IT 'S ALIVE! THE BLOG CHALLENGE IS BACK

It's been a while since I read a good blog challenge.
Here is the challenge for all takers: funny and embarrassing childhood moments involving toys or play things.
Second challenge for all takers: hilarious church stories involving food.
Third challenge: gross us out
Tell us if you are accepting a challenge by saying so in the comments on this entry. This is so we can all look forward to it.

So it's been a year - what's God doing?

Fr Jim left All Saints a year ago and I have been Rector ever since. I've been doing a lot of talking to God lately. Has God's will been followed in the last year? Why no monumental growth.
My biggest mistake is asking questions like that and just doing something before having a definitive answer from God.==== But it takes him soooooooo long to answer most of the time !
Another problem with asking question like that is that most of the time they are asked from insecurity. Those question are rigged to fall back on my head an send me into a flat spin .
No more questions! I'll just listen for a while and abandon critical thinking for enjoying the good God has done in the last year .
If anyone has pictures from this past year at out please send them to me - I will post them here.
God has been good to us !
Go big !

You are wrong !

I have heard that a lot in my life . And I say it some. Lately I've been hearing people saying it about others that I love. It's getting a little nuts. I'm OK with people thinking others wrong and are willing fight to the death for their point of view. But even if you're right do you have the to condemn someone? NO ! SO GET OUT OF GOD'S CHAIR!
12 years ago I have yelled and screamed at a brother in Christ because I knew they were wrong. I still believe that scripturally I was correct. That person stopped talking me. Even when I apologized for my behavior they wanted nothing to do with me. I take responsibility for that whole episode. You see , I was right but I was WRONG!. I insisted that he make a correction because he was entrenched in believing something wrong because it served him well. But I wanted to beat him into believing correctly . My false righteousness killed a friendship. Oh, I 'm still right but I lost a friend. And it wasn't even something that is going to send him to hell.
I was condemning and destructive- That is no way to operate in the Body of Christ.
I see this happening a lot lately and it is sad. Christians do wacko stuff because we think we're right. We pray against people or leave churches because we know they are wrong. The truth is that we need to take responsibility for ourselves first and really pray whether the offence is truly such a heresy that warrants battle. Or heaven forbid - maybe we should question whether we're actually right.
Go Big and Love Each Other- (not an option)

Seeing Jesus

If we want to see Jesus we really don't need to look far . I have sometimes cried out " Where are you Jesus?" There were times when I felt that He had left me. I felt alone . I was wrong! I was told by a priest that if I prayed the prayer of St Francis and lived it every day I couldn't help but see Jesus.http://www.zarcrom.com/users/yeartorem/stfrancis.html I was kid(19), I just did what I was told. It changed my life. It's a prayer that is centered on giving and not receiving. Within a few days I began to see Jesus like I never thought. The prayer is basically asking God remove all desire from you and replace it with caring for others. The Lord gave me eyes to see outside myself . I was no longer preoccupied with my own affliction but was drawn to help and love others. I had been in the position "sick person "too long and had taken it as an occupation. When others became my focus " I saw Jesus". When Jesus says" Truly ,I say to you, as you did it to the least of these my brethren. that you do it unto ME" (Matt 25:40) HE wasn't messin around. I saw Jesus in drug addicts, homeless and the elderly . Some of us are looking for a face to face experience with Jesus. Step outside yourself. You are probably the biggest obstacle in seeing Jesus. Get out of way, focus on others and see Jesus.
Try this : Look at the image that I have posted focusing intensely on the four little dots in the center of the image for about 40 seconds. Close your eyes and relax. Tell me what you see.
Go and see Jesus.

Hey Mon 2006

One year ago I wrote an entry entitled " Hey Mon". It was about a conflict I had with the owner of the bicycle shop next to the church. Roger hadn't communicated clearly about a shin dig that he had in the parking lot that we share and we were unable to have service.
What could have started a feud sparked a friendship. God has bonded Roger and I together. I see him as kind of a strange ministry partner. I have done ton of ministry in his shop. It's a mission field and I thank God for Roger and the bike shop.
Gotta go== Roger's annual shin dig is starting at 4:00pm .
The Church is providing a pinata and bottled water for everyone.
Off to the mission field - Just follow the sound of the steel drum!

Teenaged Daughters and Wacko Fathers

My Father had three sons I am the eldest. He used to say that the devil owed him a debt and paid him off in sons. I think he meant that negatively. I have three daughters and a son. Two of those daughters are teenagers, the other one just thinks she's one. We have entered a time in the Mski house where language doesn't work. At least for me. I speak and it is either misinterpreted or ignored. Example "please take out the trash" - ignored - 10 mins later "please take out the trash" - ignored- 1 hour later-"hey , take out the trash" - ignored- 20 mins later "Take out the damn trash!" a shocked teenage girl replies- "why are you yelling at me, I was just going to take it out."
OK - I'm a flawed man about this there is no doubt - but there is something wrong with this. It is becoming ever increasingly difficult to live in a house where I am wrong no matter what I say. If I tell the teenage daughter she looks pretty she gets mad. If I tell her that the pants look small I am told with tears in eyes that I always saying she's fat. They say it's a phase.
I think I'm going through a phase too. Why do I have the need to say something to them all the time. It's as if I feel my parenting is coming to an end very soon and I have to impart as much wisdom as possible before they leave us. Weird ! It's like I am compelled to say something that will be misconstrued. Or I get hurt that they won't talk to me about every little thing.
My superiors have called me "A Very Gifted Counselor". Oh Doctor heal thy self! In my relationship with my girls I make every mistake a counselor /spiritual director can. The most blatant is that I have a need to be understood, honored and loved. In the counseling it's about others and their need. With the daughter it is too often how they are failing the expectations of the king of the house. Sheesh - I just read what I wrote -
I might have to take some responsibility in this toxic rumba that I dance with my daughters - ARRRRGGG!
Oh well, pray for me a sinner and for two of the most awesome young women on the planet - my girls.

Wife Seeks Hunting Companions For Reckless Husband

OK, Here's the story. Last hunting season I went on an ordinary quail hunt with Kimo the wonder dog . It was a late afternoon hunt so I left the house at 3:00pm . I noticed heavy traffic on the So. bound 5 by Pyramid Lake on my way to the hunting spot. I made a mental note of it. So Kimo and I have great time. When I left my house my wife told me not to go to any "Dangerous Places" because "you will fall down break your leg and die - then I'll be mad - cuz I'll have to take care of your dog". Compassion is one of Joann's spiritual gifts. With that said I was pretty cautious. Hey - it's hunting not walking in the super market there's always a little risk when walking over rocks and sticks with a firearm in your hands.
Kimo and had a great time. We hunted for an hour and a half but it was coming dusk (still good light) so we went home. Remember the mental note I made about the traffic, well I ignored it and 5 minutes after I got on the freeway I was stuck in traffic. I listened to the radio and heard "Expect 3 to 5 hour delays. Crap ! Oh well, I will just call my loving wife. OOOPS - no cell phone . No problem - Joann knows how cautious I am - OOOOOPS - She doesn't think I'm that cautious.
So I get home - uh- Joann doesn't seem that happy . And before even talking to me rushes to the phone and starts calling. I hear " Thank you very much sheriff- he's home now - I'm so glad I caught you in time " OK - who was that ? She still wasn't talkin' to me - " I have to call your brother" - She's close to my brother but does she have to call him now? " Your brother would like to talk to you - he was on his way to go and find you" what ? huh? I'm right here !-
So the convo goes like this -
Me - "Hey bud
Bro- "Hey Dumb Ass- I was just on my way with Mike (best fiend ) to pull your dead carcass out of a hole in Sh-- Canyon"
Me-"I was just stuck in traffic - thanks for caring though -I appreciate it "
Bro-"Hey mike - rich says he was just stuck in traffic - and he appreciates us -- Listen to me Grizzly Adams, Everybody knows how you like to be one with the mountain and we also know how you fall down walking to the living room - PEOPLE WERE WORRIED!"
Me - "Sorry- I would have called but I left my phone "
Bro- "Mike - he's says he's sorry, he forgot his cell phone - We were going to turn around and go home but I think we'll keep going til we get to your house and come up and STAPLE YOUR CELL PHONE TO YOUR ASS!"
Me - I love you
Bro - yeah - me too.

Some of the language was a bit harsh but please remember that it was real life, before getting offended . The conversation with my wife is not printable. Hence, the need for hunting mates.
Hunting season starts in less than two months. You will find a link for Hunters safety classes below. Even if you're not crazy about hunting you might want to come to pray with (or for) your priest. My wife thanks you.

http://www.scvqu.com/Online%20Hunter%20Education.htm

Fountain of Youth !

Sometime ago the Lord spoke into my heart that "Laudate" (our youth service) needs to be led by the youth themselves. This was always the plan as this is the way the do it at the Cathedral. But for one reason or another I have basically been doing it all myself. NOT GOOD! Well as I wrote previously Stevie preached on Saturday. The attendance by youth went up like 500%. It was a confirmation that basically I am just to be "a liturgical tool"(Scott get your mind out of the gutter ) and this is not to be "The Fr Rich Show". Pray that more young people will step up and take leadership role at Laudate like Stevie , Mikie and Naomi. I confess that Laudate has been a thorn in my side (see Scott it's not just you). But no more -God has given me clarity and He'll do the rest. I'm excited!
Do that BIG thing!

BIG FAT SCAREDY CAT!

Oh Yeah ! I preach about having faith in Jesus with "Reckless Abandon" But how do I fare in actually doing it ?
I'll tell you in about a week when I have done or haven't done what I need to do.


PRAY BIG!

Sometimes You Just Gotta Do It Anyway

Sometimes you know that what you are about to do will result in a massive tush whoopin but you know you have to do it. When I was younger and prone to break the rules I would weigh whether the cost of the punishment I would get would out way the pleasure I would get from breaking whatever the rule was. Now that I'm ancient and not prone to break rules I find that something similar happens with doing the right thing. You've heard " that no good deed goes unpunished " well it's kinda true. There are consequences for doing the right thing. Jesus talked about this when he said " count the cost " of following Him.
Sometimes you have to do stuff that you know will cost you . And it's "The Right Thing" to do. I've done many things like that . Lately I see some people I love in that same situation . In one case if they step out on faith and do what God is asking them to do they will die. Not like with a casket and flowers and stuff but to themselves and the world. Yet they will have an awesome life in Jesus. But God's grace is such that even they can't bring themselves to do that " big thing " God will still love them . How does that work? You can be disobedient and God will still love and bless you ? Yep. In human terms it is insane. But for God it's just the nature of His grace.
All the more reason to do those costly things. Stepping out in faith will cause its share of bruises but listening to God and practicing staying in his presence far out way a few lumps.
Now that's reckless abandon right there.

a preacher?

This is Stevie. He has been a part of our church family for some years now. The lord has done awesome things in his life and he's only 18 years old. WOW! Stevie is seeking God for what he's supposed to do with his life. This is a trial at any age . Stevie is an awesome young who has a hunger to tell everyone how Jesus can change a person's life .
So today at 6:oopm Stevie will preach his first sermon. He will preach at the Youth Mass. Please pray for him. I know that Stevie has an anointing and I'm excited to hear him preach. I have a feeling that many people that wouldn't normally come to church will come to hear Stevie tonight - pray that God's speak to them through Stevie.
God is doing stuff!