the desert covers everything but it is possible to seek shelter from it . But the reality is that the rain is still covering everything yet it is not allowed to be absorbed by everything .
In reality God has you covered. Have you built a shelter so as not to receive his grace and mercy? Step out and get drenched. Let it pour!
More later
Go Big "GOD HAS YOU COVERED"

Another Man's Faith

A week ago tragedy struck one of the families in our parish. The head of that household has been a member of our church for 7 years and serves at the altar with me. I always knew he was deeply committed to Jesus but I never imagined the depth of his faith. His struggle to continue life experiencing the joy of his salvation while honestly mourning his loss is one of the most beautiful things I've witnessed as a priest. His faith blesses me. I've prayed with him, cried with him and even managed to laugh with him during this time of great sadness. I pray that we all had the faith to mourn this beautifully. Jesus is his everything. What can be more beautiful than that.
This is another example of that "Reckless Abandon" that I have bored people to tears with. This is fall down crazy kind of faith. And I thank God that I have witnessed it.
It's hard to go bigger than this.
GO BIG!